BookieMonster » 2010 April

Competition time! Win a copy of Naming the Bones by Louise Welsh

Apr 292010

It’s competition time! I decided to run a competition for you, dear readers. All you have to do to enter said competition is leave a comment on the blog between now (4.30pm, 29 April) and 5pm, Wednesday May 5. We will announce the winner at 8pm on Wednesday. Every comment gets you one entry into the draw, and we’ll draw a name at random. Judges decision is final, no correspondence will be entered into, yada yada yada. Oh, and sorry overseas readers, but I can only post this to New Zealand addresses, so New Zealand address holders only, please. And, ah, I reserve the right to change these rules because there may have been something I’ve forgotten. I know some people prefer not to leave their email address when commenting, if you don’t please keep an eye on the winners announcement because you will need to Contact Us with your address [...read more...]

Secondhand books just spread the love

Posted by BookieMonster 2 Responses »

Apr 292010

A few more choice selections for your purchasing (and reading) pleasure… How to Build a Great Screenplay by David Howard ($16) In making individual decisions about each element of the screenplay a writer builds a good story from the ground up. David Howard offers in-depth consideration of the many elements that make up a screenplay, clarifying his lessons through examples from the most successful films: Pulp Fiction, American Beauty, The Usual Suspects, Trainspotting and Chinatown among many others. Accessible, clear and practical ‘How To Build A Great Screenplay’ is a working bible for the budding screenwriter. Recognising that story structure is the framework for a successful screenplay David Howard teaches how to incorporate the other elements so that the screenplay takes on a life of its own, creating the emotional connection, spectacle and intellectual stimulation that will impact on an audience. JPod : A Novel by Douglas Coupland ($11) Ethan Jarlewski and [...read more...]

Auckland Writers and Readers

Posted by BookieMonster Comments Off

Apr 292010

Auckland Writers and Readers Festival is almost upon us! If you are going to any events and wish to capture the moments on paper (or, uh, the internets) do let me know as I’d love to post any guest posts.

Them burlesque ladies and their decorations

Posted by BookieMonster Comments Off

Apr 282010

Them burlesque ladies and their decorations

I wanted to draw your attention to two more secondhand books we have for sale this week which are rather amazing books! Fashions in Makeup : From Ancient to Modern Times by Richard Corson (start price $40) Fashions in Makeup is a unique book in its field: a comprehensive history of cosmetics. In this highly praised volume, Richard Corson chronicles the pursuit of beauty from Ancient Egypt to the present day. Concentrating mainly on makeup traditions of the Western world, with examples from other countries included for comparison, Corson describes the cosmetics with which men and women have decorated their faces, how they have applied them, and what they looked like as a result. This is a huge book! And it’s really amazing, full of photos and pictures and totally comprehensive. In fact I don’t really know how much more comprehensive you could get on makeup. Historically intriguing, very learned… [...read more...]

A sale and some really really really really cool used books

Posted by BookieMonster 1 Response »

Apr 272010

A sale and some really really really really cool used books

Fiiiiiiirstly, we are having sale! SALE SALE SALE! With extra ponies!¹ But yes, we are having a sale. For starters we have around 400 NEW books that are all going for $20.95 or less. Less than $20.95! Like, for instance, $15.95 Or $9.95 – OMG SRSLY? Like, SRSLY. So get in there. Those books are selling, they are going, they are goneburger. Without them, your life is pantsical.² Don’t be pantsical. You wouldn’t like it when it’s pantsical. Now, as well as this amazing news of epic awesomeness³ I’ve loaded some really cool secondhand books for sale. They are so cool I want to buy them. But I am not allowed to buy from myself. They are that cool. Hyde Park Gate News : The Stephen Family Newspaper by Virginia Woolf, Vanessa Bell with Thoby Stephen $18 As children, Virginia Woolf, elder sister Vanessa Bell, and brother Thoby, collaborated [...read more...]

What’s BookieMonster currently reading? The Future Homemakers of America by Laurie Graham

Posted by BookieMonster 2 Responses »

Apr 262010

What's BookieMonster currently reading? The Future Homemakers of America by Laurie Graham

If you’re looking for the perfect piece of non-fluffy fluff, something to read that will capture your attention but not demand too much thinking then I have the book for you. The Future Homemakers of America is fun, funny and a good way to spend several hours. It follows the lives of 5 airforce wives from their stationing in England in the 1950′s through various trials and tribulations and into the present day. There’s more than a whiff of The Women’s Room here but then it’s hard not to have any whiff of The Women’s Room when you have a book that follows several women over several decades. And that is by no means a bad thing. No big intellectualising going on here – but you’ll enjoy the socks off this one!