Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Jan 20, 2010 Biography, History, Image based, Women's Literature
Moving without being sentimental or cliched, painfully honest to the point of brutality without being gratuitous, this book is basically perfect. The artwork is simple but somehow very, very expressive and this is a side of Iranian life you never get to see – it’s easy to be sort of informed if you keep up with news sources, but it’s usually in the aftermath of violence that anyone stops to ask regular Iranians what they think, and what their lives are like. The answers might surprise you.
Synopsis: Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis is an exemplary autobiographical graphic novel, in the tradition of Art Spiegelman’s classic Maus. Set in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, it follows the young Satrapi, six-year-old daughter of two committed and well-to-do Marxists. As she grows up, she witnesses first-hand the effects that the revolution and the war with Iraq have on her home, family and school.
The Suspicions of Mr Whicher: or The Murder at Road Hill House
Dec 3, 2009 Biography, History, Specialist Subjects
I’m not really a fan of true crime. I’m never really attracted to apparently thrilling accounts of gruesome murders, and I don’t usually have a burning desire to know whodunnit – in fact, I often feel that true crime stories lack a certain sense of humanity. That being said, this book completely fascinated me and turned those expectations upside down. Kate Summerscale focusses on the rather nasty murder of a middle-class Victorian child, and in doing so, paints a very vivid picture of Victorian family life, the birth and development of the police force, and the life of a detective. Weaved into the story are tidbits about the origins of detective fiction and its terminology, the lifestyle of a nun, court proceedings and even a bit of photography. It’s very engaging, despite the gory murder at the centre of the book.
Frankie Boyle – My Shit Life So Far
Nov 14, 2009 Biography, Comedy
If you’re a fan of Frankie Boyles then this book goes without saying. If you don’t know his work then he’s probably the UK’s last real rock’n'roll comedy hero in the mainstream. Despite his smart appearance on the cover the book is a hilarious ride about his wild and reckless lifestyle involving drugs and drink, it reminds me more of what you’d get from the true greats like Prior and Hicks 20 years ago.
I did smirk and smile most of the way through and it wasn’t burst out loud funny, but I feel that few books sustain comedy for as long and lasting as this one does. As you can tell by the cover Boyle is offensive, he is crass and at times just plain foul, but he’s also intelligent, insightful but not at the expense of his delivery.
Comedy has managed to be left alone a little, the bland and inoffensive churning out of formulaic acts from the likes of X-Factor and MTV has set music back years. Good solid movies seem to be few and far between and so comedy has filled the void a litte and today we have some incredible stand-ups and great TV comedy. Boyle is certainly up there and whilst I’m not a huge fan of Mock the Week he definitely shines through as the most consistently entertaining. I’ll be watching his DVD live act very soon.
This one’s on the xmas list for a few people I know. My copy was passed on to 2 people who both saw him in a different light after reading it. It will at least cheer you up but what ever you do, don’t let your nan read it.
Today is the First Annual Carl Sagan Day
Nov 7, 2009 Biography, Events, Science and Technology
Carl Sagan was a Professor of Astronomy and Space Science and Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell University. He served as an advisor and consultant to NASA, and played a major role in the establishment of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence).
He was a Pulitzer Prize winning author and most familiar to the public through his COSMOS series on PBS. In addition to numerous awards, recognitions and honorary degrees for his outstanding contributions, he is acknowledged as one of the most effective public faces of astronomy and space science throughout the world. Sagan died in December 1996.
The Art Of Deception
Nov 6, 2009 Biography, Science and Technology, Specialist Subjects
Kevin Mitnick was at one point the most wanted computer hacker in the world. This will come to no surprise to you when you hear how he started hacking bus passes at the age of 12. Later on he was to serve 5 years in prison for a string of offences and was only released in 2000. He was restricted from using any telecoms devices but later fought this in court and they eventually allowed him on to the internet.
Mitnick now runs Mitnick Security Consulting LLC, a computer security consultancy.
Hacking came to fame in a lot of 80’s movies like War Games and Terminator, however back then hacking systems with an RS232 port and an analogue telephone was a rare and infrequent occurrence.
Once basic security systems like password protection had been put in place hacking became something more of an art. Detailed technical knowledge of how to run scripts on servers and circumnavigate security became increasingly more difficult.
So what Mitnick realised was that by using social hacking methods he could achieve similar results with a little practice. That is the main content and storyline of this book, and it’s a very good one.
Released in 2003 it is a little out of date for those who are really up on this sort of subject. Most people with half a brain in their heads are aware of “phishing” and email scams. But there really is a lot of useful information and great stories about just how easy it is to make your way in to systems with information provided relatively easily.
This is not a hackers guide, it’s more of an instructional manual of how not to be scammed and the way companies fail to recognise the holes is security via less obvious methods like the information available to the office secretary or receptionist.
Anyone in to technology will love the Mitnick story and anyone who owns a business must add this to their reading list. There is a newer release from Mitnick but we’ve not got round to it yet. I’m sure if it’s as good as this release it will be on here.
Design for Obama: Posters for Change
Nov 5, 2009 Biography, Image based, Politics and Society
Perhaps one of the most prominent images of the Obama campaign was the Obey poster that is now ingrained in everyones minds. Along with this was a growing trend to create images that represented a leader who is both powerful and in control but comes across as actually quite cool and approachable.
Finally America has a leader with a good image both in the US and abroad and he’s hopefully someone who can redirect the countries obviously troubled path. They want “change”.
So it comes as no surprise that the graphic design following this word and Obama’s image is intelligent, well formed and pretty funky too. Tashen shine when it comes to image based books and this one is no different. There’s a 176 page preview here where you’ll see the vast array of different styles and imagery occurring both before and after the election.
What’s interesting this time round is that everything from street styled graffiti to super cool illustration has been a part of the process. Graphic design has officially landed on the political platform and the fact it’s message is so strong and seen by so many puts it in to a new perspective.
Another great Tashen release.
