Go on an Odyssey

I was tidying our graphic novel collection the other day and stumbled across not one, but three, different re-tellings of Homer's Odyssey. This got me thinking, “Just how many versions of the famous poem do we have?”

the Odyssey is a poem written by the Greek poet Homer nearly 3 thousand years ago. The story takes place after the Trojan war which was around 1200 BC. Our Hero Odysseus, king of Ithaca (also known as Ulysses to the Romans), was the man who came up with the whole Trojan horse trick, winning the war for the Greeks. It turns out however that some of the Gods were not impressed by Odysseus' trick, so they decided to stop him getting home. According to legend after 10 years fighting the war it took Odysseus another 10 years to get home. By this time his son Telemachus has grown up and his wife is beset by suitors who assume Odysseus is dead and there is a kingdom up for grabs.

The Odyssey is the story of Odysseus' trials and tribulations as he tries to get home and save his family.

Here at the library we have English versions of the poem in various formats. We have both illustrated and non-illustrated versions as well as a full uncut audio-book and a full graphic novel version by award winning graphic novel author Gareth Hinds.

The story has been redone many times in many different styles. If you want an easy light hearted version try “The Iliad and the Odyssey” retold by Marcia Williams in a style that reminds me of the Horrible histories series. For those with a more twisted sense of humour try either “Stickman Odyssey” which claims to be told the way it was meant to be read with stick figures. You could also try “Tank Girl, The odyssey”. I do have to warn you expect the unexpected. Telemachus for example has a television set for a head.

Lastly I'd recommend two items that tell a story that isn't quite the Odyssey but is so interlink that they deserve a mention. The first is the movie “O Brother where art thou” staring George Clooney. This is the story of 3 convicts in depression era America trying to get home. The other is James Joyce's epic “Ulysses” which all takes place over one day in Dublin. To get the most out of these last two I recommend you familiarise yourself with the story first.

All in all the Odyssey is a great action/fantasy/historical/love/revenge story. If it sounds like something you might be interested in come in and have a look at one of the many versions we can provide.

The Island

Victoria Heslip.

Alexis Fielding feels there is something wrong with her life. She just doesn't know what.

When Alexis decides to visit Crete her mother Sofia gives her a letter to give to an old friend in the small village of Plaka. Sofia has always kept her life before moving to London a secret but it is perhaps time to let Alexis know about her past and her family's origins. Origins that are tied into the small island of Spinalonga, a mere stones throw from Plaka. An Island that for many years was one of Greece's largest leper colonies and for a time was home to several of Alexis' ancestors.

This novel is engaging more for its location and history than for the actual story. Through reminiscences we are told the story of Alexis' family line over four generations. Their trials and tribulations. Don't get me wrong the story is very readable it just pales in comparison to the story of the area in which it is set. Add to this the fact that the novel covers the years leading up to the discovery of a cure for leprosy and you have a rich novel which will engage you throughout.

The Island has also been made into a television series. Alas it's only in Greek so far and you might have to be brave to watch all 20 plus episodes with subtitles.

Going Bovine

Libba Bray

Cameron has got Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the human form of mad cow disease. There are two things you need to know about Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease:

1. It's fatal. There is no coming back from this one.

2. It eats little holes in your brain and makes you go mad.

   With that in mind Going bovine is told from Cameron's point of view and when a punk rocker angel tells him to save the universe and himself in the process he's off on a wild adventure with an hypochondriac dwarf and an immortal garden gnome.
   

   This book plays with reality and Libba Bray has no problem seeing just how far we are willing to go. She takes us on an insane journey in and out of conciousness making sure to poke fun at reality T.V. consumerism and terrorism along the way. A great read for anyone with a sense of humour willing to laugh in the face of death.

(Reviewed by Donald)

Goth Girl Rising

Barry Lyga


Barry Lyga has finally given us a second instalment to the story of Fan boy and Goth Girl. This time he shows us the world from Kyra Sellers' (A.K.A. Goth Girl's) point of view. Did you wonder why Kyra was so angry in Fanboy and Goth Girl? Well this is where you go to find out.

Once again Lyga manages to get inside his character's heads without going all judgy on them and once again we want to reach into the story and give the character a good shake, make her look at the world differently.

That being said I preferred "The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl" to "Goth Girl Rising" because I found Fanboy to be a more sympathetic character. To be honest I didn't like Kyra much. Still it's a good book. Just make sure you read the Astonishing adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl first.

(Reviewed by Donald)

Fleur Beale and other winners

So the New Zealand Post Children's book awards have come and gone for another year. I hope you all had a go at voting for the children's choice award as there was a great prize to be won.

We were lucky enough to have Fleur Beale down as our visiting author during the awards period. She visited local schools and held a writing workshop for teenagers while here. I hope she enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed having her.

On top of that Fleur's book, Fierce September, won the young adult's section of the awards so I'm claiming the Southland influence helped her win (I'm not really sure how I can justify that but I'm saying it anyway). Fierce September is the follow up to Juno of Taris which won Fleur the Esther Glen award in 2009. Juno of Taris was reviewed here as part of our Pursue 100 reading competition last summer (thanks Aliesha).

Fierce September picks up the story where Juno left off a ship arrives at Taris saving the occupants from their crumbling world and taking them to New Zealand as refugees. The New Zealand they find is not the New Zealand we know however. The calamities of climate change and pandemics has given rise to right wing extremists. Extremists who are eager to use the people of Taris for their own political ends.

Now I've got to admit I liked this book better than Juno of Taris. While they both hive some great themes and characters Fierce September to me digs further into the future world Fleur Beale was trying to create. This makes it in a way more real. I loved the interactive side of the book as well. Fleur set up two Warningtheworld.blogspot.com and bobbingontheocean.blogspot.com. Each one gives the reader a different perspective on the action of the story again making things more real.

Check out the blogs and see if they peak your interest.

Anyway I'd best let you know about the other New Zealand Post Children's book award winners too. The Moon & Farmer McPhee by Margaret Mahy & David Elliot for best picture book. This wonderful gentle story about stopping and taking time to smell the roses also won book of the year. The non-fiction prize was taken out by Leon Davidson for Zero Hour: The ANZACs on the Western Front. From the junior fiction category Hollie Chips by Anna Gowan won best new book while Finnigan & the Pirates by Sherryl Jordan won the category. Lastly and not surprisingly Baa Baa Smart Sheep by Mark & Rowan Sommerset won the children's choice award.

Looking for Alaska

John Green

Although not John Green's best book this book is an amazing first novel. The book centres around Miles Halter during his first year at boarding school and His relationship with the other borders at the school, especially Alaska Young: Smart, sexy and self destructive.

The book is separated into two halves before and after an event that will change the way Miles sees the world.

Like all John Green's novels Looking for Alaska is a wee bit geeky and a wee bit philosophical. While the first half is full of fun and games the later parts of the book will make you think. A must read for all John Green fans and a great introduction to this great teen author for anyone else.

(Reviewed by Donald)

Ayako

Osamu Tezuka

Osamu Tezuka is arguably one of the greatest manga authors of all time and in this book, first serialized in the 1970s, he gives us his take on post World war II Japanese society.

The story revolves around the Tenge family, the remnants of the aristocratic landowners of feudal Japan, and their desperate attempt to hold onto the power and prestige of earlier days. When four 4 old Ayako witnesses a crime which could bring the family name into disrepute they decide to fake her death and lock her in a storage shed. Here she will remain for 23 years.

Tezuka's naturalistic story telling style fits this grim graphic novel perfectly. He portrays a rotten family in a world changing too fast for comfort. As well as the personal story of Ayako Tezuka draws on several true scandals from the late 1940s and the effect is not flattering for the Japanese government of the day and America's involvement with it. A worthwhile read for anyone who isn't offended easily and has an interest in this often forgotten era of Japanese history.