July reading material

I p[icked up these this week, with Ad Boy being the stand out find, It is a wonderful book with page after page of advertising characters from over the decades, with only a handful familiar to me as it is an American book. This American aesthetic is very attractive to me and I find it nostalgic despite it not being part of my history; perhaps its a conditioned response.

The ephemera book is a series academic work aimed at librarians. I have had a brief skim through but need to spend a bit more time on this one.

A great article about St Albans based glasses shop Retrospecs. The Black brand glasses they stock are really tempting for getting my Micheal Caine steez on.

Yo Yo

Found this whilst doing the weekly Tesco shop. Currently working on my spin technique.

18 Holes

I managed to fit in two rounds of golf this morning, albeit mini/crazy. At last a sport I can play!

Car Boot Sale FInd

This was an exciting find. A huge glass display box so I can start my own museum at home. Whilst I don't envisage any taxidermy residing within it I could picture a big vinyl figure in it.

Otaku

Thanks to Sol for putting me onto this. Whilst apparently originally written for a general audience (albeit Japanese), this translated cultural thesis is not as light reading as the "packaging" suggests. IIf you have a grounding in philosophy or have studied post modernism etc you might find it easier going than I have. It has been most rewarding though and has made me reflect on my own pursuits and "narratives".

Oscar Lomax - Collector

Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton have exceeded my expectations with their latest creation. What may well be a shaggy dog tale, the thoroughly enjoyable story is escalating in its creepiness and macabre comedic horror. Oscar Lomax may well be the face of all those who have ever outbid you on eBay.

Arcade Mania

I have long lamented the demise of the video arcade, but in Japan they live on. This is a wonderful account of Japanese arcades and their patrons. The book covers the genres of games and speaks with key players, both literally and those involved in the industry. Topics include UFO machines (claw grabbers), photo machines, shoot em ups (aka shmups), fighting games, and more. I was particularly interested to read about the machines that require special playing cards to be used.