03.Apr.2011 The Red Tree by Shaun Tan
I actually read The Red Tree last year and has re-read it a few more times since then. It is largely a picture book, with the most beautiful whole page or 2-page illustrations featuring a melancholy red-headed little girl. “sometimes the day begins with nothing to look forward to” is how it’s started. “The Red [...]
28.Feb.2011 We Have the Oscar Winners!
Oscar Live @ Fox Studios This afternoon we had the 83rd Academy Awards shown live at Fox Studios Australia. Simple lunch was provided, along with drinks, tables, chairs, couches, and picnic rugs. My colleagues and I strolled along and spent extended lunch watching the show. Imagine my delight when I heard Shaun Tan has won [...]
27.Jan.2011 2011 Oscar Commentary
You know how I have a thing for Shaun Tan. So you can imagine how happy I am to find that The Lost Thing (which I posted about mid last year) has been nominated for Best Animated Short Film at the 83rd Academy Awards! Granted it is competing with Pixar’s Day & Night (if you [...]
22.Jan.2011 Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women by Geraldine Brooks (1994)
“My interest in Islam had everything to do with being a women and zero to do with being a Jew,” thought Geraldine when asked by a Muslim Gaza woman why every time someone comes to research about Islam, they turn out to be Jewish. My interest in Islam has everything to do with growing up [...]
12.Dec.2010 The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan
A few months ago after knowing about The Lost Thing made into a short film and meeting Shaun Tan himself, I determined to read all his books. The Lost Thing and The Red Tree came to the top of my list. Ordered both from Book Depo and read both soon after (I’ll save The Red [...]
14.Aug.2010 Shaun Tan and Neil Gaiman at Sydney Opera House
Last week there was Graphics Festival at Sydney Opera House featuring a couple of graphic novels and movies folks. I was most excited about Shaun Tan and Neil Gaiman. Shaun Tan because, well, I adore his works beyond words. And Neil Gaiman, though none of his works have truly connected with me, he’s the type [...]
11.Jul.2010 Shaun Tan’s Short Film: The Lost Thing
Don’t know how I missed this, but I was so excited to find out about this short a few minutes ago! The short is part of Sydney Film Festival last month and will take part in Melbourne International Film Festival later this year. It is based on Shaun Tan’s book The Lost Thing (1999). He’s [...]
22.May.2010 Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
Tender Morsels is a book I picked up for many reasons. I first knew about it from Nymeth, whose passionate review seems to gather some sort of a cult. There was probably a time when people responded with a blank look “Tender Morsel who?”, but that time has long gone now! The novel won World [...]
03.Apr.2010 The Rabbits by John Marsden and Shaun Tan
If you have been a reader of my blog for .. oh.. about 5 minutes, you’d know that I luurrvv Shaun Tan. After the amazing Tales from Outer Suburbia and The Arrival, I have intended to go through all his back catalogue, even if that means I need to venture into the children’s section of [...]
23.Mar.2010 The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
The Slap starts with a barbeque party at suburban Melbourne. The explosion breaks when a man slaps a child who is not his own. The ripples affect everyone there: the family where the barbeque takes place, the family of man who slaps, the family of the child who is slapped, and all their family and [...]