March 11, 2010
The Walking Dead might just be those WITH a pulse…
Reviewed by Steven
The Walking Dead Compendium, released last year, collects the first 48 issues of this ongoing, gripping and moody comic book series, dealing with a doomsday scenario involving zombies.
Not the fast-running, overly aggressive kind as seen in recent pop culture, but the old-fashioned, lumbering, dumb kind, that will still rip you apart, given half the chance. They roam around in hungry herds, attracted to noise and movement but solitary ones may also pop up out of nowhere for a fatal surprise.
The Walking Dead has a large and mutable cast of characters-who-still-have-a-pulse, with frequent additions as old friends and foes fall by the wayside. The ‘lead’ is Rick, a policeman. In the first issue of the series, he wakes from a coma, in a hospital-bed, after having been shot in the line of duty. The siege on humanity is already well underway at this point, the cause unknown. Rick heads out to find his wife and son, hooks up with other survivors and turns into a leader of sorts, trying to keep everyone alive and out of despair.
The dynamic between the survivors is what makes this book tick. It’s not so much brain-eating that takes center stage but the effects on the human psyche of a global disaster, with no clear hope that the situation will ever get better. Some people go crazy, others commit suicide, or let their base instincts take over and prey on the weak, while a few soldier on and try to live their life with some semblance of normality. Disagreements about the best way to survive lead to aggression and in-fighting.
As you might suspect, this isn’t a very cheery book, though there are some bright spots now and then to alleviate the grimness and there is always enough tension to keep you glued to the page, wondering what happens next. No one is safe in this comic and even long-time favorites may be given the axe – or more likely the ‘chomp’. Author Robert Kirkman has stated that even Rick may die at some point, the book going on without its (former) main character.
Kirkman started out this series with the pitch: a zombie movie that never ends. He was left wondering, “What happened next?”, several times when the credits rolled on undead classics and decided to come up with his own answer. Now nearing issue 70 of the series, there is still no explanation for the downfall of civilization as we know it and no end in sight. It’s a testament to the strength of Kirkman’s storytelling that you don’t feel annoyed by this lack of an explanation. Providing a reason might take away from the feeling The Walking Dead gives you of being overwhelmed and out-of-the-loop, and the reason would likely be somewhat silly in any case.
The artwork suits Kirkman’s story well, being somewhat coarse and gritty: Charlie Adlard has been the artist from issue 7 onwards. Tony Moore did the much cleaner, detailed traditional artwork for the first 6 issues but had to bail due to time constraints.
The Walking Dead is currently in production as a television series by Frank Darabont, director of The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. It will only loosely be following the comic book series in terms of ongoing plot though, much in the same way the Dexter TV series only somewhat resembles the Dexter books. So there is no excuse to miss out on the Compendium: dive into it as a primer to the characters and to just wallow in some good and moody storytelling. And rejoice, the credits won’t be rolling on this story anytime soon.
March 9, 2010
Win “The Road” movie prizes!
Win one of five fabulous prize packages of: the novel, the soundtrack, the movie poster, and a pair of free cinema tickets to see the movie!
Starring Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce and Robert Duvall, The Road is based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel and ABC Evergreen by Cormac McCarthy.
It’s a post-apocalyptic dramatic thriller about a father and his son walking alone through burned America. Nothing moves in the ravaged landscape save the ash on the wind. It is cold enough to crack stones, and when the snow falls it is gray. The sky is dark. Their destination is the coast, although they don’t know what, if anything, awaits them there. They have nothing; just a pistol to defend themselves against the lawless bands that stalk the road, the clothes they are wearing, a cart of scavenged food–and each other.
The Road is out in Dutch cinemas on March 18. (NOT on the 15th as stated in our March newsletter. Oops!)
For a chance to win one of these great prize packs, just send an email to market@abc.nl with your details!
March 8, 2010
The ABC Blog Quiz, First Edition
FASHION NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
A Night at the Museum – Voici Paris! Haute Couture
On Friday 12 March from 19.00 – 22.00 all fashionistas are invited to the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag to see the work of some of the most exclusive fashion houses, plus an exclusive fashion show featuring designs by Michael Barnaart van Bergen and Omar Munie.
For full information and to order your tickets, visit the Haguestcard site
This major exhibition will showcase the history of haute couture, alongside creations by today’s top couturiers. Renowned fashion houses like Dior, Chanel, Christian Lacroix and Jean Paul Gaultier will lend a number of exclusive couture creations from their latest collections, fresh from the catwalk, and never before seen in the Netherlands. Visitors will be able to admire close by the details that make these garments so unique: the sumptuous fabrics, unparalleled embroidery, the cut. In short: all the skills of Parisian couture.
Gemeentemuseum Den Haag owns one of the largest fashion collections in Europe, in which all the great couture houses are well represented. The original pink Givenchy dress that Audrey Hepburn wore in Breakfast at Tiffany’s is just one famous item in the collection.
During this evening, four English speaking guides will be present to tell you all about the creations. Non-members are also welcome during this evening.
The American Book Center will be there with a selection of our books on fashion.
March 5, 2010
You Review: So Much For That by Lionel Shriver
Reviewed by Natalie Gerritsen
Shep is a middle aged man who has always dreamed of one day moving to a Third World country to live the simple life. Now he has decided to just do it, with or without his wife Glynis. Right after he tells her about his plans, she also has an announcement: she has a very rare and very aggressive form of cancer. Shep’s dreams are immediately forgotten as he spends the next year taking care of his sick wife.
In the meantime we also meet Carol and Jackson, best friends of Shep and Glynis, who have a disabled daughter and are facing troubles in their marriage. The four friends struggle with money, insurance, sickness, trust and everyday life at a time when when life for them is anything but normal.
So Much For That is a very raw and honest account of the tragedy of sickness. There’s nothing romantic about the sacrifices Shep makes, it’s just the way it is. The characters aren’t heroes, they are just as flawed as everybody else and that makes them ultimately believable and even likable. The dialogues are alive and convincing in their anger, despair and humor. Even when absolutely nothing happens, it’s very hard to put the book down, because of the great style.
After all the terrible events the characters have to face, the ending is surprisingly clean and ‘taken care of’, but also very touching and it did leave me satisfied. So Much For That is one of those rare books that made me happy, depressed and contemplative at the same time.
You Review: The latest releases, reviewed by ABC customers. If you’d like to join in and get free books and ABC gift vouchers, see the original post for more details.
You Review is made possible by the following publishers: Penguin US; Penguin UK; HarperCollins US; Hachette US; Hachette UK; Simon & Schuster US, Random House US, Little, Brown UK, Hodder and Stoughton.
Nalden, or Life on the Webs
Ever heard of Nalden.net? It’s an eminently clickable website, not only technically nifty, but with tons of articles on music, design, art, trends, artists, and much much more.
The American Book Center is proud to announce that we have a very good working relationship with Nalden, the man behind this brilliant website, and who works closely with people such as MACHINE, Momkai, Circus, 290 square meters, and Sarah Hagens. ABC’s public relations department is in close touch with Nalden and loves to discuss ideas with him which work out beautifully.
For more info check www.nalden.net.
March 4, 2010
ABC Meets: Graffiti artist Niels “Shoe” Meulman
On Saturday March 20th at 4pm Niels “Shoe” Meulman and Adam Eeuwens will launch the book Calligraffiti at MiNiBAR in Amsterdam.
Contemporary Dutch calligrapher, typographer and designer Niels Meulman gained initial recognition as graffiti artist SHOE.
See a video of Niels in action on the Amsterdam Now site!
After an apprenticeship with Dutch graphic design master Anthon Beeke, he advanced rapidly. He ran his own design company, worked as senior art director for BBDO, worked as a creative director for MTV Networks and now freelances in specialized typographic design. His designs form part of the permanent collections of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and MOMA San Francisco. Notable works include a signature shoe design for Umbro and his own silk scarf label ‘Unruly’ – worn by fashionistas and Hip Hop heads alike.
At this launch Shoe and Adam will talk about the book, Calligraffiti and Dutch graphic design. There’ll be a Q&A, book signing and drinks.
Bookbits for March 4th, 2010
It’s far too pretty out to sit inside, but I promised myself to put some Bookbits up today, so here we go. And then off to the garden for a spell!
Bloomsbury has (rightly!) given in and will rejacket the US edition of Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore. The story is about a brown-skinned girl with exotic features, but the cover shows a white girl. They had to do the same with Justine Larbastier’s Liar last year. Pretty crazy, don’t you think?
- Jim Crace talks about ten years of his Digested Reads column. There’s a quiz, too (11/24).
- The Google Settlement isn’t settled, after all. The judge will probably rule in a few months.
- The Guardian has a lengthy interview-with-slash-piece-about Eva Gabrielsson, Stieg Larsson’s partner for 32 years, mentioning the feud between her and Larsson’s father and brother.
Awards! Well, a shortlist, in any case: the Nebula Awards nominees are up. The winners will be announced on May 15th. The Books for a Better Life Awards (the name of the awards is very accurate) were handed out Feb. 22nd (there are many, so I won’t list them separately). Another shortlist, this time for the delicious Diagram Prize for Oddest Title of the Year (scroll down to Current Nominations). I like Afterthoughts of a Worm Hunter by David Crompton and Governing Lethal Behavior in Autonomous Robots by Ronald C. Arkin, myself. The Duff Cooper Prize (for non-fiction books) was awarded to Trotsky by Robert Service. Frozen in Time by Ali Sparkes won the Blue Peter Book of the Year (children’s books).
- Aspiring writers, sit up! Here are tips from top writers. I think Helen Dunmore’s first tip is ace!
The Most Amazing Libraries in the World, part One and Two, according to the Huffington Post. I once considered attending a university simply because of the magnificent library in their brochure. 
- Shelf Life gives a preview of a new set of Penguin books with beautiful cover illustrations by tattoo artists (only they don’t say who drew what, sadly).
- “Another one bites the dust” writes Con Tumely of the passing of Barry Hannah.
- And finally, the book trailer for the soon-to-be-published Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, from the hand that wrote Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (not my cup of tea, but apparently many do like ‘em ):