fionajay
Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi
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The Worlds of Cixin LiuThe Worlds of Cixin Liu, Graphic NovelSea of Dreams : A Graphic Novel
by Santullo, RodolfoGraphic Novel - 2021Graphic Novel, 2021
fionajay's rating:
Added Mar 24, 2024
fionajay's rating:
Added Mar 24, 2024
Comment:
Haven is teeming with life in this tale of the almost mythological settlement of Skellig Michael, an inhospitable island of off the southwest coast of Ireland.
I found the story and characters engaging and the content like Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series in archaeological interest. (Its also where they filmed Star Wars.)Haven is teeming with life in this tale of the almost mythological settlement of Skellig Michael, an inhospitable island of off the southwest coast of Ireland.
I found the story and characters engaging and the content like Jean M. Auel's Earth's…
The Circumference of the WorldThe Circumference of the World, Book
by Tidhar, Lavie, 1976-Book - 2023Book, 2023
fionajay's rating:
Added Mar 12, 2024
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A mind blower of a book; the story of a book within a book and the concept of the galaxy recreated after passing through a black hole, or lodestar, or is it God's eyes? Reminiscent of Emily St John Mandel's Station Eleven, or Anthony Doer's Cloud Cuckoo Land. Tidhar has won acclaim for his works: expect this to soar too.A mind blower of a book; the story of a book within a book and the concept of the galaxy recreated after passing through a black hole, or lodestar, or is it God's eyes? Reminiscent of Emily St John Mandel's Station Eleven, or Anthony Doer's Cloud…
fionajay's rating:
Added Feb 28, 2024
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One of the best graphic novels i've ever read: A well informed story of shark - and human - behavior, with wise cracking characters. Includes history of misinformation on shark attacks that informed the classic Jaws. My favourite line: "Can it, you ridiculous slab of stupid" and possibly this one: "What in the name of Satan's unholy assleak is that banging?" :DOne of the best graphic novels i've ever read: A well informed story of shark - and human - behavior, with wise cracking characters. Includes history of misinformation on shark attacks that informed the classic Jaws. My favourite line: "Can it, you…
fionajay's rating:
Added Feb 13, 2024
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A harrowing, and entertaining tale of the early colonisation of Aotearoa; extensively researched and told with the utmost respect for Te ao Māori. Saige England's characters, setting, story and language - including te reo, whaling slang and Irish gaelic - make this book impossible to put down.A harrowing, and entertaining tale of the early colonisation of Aotearoa; extensively researched and told with the utmost respect for Te ao Māori. Saige England's characters, setting, story and language - including te reo, whaling slang and Irish…
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and TomorrowTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Book
by Zevin, Gabrielle, 1977-Book - 2022Book, 2022
fionajay's rating:
Added Feb 01, 2024
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Astoundingly clever character-driven story from the point of view of a gamer's mind. "What is a game? ...It's tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. It's the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption..." And yes, references to Shakespeare.
AirAir, Graphic NovelBook 1, Letters From Lost Countries
by Wilson, G. Willow, 1982-Graphic Novel - 2022Graphic Novel, 2022
fionajay's rating:
Added Jan 30, 2024
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Brilliant series - up to book four at last count. If you're into Amelia Earhart, this is the comic for you. Topical, as her plane may have just been found irl... https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/350163146/amelia-earharts-plane-found-depths-pacific-after-18m-searchBrilliant series - up to book four at last count. If you're into Amelia Earhart, this is the comic for you. Topical, as her plane may have just been found irl...…
Added Jan 30, 2024
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Menilik Dyer is an Ethiopian-born Kiwi - definitely one to watch.
Added Jan 30, 2024
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I've got goosebumps! A sequel!
fionajay's rating:
Added Jan 25, 2024
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Visceral, thrilling, fast-paced and brilliant! Not for the faint-hearted.
fionajay's rating:
Added Dec 14, 2023
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When I read the first story it was poignant with some poetic language, and I wondered what the fuss was about. Then I read the second story and it was so beautiful, feeling turned poetry, that it made me cry. Feeling - that's why Yoshimoto is popular - she catches something intangible in her hand and writes it down for us to share.When I read the first story it was poignant with some poetic language, and I wondered what the fuss was about. Then I read the second story and it was so beautiful, feeling turned poetry, that it made me cry. Feeling - that's why Yoshimoto is…
fionajay's rating:
Added Dec 05, 2023
fionajay's rating:
Added Nov 21, 2023
Comment:
Shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Fiction. From the first pages of Ben Sanders' Exit .45 readers are thrown into the action of this story, packed with tough broads, gangsters, car chases, corruption and abduction.
It's fast-moving, with sharp dialogue. Ex-cop Marshall lives in the moment, risking his life as if it isn't worth much. He's rough and sexy too, finding time for more than one liason while trying to solve the disappearance of his friend Ray Vialoux.
Readers of Lee Child and James Patterson would enjoy this one; set in New York with a hint of bent cops and gangsters. Sanders is good with language, lightening a dark story with quick, cutting wisecracks.Shortlisted for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Fiction. From the first pages of Ben Sanders' Exit .45 readers are thrown into the action of this story, packed with tough broads, gangsters, car chases, corruption and abduction.
It's…
fionajay's rating:
Added Nov 21, 2023
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Great story. It's a slow reveal, the tension building towards some good dark scares. Montserrat and Tristan became familiar companions, the supporting cast are fabulous and the subject matter fascinating. Big fan of SMG!
fionajay's rating:
Added Nov 03, 2023
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This year keeps getting better and better.
Nghi Vo brings Mammoths at the Gates to life with beautiful imagery. Cleric Chi's restrained grief at losing their beloved mentor Thien An Lih, the Divine Cleric at Singing Hills, is heartbreaking.
The Neixin bring a powerful message about personhood, a battle, and Almost Brilliant's daughter Chiep to the story.
An utter delight! This series is a meditation from a busy world. I've really enjoyed Vo's books this year, Siren Queen included. <3This year keeps getting better and better.
Nghi Vo brings Mammoths at the Gates to life with beautiful imagery. Cleric Chi's restrained grief at losing their beloved mentor Thien An Lih, the Divine Cleric at Singing Hills, is heartbreaking.
The…
fionajay's rating:
Added Oct 31, 2023
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Scary! Set in Mexico and New York, this is a visceral story with terrifying ancient spirits, giant crickets and swarms of monarch butterflies, with a pinata made of human parts beating at its centre. Author Leopoldo Gout gives voice to colonisation from the Nahua point of view. Now I keep seeing black butterflies...Scary! Set in Mexico and New York, this is a visceral story with terrifying ancient spirits, giant crickets and swarms of monarch butterflies, with a pinata made of human parts beating at its centre. Author Leopoldo Gout gives voice to colonisation…
fionajay's rating:
Added Oct 12, 2023
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Loved it! But it was ooghy. Think Hannibal Lecter meets Annie Wilkes. Two elderly cannibals raise the bar in this Finders Keepers story that's 'all Holly' according to King.
She's on the trail of a disappeared librarian (well, thats close to the bone!), and finds more to boot. And she's on her own for real - her partner has Covid, Barbara and Jerome are distracted with their own projects. So good to revisit these characters.
Stephen King just celebrated his 76th birthday. He says he's as old as the trombones in the parade.Loved it! But it was ooghy. Think Hannibal Lecter meets Annie Wilkes. Two elderly cannibals raise the bar in this Finders Keepers story that's 'all Holly' according to King.
She's on the trail of a disappeared librarian (well, thats close to the…
Added Oct 12, 2023
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Keen to check this one out - brought to you by the co-author of The Living Dead, and The Shape of Water.
fionajay's rating:
Added Sep 27, 2023
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Entertaining and heart-wrenching, this fast-paced tale of a woman fighting for her life, and her future with the woman of her dreams is rendered with wit and beautiful prose. Its a bit This Is How You Lose The Time War crossed with Good Omens, its essentially a turf war between angels and demons. On earth, however, humanity blurs the ethics of entities. Already an award winner this year, will it win a Hugo too?Entertaining and heart-wrenching, this fast-paced tale of a woman fighting for her life, and her future with the woman of her dreams is rendered with wit and beautiful prose. Its a bit This Is How You Lose The Time War crossed with Good Omens, its…
fionajay's rating:
Added Sep 27, 2023
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One of the best books I've read this year!
Riffing off the myth of the Crane Wife, this is a fantastically visual story bordering on horror. The author of When Women Were Dragons offers a bird's eye view of domestic abuse and neglect; with gentle imagery, lyrical language and exotic characters. I'm fast becoming a fan of Kelly Barnhill.One of the best books I've read this year!
Riffing off the myth of the Crane Wife, this is a fantastically visual story bordering on horror. The author of When Women Were Dragons offers a bird's eye view of domestic abuse and neglect; with gentle…
Killers of the Flower MoonKillers of the Flower Moon, BookOil, Money, Murder and the Birth of the FBI
by Grann, David, 1967-Book - 2017Book, 2017
Added Sep 27, 2023
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This has been made into a film releasing October 2023 with a studded cast including Leonardo DiCaprio. The story looks compelling and similar to NZ's history of disenfranchising?
fionajay's rating:
Added Aug 18, 2023
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The Waters is a dream-like reverie; a collection of cleverly arranged stories, set in Christchurch, that work in isolation. Gathered together, the observations of the rise and fall of a family are like flotsam along the tideline. Carl Nixon is appearing at WORD Festival Christchurch: 10:30, Friday 25 August, at the Piano.The Waters is a dream-like reverie; a collection of cleverly arranged stories, set in Christchurch, that work in isolation. Gathered together, the observations of the rise and fall of a family are like flotsam along the tideline. Carl Nixon is…
Studio 666Studio 666, DVD
DVD - 2022DVD, 2022
fionajay's rating:
Added Jul 25, 2023
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The nicest guy in rock n roll turns into a monster :) Very silly movie, but a brilliant splatter! Read it with We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix.
fionajay's rating:
Added Jul 22, 2023
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What if marrying the prince wasn't a happy ending? This dark fairy tale is full of magical realism and self awareness, while turning traditional roles around. Marra is the hero rescuing her sister from a husband who gives her bruises but offers her death. T. Kingfisher's beautiful, clever and horrifying imagery reminds me of the amazing Clive Barker. And, Bonedog! <3What if marrying the prince wasn't a happy ending? This dark fairy tale is full of magical realism and self awareness, while turning traditional roles around. Marra is the hero rescuing her sister from a husband who gives her bruises but offers her…
fionajay's rating:
Added Jul 17, 2023
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Charity Norman writes very human stories, examining what motivates people and events that can change behaviour. Landscape plays a huge part in Remember Me: the moving story of a young woman missing for more than twenty-five years on a maunga - the Ruahine Range - and its connection to a man with dementia. A nominee for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Crime Fiction.Charity Norman writes very human stories, examining what motivates people and events that can change behaviour. Landscape plays a huge part in Remember Me: the moving story of a young woman missing for more than twenty-five years on a maunga - the…
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