Kathryn's Inbox

View this post on Instagram More of Adelaide's Leafies! This pair were spotted in Rundle Mall, on the balcony above Charlesworth Nuts, and just next door to that kind of gimmicky opal mine. #adelaideleafman #publicart #charlesworthnuts #adelaide #southaustralia #rundlemall A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox) on Apr 12, 2019 at 6:56am PDT

I can vaguely remember this short lived comic series from about ten years ago that stars a strong female cast. When I found a copy of this graphic novel which collected some of their adventures on a bargain shelf at QBD, I could not resist buying it. (I'll be honest. I mistook it for a different series and I'm so dumb that I didn't realise until after I'd got the book home.) Unfortunately, I did myself a disservice. First of all, this was book two. Second, while the concept was great, I soon realised that the comics featured a few too many characters, and I felt that I never really got the chance to get to know any of them, most of whom were new to me. And some of whom weren't all that interesting, though I imagine that much of the character building was done early on in the series. Also, it's filled with characters that are more recognisable to hardcore Marvel fans, rather than readers like me. At times, there was a little bit too much going on and

Harper Lee's famous novel To Kill a Mockingbird is beautifully adapted as a graphic novel in this lovely hardcover volume published by Penguin Random House. Many of you will already be familiar with the story of Scout, her father Atticus and the events that take place during the novel--and if you have not read it then, surely, at one point or another you would have seen the film. Consequently, I will not retell it here. This volume retells the story, this time, placing an emphasis on the differences between the carefree childhood experienced by Scout, her brother Jem and their friend Dill, and that of the huge burden of responsibility felt by their father, who is the defence lawyer for an innocent black man accused of a horrible crime in Alabama in the 1930s. This particular adaption paints an interesting contrast between innocence and responsibility, and how young Scout--and indeed, her father--learn some tough lessons. (And remember, it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.

There is little to like in Baby , a black comedy that is neatly tucked inside an oh-so-innocent looking cover, but maybe that is the point. The story of some thoroughly selfish people whose first impressions of each other are quite wrong makes for uncomfortable reading and takes a lot of time to get going. Told from the third person perspective of Cynthia, a recent university graduate, the story opens with her upping and leaving town with Anahera--a slightly older woman who she has a crush on. Cynthia believes that the two will live in blissful happiness on board a boat named Baby that they have bought with stolen money. For Anahera, however, Cynthia is simply a means to an end, someone who helps her to escape her husband and her job. And then some fairly horrible events occur on an island and a love triangle develops between Cynthia, Anahera and Gordon, a man that they pick up along the way. And soon, the worst parts of each of their personalities come out to play, which provides

View this post on Instagram Adelaide's Leafies. I spotted another of Adelaide's Leaf People. This one is inside Adelaide Arcade and is playing the violin 🎻 #publicart #adelaideleafman #adelaidearcade #rundlemall #adelaide #southaustralia A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox) on Apr 4, 2019 at 10:03pm PDT

The Rabbits is a rarity--a picture book for teenagers. And unsurprisingly, it is about rabbits. Or more specifically, it is about a group of rabbits who decided to come and live in a specific place. They don't know the rules of their new land, so they bring with them their own rules and their own ways. It causes some friction between the land's original inhabitants, eventually there is a fight to be had and the rabbits conquer the land. This story though, is the story of the side that lost, and indeed, just how much they lost, from a way of life to the natural environment that was so fundamental to who they were. It's heartbreaking, and it's deeply metaphorical. And the illustrations are so very haunting. Initially, I wondered if The Rabbits was a way of explaining the European invasion of Australia, but then I realised that the story could just as easily be talking about many other parts of the world that have been invaded by one group or another at vario

Based of a series of collectorables, DC Bombshells re-imagines some of DC comics greatest female superheroes--Wonder Woman, Batwoman, Supergirl and Stargirl--and DCs famous anti-hero Harley Quinn, as they join an elite team to fight the war effort. (Well, okay, there wasn't that much re-imaging going on with Wonder Woman.) This graphic novel tells the revised origin stories of each of the characters and ends with each of them joining the war effort. And the whole thing is quite visually impressive and entertaining. I enjoyed reading this one, though reading about some of the characters personal relationships became tiresome after a while. I've noticed with DC that there often seems to be a real emphasis on female characters who have intimate relationships with other female characters, to the point where it feels less about exploring interpersonal relationships and more like creating wank fodder for a proportion of the male audience.  Still, it's a solid story, m

My only regret with this book is that it took me so long to read it. Seven years, in fact. The good news, though, is that the whole seven book series has been released and I can read the books at my leisure instead of having to read it at a rate of one book per year. Anyway, this is an enjoyable fantasy read. The novel opens with eighteen-year-old Celaena, who is serving a life sentence in the salt mines of Endovier, a country ruled by a king bent of power and the destruction of other neighbouring countries. Her crime? She's a highly skilled assassin. So skilled, in fact, that she's managed to survive a year in the salt mines where the luckiest and strongest prisoners last just a few months. And now the Crown Prince and his assistant, Captain Westfall have come to the salt mine to offer her a deal. She can compete in a to the death tournament, filled with thieves and other assassins. If she wins, she will serve the king for four years and then be granted her freedom. Lo

Australian author Anna Romer is in fine form with her latest release Under the Midnight Sky. A romantic tale with a mystery at its core and some fine gothic elements, it tells the story of Abby, a journalist, who is haunted by the abduction and murder of her childhood friend many years before. Returning to the small town where she grew up, she finds an injured young woman on the side of the road, but when she summons help, the girl disappears. Was it in her imagination, or is it possible that there is something darker afoot? Abby barely has time to digest the idea when chance leads her to Ravenswood, an old country house and its new owner, Tom, a reclusive man who has carved out a career writing crime novels. When Abby discovers a hidden room in Ravenswood and a page of a diary written by a young woman who went missing with her sister many years before, she realises that there may be something much darker afoot. And what is the connection between the two sisters who vanished in the

Not that bad is an important, but heartbreaking conversation for our time. Filled with first-person autobiographical essays, it gives a voice to those who have been sexually assaulted, harassed, raped or sexually abused. Many of the victims downplay their experiences, yet each of the narratives show just how much trauma that every one of them has been through. This isn't about what happened to these people nearly as much as it is about the impact it had on their lives. And it is utterly, gut wrenchingly heartbreaking. But important. So very, very important.

View this post on Instagram Adelaide's Leafies Spotted another of Adelaide's Leafies. This one was atop of a phone box, making a call on an old school rotary phone. #adelaideleafman #phonebox #telstra #rotaryphone #dialphone #publicart #adelaide #southaustralia A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox) on Mar 29, 2019 at 3:15am PDT

Recently, I had a flu vaccination. This isn't exactly exciting, or groundbreaking news, considering that I have my flu jab at the start of every flu season and have done so for years, ever since my horrid experiences with swine flu. But, anyway, one of the consequences of a flu vaccination is that I never quite know how I'm going to feel afterward. Some years I experience no symptoms, other years I feel a bit more tired than usual. One year my muscles became extremely sore and uncomfortable, but hey, it's better than getting the flu, right? This year I ended up feeling as though I'd been hit by a truck and ended up having to spend a day and a half in bed. And the trouble with this arrangement is that while I'm not busy sleeping or reading (yep, any excuse,) my mind wanders off to some pretty weird places. And on this particular occasion, I found myself remembering a conversation that I'd had, oh, about twenty-eight years ago, when I was in grade four at pr

Unbeatable Squirrel Girl's first graphic novel is an absolute riot. Collecting Unbeatable Squirrel Girl comics 1-4 plus the character's first ever appearance in an Iron Man comic, this is all out, accessible comic fun that never takes itself too seriously. For the uninitiated, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is Doreen Green, a mutant that is half-squirrel, half-human. And with all the seemingly useless powers of a squirrel, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl has battled some of the greatest enemies in the Marvel Universe and, just like her name suggests, she has beaten them all.  This title works precisely because it shouldn't. Apperance wise, Doreen is pretty far removed from the stereotypical female superhero (think supermodels in revealing costumes,) and is a proud tomboy and slightly awkward teen. She doesn't win by kicking someone's arse and most of the plot twists happen through humour. Much like the new Ms Marvel, there is a real sense of fun, instead of the dark cyni

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Shadowhunter fans rejoice. Magnus Bane, the four hundred year old and slightly eccentric warlock with a heart of gold finally has a series of his own. Set immediately after the events in the third novel in the Mortal Instruments series, The Red Scrolls of Magic tells the story of Magnus and his boyfriend, Shadowhunter Alec Lockwood as they navigate their way through the early days of their relationship, whilst fighting some pretty dark forces. And the best bit? This is book one of a trilogy, so there is plenty more of Magnus and Alec's adventures to come.  The novel opens with the pair taking a much needed holiday in Paris. An otherwise romantic hot air balloon ride is cut short, however, when Alec spies some heavy duty demonic activity in the area. And things take an unexpected turn for the worse when they discover that the activity is due to a cult that Magnus helped to form many years ago, as a joke. Only now the cultists aren't happy to follow Magnus' teachings

This is most definitely not a novel for the faint of heart. Brutal and unflinching, 55 is for hardcore readers of crime. Chandler Jenkins is a police sergeant in a sleepy country town. One day, a young man named Gabriel stumbles into the station claiming that he has just escaped a serial killer, a man named Heath who claims that he has killed fifty-four people before him, and that Gabriel is to be victim number fifty five. Not long afterward, a man named Heath arrives at the station, and tells the same story, except that in his version, Gabriel is the killer? Which man is telling the truth?  Reader be warned--you're in for a twisty ride with this one, littered with lots of brutality and plenty of heartbreak, especially for Chandler. The novel is every bit as harsh as the Western Australian landscape that the author depicts in many parts of the narrative. However, some great twists and an intriguing hook are let down in places by the usual crime novel cliches--a police offi

View this post on Instagram A new look for Adelaide's Leafies? I passed the piano in Victoria Square this afternoon/evening and I was amused to see the leafies and the site is now sporting some, um, interesting accessories. What accessories can you spot in these pics? #victoriasquare #adelaide #southaustralia #publicart #leafies A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathryns_inbox) on Mar 28, 2019 at 12:14am PDT

If you're a writer, or an aspiring writer, at some point or another someone would have offered this pearl of wisdom. Write what you know. On the surface, it's great advice. There is a reason why #ownvoices is so popular. I mean who better to tell a story about someone who is marginalised in some way than a person who belongs to that marginalised group? The only problem is that writing what you know doesn't always produce the most interesting story. When I was writing the draft of my upcoming novel About a Girl, I originally included a chapter on how my main character, Callie was teased and ostracised in primary, owing mostly in part to immaturity on the behalf of her peers. In many respects Callie would make the perfect victim to a predatory clique of ten year olds. She's shy, highly sensitive and often feels overwhelmed by her peers. When the teasing begins, it happens because of an insensitive comment made by one of the parents, which leads the other girls be

This graphic novel combines the first twelve of Captain Marvel's Earth's Mightiest Hero series, which cover's transition from Ms Marvel to Captain Marvel. And there are challenges aplenty as she travels through time, finds herself betrayed and, basically, fights evil a lot. And, of course, she's determined to prove herself to be the best of the best. This time in a much less revealing costume.  As was the case with Ms Marvel, these comics have a darker and more serious feel to them than some of Marvel's other offerings. I can't say that I was a huge fan of some of the artwork in the second half of the book--something about the artist style didn't feel to me to blend as well with the character and themes as it could have. That said, the novel itself is enjoyable enough. Recommended.

Keeping with the Jeeves and Wooster theme, just thought I'd share this short from the TV show.

I have to be honest here. I went into this one with fairly low expectations. That's not to say I went to the trouble of buying a book in the hope that I would hate it--because that would just be silly--but I expected it to be the kind of thing that doesn't necessarily get reviewed on here, but gets talked and giggled about (in a good way,) with friends. And I certainly didn't expect the writing to resemble Shakespeare. After all, E.L. James stumbled into the business of being a bestselling author quite accidentally. What started out as a controversial Twilight fan fiction became the Fifty Shades series, a trilogy of self-published novels, with Edward and Bella morphing in to Christian and Ana. And then the books became popular, the author scored a large publishing deal. And then the books became a whole lot more controversial and lots of people read them simply because they wanted to know what all the fuss was about. And then the author added two more novels, retelling

Full of fun, romance and a swoonworthy hero, Grand Parade is rural romance at its best. Megan is a city girl and an aspiring photographer who gets a little bit more than she bargained for while on her first big assignment at the Royal Adelaide Show. Tasked with capturing the agricultural event, she finds herself on the receiving end of a kick from an outraged bull, one who'd really rather be back in the country. Fortunately, the bulls owner, Jackson, is there to offer assistance. As Megan recovers from her injury, the pair become drawn to one another. But can a clueless city girl and a country boy have a future together?  This was a fun read. In particular, I enjoyed the South Australian setting and the mention of places and events that were familiar to me--the Royal Adelaide Show being the big one of course. The romance between Megan and Jackson tugged at my heartstrings.  Recommended. This book was read as part of the Aussie Author Challenge 2019