NTHNHS | Health and Wellbeing Magazine - Issue 2, December 2021

Book review

CALL OF THE PENGUINS

Hazel Prior Paperback (11 November 2021)

RATING: 5 Stars

Review by Librarian, Deborah Elliot

‘Call of the Penguins’ is an absolute gem of a book – a warm hearted, humorous and emotional read. It is a story about family, self-discovery, self-reflection, unlocking hidden secrets and penguins. Lots of cute penguins! The perfect Christmas pick-meup!

The character at the centre of the story is fierce, impeccably dressed, 87-year-old Veronica McCreedy, whose latest adventure as ‘Penguin Ambassador’, takes her to Australia and the Falkland Islands, in the company of eminent wildlife documentary maker Sir Robert Saddlebow.

Veronica reminds us all that it is never too late to have an adventure or to make the most of life.

The story is infused with detail about the natural world and it is easy to become absorbed in the fascinating information about penguins and climate change without even realising it.

It is the perfect book to cosy up with under a blanket on a cold day. So, why not grab a hot chocolate and a mince pie, and totally lose yourself in this heart-warming story.

In the words of Veronica, “Penguins … are not only a source of endless entertainment; they are an example to us all.’

‘Call of the Penguins’ is the sequel to the author’s ‘Away with the Penguins’, published in 2020.

You can borrow a copy of ‘Call of the Penguins’ and ‘Away with the Penguins’ from the ‘Reading for Pleasure Collection’ available at the library.

Knowledge and Information Service

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Movie review

THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK (15)

Sky Cinema now, home media release 21 December 2021

RATING: 2 Stars

Review by Mark Malik

I’m a big fan of The Sopranos. How big? I went on a guided tour of filming locations in New Jersey and bought a novel written by Joseph ‘Vito’ Gannascoli who joined the tour.

So I cautiously approached The Many Saints of Newark, the long-delayed cinematic prequel to the seminal TV show. Will it be terrible or will it be worthy of The Sopranos name?

And…it’s OK. That’s as good as this film gets.

The movie is afflicted by the curse of

all prequels – we know the familiar characters will survive and we just aren’t that invested in the newer additions to the rogues’ gallery.

Another fatal flaw is the viewer doesn’t get enough time to become familiar with the new actors playing younger versions of their TV counterparts. You are very aware: “That’s Tony, but it’s not”.

The plot feels rushed and the character relationships are never fully formed.

The Sopranos told us Dickie Moltisanti was Tony’s legendary mentor, but the movie fails to sell this crucial relationship, nor does the narrative

make us truly care about the central conflict which drives the plot.

An undoubted high point are the performances. With the exception of one actor, the cast nail their roles, particularly Vera Farmiga as the young Livia Soprano who turns in a perfectly judged performance of a monster-inthe-making.

For fans of The Sopranos, The Many Saints of Newark is a huge missed opportunity. And frankly, why would a non-fan even watch it?

Ultimately, this movie needed to be a TV show.