Light Matters

Vicki Goldberg. Aperture. (248p) ISBN: 9781597111652
Light Matters

Light Matters

A collection of essays exploring some of the usual ‘canon’ of photographers of the twentieth century, with a definitely western bias, if not a US one.

This is definitely an end of the Twentieth Century™ survey, before the explosion of 21st Century reappraisals and widening of the acknowledged ‘greats’.

But for all that the collection of essays cover some important photographers to the early history of the art, and some of the broader subjects that photography encompasses. In doing so Vicki Goldberg gives a great introduction to these area with a brilliantly sardonic and knowing wink.

Most of the articles for individual photographers were in response to exhibitions of their work, and explored the artist through this lens. I especially enjoyed the article about Martin Parr which explored the way that he approaches the intrusions of his ‘in your face’ photography style and that he acknowledges the possibly exploitative nature of this practice.

The final essays that explore themes in photography were really interesting especially the last which looks at the entwining of the modern age, ready access to images, and the hiding of personal death away from the public as gruesome death had become performative through different medias such as films, TV, and newspapers.

Overall a great read but definitely of its time.


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GUMAA: The Beginning of Her

Jeehyung Lee, Nabetse Zitro. Titan Books. (256p) ISBN: 9781787742789
GUMAA: The Beginning of Her

GUMAA: The Beginning of Her

In this graphic novel we come into the battle between good and evil in an alternative world that holds a lot of similarities to ours.

The main problem is that people in this time don’t really know that there is this battle and fall in to problems due to it.

There is a lot of chopping and shifting between different timelines but it does sort itself out by the end and is never really too confusing.

Murder, betrayal, drugs, prostitution all spiral tightly through this tale and entrenches a lot of behaviours and makes outcomes inevitable.

this gripping story is excellently enhanced by great graphics that show the action and degradation in its best light.

Really looking forward to the next installment in this series.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.


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The Deorhord

Hana Videen. Profile Books. (352p) ISBN: 9781800815803
The Deorhord

The Deorhord

I was originally going to buy this when it came out in hard back but completely missed it, so was really looking forward to it coming out in paperback.

This is a brilliant mix of a couple of things I’m quite fascinated in, beasts and language especially old language and forgotten beasts.

There are a few sections and Hana looks at a variety of beasts that are common (and not so common) in Old English literature from eagles through elephants to stranger beast that defy description.

Each chapter stands alone beautifully and gives various references to literature that include that animal, breaks down symbolism, especially that linked to Christianity, and ends with a glossary of the Old English words used in that section.

Travelling through tales from Beowulf, Alexander (the not-so Great), and various Saints these tales are fascinating and kept me interested from start to finish, great variety and all put together so well.

Thanks to Profile Books for sending this out on its paperback release for me to ogle.


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Crypt of the Moon Spider

Nathan Ballingrud. Titan Books. (128p) ISBN: 9781803368801
Crypt of the Moon Spider

Crypt of the Moon Spider

A wonderfully Gothic re-imagining of the moon in an alternative 1923.

There is so much of the science fiction of Verne and Wells in this novella, but then tempered by a very dark creeping horror with a Lovecraftian flavour, cosmic and visceral.

Set on the moon among the forest that Galileo thought was a sea is a sanitarium called The Barrowfield Home, a place treating melancholy with experimental procedures involving spider silk from a long dead Moon Spider.

A cracking tale that had me gripped from start to finish, with a slow build setting the place within a universe that suddenly exploded into a startling conclusion there wasn’t a foot placed wrong.

The whole story was tight and paced so well, I especially liked the inclusion of some back story for Grub which really added flavour to the conclusion.

Looking forward to the next episode in the Lunar Gothic Trilogy!

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


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The Game Changers

Tim Clare. Canongate Books. (256p) ISBN: 9781805301349
The Game Changers

The Game Changers

I love gaming and have been gaming on and off since the mid-70s (chess) and have recently returned to playing solo board games and as part of this I’ve always loved a good book about games and the history of games.

In this book Tim looks at various games from the oldest to some of the newest and looks at how each has been part of society and influenced other game development travelling the world to show the universality of the need to game.

He also looks at how games influence people and groups and how people interact in these groups and it is this honest look at the sociological importance of games both at a group and individual level that really appealed to me about this book.

Full of humour and information this is a brilliant read from start to finish and I loved every moment of it.

Tim also ends with a very personal revelation that he hints at throughout the book so it came as no big surprise but shows a great deal of honesty and integrity.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


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Dread Wood

Jennifer Killick. HarperCollins. (336p) ISBN: 9780755503711
Dread Wood

Dread Wood

I’ve had this series on my radar for so long but never quite found the time to get round to it, but recently I received the whole series from HarperCollins and am on a mission to finish them all before the New Year.

This is the first in the series and it is a little bit like the part of a heist movie where they’re getting the gang together.

All of Hallie, Angelo, Gustav and Naira’s personality, secrets, and motivations are slowly revealed as ‘Club Loser’ is stormed and formed as they face dangers, confessions, and so much creeping strangeness.

The level of tension throughout the books is just right, giving reveals at the right points throughout, and ramping it up enough that you weren’t sure when the reveal was going to be.

The janitor/wife combo is wonderful as I’ve never really trusted jannies, I mean who would want to live in the school grounds?

Loved this, the interactions between the kids felt a bit more natural though there was a lot of reveals, it didn’t get in the way of the story, really looking forward to the next in the series and seeing where we go next.


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