The Gruffalo

Working at Standaard Boekhandel wasn't a total loss. Sure, I complained 24/7 and it shattered some of my illussions about the potential joy of bookselling but it also got me interested in children's literature.

With the exception of my beloved Winnie the Pooh it had been years, decades even since I encountered the wonderful worlds of Roald Dahl, Beatrix Potter, Narnia,... to name but a few. As we grow older, we often forget our first fictional friends and only find them again when we have children of our own but being exposed to these quirky characters, colorful covers and sweet stories for six months had me yearning for more.

Having no idea where to begin, I bought 1001 Children's Books you must read before you grow up and started my quest for memorable and magical moments for kids of all ages.

One of the books that immediately caught my eye was The Gruffalo about a tiny mouse that takes a walk through the deep dark woods and encounters all kinds of peril. Whenever it is about to be eaten, it makes up a story about a dangerous and ghastly being called a Gruffalo, scaring off potential predators. Yet little does it know, that there is such a thing as a Gruffalo.

Although it is immensely popular in the UK, a modern classic even, Belgians will probably look at you funny when you utter this creature's name despite the fact that The Gruffalo celebrated it's tenth birthday in 2009 and has already won several prestigeous awards.

Julia Donaldson brought this crazy title character to life and has since become a very popular children's writer. Together with celebrated German illustrater Axel Scheffler, they have created many gems like Stick Man, Tabby McTat and the magical sequel The Gruffalo's Child.

Besides a glossy gold anniversary edition, 2009 also gave us a gloriously good BBC adaptation of this beloved classic which aired on Christmas day. Helena Bonham Carter, John Hurt, Tom Wilkinson,... voiced this amazing animated adventure.

Silicon heaven

These wonderful Winnie the Pooh baking goodies would make baking addicts or Pooh lovers very happy this holiday season. Just image the effect they'd have if you were both...

Recommended Christmas reading

The past few weeks I have been getting ready for the holiday season by reading a lot of Christmas stories. Some were manditory like Charles Dickens' classic A Christmas Carol


others caught my eye because of their original take on the theme like Lemony Snicket's The Latke who Couldn't Stop Screaming


and then there was the unconventional yet incredibly beautiful Auggie Wren's Christmas Story by Paul Auster


Other festive favorites include Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore


and of course Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!


If you prefer a more novel approach to the classic Christmas story, be sure to check out

The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham


The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie


Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien


Happy reading!

Twitterature

Imagine that you are feeling too damn lazy to read one of the classics: Joyce, Woolf, Shakespeare, even JK Rowling, why bother? Now imagine that you are too lazy to even Google a summary. Now what?

Inspired by one of today's all consuming social networks, Twitter, two American students decided to boil some of the best books ever written down to 20 tweets or less. In less than two pages per novel, consisting out of a maximum of 20 sentences each 140 characters tops, Twitterature brings you literature for the contemporary computer age. A daring venture if I do say so myself.

Written in highly realistic (aka cryptic) Twitter-style, it will make literature lovers giggle (who will probably spend more time reading to glossary to see what f*** these people are on about) while at the same time submerging Twitter lovers in the wonderful world of literature minus the lovely phrases that is.

Kafka's Soup

What do you get when you combine literary history with culinary delights? The answer: Kafka's Soup, A Complete History of Literature in 17 Recipes by Mark Crick aka the perfect present for food and literature lovers aka me.

It is an original, clever and very funny little book that combines literature's greats with some scrumptious recipes, that actually work. Whether you're in the mood for tarragon eggs à la Jane Austen, rich chocolate cake à la Irvin Welsh or clafoutis grandmère à la Virginia Woolf, it's all in there. Trust me, never before has a cookbook been so entertaining, useful and intellectually stimulating.

The ingenuity of this book however, is that photographer Mike Crick describes the preparation of each dish in the style of a famous writer resulting in passages such as "Feeling the blade in my hand I sliced an onion, and before I knew what I was doing a carrot lay in pieces on the slab. None of them moved... They had it coming to them." If you were wondering, this will result in Raymond Chandler's lamb with dille sauce.

Pastiche is also combined with pretty pictures which include works by Hogarth, Warhol and De Chirico to name but a few. The ensemble creates an unparalled tantalizing treat for your mind as well as your mouth.

Kafka's Soup is a glorious cookbook and a true literary treat due to its stylistic tricks and multiple tongue in cheek references. Crick has done an excellent job in capturing not only the essence of the author but also in capturing some sublime and simple flavors.

Meme time

The past few weeks have been pretty hectic, hence my prolonged absence. I've delved into the hidden realms of the Belgian comic book scene, had a chat with Guy Cassiers about what makes Het Toneelhuis such a revolutionary theater company in Belgium and beyond and finally I had an unexpected assignment for none other than Jan Fabre, all of which resulted in several articles and a trembling left hand.

This week won't be better as I've got a very challenging and potentially life altering task ahead of me: get an interview with one of Belgium's most popular and recluse authors... On top of that I decided to read his entire oeuvre which has been a tad time consuming as well. And this is why I'll partake in another meme which has been going round, since I don't have anything original to say right now.

1. What author do you own the most books by?

Joyce Carol Oates, told you this would be uninspired.

2. What book do you own the most copies of?

Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier seeing as I was named after it.

3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?

I hadn't really noticed.

4. What fictional character are you seriously in love with?

It pains me to say this but if I'd had to choose I'd say Edward Cullen...

5. What book have you read the most times in your life?

Winnie the Pooh: complete collection of stories and poems by A.A. Milne.

6. Favorite book as a ten year old?

The Twits by Roald Dahl.

7. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year?

It's a tie between Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert and Firmin by Fred Savage.

8. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year?

Blankets by Craig Thompson.

9. If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?

Anything by Truman Capote seeing as he's a brilliant but sadly frequently forgotten author.

10. What book would you like to see made into a movie?

Something by Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore? I'd really like to see how they transform his peculiar stories with their surreal atmosphere to the screen.

11. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read?

It's a tie between Ulysses and The Satanic Verses.

12. What is your favorite book?

The Catcher in the Rye.

13. What is your favorite play?

Suddenly Last Summer, basically all of Tennessee Williams' plays.

14. Poem?

Anything by Dorothy Parker seeing as they are the only poems I've read voluntarily.

15. Essay?

I don't do essays.

16. Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

Ian McEwan.

17. What is your favorite desert island book?

Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates: big, beautiful and bombastic.

18. And… what are you reading right now?

I started reading The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan which is really freaky and very good but sadly I had to put it aside for Godverdomse Dagen op een Godverdomse Bol to name only one of the intruders.

How unfortunate

Men of all trades?

I desperately wanted to read Nick Cave's new novel , The Death of Bunny Munro, instead I decided to start with his first novel And the Ass saw the Angel. Never before have I been so disgusted, stunned and moved by a novel. Cave's 1989 literary debut is a powerful piece of fiction that brands you for life, although not for the faint hearted.

Seeing as I'm no good at summarizing, I'll let Wikipedia do the talking now: "And the Ass Saw the Angel tells the story of Euchrid Eucrow, a mute born to an abusive drunken mother and a father obsessed with cruel traps and animal torture. His father's dangerous traps, greasy and vile, just might maim or kill an unwary person. The ultimate outcast, scorned even among outsiders, in a valley of fanatically religious Ukulites, Euchrid bears his mother's beatings, his father's inturned indifference, and the hatred and loathing of an entire town. Euchrid's increasingly fractured mind teems with words and horrible angelic visions, narrated by his silent Southern drawl. Raised to inevitable madness in this world of inbreeding, moonshine, and fanaticism, Euchrid will exact his terrible vengeance on the people who have made his life one of nearly unrelenting pain."

And the Ass saw the Angel is reminiscent of Southern Gothic greats like William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor with a dash of Carnivale. The trails and tribulations of Euchrid Eucrow are simply heart wrenching and very disturbing. Cave has done a phenomenal job portraying this lonely creature's descent into madness after being brutalized by everyone and everything that surrounds him.

The language especially, is quite unique. Cave's songwriting skills are always lingering in the background, adding rhythm and rhyme to the text. Although Cave himself is Australian, he was able to give Euchrid a very realistic Southern brawl that occasionaly make the story a little harder to follow, particularly in the stream of consciousness passages. Although he is a mute, Euchrid's thoughts are incredibly eloquent and profound making him a silent prisoner of the spirit of the time. The universal and ageless issue of fearing the unknown once again takes center stage.

The beginning is without a doubt the superior part. Euchrid's birth is very harrowing and funny and already sets the dark and twisted tone of things to come. Although the story is simple, the atmosphere is sublime and filled with memorable cast of characters that one by one could have escaped from your local god-fearing incestuous freak show, if you have one at least.

After reading this book, you will definitely be in need of some very light reading matter as this book is also the most depressing and sickening piece of fiction I have every read. It is very graphic and gruesome to say the least, almost every chapter made me cringe. Ok, I'll be the first to admit that I'm slightly faint hearted but nothing could prepare me for the horror both physical and psychological of And the Ass saw the Angel.

In the end, And the Ass saw the Angel, Cave's first literary excursion is a life altering experience. It is dark and very disturbing, both good and bad. I already know that this is a novel that will stay with me for a long time seeing as this is the first time that a work of fiction has literally shook me to my core with it's beauty and bestiality.

Although Bunny Munro seems to be slightly more "upbeat", I'll better prepare myself this time round.

And the Ass saw the Angel isn't the only "celebrity" novel I recently read, besides a singer / songwriter turned author, I also read a book from an actor turned author, namely the delectable Hugh Laurie. His one and only novel dates back to 1996 before House MD invaded his life and is called The Gun Seller.

This novel should be labelled as 100% genuine entertainment. It's an action-packed detective novel filled with humour, terrorists, fast motorcycles and a lot of woman: the ultimate male fantasy in typical hyper kinetic Laurie banter reminiscent of his A Bit of Fry and Laurie days. The plot has more twists and turns than a maze but ends up being one hell of a joyride. I should have probably read this after And the Ass saw the Angel instead of before...

YA, why do you taunt me?

There's no escaping it. Every blog I've read the past few weeks seems to mention her and her books at least once. First there was J.K. Rowling with Harry Potter, then there was Stephenie Meyer and Twilight (sigh) and now there's another woman and series that will definitely be giving them a run for their money. The IT-author du jour is none other than Suzanne Collins, a former writer for Nickelodeon and creator of the young adult series (or YA as my fellow bloggers call it) The Hunger Games which are taking the world by storm.

Listen to this: "The Hunger Games introduces sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world where a powerful government called the Capitol has risen up after several devastating disasters. In the book, the Hunger Games are an annual televised event where the ruthless Capitol randomly selects one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts, who are then pitted against each other in a game of survival and forced to kill until only one remains." Interesting...

People of all ages are literally devouring these books. Saying that The Hunger Games and it's sequel Catching Fire are getting rave reviews would be an understatement. Adults, kids, critics, you name it are all going nuts about this soon to be trilogy that mixes action, romance and politics. The latter especially, gives it a weird and twisted edge that offers kids and adults some riveting common ground that most young adult novels are lacking. Except Twilight, which is perfect. As always, Belgium is a little late to catch on and is still blissfully ignorant but seeing as the movie rights have just been sold, invasion will be immanent.

For someone like myself, who is unable to resist the latest hype, there's dangerous territory ahead. Shall I stay true to my high brow literary foundations or once again take a brief excursion down the intriguing and entertaining path of YA?

Simon's cat

With over 25 million hits on Youtube, Simon's Cat has become an instant and highly lovable classic. This multi award winning animated series about a hungry cat that will stop at nothing in order to be fed was created by Simon Tofield, an English animator who was inspired by his own feline bundles of joy: Hugh, Jess and Maisie.

On 1 October, Tofield released his first book which is definitely a must have for every cat lover. It is filled with hilarious drawings featuring the calculating kitty on his eternal quest for food. Too bad you can't hear his heart-wrenching meow which I have to admit is my favorite part.

Never before has a cat been portrayed so deviously realistic and that is why I would like to conclude with the immortal words of Homer J. Simpson, "It's funny, 'cause it's true".

Naked books

Have you ever wanted to design your own book cover? For argument's sake, say your name is Emma, wouldn't it be cool if that was you on the cover of Jane Austen's classic? If you have ever wanted to truly personalize your favorite book, check out My Penguin.

Dracula, The Great Gatsby, The Waves and The Picture of Dorian Gray are just a few titles out of the growing selection at your disposal. Razorlight, Beck and Ryan Adams to name a few are responsible for the first batch which they all blessed with unconventional designs. You buy an edition with a blank cover, send in your creation and become the proud owner or giver of a unique piece of literature.

Check out the gallery for some illuminating illustrations and get cracking.

A bookstore made in heaven

Yesterday I visited the most beautiful bookstore in the world according to The Guardian. In 2006, the Dutch chain Selexyz opened a new store in a restored 13th century Dominican Church in Maastricht that was used to store bicycles before architects Merkx and Girod got their hands on it. The combination of bookstore and church is truly spectacular, just like their impressive selection including a wide variety of books in English.

The upper levels especially, are a must see. The huge iron installations add a unique contemporary atmosphere to these medieval surroundings and also offer a sensational view of the premises. The old choir at the back has even been turned into an exceptional coffee bar where you can enjoy your foamy cappuccino while sitting at a huge cross shaped table in the presence of gorgeous fresco's.

Selexyz Dominicanen in Maastricht offers book lovers the ultimate religious experience.

Return of the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh will be making his literary comeback this year at the tender age of 84. Although creator A.A. Milne passed away quite some time ago, the Milne estate (headed by none other than Christopher Robin) have authorised David Benedictus, a life long Pooh devotee, to write a new series of stories entitled: Return to the Hundred Acre Wood.

Not only will the entire gang be revived for some new and exciting adventures but their general appearance will also be slightly contemporized with a dash of authenticity of nostalgia's sake proving that Pooh is a timeless classic. Our fuzzy friend's appearance has always been source for debate ranging from EH Shepard's original and minimalistic black and white drawings (based on the actual faded teddy bear) to Disney's freakishly yellow and dressed version.

Mark Burgess created a "Pooh" which combines the best of both worlds: fun loving colour and simple nostalgic drawings that will make a whole new generation fall in love with the most adorable character ever created. I have to admit that I had my doubts at first, messing with the Pooh is sacrilege after all but in the end, it's all Pooh and all good.

Momiji

Yesterday afternoon we went for a stroll in Berchem and visited one of my favorite shops, Kupuku, a small Japanese design shop that causes a severe cuteness overload. Filled from top to bottom with cats (Japanese lucky charms), gorgeous Kokeshi dolls and delicate jewelry, this hidden treasure is definitely worth a trip to the "exotic" Berchem. The owners are unbelievably sweet and informative plus we got a delicious pink cupcake to boot.

It is simply impossible to leave Kupuku empty handed and this trip was no exception. Yesterday I became the proud owner of Poppet, an incredibly adorable Momiji doll. First came Kokeshi, then Kimmi, now Momiji, another range of beautiful and unique collectible Japanese dolls. What makes Momiji special, is that they are designed to keep secrets. They have a little slot in the bottom to put a message in and are thus ideal gifts for loved ones and me myself and I naturally. Not only are they fun, colorful and girly but they are also packaged in a funky take out box. Every year a new series is designed making then the ideal must have for people who are addicted to cuteness like myself.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

Isn't that the coolest title ever? The less star studded creative arts division handed out its Emmy's about two weeks ago, before the actual celebrity extravaganza. One of the lucky winners was none other than Joss Whedon creator of Firefly (fantastic), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (which had it's moments, Spike anyone?) and Dollhouse (hasn't made it's way to Belgium yet).

He was awarded a shiny golden statuette for his 43-minute long web musical, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, starring Neil Patrick Harris as an aspiring yet unsuccessful super villain and the ever so adorable Nathan Fillion as his nemesis Captain Hammer.

Whedon came up with the unusual idea during the 2008 writer's strike. He wanted to show that you don't need the backing of big corporations to create satisfying and professionally done entertainment. Strike or no strike, the Hollywood execs weren't crazy about a love lorn super villain so Whedon rounded up some friends and some funding and made this legendary web musical.

On July 15, 2008, it aired for the first time and became an instant classic. The website became so overwhelmed that it crashed, "the way it must always be remembered by America. 'We were too cheap to pay for enough bandwidth' is not quite as legendary sounding" said Whedon.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog can be watched for free (as it should be) on their website if you live in the United Stated at least. Those of us who live on the other side of the pond can go to Youtube and piece the bits together or get it on Itunes, all proceeds will go to the actors and crew who weren't paid at the time and who are already planning to return for the sequel...

The Year of the Dog

No, I'm not talking Chinese astrology but the 2007 Mike White movie starring Molly Shannon, Peter Sarsgaard and John C. Reilly. As usual, another Sundance favorite although it's not really one of mine.

Molly Shannon (more depressing than neurotic for a change) plays Peggy, a woman whose social life revolves around her beloved dog Pencil. When her fury friend dies, she start re-evaluating her life and decides to allow some hairless males into her life, the kind who walk on two legs. However, she soon realizes she needs a fluffy fellow as well and goes down to the local animal center where she meets Newt (male, semi-fluffy and homo sapiens) and Valentine (big bad pouchy). They all bond until things take a nasty turn. Dum dum dum... In the end, Peggy has become a full fledged animal rights activist so some good has come of it.

This movie has a lot of potential, quirky characters, interesting plot and a lot of heart which is basically what kills it. Mike White himself, is also a vegan and animal rights activist as more people should be but sadly, his directorial debut is suffering from some slight ideological overkill. His admirable views on both subjects slowly but surely hold this otherwise well-written film in a lingering stranglehold, making it seem more like a twisted recruitment video than fiction.

The Year of the Dog may be White's first venture behind the camera but he has had plenty of experience in front of it. Bedises acting, his main purpose in life is writing odd, semi-endearing and pretty flaky movies like Orange County, School of Rock and Nacho Libre. It also gives him a chance to work with his best bud Jack Black. Seeing as I'm living with a die hard Black fan (nobody's perfect) I gave these unconventional movies a try. They're not bad but I wouldn't go as far as calling them good either.

So why would I want to see a movie by a man with such a peculiar track record? Well, his last more "dramatic" venture was the splendid Sundance favorite The Good Girl which was funny (in a bitter sweet way), heart felt and had more emotional complexity than all this other movies combined. Who would have thought, the man is actually pretty talented. Together with director Migual Arteta (with whom he also created the"unique" Chuck and Buck), he was even able to get Jennifer Aniston to act, go figure. The woman is actually able to be someone else than Rachel when she puts her mind to it, sadly it doesn't happen often.

Aniston plays Justine, a woman with a dead end job at Retail Rodeo and an even worse husband (coincidentally also John C. Reilly). When Holden, the ever so baby faced Jake Gyllenhaal, starts working at the Retail Rodeo things start to look up. He's young, granted, but he hates life almost as much as she does. Their friendship evolves into a sinister and sexually complicated concoction that is oh, so good. Smiley happy people they surely ain't but real characters trying to make the best of things opposed to surreal struggles of Nacho, the masked luchador.

Anyway, despite his ambiguous resume, I haven't given up on White just yet. He may have written some mediocre movies but every once in while he is able to tap into his talent and when he does, it's good. Real good.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week

This week was apparently Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Although I don't consider myself a pure book blogger seeing as I tend to ramble on about anything that catches my fancy, the majority of my posts are about books. I do follow several book blogs but I'm not an active blogger meaning I don't comment that often and I haven't joined a community. I just like to stay on the sidelines and observe.


Anyway in honor of BBAW I decided to take part in this meme that's been going round this week to show my book blogging potential.

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack? I try not to snack when I'm reading seeing as I have a tendency to spill and stain. I do love a hot cup of cocoa or tea when I'm reading but unless I'm sitting at a table, that's as far as it goes.

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you? I never write in books actually, not because the idea horrifies me but because I know that the chances are slim to non-existent that I will re-read those marked passage. If I really love a certain passage, I'll copy it in one of my notebooks which save me the agony of looking for the book first.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open? I used to use post-its, dog-ears or breaking a book's back are just plain cruel. A few years back however, I bought a cute bookmark in the Winnie the Pooh Shop in Canterbury. It looks a bit tattered due to several cat attacks but it's been my loyal companion for quite a while now, making the journey from book to book.

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both? Fiction. Besides the occaisional biography, non-fiction doesn't interest me that much. What can I say, I just love stories and make belief.

Hard copy or audiobooks? Hard copy, definitely. Audiobooks make me restless seeing as you just have to sit there and listen. I've tried multitasking but end up losing track of the story. I'll take an actual book any day of the week, preferably paperbacks.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put down a book at any point? I always read until the end of chapters. If I don't have enough time to finish one, I won't start a new one. It's that simple.

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away? I have a dictionary with me when writing, never when reading. Shame on me.

What are you currently reading? The Book of Rapture by Nikki Gemmell.

What was the last book you bought? And the Ass saw the Angel by Nick Cave. I wanted to read his new novel, The Death of Bunny Munro, but decided to start with his first novel instead.

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time? I always read one book at a time, otherwise it takes to long to finish a novel. I used to have a book for when I was on the bus, a different one before going to bed,... and they just started to drag on plus I started mixing up the stories. Now I like to invest all my time in just one book.

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read? I love to read when I'm on the bus, the journey just flies by and there's nothing else to do. It's just me, my fictional friends and my Ipod, 20 minutes of bliss twice a day.

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books? I never read series books before I read the Twilight series and the Stieg Larsson trilogy (which is outstanding) this year. I still prefer stand alone books but if the characters are great, it's fun to encounter them every now and again for some new adventures.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over? Except for Salinger, I don't have an author whose complete oeuvre I love. I do seem to regularly recommend: The Time Traveller's Wife, Kafka on the Shore, Middlesex, Oryx and Crake and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close just to name a few.

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc). I organize my books alphabetically by author's last name. 80% of my books are fiction so that works pretty well. The other 20% I organize by genre: children's books, graphic novels, biography, travel, cookery books, art, film,...

Rapture?

The good news is I finally finished The Angel's Game, the bad news, it was so not worth the weeks I wasted away on it. But that's another story. I finally get the chance to read something new, like The Book of Rapture by Nikki Gemmel aka my choice for next week's book club. I started this afternoon and I am already having second thoughts seeing as the structures is just plain weird.

The blurb looked promising: "Three children wake up in a basement room. They have been drugged and taken from their beds in the middle of the night. Now they are here. Alone. Where are their parents? Who can they trust? The family has been betrayed to the government and Salt Cottage, their home on a cliff top above the ocean, is no longer safe. Their mother's scientific work has put them all in danger. To protect them, she must let them go. She must put her faith in an old family friend -- and in her children's own resilience and courage. Searing, provocative and unputdownable, The Book of Rapture challenges our beliefs about science, about children, and about trust. As passionate as The Bride Stripped Bare, it will compel, seduce and haunt you." Good right?

It kind of reminded me of Margret Atwood's phenomenal Oryx and Crake mixed with The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan which was basically the only book he wrote that didn't literally annoy me. I've only read the first 30 pages and I'm already getting slightly irritated. The chapters are only 1 or 2 pages long and the story is being told out of synch to one of the characters, the mother, which is odd to say the least.

I had never heard of Nikki Gemmel but she was the writers of the month a few months back on the glorious BookDepository so I got to "know" her a little better plus I loved the cover. Apparently, Gemmell is Australian and has written several internationally and critically acclaimed works of which I knew none. She is considered "one of the most original and engaging authors of her generation", the French even describe her as the female Jack Kerouac which is quite unnerving. Her breakthrough novel was the 2004 anonymously published The Bride Stripped Bare which has been described as literary pornography, hence the anonymous part probably. It's about a good wife and mother who decides to go on a voyage of sexual awakening, all in a days work.

I don't know, maybe it just takes a little getting used to but The Book of Rapture surely is a very strange and experimental book. I wanted to try something new and I definitely got what I paid for. I read somewhere that 50% will hate the book, the other 50% will adore it. I just hope most of the book club members are part of the latter.

Where the Wild Things Are

In 1963 Maurice Sendak, writer and illustrator of children's literature, wrote his masterpiece Where the Wild Things Are. It went on to win numerous awards and soon became an American classic, us Belgians on the other hand, have never encountered mischievous Max and the Wild Things which is a downright tragedy.

The story revolves around a naughty boy in a wolf costume named Max, who is sent to bed without dinner. Suddenly his room turns into a forest, bordering on the ocean. Max gets in a boat and sails off. He ends up in the land of the Wild Things, strange fanged monsters with big sharp claws. Max however, is not impressed and is able to tame these ferocious creatures by staring into their eyes without blinking. In utter awe of this little lad's peculiar power, they decide to make him king. Several adventures later, he decides to leave this magical world because he smells a lovely meal. The Wild Things are hesitant to let their king go but Max sails off into the sunset. Back home, dinner turns out to be ready.

The story is very sweet, innocent and filled with amazing drawings of mythical creatures that are oddly love-able despite their fierce faces. Where the Wild Things Are is only ten sentences long but contains all the right words to make this a quick and cosy afternoon delight.

Soon enough this story will conquer the world, aided by the film adaptation that was directed by (a personal favorite) Spike Jonze. I absolutely loved his surreal and offbeat Being John Malkovich and the hallucinatory and hilarious Adaptation, although Charlie Kaufman's writing had probably something to do with that. Although Jonze has a quintessentially explosive visual flair, his movies are few and far between. He spends most of his time directing music videos or compilations but seven years after his last cinematic venture, he's back and wackier not to mention furrier that ever.

Where the Wild things Are, based on Sendek's ten tantalising sentences, was written together with Dave Eggers. They naturally made the story a tad more elaborate but stayed true to it's unique atmosphere. It will also be Jonze's first trip down screenplay lane. Fluffy critters may be something completely different for Jonze who is used to psychedelic montages and the quirks of contemporary life but still, this "family" film full of strange characters, gives him another opportunity to explore the immense scope of his imagination.

The Arrival of Shaun Tan

My first encounter with Shaun Tan's work was while I was still working at that bookstore. The Arrival had just been translated into Dutch and was eying me up from across the sales floor. It looked simply gorgeous: a hardback that was made to look like an old and tattered book with beautiful details and ethereal dreamlike drawings. Inside you find a magical and touching tale about a man who leaves his family behind in search of a new land and a better life for all of them. This new land turns out to be a strange yet comforting place where nothing is as it seems. It is filled with odd little creatures and beautiful buildings.

The story is told without words and depends solely on the incredible talent of Tan who was able to create a moving memoir using dazzling sepia drawings. He worked on this book for five years, making The Arrival his own personal tribute to his father who emigrated from Malaysia to Australia. The Arrival went on to win numerous prizes making Shaun Tan a force to be reckoned with.

But who is this Shaun Tan exactly? Tan is an Australian illustrator who at an early age got bitten by the science fiction bug. Most of his works features strange yet adorable alien beings and surreal places. He truly has a knack of creating his own worlds. He started illustrating science fiction and horror stories from the small press but eventually became a freelance illustrator and author of several sublime books. He even worked as a concept artist on films such as Horton hears a Who and WALL-E. His books may seem accessible to all ages due to their lack of text and colorful content, but the themes he subtly intertwines with the exterior excellence are often quite socio-political. He is currently directing a short film.

I have to admit, that this is the first "graphic novel" that has been able to move me solely based on illustration. Tan's work truly is art. And in February he'll have his first Belgian show in Hasselt!

Irritatingly ingenious

Wes Anderson is an ingenious director who has always bothered me for some reason. His visual flair is uncanny, his characters are sad and quirky, his humour is dry and his screenplays verge on perfection, so I should like this guy, right? And sadly despite the fact that I can name several details I really love about his work, I just don't like the big picture. I can even say that his movies downright annoy me.

It all started with The Royal Tenenbaums: great cast, unique characters, twisted story and basically beautiful but oh so unnerving. This is a movie that has it all on paper but crumbles on the screen, making me wonder: bad writing or bad acting? Basically neither but Anderson's distinct type of intellectual humour doesn't always work. You know this is supposed to be funny but that's as far as it goes. Some will love it, others like myself will simply cringe at the awkward but splendidly shot psychedelic scenes.

I'm not going to condemn Anderson completely because I only saw The Royal Tenenbaums but the experience was so disturbing that I haven't been able to watch any of his films since which could actually be quite good, great even.

Anyway, Wes Anderson isn't just a director and screenwriter, he's also involved in the production, design and music so he's basically quite the renaissance man. His style is a visual delight full of bright colors, intricate details and an overall retro feel. His films (or should I say film) are heartfelt, clever and very poignant intertwined with dry humor and subtly shot, giving his work a very independent atmosphere. His characters, finally, are flawed, real and wildly original misfits so why can't I like them?

He also has a habit of working with the same people over and over such as: Owen Wilson with whom he co-wrote three movies and actors as Bill Murray, Anjelica Huston and Jason Schwartzman to name a few. We should all be blessed with such talented friends.

Now the reason I decided to mention my love-hate relationship with Wes is not because I like to complain but because I'd love to see his next movie. Not because I'm a masochist but because it's a remarkable stop-motion picture, and George Clooney had something to do with it. George Clooney, funny and fair as always, will be portraying The Fantastic Mr. Fox, based on the children's book by the same name written by Roald Dahl. So we have Clooney, stop-motion and Dahl, not your run of the mill Wes Anderson flick, right?

Who knows, maybe I'll warm up to the guy. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and The Darjeeling Limited look promising enough so maybe, just maybe I'll end up adoring Anderson afterall.

Why hardback are...hard

It has taken me almost a month to get halfway through The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon and I'm even contemplating quitting right now. I really wanted to read it seeing as I was very curious to see if Zafon is really talented or The Shadow of the Wind was a fluke accident which many first time books often are and sadly, it was the latter. Full of excitement, I decided to buy the hardback instead of waiting patiently for another year or so until the paperback is released, big mistake.

I'm actually a die hard devotee of the paperback: it's cheap, easy and fits in your handbag. A hardback on the other hand is naturally fancier and does wonders for the overall allure of your bookshelves but they're expensive and just to damn big. Whereas you can take out a paperback anytime, anywhere, I always get the feeling when reading a hardback that I have to sit down quietly and politely on the couch without (god forbid) eating so that I don't damage the bugger. I do most of my reading while enjoying some form of transport so that's why The Angel's Game has been dragging on, I'm just too afraid to take it out during the hustle and bustle on the bus.

Hardback's are all about presentation, not content. Ask anyone, I'm a sucker for pretty books and packaging. The downside however, is that I barely read them 'cause I don't want to hurt the beauties. The Catch-22 with books of course, is that it's what's underneath that counts. In order to get to the essence, we have to destroy the object, yet in order to enjoy the object, we never get to see it's content and thus never let the book realise it's potential. This is why I have decided to only buy paperback versions of books I really want to READ and only buy hardback versions of books that are pretty, illustrated or cheap as was the case with The Angel's Game, thank god. That narrows it down, a bit anyway.

These hardback hardships combined with a story that's not great but not really terrible either have kept me staring at the same book for a month now which is starting to freak me out as well. I'm so ready for something new.

Home Made

A few weeks ago I bought Home Made by Tana Ramsay online. It is a truly scrumptious cookbook with easy and surprising recipes. I don't buy cookbooks all that often and certainly not online seeing as I believe that these kinds of books need to be thoroughly examined upon purchasing but I fell in love with the beautiful pink cover and that fact that it contained "home cooking".

Tana Ramsay, wife of notorious British chef Gordon Ramsay, has made a selection of simple and tasty dishes that require a minimum of effort but make your taste buds burst with maximum delight. Complicated and refined dishes usually freak my out seeing as I'm a total klutz and not capable of doing anything elegant even if my life depended on it. This is why I love home cooking, although it looks great (in the books that is), it's the taste and simplicity that counts. No exotic ingredients or expensive appliances needed. If you feel the same way, Home Made is the way to go. Not only are the recipes easy but to book is also very user friendly, giving you a clear overview of all the magnificent meals like last night's lemon chicken stew, peach cobbler, sesame beef salad or sweetcorn and coconut soup to name a dazzling few.

This is my first encounter with Tana but overall I just love British chefs: they're spontaneous, fun-loving and just a delight to watch. I also adore British food. Say what you must, but I think it's wonderful. I was raised on cumberland pies, bubble and squeak, toad in the hole and trifle. So whenever I find a book that takes me back to that cozy atmosphere and those gorgeous smells from when I was a little girl, I have to admit I just crumble... uhm... crumble...

Sense and Sensebility and Sea Monsters, why the hell not?

A few months ago Pride & Prejudice and Zombies took us all by surprise. It created a phenomenal hype and headed straight for numerous bestseller lists. When it comes to hype, I have to admit that I usually cave. Not because it's cool or great (experience has taught me it's usually neither) but because I'm so damn curious so naturally when they decided to drop zombies in peaceful Merryton I had to see what all the fuss was about.

Granted, it is quite original to drop hardcore horror in a period piece but also quite disturbing and not in the way the creators intended. The result was classic Jane Austen with a few plot twist to make it "plausible" and some new scenes. Horror fans will think it's lame and Austen fans will be offended, leaving the majority of the population to fend for themselves. I've never been a big Jane Austen fan, that having said, I've only read P&P and seen the countless adaptations, so I didn't feel they desecrated her work. What did annoy me however was the abrupt change in style. Rewriting the entire novel would have been a lot of work but these alien passages simply made me quiver. But I'm glad I read it. It surely was a unique experience.

Quirk Classics, the people behind this piece of unnerving entertainment have decided to take things a little further. Probably still high on the zombies hype, they have now created Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. Experience has taught me to beware but I can't help but wonder...

Her Fearful Symmetry

After a summer of silence, I'm back, willing and able to take the City to new and uncharted territories. But first some news that made me go into a delightful frenzy this morning: Audrey Niffenegger is back and more productive that ever! Six year after her spellbinding The Time Traveller's Wife, she brings us Her Fearful Symmetry, a ghost story set in and around Highgate Cemetery in London.

This soon to be contemporary Gothic classic is about a recently deceased woman who ends up haunting her own apartment. Just like The Time Traveller's Wife, Niffenegger has created a wonderful ensemble cast consisting of the woman's lover, her twin nieces who now inhabit the spirited apartment and an upstairs neighbour with severe OCD. Her Fearful Symmetry is an exploration of self, relationships, love, death and everything that makes life worth while. What more could you ask for?

What I love about Niffenegger's work is that she is able to create such vivid and unique characters that will have you rooting for them (not to mention staying up late) until the very end. Even if they aren't that like-able, they will surely have an impact. She also intertwines universal themes and pop culture with such spectacular and wildly original stories that you can't help but be in awe of the her talent.

If that wasn't enough, she has also made a serialised graphic novel for The Guardian, The Night Bookmobile, which will be published in 2010 and her third novel, The Chinchilla Girl in Exile, is being conceived as we speak. Joy!

Buffy vs. Edward

In addition to yesterday's post I found a very funny clip online illustrating what would happen if Edward Cullen crossed paths with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, who apparently is the only girl immune to his obsessive yet smouldering personality. Don' worry I'm all Twilighted out for now.

Twilight rules, I'm serious

I have one week between jobs so I decided to indulge myself by finally reading Breaking Dawn, the conclusion to the beloved and excellent Twilight series. Over the past few months, I have to admit, I've become quite a fan. A year ago Twilight, Stephanie Meyer,... didn't ring a bell for me at least and suddenly it became a phenomenon that could no longer be ignored. The first installment of the series already dates back to 2006 and had quite a following but because of last year's movie adaptation starring the godlike Robert Pattinson and the publication of the conclusion Breaking Dawn, the Twilight saga entered a new and unparalleled stratosphere of succes which made me curious.

Last November I got round to reading Twilight and wasn't that impressed really: girl meets boy, boy turns out to be vampire and forbidden / potentially fatal romance follows. Your run of the mill teen romance novel with a twist. Meyer's style isn't all that, don't get me wrong she's great at portraying inner turmoil but the story was pretty bland. What did make it interesting however were the characters and this is probably my inner teenager talking, the love story. I'm just a sucker for forbidden love and tormented men. Bring them on! Oh, and I have to confess I also have a thing for vampires. That being said, it was an entertaining read but not worth all the fuss in my opinion.

And then I saw the movie which is the reason I got hooked and literally sucked into the phenomenon despite being a tad older than you average Twilight freak. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson (who is actually very yummy despite his age) really made these characters come to life. What can I say, they became real people and had me yearning for more. I simply had to know what was going to happen to them after the credits.

Cue New Moon, in which Edward decides to leave Bella seeing as their relationship is becoming quite dangerous to say the least. Not much action except the fact that her best friend Jacob turns out to be a werewolf. Why the hell not? A lot of anguish and soul searching ensues making the characters even more real and relatable resulting in a big and action-packed ending where Bella and Edward are finally reunited.

Then along comes Eclipse which is the most exciting and racy novel of the series filled with vampires, werewolves, secret romance between Bella and ..., old rivals and oh my god it was good. If you're expecting beautiful prose, detail and meaning, just don't go there. This series is great and Eclipse has it all but in the end this is character-driven action-packed entertainment. Nothing more, nothing less.

Sadly, it all ends with Breaking Dawn which was equally good but alas, the final one. The reason I put it off for so long was because I knew there would no longer be any Edward / Bella stories and I wasn't ready to say goodbye to them. I'm still in denial. Twilight is basically the equivalent of your favorite guilty pleasure TV show: it may not be groundbreaking but it's good, familiar and fun and then it ends. After "years" of getting to know these people / characters, they suddenly seize to exist. Sure there are re-runs and re-reads but nothing can top that initial acquaintance. I'm kinda getting off track here.

Breaking Dawn was everything it was cracked up to be and a little more: Bella finally becomes a vampire and gets busy with her beloved resulting in, get ready, mutant spawn. This is were it becomes a little weird, in other places it gets even freakier, but it still seems to fit in the intricately created Twilight universe. Again, there's action, romance (at last the good stuff), some uncanny twists and the ending we all expected but don't want to acknowledge, or I don't atleast.

I thoroughly enjoyed this series and can't wait for the next movie no matter how many funny looks I get when I proudly admit that yes, I am a Twifan!

Finally!

When I read that one of my all-time favorite novels, the bittersweet, magical and simply gut-wrenchingly brilliant The Time Traveller's Wife by the immensely talented Audrey Niffenegger was being turned into a movie, my heart skipped a beat. It was supposed to be released in 2008 but kept getting pushed back, at one time it was even rumoured be to released in 2010 but today, oh happy day, the trailer was finally put online just in time for its August release. Enjoy! I know I will...

Firmin, the vermin

The cutest book I've seen in a really long time entered the bookstore this week on a non-suspecting rainy Tuesday afternoon. It's name was Firmin by Sam Savage and I simply had to have it. Inside a neat little box with the fury protagonist on the cover is an adorable little book full of gorgeous drawings of rats and what not.

Rats you say? I did indeed. Firmin is the sad and beautiful story of a little rat who was born in an old bookstore. He isn't your run of the mill rat however seeing as he loves books, he even devours them, literally. Due to his uncanny hobby, Firmin tries to become friends with his fellow book loving creatures namely the humans that also inhabit the store. Not only does he become intellectually stimulated, his emotions also start to take him places he didn't even know existed and soon he finds out that the world is no place a unique literature-loving furball like himself.

If the cover and the drawings are anything to go by, I'll be in for a wild and highly original ride with a hint of magic and a dash of melancholy. This is an unusual ode to literature as well as a tail (pun intended) about the decay of hope and individuality in modern day society with one of the most endearing and unforgettable protagonists I've encountered in a while.

I can't wait to read it! Sadly he's got to wait in line with a couple of dozen other books that were lucky enough to make my "to be read this summer" pile.

Update

I am happy to announce that I officially quit my job today! Hooray! Months of whining and rejection finally came to an end last January when I started at Standaard Boekhandel. Little did I know then that more months of whining and utter frustration were just around the corner but no more...

From 29 June I'll be responsible for the external communications of the University Hospital of Antwerp which means I'll be writing leaflets and articles for their magazine. It's a part-time job which means I'll finally have enough time for my "stories" and other interesting articles ;) I'm really psyched!

Shakespeare McKean style

Tomorrow I'll be visiting a Dave McKean exhibition in Brussels for an article. He is a multi award-winning illustrator, filmaker, comic book artist,... And yet he is probably most famous for his numerous collaborations with Neil Gaiman for who he has illustrated many books (Coraline, The Graveyard Book,..) and designed the wonderful covers for the celebrated Sandman series. His visual flair is quite unusual and has a magical yet ominous out-of-this-world quality to it.

This example of his movie making skills (in which he revamps Shakespeare's sonnet 138) illustrates his unique and uncanny style:

The Solitude of Prime Numbers

This week I decided to take a break from Charles Arrowby's incessant whining in The Sea, The Sea and decided to give some Italian literature a try. I don't actually recall reading a lot of Italians, or none that are still breathing at least.

Intrigued by the "massive" sales at Standaard Boekhandel, I decided to give De Eenzaamheid van de Priemgetallen by Paolo Giordano the once over. Prime Numbers is the first novel by a rather fetching twenty-seven year old physicist. Last year he also became the youngest author to be awarded the Premio Strega for his debut novel. Almost over night he became Italy's biggest literary star and has already been translated in over twenty languages. Even the movie rights have been sold, it doesn't get any better than that.

The Solitude of Prime Numbers is about Alice and Mattia, who are both recovering from troubled childhoods that have left several physical and emotional wounds. They meet, find comfort in each other and yet decide to go their seperate ways. Was this the right thing to do? Will they meet again? Or are two messed up people just too much to handle? Who's to say?

Despite several rave reviews and impressive sales, I wasn't that impresssed to be honest. It's an easy read (took me two days) and has engaging characters but the story isn't gripping just depressing. Themes like anorexia, photography, auto-mutilation, guilt, math, loneliness,... are thrown in for substance but are never developed and thus remaina pure adjectives which is a shame. Stylistically the language is very simple, mundane even and that's probably why it was such a quick read. Maybe it was just me or the Dutch translation (my first "Dutch" book this year!) but I really disliked his use of words and the banality they created.

It's not a bad book, just not worthy of any awards, not even if you are a cute twenty-seven year old Italian physicist!

Voyeuristic Vinyl Eruption

I was looking at my dvd's this morning trying to decide in whose glorious company I was going to spend the next 120 minutes but nothing. I'm still at home due to a a muccus overload and was in desperate need of some company as I've apparently infected everyone I know and am now solely left with my cat who is an enviable state of blissful ignorance.

Anyway I did come across one on my all time favorites. I held it, reminisced, and foolishly decided to put it back and do something more productive like sit in font of a computer screen instead of a television screen, big difference. The movie in question was Almost Famous.

Set in the seventies, it starts Patrick Fugit as William, a sixteen-year-old aspiring rock journalist who gets and assignment from Rolling Stone Magazine to do a piece on the up and coming band Stillwater. Dying to break away from his strict and ever so funny mother (Frances McDormand), he finally gets to chance to experience some real rock 'n roll as he involuntarily goes on tour with them and loses his heart to the enchanting "band aid" Penny Lane, played by Kate Hudson.

The always sensational Philip Seymour Hoffman pops up as well as another rock journalist who guides William down this wonferful path of auditory adventures. Billy Crudup, Jason Lee,... are all phenomenal in portraying a conflicted band in the seventies rock scene which was envisioned so vivdly and authenticly by none other than Cameron Crowe.

Crowe started out his career as journalist for Rolling Stone magazine and loosely based this script on his own experiences (although I am wondering if he to was deflowered by three bored "band aids") which give it an incredibly personal and relatable vibe. He was aided by his lovely wife Nancy Wilson, a singer, songwriter and actress who is is responsible for the music in most of his movies. The soundtrack not only captures the essence of the seventies but also the essence of an endearingly smart coming of age tale.

I think I've seen this movie seven or eight times but what first appealed to me was no, not the fact that William was a writer but Panny Lane. Bold yet fragile, adventurous yet docile, a dreamer yet ultimately a realist. I just loved that character and her delicately disasterous relationship with Russel (Billy Crudup).

The second time round I became captivated by the atmosphere and the touching story which which is deceptively simple at its core but lathered with intricate human emotions. The characters are so real and the dialogue is fun and fresh, typical Crowe and it justly earned him an Academy Award for best original screenplay. This offbeat classic is filled with touching moments and funny anecdotes in all the write places.

Thirdly, it was the music. I don't know a lot about seventies rock but god, this soundtrack is good. Whenever I hear Elton John's Tiny Dancer, I still get goosebumps. Now it actually took me a fourth viewing to realize: "hey this kid is a writer!" Cool.

Everytime I watch it, something else captures my eye in this unique mix of colorful characters, dazzling dialogue and memorable music.