Seeking Tumnus

A Monster Calls and Seeking Tumnus answers this episode, as we review Patrick Ness' fantastically dramatic 2011 work - now also a major motion picture. Laurie gets a little grim, and reaps the rewards of talking about his favourite Death whilst Bri continues her journey of fantasy denialism! Patrick gives parenting advice and doesn't mention Stephen King before Keith gently weeps as he breaks free from the tyranny of Laurie's scoring! (BYO weeping).

It's finally time for Sabriel, book one of the bestselling Old Kingdom/Abhorsen series by Australian author Garth Nix! Can this mysteriously positioned fantasy bridge the stalwart gorge or will Bri and Keith plummet to a watery demise in the river of death. It's all a little tributary thanks to the suggestion of a listener, and don't even question for whom the bell tolls, there's plenty of ringing for all. Finally Pat shines a light on his fascination with pop culture, then steps from the light into the... light in another enlightening episode of Seeking Tumnus.

What would happen if the world of the fae lay just at the outskirts of our own? What if you could visit? And what if something found its way home with you? Join us this episode as we immerse ourselves in Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and help us decide where the boundaries lie between fantasy and reality.

Bri leads us on a discovery of The Secret Garden, the classic 1922 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Along the way Pat revives his Good Reads segment, Keith tells us about the 1993 movie and Laurie does his best to casually offend Bri. Join us for this very un-Christmassy episode.

Seeking Tumnus returns with a review of Joe Abercrombie's Half a King, the first book of the Shattered Sea trilogy. It's a low fantasy bestseller featuring a young prince seeking vengeance for betrayal and murder, in a harsh and brutal kingdom. Laurie has some sympathy for Yarvi, as his fellow hosts circle like hungry wolves.

In this episode we take a look at S.E. Hinton's classic coming of age novel The Outsiders. Join us as we inadvertently insult the elderly quadragenarians, discuss the fine distinctions of processed meat and prove ourselves incapable of matching one Tumnite's boundless enthusiasm. To round things out we'll also take a peek at the star-studded 1983 movie adaptation.

This episode we delve into the dark secrets of private Girl's school life in Alice Pung's 2014 Australian cultural drama Laurinda. For an at best tenuous reason we also take a look at the 2004 comedy, Mean Girls. Is technology changing the way in which we tell stories? Listen in to find out, or like, just google it.

This episode we're back in our classics zone with Michelle Magorian's Goodnight Mister Tom, the story of a timid and abused London boy evacuated to country England during World War II. We take a fresh look at what is at times a confronting read that pulls no punches despite being for children. Did this selection of Pat's maintain his impressive run of quality? Listen in to find out.

Post apocalyptic dystopian sci-fi romance is back on the agenda this episode as we take on Veronica Roth's 2011 best seller Divergent. Will there be compliance in the Seeking Tumnus faction? Or will there be a divergent revelation? Along the way we'll also take a look at the 2014 movie and consider our own factional allegiances.

We turn back the clock almost 150 years this episode as we get up close and personal with the diminutive ladies of Louisa May Alcott's breakout coming of age novel Little Women. No prizes for guessing who selected this one, or for what the reception will be!

In this deluxe episode we wander the great halls of Hogwart's, exploring J.K. Rowling's blockbuster Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (or Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for our American listeners). We of course also take a gander at the 2001 movie of the same name(s); naww ain't they soooo cute! Laurie casts a spell on us with a spot of Hogwart's "Would You Rather?", and Brie enchants not only us, but the general(ish) public with some word association fun.

We sip once more from the deep well of Roald Dahl in this episode, revisiting the 1982 classic The BFG. It also just so happens to be a brand squaffling new movie by Steven Spielberg, Do we go buggles for it? Does it prove to be whoopsy-splunkers? Or it is it filthsome swigpill?

In which we discuss Lynne Reid Banks' classic best selling book The Indian in the Cupboard. A fun game quickly turns a little sour, as we bring the fantasy to life in more ways than one. We also hear some questions from Bri, and take a quick look at the movie of the same name. What toy would you bring to life if you had a magic cupboard?

Lost at sea with no captain to steady the ship, the crew of the HMAS Seeking Tumnus divert their course with a humorous foray into Goodreads territory. The turbulent seas of gender bias are navigated before we find the calmer waters of a jolly old game. Finally, we reflect on our favourite books and lament the stinkers we could have done without.

The Fault, dear Tumnites, is in Our Stars. This episode we wax lyrical about John Green's mega smash hit The Fault in Our Stars. There's no burying the lede here; join us as we meet Hazel, a teenage girl with terminal cancer and a whole lot of unanswered questions about life, love and literature. Pat also challenges us with some insightful Goodreads comments and we confirm once more that most book-to-screen adaptations are a let down.

In this episode we revisit the 1992 Australian classic coming of age book Looking for Alibrandi by Melina Marchetta. Set in Sydney we also take a peek at the film adaptation that hit our screens in 2000. Find out which Tumnite is part Italian. Chi è?

Come aLong as we journey through the first book in Laurie's childhood favourite fantasy series Redwall. What effect will Brian Jacques classic tome have on the other Seeking Tumnus members?

Sophie Kinsella's 2015 book about a 14 year old girl with a social anxiety disorder is up for discussion in this episode. Finding Audrey is its name, how will we rate this Bri selection?

Fear not listeners, for Tomorrow is no longer a day away. John Marsden's Australian classic, Tomorrow When the War Began is fodder for the hungry Tumnus herd. We devour every word of this first book in a series of seven, then turn our attention to the 2010 film adaptation. There's some enjoyable dalliances with the Aussie vernacular, a heart is crushed with Oz of another kind, and half the team confront some post traumatic stress induced by the gripping writing.

Prepare yourself for an olfactory overload, as we examine (from a safe distance) Mr Stink, a curious tale by David Walliams. Illustrated by Sir Quentin Blake there are some very obvious parallels to be drawn with one of our favourite authors, you'll never guess who. We also hear from a listener and a wee cannie laddie.