Review of the Year 2013

Review of the Year 2013

It's been a pretty brilliant year overall for me. I've seen my son grow up so quickly (well, he's still not 20 months but you know what I mean), I've seen my wife become a baby signing teacher (and an excellent one at that), and I've had the most incredible year with my library and its users. I've decided to write up all the best bits of the 'entertainment' side of things, because there's so many things that I feel are deserving of a huge wad of praise, including some extra special thank you's at the end. Thank you 2013, it's been a pleasure!

The Best Books That I Read

Now, this isn't a 'Best of 2013' category as such, as not all of these were published in 2013. They are, however, the best books that I have read this year, and all of them have played a major role in influencing my 'reading journey', if you will. Without any of these, I wouldn't have discovered half of what I did. Where I've read more than one in a series, I've just mentioned the best. So, in order of pure awesomeness, here are my top 10...(with links to my review in the title if I've made one)

10. Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher

A teen girl killing herself and leaving behind a bunch of audio tapes to explain her reasons is never going to be the happiest of stories, but it's the final couple of reasons why that really get you in this thought-provoking and very well written debut. It's hard hitting and a perfect story to get teens thinking about how they act and what they say, and making sure that they're not being to careless. It's not a long novel at all, although with a subject matter like this I don't suppose you want it to be, but it'll keep you guessing right to the very end. An essential on my list of YA reads now.

9. Z is for Moose

HA. HAHAHA. HAH. HAHAHAHHAHAHA. This picture book is killingly funny. I love how desperate the moose is to get in the story, especially jumping in far before his turn, and the illustrations are wonderful - after all, the humour wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the pictures. It made me laugh out loud in the library when I first read it (something I really need to stop doing), and it's earned a place on my 'Picture Book Hall of Fame' List (which I could really do with actually writing at some point)...

8. Hospital Babylon - Imogen Edwards-Jones

I love a non-fiction book that gives me an expose on what a job is really like, and I've read four now by Imogen Edwards-Jones, of which Hospital Babylon is my favourite. She does such a fantastic job of bringing together a collection of stories by anonymous contributors from each relevant field, and turning it into a story set over the course of a day or week. They're a mixture of funny, outrageous and depressing, and utterly unputdownable.

7. Forbidden - Tabitha Suzuma

To me, YA fiction should touch on uncomfortable and controversial questions and scenarios, and there are many more controversial than a romance between a brother and sister. What makes Forbidden so wonderful however, is the fact that this isn't really a story about that at all - the relationship instead is a symptom of a terrible case of child abuse from the parents, and it's absolutely heartbreaking to read. Wonderful, but heartbreaking.

6. One Step Too Far - Tina Seskis

I'm not one to stray too far out of my usual type of book - I read Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Graphic Novels and Action/Adventure and that's about it. When I heard about One Step Too Far and it's challenge to solve its central mystery however, I couldn't resist, and I'm so glad that I didn't. It keeps you guessing right from the very beginning, teasing little hints all the way through, and then leaving you gob smacked at such a simple explanation that you never would have guessed. When we put this out as a recommendation a few months back, we had to desperately ring around to try and get hold of more copies to satisfy the demand. It came back with universal praise, and enquiries as to when we could read more by the author, something that doesn't happen without an immense talent for writing such a highly engaging story.

5. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! - Mo Willems

When the children's librarians asked me which of the Pigeon and Elephant & Piggy books were my favourites, I responded with 'What Pigeon and Elephant & Piggy' books? Which leaves me hanging my head in shame now, as Mo Willems have fast become one of my three favourite picture book authors of all time. All his books are fantastically funny and simply but brilliantly illustrated, and I particularly love the idea of a grumpy pigeon who grows increasingly so throughout each tale. Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! is my favourite of the lot, but to miss any of the series out is to do a massive injustice to the world of children's literature.

4. This Moose Belongs To Me - Oliver Jeffers

The second entrant in my triumverate of favourite ever picture book authors is Oliver Jeffers, an author and illustrator whose work is instantly recognisable due to his own unique style of illustrating. He's also got such a brilliant sense of humour, with some fairly insane storylines taking place in his books. Though The Hueys in The New Jumper has one of the cleverest endings to a book I've ever read, This Moose Belongs to Me is my favourite of the lot. It's a great read, seeing Wilfred making demands of his moose, and knowing that nothing he says is having the slightest effect on the moose. If you've never read any of his work, go out and read it ALL. Like, right NOW.

3. I Want My Hat Back - Jon Klassen

And so we come to the final entrant in the triumverate, Jon Klassen. A man who has only written two books, but both of which are beyond brilliant. I Want My Hat Back is my favourite picture book of all time, and it makes grown ups and children laugh in equal measure at its relatively dark humour. The illustrations are wholly unique, and the way he can make you burst out laughing with nothing but a shifty glance from one character is astounding. If you only ever read one picture book in your life (because you meet me, and you get fed up of me demanding you try) it has to be this one. No one escapes my library without reading it.

2. Throne of Glass - Sarah J Maas

From the second I saw the blurb on the back cover (18 year old female assassin fights in tournament) there was no way I wasn't going to read this. Hell, this was basically my 18 year old self's fantasy coming true! And then I read it, and it was better than I ever dreamed it could be. It's one of the highest rated books on goodreads.com, and with good reason, because it's just so epically unputdownable, and full of characters who are superbly written, with some of the best and snappiest dialogue I have ever read in my life. It also inspired me to go back to the fantasy trilogy I began a few years ago and make a ridiculous amount of progress on it, to the point where I think I may actually finish writing a book at last. The sequel, Crown of Midnight, is equally as good, although I'm still halfway through reading it because things like work, family, and occasionally sleep keep getting in the way. This isn't just the best YA fantasy novel I've ever read, and it's not just one of the best fantasy novels of any type that I've ever read - it's one of the best novels that I've ever read, EVER. It's pure fun and enjoyment from the very beginning, and Sarah J Maas deserves every single plaudit she gets. I want to nominate myself to play Chaol in the film right now, just because.

1. ACID - Emma Pass

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, has had such an influence on me this year as ACID. Beyond the fact it's brilliant to say to library users, 'Have you tried ACID?' (tell me now, Emma, honestly - is that the reason you settled on ACID for the title?!), it's led me to fully embrace the world of YA fiction, and I've gotten at least five teens hooked on exactly the same type of books, which in a library like mine really isn't an easy task. It features one of the greatest kick ass heroines that I've ever come across (with bright red hair, no less), and is elevated to greatness by the extras that are included in it, such as transcripts of dialogue between guards or newspaper articles, that are slotted in between chapters. Everyone who has taken it has loved it, and I've been delighted with the praise that I've seen flying around the internet. It seems to make most book bloggers' best of lists, and I can see it being made into a film before too long. When a book changes your entire outlook on how you do your job, you know that you've found something special. Congratulations Emma, you're no.1!

Honourable mentions: Room by Emma Donoghue, Days of the Bagnold Summer by Joff Winterhart

The Best Films That I Saw

Now this is a strange category to list, as I really don't think I've seen many films this year. I've certainly only seen one at the cinema, and my wife and I just seem to have been far too busy to watch anything other than the odd episode of a comedy series in the evenings. Having said that, looking back over my library charge history and Netflix account has unearthed a few memories, so here we are:

Star Trek: Into Darkness

I’m going to ignore the fact that they SPOILERS brought Khan back which I think was lazy END SPOILERS, and that the ending was pretty lame, and focus on the fact that as an action move this was brilliant. It’s visually stunning, has great action and the villain was much better than the first rebooted film. Whilst it’s very much the same ‘modernised’ Trek that fans of the older series perhaps won’t like, I’m happy to separate the two apart and enjoy it anyway.

Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa

It's been a long wait for the Alan Partridge movie, but when it came it was lovely stuff. It's not as good as I'm Alan Partridge, or the more recent Welcome to the Places of My Life, but it's killingly funny in places, and a very worthy addition to Partridge-lore.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

I hear the argument that dragging a 300-page book out over three films is a cynical cash ploy and leaves it liable to rubbish pacing, particularly where the first film only covers the first 40 or so page, but I loved the return to Middle Earth. There are some fantastically trilling sequences, such as the initial attack by Smaug, or the chase under The Misty Mountains. Most importantly of all, it feels just like the films from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, bringing us back to the visually-spectacular world we loved in the early 2000s. I'll admit I'd skip the scene in Bilbo's house with the singing dwarves, but otherwise the way I see it is the more of Middle Earth the better.

Tower Block

A tense thriller set entirely in a tower block, with some fantastic performances, particularly from Sheridan Smith (playing a completely different role to the comedies I'm used to seeing her in) and Jack O'Connell. O'Connell in particular has to be one of the best British actors at playing utter arseholes, yet never getting his comeuppance because you want to see him on screen for as long as possible. It's got a decent twist at the end, and it's impossible to guess who's going to survive until the end so it'll keep you hooked all the way through. Plus, as a British thriller, it's got that excellent indie-British feel to it that I feel always heightens the atmosphere of a film. Well worth checking out.

Skyfall

A vast improvement on Quantum of Solace, and a bit of an emotional kick at the end, this was Bond back on form. Daniel Craig is fantastic as you’d expect, and it’s more of the gritty-style that I love, far more so than the ‘classic’ Bond films.

The Best TV Shows That I Saw

5. The Big Bang Theory

Whilst I can’t help but feel that there’s been a slight dip in quality (ever-so slight, mind) from a couple of seasons ago, this is still a show that makes me laugh consistently more than most other comedies on TV, even with multiple repeats. Sheldon is still one of the greatest comedy characters created for television, and his blossoming (as far as Sheldon blossoms, anyhow) relationship with Amy is one of the highlights of the show. Everyone else is fantastic too, and it’s no surprise that the show continues to have new seasons ordered for it. Long may it continue.

4. Outnumbered

I’ve caught the odd episode of Outnumbered before and enjoyed it, but thanks to Netflix I’ve finally settled down to watch entire seasons whilst doing the washing up, and I’m damn glad I have. The children are fantastic as the stereotypical ‘kids from hell’, with some of the things they come out with better than 95% of what the greatest comedy writers on the planet could come up with, but it would be unfair not to mention the contribution that Hugh Dennis and Claire Skinner bring as Pete and Sue, the long suffering parents. Brilliant stuff.

3. The Walking Dead

I’ve loved the comics for a while, and had the DVD of Series 1 on my shelf for at least a year, waiting for the time my wife finally agrees to it being our next TV series of choice, and she relented about three months ago. Glory be that she did, because The Walking Dead is one of the most gripping series that I’ve seen for a few years. Particularly brilliant is the fact that, though I know the comics, the plot is deliberately changed to keep you guessing, with characters who are mainstays of the comic dying earlier in the show, and vice versa. Andrew Lincoln as the protagonist is one of the best actors on TV at the moment, and rarely does a show throw so many shocks and heart breaking moments at you as this. Barely an episode goes by with a dry eye.

2. New Girl

To think, when this first came on I didn’t like it…How ashamed I now feel, for this is easily now one of my favourite comedies of all time. All of the main characters are fantastic, from Jess’ wide eyed happy-go-lucky protagonist, to Nick’s crotchety and lazy waster, to Schmidt’s generally douchebagery and Winston’s vastly underappreciated bordering-crazy-with-his-extreme-pranks ‘straight’ man of the four. It’s the show that Happy Endings wants to be, but a thousand times funnier, with genuine cry-with-laughter moments multiple times per episode. There’s nothing that can touch it on TV for comedy at the moment. Roll on Series 3.

1. Game of Thrones
I don't think I've anticipated a show this much since Batllestar Galactica. I HATE the fact that I have to wait until February to get Series 3 on DVD (because we don't have Sky and I refuse to pay Blinkbox when I could get it so much cheaper from the library). It's almost worth it just for Peter Dinklage as Tyrion alone, but the whole cast it absolutely fantastic, and I can't remember a dud episode in the first two seasons. It's got action, mystery, plot twists, characters to cheer for (who usually step well into a grey area) and characters to boo. It also has copious amounts of nudity, but as I watch this with my wife, in no way is that a reason for watching it - merely, I'm just observing the obvious. It also has one of the greatest title themes ever created, which still appears to get better with each listen. If you ever want a theme with great cover version, search YouTube (or look for the best couple just below). February really, REALLY can't come quick enough.

The Best Covers On YouTube

Complete with videos, these are the best cover versions of songs and themes that I found on YouTube this year.

10. Lara and Jonathan play 'Under the Sea'


Two people, from different parts of the world, coming together to play a majestic version of The Little Mermaid's 'Under the Sea' - what isn't to love?

9. Royals (Lorde) by Madilyn Bailey & Megan Nicole




The two voices here work brilliantly together, and I prefer it to the original, mainly down to the fact that Lorde seems to pronounce 'flesh' in a really strange way in the opening line, and they don't here. Both are excellent singers, and Madilyn Bailey particularly seems to have found huge success in doing covers on YouTube - if you look at the first, low budget camera, videos on her page, you'll see how far she's come, and it's a great highlight for what Web 2.0 can do for people with talent.

8. Tetris Theme A by Smooth McGroove




Not only is this one of the greatest computer game themes of all time, and not only do I love acapella versions of songs, but this (and all Smooth McGroove's videos) is really funny to boot. Keep an eye out for his cat appearing in pretty much every video he does (if not all of them - I've watched lots, but not all). Also, his eyes are piercing. It's like they're watching me watch.

7. Super Mario 64 - Dire, Dire Docks




My favourite of all the Mario themes that have ever been, it's rendered beautifully on piano here. Thanks to this, I can now play it myself (no, there's no video yet). There's another version that was very good, but instead of sticking with the feel of the original, it tries to go very bombastic halfway through and spoils it for me (but check it out anyway here).

6. Kingdom Dance Piano Version




Coming from the Tangled soundtrack, this is the best piece of music Disney have produced since 'I'll Try' in Peter Pan 2 (don't laugh, it's great), and it's the very first thing that comes into my head when I think of a historical market (and that includes the incredible Hyrule Market Theme from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time). It's ridiculously optimistic and happy to begin with, as a community dance should be, and then becomes that slight bit more urgent towards the end, as the song reaches its climax. This is a wonderful rendition of it on piano, and I wish I had the skill of this guy because I just cannot get my right hand to play correctly with the left for this. Special mention as well to this version on multiple instruments.

5. Skyrim Violin Cover


This guy is just incredible. It's an beautiful rendition of the theme from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, with a bit of 'From Past to Present' from the soundtrack at the start. This has to be one of the most inspiring video game themes of all time, and this is the best cover version of it that I've come across.

4. Game of Thrones Theme - The Warp Zone


The first of two Game of Thrones covers, this just makes me laugh everytime. Hearing them sing along with extra made up lyrics like 'Peter Dinklage, Peter Dinklage, he's a dwarf and he is small' is great, and watch the reaction as one guy dares to break from the acapella set up to use a violin. Great stuff.

3. Game of Thrones Heavy Version


Game of Thrones cover No.2, this makes it above the previous version simply for coming close to enhancing the original. You can hear this and immediately imagine that it might one day replace the real one. It's a metal version, for a (let's face it) pretty metal fantasy show.

2. Lara, Taylor & Malukah - Fear Not This Night



I've used this in a previous article to illustrate just why the internet and social media is one of the greatest things in our lives today: three people, from different parts of the world, coming together over the internet to create something beautiful. It's a wonderful track from the Guild Wars 2 soundtrack, and hearing it put together by three of my favourite YouTube musicians was a fantastic surprise when I came across it.  

1. Sonne - Children Medieval Band

This shouldn't even require an explanation. It's beyond brilliant, especially the (4 year old?) drummer, who hits harder than the actual Rammstein drummer. Words can't express how amazing this is, so just watch it and bask in it's glory.

The Best Bands That I Discovered

Sometimes, just a single night of browsing on YouTube can gift you a whole host of new bands, and luckily for me I had one such night this year. All the bands here are dominated by females, so anyone who dares suggest that women can't rock as hard as men should give these all a listen (yeah, I don't know anyone who would be stupid enough to think that either, but if you ever look at comments on YouTube videos then the world is apparently still full of them):

5. Butcher Babies

Killer Song: Magnolia Blvd




Twin female vocalists who can both scream with the best of them? I couldn't not love them really, could I? 'Magnolia Blvd' in particular is one of the best songs that I've heard this year, and judging from the live videos they're just as good out of the studio as in, which is a huge plus.

4. Crucified Barbara
Killer Song: Rock Me Like The Devil

As soon as I heard 'Rock Me Like The Devil' I knew I'd like this band. The song in question is based around a fantastic groove-based riff that is up there with the best I've heard in hard rock, and it's another singer who can wail like her vocal chords survive only on whisky.

3. In This Moment
Killer Song: Whore

Now this is a singer who spits venom almost as well as Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy. In This Moment have a style that is subtly different to any other metal band I've heard, and they've got some absolutely cracking songs. Very heavy and very, very good. 

2. Halestorm

Killer Song: Love Bites (So Do I)



'I Miss The Misery' kept popping up on Scuzz when we'd have it on in the background, but I kept missing who the band was. Luckily, they appeared randomly on YouTube for me, and I'm damn glad they did. Probably the most rock as opposed to metal of the bands I've discovered this year, they know how to write a damn catchy song, and Lzzy Hale has a superb voice.

1. The Agonist

Killer Song: Thank You, Pain




Of all the bands I've discovered this year, The Agonist stand head and shoulders above the rest as the greatest. The combination of Alissa White-Gluz's phenomenal scream (and damn good clean voice) and the music from the rest of the band is 

Honourable mentions: Battle Beast, The Pretty Reckless (I didn't discover them this year so they can't count, but I did discover a lot more by them)

Most Exciting Things About The Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special

Because if anything ever deserved it's very own special top 5, it was this:

5. My article!
Just before I went into the cinema to watch The Day of the Doctor, I found out I'd had an article published on www.doctorwhotv.co.uk (my favourite Doctor Who website), which was pretty exciting really. It was only a predictions article, but still it's a start!

4. John Hurt
We knew that he'd be playing 'The War Doctor' thanks to the The Night of The Doctor minisode that aired shortly before, but it was the fact we'd be seeing the Doctor who took part in the Time War that made it so exciting - he didn't disappoint, giving a fantastic and memorable performance as the hardened, older Doctor. It's a shame that we most likely won't see him in the role again, because I'd love to see some more.

3. David Tennant
Well, who couldn't be excited about seeing David Tennant in the role again? Needless to see, it was like he'd never been away, slipping back into the role seamlessly. And he got one of the funniest lines that has ever been written for Doctor Who (War Doctor: 'Timey Wimey?!'; Tenth Doctor: 'I've no idea where he picks that stuff up')

2. Peter Capaldi's Eyes
We're being treated enough to an incredible climax where all the Doctors are appearing (via archive footage, unfortunately...) in their TARDISes when OMG THAT WAS PETER CAPALDI'S EYES! OMG! OMG! OMG! (if you thinks that's a lot of OMGing, here comes entry no.1...)

1. The Night of The Doctor
OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN OMG IT'S PAUL MCGANN repeat to fade

And, although I wanted to do this just as a 'Best of', there was just one thing that I still can't quite get over the disappoint of...

The Most Disappointing Thing to Happen this Year

No new Christopher Ecclestone footage in The Day of the Doctor

I don't care if he didn't want to do it, this was the only disappointment of an otherwise exceptional piece of television/cinema, and it will hurt for a long, long time that we didn't see just five seconds of the aftermath of John Hurt's regeneration from the War Doctor into Christopher Eccleston's Ninth Doctor. To tease the full regeneration sequence and then not follow through on it is the only thing that I can possibly get annoyed with Mr Moffat for, because to me it means that that now we are never going to see it, and that really does upset me. I honestly think it would have been better just not to show it, so as to leave open the possibility that we might one day see it.

Well, I suppose we still might, but I think it would take a miracle.

I still get upset thinking about it.

I just can't understand - it would have been five seconds! How could that not be?!

I'm truly delighted that we got John Hurt specifically because Eccleston didn't want to play the same sort of role, but how could they not negotiate five seconds?

It's just five seconds for crying out loud!

Some Special Thank Yous

There are some things this year that have truly shaped my experiences - these are mainly taken from items above, that I feel need a little extra mention. There's no friends or family on here, because they already know how amazing and awesome they all are.

For The Biggest Single Influence on My Reading Journey This Year, Without Which I Wouldn't Recommend Half The Books I Do in the Library, and Wouldn't Have Been Given a Box of Chocolates as a Thank You, and Without Which I Wouldn't be able to Laugh Everytime I Say 'Have You Tried...'...Emma Pass

Without ACID, I wouldn't have discovered so much YA (particularly dystopian) fiction this year, some of which have been amongst the best books that I've ever read. I might have read The Hunger Games first, but ACID has had a far bigger influence on me. Everyone I've given it to has loved it (including a lovely 75-year old lady!), and I now have a one-and-a-half-sides-of-A4 document of YA dystopian fiction that I make my way through with several young adults, seemingly increasing the number of YA books going out of the library by tenfold. Yep, it is not the slightest exaggeration to say that you, Emma, have helped shape the reading lives of several teenagers in our library, and I'm forever grateful.

Now, is my ARC of The Fearless ready yet?!

For Giving Me One of the Best Fantasy Novels that I Have Ever Read, and Giving Me the Inspiration to Return to the Fantasy Trilogy that I Started Four Years Ago and Consciously Turn It into a YA Series, Because I Want it to be as Good as Yours...Sarah J Maas

What would I have done this year without Celaena, Dorian and Chaol bantering back and forth? How would literally everyone in my life have gotten on with their lives without me wittering on about how I've just come up with this idea, and how that character is going to this, and how this is going to happen, and how etc. etc. etc.?  How would my fantasy team of kick-ass heroines line up with Celaena wise cracking at every junction? Blimey, can you imagine Celaena and Jenna Strong in a room together?!

For Three Wonderful Seasons, So Many Incredible Performances, and Making the Absence of David Tennant Infinitely More Bearable...Matt Smith

God, I really don't know how I'm going to cope this Christmas Day. One of the best young British actors today will sign off from the greatest role in British television history with what has been described in basically every preview report that I've seen as the best performance of his career. He's given us innumerable highs, and I'm absolutely gutted to see him go (although I'm looking forward to Peter Capaldi, of course). So thank you, Matt, for all the memories - see you in the 60th anniversary special!

Goodbye 2013, Hello 2014...

So, overall it was a pretty damn good year. I heard some brilliant music, read some of the best books I'll ever read, and experienced one of the greatest moments of cult television history. You've got some way to go to top last year, 2014, but please feel free to give it your best shot!