Library Notes 6 November 2020

Top 10 books

New Adult Fiction
The Silken Rose by Carol McGrath
The Child of Auschwitz by Lily Graham
Dreaming of Christmas by T.A. Williams
The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin
I Made a Mistake by Jane Corry
The Many Lives of Eloise Starchild by John Ironmonger
The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea by Kerrelyn Sparks
Murder at Morrington Hall by Clara McKenna
Holiday Shorts by Garfield Collins
The Mother Code by Carole Stivers 

The Horror, the Horror!

Pam Coleman,
Community Engagement Librarian

With Halloween just behind us and the prospect of Friday the 13th.

What is it that makes horror entertaining? If we saw even half of the things we read or watch in any other context, we would find them concerning at best or horrific at worst.

People read genre for many different reasons. We choose our entertainment because we want it to affect us. Even though we may choose to watch or read horror, the images can still be disturbing for many people. But most people have the ability to pay attention to as much or as little as they care to, in order to control what effect it has on them. This understanding that what we are reading/watching isn’t real helps create distance, allowing us to immerse ourselves in it.

Some believe that our enjoyment of all things horror and attraction to the darker side of the horror genre could come from our need to understand the concept of what is evil.

Through genres like horror, we can gain the reassurance that the acts we are watching aren’t rational or thought out - they often aren’t even human. They’re the cause of an otherworldly force, a safe ‘evil’ that we can explain away and separate from the harsh realities of the light of day.

Our brains are good at what they do - so, if we are in a setting where we get a ‘safe’ fright, our brains will quickly evaluate the situation and tell us that we’re free from risk… many of us are actually seeking ‘controlled’ fear and suspense, because we know we are safe.

Importantly, most horror films and books must provide a just resolution in the end. The bad guy should always get it! Every now and then though, audiences are thrown a curveball, and the villain ends a film victorious. Think the book and film “Rosemary’s Baby” by Ira Levin, or “The Omen” the terror of which was seared into my poor brain as a teenager and meant that I could barely even read a Stephen King book. Stephen King has said that he understands that the good guys usually win and the bad guys usually lose, though it often costs the good guys dearly.

So if you are inclined, settle into a scary story, reach for a cushion, feel the rush of adrenaline, and then close the book, turn off the movie, or walk away from that haunted house at the end.

Boo! 

What’s On

Exhibitions
Retro Auto Art by Zane Goode: November 2020, Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō Gallery
Parallax – Art Jewellery and Painting – Exhibition: Saturday 17 October to Sunday 13 December, Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom

Heritage room:

The Heritage rooms at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō are manned by volunteers 10am-12.30 pm Monday to Saturday. Monday to Saturday and Wednesday and Thursday afternoons 1.00pm – 3.00pm. Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom Heritage Room has the Research librarian available all day every Friday.

Friday 6 November:
Friday Concert: Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 12pm

Sunday 8 November:
Whanau Fun Day: Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, 12.30pm – 3.30pm