Gair Rhydd

The World of Books - Australasia

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Continuing our look at books from around the world, this week Books goes down under to explore the best of Australasia

The Book Thief

Markus Zusak

Manga - A different kind of graphic novel

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After the recent success of films based on graphic novels at the box office, Books examines its favourite style...

Over the past few years, there has been an influx of films storming the box office that are based on graphic novels. In a time when books sales are dropping in favour of other mediums, this can only be a good thing.

Success in the cinema, such as Batman Returns, Sin City and 300 have achieved, means that graphic novels are quickly becoming one of the best selling genres, especially amongst teenagers across the globe. Yet manga, one of the longest and best selling types of graphic novel, often slips under the radar in the UK, within our age group and above (this is not the case in younger children, in which the drawing/reading/watching of manga or anime has quickly become an obsession).

Neighbours from Hell? English attitudes to the Welsh

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Mike Parker, co-author of A Rough Guide to Wales and a failed stand-up comic by his own admission, wishes to appeal to the those of us who, having grown up in England, have chosen to move west of the Severn bridge; the ‘In-migrants’. He strongly pushes the point that the book is not a drawn out apology for being English, but instead an attempt to delve into the stereotypes behind the well established gulf between the two neighbouring nations.

However within the first few pages it is clear that, in no way is he explaining the English behaviour, he simply assaults them in multiple, reckless unbalanced arguments, more along the lines of a Welsh nationalist than a English bloke gone native. It gives the impression of attempting to be quite a serious book, despite the liberal dosing of cartoons and deliberate avoidance of the Welsh attitude to the English.

Deep Hanging Out

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Books gets all over excited when one of our own lecturers publishes a book, and even more so when it is as successfully received as Richard Gwyn’s Deep Hanging Out...

This novel gives the distinct impression that Richard Gwyn has experienced much Deep Hanging Out, or ‘loafing’ as the protagonist refers to it, and after exploring his extensive biography it is evident why the text throbs with the beautiful imagery and tradition of Crete.

Following the story of Cosmo and his photographer/conspiracy-discovering flatmate Ruben, the book roams around the pre-military activity attached to the Cold War mixed with some of the local ancient culture focused on the myth of the Minotaur.

The World of Books - Asia

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Continuing with our look at books from around the world, this week Books takes a peek into the talent from Asia

Ma Jian

The Noodle Maker

The World of Books

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North and South America

It’s often hard to know where to start when looking for foreign books to try. Books has put together a five-part guide to our favourite authors out there now. This week, we visit North and South America

Andrew Kaufman

Measuring Time

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Set in a culture laden with mythic symbols and superstition, it is not without symbolic significance that Measuring Time follows the story of twins living out their youth in rural Nigeria.

Mamo and Lamamo Lamang owe their lives to encroaching Western modernity, born into a culture in which, until recently, twins were considered evil portents and left to die.

Blag The Asbo Show

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Set in a typically bleak south London, Blag is a story of immigration and illegal manoeuvring that would confirm any Daily Mail reader’s (and Jade Goody’s) prejudices about certain aspects of modern British society.

Central to the plot are two main characters; Sean Carlyle – a messed up immigration officer who’s main job is to stop immigrant workers in the capital, and Harry Verma – a hard gambling immigration lawyer preying on immigrants attempting to stay in Britain.

Creative Writing

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PONDERING THE MODERN WORLD… Reflections of a character from ancient Japan – Avalyn Beare

I do not get frightened. When I was a child I remember falling into the lake near the castle. The water was cold and I had not yet learnt to swim. Burning tendrils took hold of my insides and tightened. But I was rescued by a servant, and the feeling went away. When I was twelve I became a warrior. I have not felt that feeling since.

The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters

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Viking

Described as an adult adventure, The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters has a tasty mix of influences. Set with a distinctly Gothic feel in Victorian England, Dahlquist includes elements of Buffy style supernatural spiced with a gripping narrative similar to a good detective novel.

It starts simply with a letter; Miss Temple discovers that Roger Bascombe has unexplainably called off their engagement. With no explanation, Miss Temple is forced to discover the reason for herself.