Book Review: Mirror Mirror By Gregory Maguire

     Gregory Maguire is probably best known for his re-interpretation of modern classics. The Wicked trilogy re-imagine The Wizard of Oz while confessions of an ugly step sister, which looks at the tale of Cinderella from an unexpected angle. Mirror Mirror is the re-telling of Snow White, and an absolute triumph. When my six year old asked me what I was reading and I told her Snow White, she scoffed stating that there was only one Snow White, and that to her is the Disney version. I'm not sure what I was expecting when I started reading this, but it certainly wasn't what unfolded on the page. Maguire has somehow managed to merge a fairly well known fairytale with real life characters (In this case the Borgia's), and a few mystical elements chucked in for good measure and the result is Mirror Mirror. The story only occasionally borders on the confusing, but for the majority of the time it is a delight from start to finish. I'm not going into too much detail concerning plot for fear of ruining how the story pans out but I will say that in context it makes perfect sense.

     I can only hope that Maguire keeps up with this tradition or re-inventing old classics because he has a habit of making something that was getting a bit old suddenly new again. For anyone who enjoyed Wicked this is a must!

The Secret of Immortality Revealed

     The quest for immortality. Long thought to be an impossible dream. Throughout history philosopher's have attempted to uncover it's elusive secrets without success. Writers have teased us with it's possibilities, concepts such as the philosopher's stone and the legend of the vampire have kept it's appeal alive but when it comes to actually achieving immortality most have given up hope of ever discovering it's secrets. It may therefore come as a surprise when I tell you that the secret has been right in front of us years, and for some reason it has gone overlooked.
   
     I can see you mouthing "Well what is?", and just to annoy you I am going to leave you hanging before I reveal the secret to give you a bit of background information on the concept of immortality. The dictionary meaning of the word immortal gives it's meaning as: deathless; famed for all time. Also the dictionary meaning for an immortal being is given as one whose fame will last. In literature the concept of immortality is closely linked with the legend of the vampire. In most examples where the vampire appears it is depicted as being immortal, but the price one has to pay is an almost constant craving for blood. In most literature immortality, while at first being extremely attractive to the individual is ultimately revealed to be nothing more than a curse. Well the secret to immortality is not as imaginative as the vampire, but when you actually think about it you find yourself thinking "How could it have been anything else?". I'll give you a clue; this page is a celebration of it. Still don't know? Alright, I'll tell you. The secret to immortality is the art of writing.
     I can see your a little disappointed by that revelation, but allow me to prove it to you. Since it's invention writing has been the ultimate tool for people to outline their religious beliefs, thoughts and feelings and ultimately it became a window to a person's imagination. When something is written it is preserved in ink, and if treated well that verse can still be read thousands of years later. Take the journal entry for example. By capturing your experiences day after day you provide the reader with an insight into the life of someone normally they would never have been exposed to. When H.G Wells first wrote about a possible alien invasion from Mars, I'm sure not even he realized that his tale would outlive him and continue to be devoured by people of all ages a hundred plus years later. The same is true of other great author's of the day whose works live on today, such as Dickens, the Bronte sisters, Agatha Christie and the list goes on.  The best example though of the longevity of the written word is of course the Bible. Whether you believe it's message or not the fact that people live their lives based on it's words to my mind proves my theory.

     This page is the ultimate celebration of the written word and as long I continue to write and be inspired by what I read I will continue to share it with you and hopefully inspire you to do the same. Lastly if you write and struggle to have something published, whatever you do don't lose heart. Every single time you pen to paper, or even finger to keyboard you are ensuring your own immortality. If that is to be our legacy then it's something we can be very proud of.

Yours in words,
Jez Cartner

Book Review: The Time Traveler's Wife By Audrey Niffenegger

   I have decided to review one of my favourite novels which somehow manages to blend two separate genres that don't usually go together; that of time travel and science fiction. Since being published back in 2004 there have been many nods to this story in various forms of media, the most obvious being in recent episodes of Doctor Who. The Girl in the fireplace, An episode first broadcast in 2006, is a virtual rewrite of the novel and the concept  is again revisited with the introduction of Amy Pond in 2010 series opener The Eleventh Hour. Homages of this nature are the greatest compliment a writer can get and is ultimately a testament to the novels success.

   The novel is an extraordinary love story of Clare and Henry who first meet when Clare is just six years old and he thirty six. They are married when Clare is twenty two and Henry thirty. "Hang on a minute, that can't be right" I hear you cry, and to be honest you're confusion is justified but it just so happens that Henry suffers from a rare condition where his genetic clock re-sets itself and any given moment he will find himself flung into his past or indeed his future. This unique concept actually works in the novel's favour, and while it has the potential to be confusing strangely this is never the case. The story is told from the point of view of both Clare and Henry and it is refreshing to see the stories events from two different perspectives; The girl who has no choice but to wait and the man who is constantly time travelling. Normally when I read anything that involves time travel I find myself debating the science behind the concept, but in this case I ignored the science and simply accepted the fact that a person can be born with a condition that enables them to travel through their own life at any given moment. This book has also inspired a feature film adaption of the same name, but my advice would be to read the novel and then see the film and not the other war round as it makes more sense that way. It's one of those rare books that rewards you on multiple reads and the experience is never a dull on. Well worth checking out if you're a hopeless romantic or simply someone who longs to travel through time. Well worth the time (Sorry couldn't resist). 

The Day Terror won!

   It was a day the world came to a standstill. A day when the world stopped and mourned as one. September 11 2011 will mark the tenth anniversary of what I like to call the day Terror won, or at least they thought they had. They struck a large blow and won for a day, but the human spirit is a very difficult thing to break and when events of this nature occur, and unfortunately they will continue to do so, our spirit will grow and somehow the light will shine again.

 
  Everyone has their memories of that day and I'd like to share mine with you, and although I was nowhere near New York at the time of the attack I saw first hand how people pull together in the face of adversity. At the time I was working for International Directory at Optus Communications and I usually did the 06:00 am start, and when I arrived to begin my shift that morning it was very apparent that something big had happened during the night. Normally at that hour of morning it was quiet and next to zero calls, but as soon as our bums hit our chairs we did not stop. Most of the calls were generated by people overcome with concern for relatives who happened to be in New York at the time. As the morning progressed everyone did whatever we could to connect people to loved ones who happened to be in Ground zero and the pure joy expressed whenever this was achieved was indescribable. Every one pitched in to help, to do whatever they could to combat the feeling of helplessness we all felt whenever we looked up at a television screen and saw what was unfolding before our eyes. People on annual leave and holidays gave up their time willingly and manned the phones to assist their under siege colleagues. My main memory of that day, however is that out of the calls we handled during that time not one contained a message of hate, they all messages of love and compassion. People willing to do whatever they could to help out fellow human beings who were at their lowest.
 
  So while Terror scored a hit on 9/11, the human spirit won out in the end and proved that if you kick us we'll simply get up and hobble on. This is how I remember 9/11, not for the actual event but how everyone pulled together in the aftermath. That is truly worth remembering and ultimately worth celebrating.

A Perfect Transition

NOTES: Yet another piece of fan fiction featuring the good Doctor. This story is set before his triumphant return in the 2005 episode Rose and the Doctor feels retirement is the only way forward. Who is the best person to persuade him otherwise? Why himself of course. Once again the good Doctor is property of the BBC and not to be re-produced. A little bit of fun.


The Doctor stared around the console room and did his best to remember the last time the TARDIS had been this empty. He was of course used to having someone around to interact with and as he was now very much on his own he was beginning to feel extremely lonely. After his recent perilous adventures the strain was also starting to show. Unfortunately it seemed that destiny had no intentions for him to stop and rest, he had recently traced the Nestene Conscience to Earth and he knew another invasion attempt was definitely on the cards. What was troubling him at the moment was he was beginning to wonder whether the Earth was worth saving. He didn't like admitting it, but this time he was tempted to sit back and just let nature take it's course.
"Thinking of our past sins?" A cheerful voice asked. "Because if you are then I should think you have plenty to choose from."
Startled the Doctor spun around and found himself face to face with what at first appeared to be a bizarre cross between Wild Bill Hickcock and Charlie Chaplin. The man in front of him had a mop of curly hair, wore a velvet frock coat and a cheerful grin that was strangley addictive. If didn't take much to work out he was being visited by his past self.

The Doctor's immediate predecessor shoved his hands in his pockets and began exploring the TARDIS.
"I say I like what you've done with the old girl, very organic. Whereas I was aiming for the Wellsian look you seem to have taken your cue from Gardeners international!"
The Doctor sighed and sat down, smoothing out his leather jacket as he did so.
"I hope you don't think I'm being rude." He said. "But seeing as though you're not actually here I've decided not to acknowledge you, that alright?"
"Come on old chap, there's no need to be like that. I know I only exist now in your mind but you could at least listen to what I have to say."
The Doctor looked up at him, a bored look on his face. "Alright then, let's hear it."
"I know you've had a tough time lately." The eighth Doctor began. "Remember I was there as well, after all that's why you're now in charge and I'm not. It's been tough I can't deny it, but you just can't quit!" The Doctor rounded on him angrily.
"Why not? We might as well not bother. There's nothing left that I care about, it's all gone!"
"What do you mean?"
"Our world is gone, don't you understand? Blown away in some pointless war! We chose to go on the run all those years ago, we were even branded a renegade by our own people but the point is Gallifrey was always there! We still had a home, now there's nothing left but a floating pile of ash!"
"That's true, but don't you think we owe it to Gallifrey to carry on? I believe our people perished because of their policy of non-intervention, something which we have never agreed with, that's why we left in the first place. We both know there will always be evil in the universe, and I personally believe we can still make a difference." He paused, and then gave one of his annoying grins. "You never know you might even start to enjoy yourself!"

The Doctor was silent for a moment and then gave his predecessor a manic smile.
"You're right." He turned to the console and began frantically working the controls. "After all after two previous attempts you'd think the Nestenes would be able to take a hint!" He turned back to his other self, to find that he was once more alone in the TARDIS.

Again The Doctor stared around the console room, and somehow it didn't feel quite so empty. Even though he was travelling on his own, it appeared he was never on his own. He grinned as the TARDIS came to a stand still with it's traditional groan and he strode through the doors with a new found confidence, The Doctor was about to make a difference.

INNER TURMOIL

* As a devoted Doctor Who fan I occasionally write the odd Doctor Who fan story, and every now and then I'm going to share them with you. This one was written quite a while before The Doctor's Wife screened, and shares similar themes. Obviously the good Doctor is owned by the BBC and not to re-produced as it's just a bit of fun. Enjoy!

Consciousness painfully returned. The Doctor slowly opened his eyes and tried to see where he was. He had absolutely no idea how he came to be in this strange place, and apart from his name he could remember next to nothing about himself.
As he tried to familiarise himself with this strange place he suddenly found himself in his mind was bombarded with what seemed to be hundreds of conflicting images. He closed his eyes and tried to focus the images so they made some sort of sense. Among the images he saw was a vast fleet of flying saucers each one holding thousands of exterminating pepper pots, a space station orbiting a small polluted planet where these same pepper pots were rounding up the survivors and making short work of them, and finally the image of a young blonde woman reacting with horror as the features of the man she has come to trust with her life changes before her very eyes.
It was this final image that stirred something in the Doctor's memory. He knew this girl, and although he could remember nothing about her he was certain she travelled around with him. The Doctor struggled to recall the young girls name, he was sure it had something to do with flowers but beyond that he drew a complete blank.
"Why can't I remember her name?" He asked, addressing no-one in particular. It came as a bit of shock when he was met with a reply.
"Don't worry Doctor; you haven't lost your memory. You're experiencing a little disorientation, that's what happens when you rush off in the middle of something important. Give it a few moments and I promise it will all come flooding back!"

The Doctor spun around, startled to find he was not alone. The woman before him was incredibly tall and incredibly beautiful. She had flowing blonde hair and friendly features, but although she appeared to be human there was something alien about her.
It was at this moment that the Doctor's memories chose to return, and even though he was still very confused as to what was happening he knew exactly who this mysterious woman was.
"Ah my trusty TARDIS. It's good to see you old girl!" She smiled warmly at him.
"Together again Doctor."
“Wouldn't have it any other way. So how's the regeneration going?"
"Well I thought I had everything under control until Rose Tyler decided she needed you to rescue her. I must say she certainly is a very determined young lady isn't she? We haven't had anyone this fiery aboard since Ace."
"We must be grateful we have her and not her mother, now that would be torture. Where are we by the way?"
"Don't you know?"
"Well it appears to be the zero room but I know for a fact I'm not in the TARDIS, not physically anyway. I'm currently in Jackie Tylers flat wearing a pair of jim jams with so much fruit in it's pockets it could easily double as a fruit stand." The TARDIS's manner grew serious.
"I recreated the zero room in your mind as a last minute attempt to stabilise your regeneration, so far it appears to be working but there is still a great deal of vortex energy in your system so I can't say how long the stability will last!"
"Well this won't be the first time you've helped me with one of my regenerations as i recall."
"Yes, unfortunately the circumstances this time round are slightly more complicated than they were on those occasions."
"Always the time war." The Doctor said softly. "So what happens now?"
"We wait. I'm using all of my energy so If the zero room doesn't help you I'm really not sure what else I can try. On those occasions where you had difficulty regenerating I was able to help because the link to Gallifrey was still present, but now there is nothing. It's like navigating your way through a strange land without a map; inevitably you're going to get lost."
"I have to go back. Rose needs me."
"Someone's always going to need you Doctor, this time they're going to have to cope without you. I really shouldn't have let you go off before!"
"You don't understand, the attack on Rose and the others was just the beginning. Those creatures were just the pilot fish with the daddy shark not far behind. Somethings coming, and I have a feeling they're not here for tea and cake!" The TARDIS gave him a knowing smile.
"Doctor you're face may change, but I'm pleased to say you never do. Anyway the something you were referring to has arrived, and while we've been talking Rose and the others have retreated back to me. Now that you're physically back in the TARDIS I may be able to fully stabilise you, but don't get your hopes up I can't promise anything."
"I won't, but you're the one thing in my life I've always been able to rely on."
"If that's your way of thanking me, then your welcome."

The Doctor looked around the zero room, noting with not much suprise that the physical presence of the TARDIS was no longer there. Although the people who travelled with him, Rose included, would inevitably leave him it seemed his TARDIS was there for the long haul and to quote his most recent incarnation that was fantastic!

Book Review: The Book Thief By Markus Zusak

  I've read many novels in my time but once in a while a novel comes along that stays with you long after you close it's pages. The novel that had this effect on me was The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier and the second is the Book thief by Markus Zusak. It is perhaps no coincidence that both novel are set around world war two, the former at it's conclusion and the later at it's beginning.

   At it's heart the novel is a celebration of the written word and this is highlighted on almost every page. It resounds in every experience our heroine has, and if I ever have the opportunity to meet the author I will simply thank him for capturing the emotion I feel whenever I read or write. 

   The story is about Liesel, who at the graveside of her brother finds a book titled The Gravedigger's handbook which was left behind by accident. This is her first act of book thievery and it begins a love affair with books and words and via her accordion playing foster father Liesel learns to read, but growing up in the middle of Nazi Germany brings with it many dangers especially when her foster family are hiding a Jewish fist-fighter in their basement and her world is both opened up and closed down. 

   
   What sets this novel apart from other historical novels is Zusak's choice of narrator, but given the setting and time frame of the novel on reflection it makes perfect sense. Having Death narrate the story neatly highlights the horrors of war and the senseless deaths of millions of innocents. The novels depiction of death is also at odds with how this unavoidable event has been depicted in the past, rather than something to fear it is portrayed as a positive experience and Death no longer a skeleton with a scythe but just someone who is doing his job and looking for distractions, the book thief and her circle of friends fills that role.

    

    This novel deserves to be classified a classic and has easily become one of my favourite reading experiences of all time. It is definitely a novel I will be revisiting again and again. Highly Recommended!

Finding the Light in a Darkened Room

If the title of this post was to be taken literally then the solution would seem to be obvious. You would simply grope around in the dark for a bit, find the light switch, flick the switch and hey presto. However if you were to apply the statement to our everyday lives then sometimes finding the light can be a near impossible task.

Our day to day lives are governed by routine. Whether it is our professional, academic or personal lives we can sometimes find ourselves doing the same thing day in and day out, usually without thinking about it.  Simply going through the motions like this can often mean we fail to embrace the challenges life has a habit of throwing our way. Of course there are other factors contributing to why some people face the dark of night before the sun even thinks about setting.

As you no doubt are aware much as the information we have on the world is derived from what we see, hear and read about in the media.  While a small number of these are stories of hope and encouragement, unfortunately the majority are not.

Personally I’ve always made a point of avoiding the news and current affairs programs of an evening simply because I prefer to end my day on a positive note rather than a negative one. It is the morning where I catch up on the news of the previous day, hoping against hope that the day ahead will be an improvement over the one before.

I’m aware of how cynical that must sound but believe me when there is nothing but death and destruction facing you on a daily basis then you either ignore the media completely or run the risk of depressing yourself to the point where smiling seems an unachievable goal. What people have a tendency to overlook though is from the ashes of disaster something wonderful can often emerge.

One of my wife’s favourite movies is the Richard Curtis 2003 romantic comedy Love Actually. My wife and I have completely different tastes in movies and this is one of the few films we can actually enjoy together. It’s a wonderful movie and absolutely perfect for the Christmas season, the movie’s most powerful moment occurs in the first thirty seconds of the film, during Hugh Grants opening narration. In the film Hugh plays the role of David, the UK’s newly elected Prime Minister; someone who you actually wish held that post in the real world as his character is a lot more likeable than some of the people who have had the top job in the past. The film opens with a montage of people being greeted by their loved ones at Heathrow airport and the narration that plays over these scenes states how the messages sent by people affected by the events of 9/11 were messages of love not hate,  and it cleverly leads into the film’s title by adding if you take the time to look for it then you will see that love is actually all around you.

In a lot of ways the opening monologue of Love Actually addresses the question posed by the title of this piece. When I was in Primary school one of my teachers had a saying which I didn’t really appreciate at the time which was ‘Wherever you are in the world, somewhere the sun is shining’. While this is definitely the case geographically the same is true of our day to day lives.

If there is something troubling you in some way, the effect it can have is akin to a solar eclipse. The problem is that when this early night is forced upon you it’s easy to forget that the light is still there, but it is now hidden behind a cloud of circumstance.

What we have to do is to find a way to penetrate the cloud and allow the light to stream back into our lives. The way we choose to achieve this varies from person to person, and what works for one won't work for another but whatever the method the principle remains the same. It usually involves pinpointing the many positive aspects of our lives, and generally you will find the positives will outweigh the negatives. However it’s not always this simple to claw your way out of the darkness and it is for this reason organizations like Beyond Blue exist provide a little bit of assistance finding that elusive light.

What we have to remind ourselves is that the light switch is always within reach, only sometimes we require assistance in locating it.