The Big Issue

As you may have guessed from some of my posts, I learned a great deal about books, movies and music from The Big Issue. Oh, and festivals. Shame I did not attend any of them. TBI is the only periodical I am buying. Whenever I go up North, I am trying to get The Big Issue in the North (very different from the “main”, mostly London-orientated version). From it I learn about more books, music and (still unattended) festivals up North.

When “my” vendor, who usually sells the magazine near Waitrose, is not there, I start to worry. But why should I? Maybe he found a home and moved on. I should be happy for him, right? And then he is back. By the way, I did not see him for the last few weeks. I really miss the magazine. I am going to miss it in Spain.

Sabra Zoo

by Mischa Hiller

Beirut, Summer 1982. We all know what is going to happen in Sabra and Shatila. Ivan, the teenage protagonist and narrator of Sabra Zoo, does not. So he is “simply” doing his jobs, of varying dangerousness, all the while trying to lose his virginity.

As is the case with so many things I read and watch, I first learned about this book from The Big Issue. And the novel did not disappoint. It has everything: love, suspense, tragedy, hope and some very English humour, all masterfully combined and developed in space of just over two hundred pages.

‘Ivan? It is you, isn’t it?’ It was my English teacher, Mr Brampton, who had been teaching us right up until the first air raids this summer. He used to board at the school. ‘Is the school still standing?’ I asked. Thinking of its position on the south side of the city I imagined it must have been in the front line at some point. ‘It’s still there, but the Jew boys took it over and crapped in the new chemistry lab and headmaster’s office. Shocking behaviour. I’d write to The Times about it if it would do any good.’ He shook his head and I watched his jowls move. ‘I couldn’t believe that professional soldiers could behave that way.’ He pursed his lips as if this was the worst outrage of the whole war. As if bombing and shelling civilians was all right but shitting in a school tipped the balance of unacceptable behaviour.

Vanishing Africa

by Mirella Ricciardi

This is a beautiful book of (mostly black and white) photographs by Mirella Ricciardi. First published in 1971, it is now out of print. I bought my book last year after reading about Ricciardi’s exhibition in The Big Issue.

Alright, Still

by Lily Allen

I do not normally listen to pop music. Not to the pop music of the 21^st century anyway. But, after reading an article in The Big Issue, I thought I may give Lily Allen a try. Not bad, I have to admit, even if some songs there make me cringe. (No, it is not because of the ‘explicit lyrics’ — in my view, mostly justified. I was amused that you can find a ‘clean’ version of Alright, Still, where all the swearwords are somehow edited out.) Apparently, Lily herself said she cringes when listening to her debut album. I don’t think I will listen to it over and over, but still, thumbs up. My favourite tracks there (musically) are Everything’s Just Wonderful, ska-ish Friday Night and reggae-ish Friend of Mine.

Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa

by Hans Silvester

Earlier this year, I saw a review of this stunning book by Hans Silvester in The Big Issue. No, I just couldn’t resist.

The Daily Mail review contains a good selection of photos from this book. If you happen to get hold of a real thing, please don’t miss the introduction by Hans Silvester. (My book is the Thames & Hudson edition, translated from French Les habits de la nature by David H. Wilson.) It is only four pages long.

The Surma and the Mursi cannot see the future, but they know that an era is coming to an end. The days of their independence are numbered. Just like the Native Americans, the Nuba, the Masai and many other minorities who live in close proximity to nature, they will in due course have to resign themselves to living in reservations.