New Zealand books
A MAN RUNS INTO A WOMAN
Sarah Jane Barnett
Hue & Cry Press
[Paperback]
Okay this was a fantastic must-read. I had read a lot of reviews of this book, however nothing prepared me for the short, punchy and wonderful poems/pieces/paragraphs, such as 'Bees' or 'Voices'. I also especially liked 'Marathon Men' and enjoyed the 'death-row' stuff.
I really really enjoyed this well crafted book.
4/5
Hue & Cry Press
[Paperback]
Okay this was a fantastic must-read. I had read a lot of reviews of this book, however nothing prepared me for the short, punchy and wonderful poems/pieces/paragraphs, such as 'Bees' or 'Voices'. I also especially liked 'Marathon Men' and enjoyed the 'death-row' stuff.
I really really enjoyed this well crafted book.
4/5
Autobiography of a Marguerite
Zarah Butcher-McGunnigle
Hue & Cry Press
[Paperback]
Brilliant, simply a brilliant book. I couldn't read this book slow enough and purposely delayed the finishing of it. The story was beautifully crafted and left images floating around my head for days.
By far the best poetry to date that I have read.
5/5
Hue & Cry Press
[Paperback]
Brilliant, simply a brilliant book. I couldn't read this book slow enough and purposely delayed the finishing of it. The story was beautifully crafted and left images floating around my head for days.
By far the best poetry to date that I have read.
5/5
Bible and 'Treary' or Bible and 'Treaty'
Missionaries among the Māori - A new perspective
Keith Newman
Penguin Random House
[kindle eBook]
A good book but poorly edited with bad service given by Random Penguin House.
For more information click here.
Keith Newman
Penguin Random House
[kindle eBook]
A good book but poorly edited with bad service given by Random Penguin House.
For more information click here.
Going South
Colin Hogg
HarperCollins
[Paperback]
A soon to be old man having a wee ramble about his soon to be dead friend whilst exploring the geographies and emotions of their southern New Zealand histories. An excellent little read about very little and yet quite a lot.
4/5
HarperCollins
[Paperback]
A soon to be old man having a wee ramble about his soon to be dead friend whilst exploring the geographies and emotions of their southern New Zealand histories. An excellent little read about very little and yet quite a lot.
4/5
I'm Working on a Building
Pip Adam
Victoria University Press
[Kindle ebook]
This was a fantastic little read. It is written backwards, which is both confusing and delightful. Reading this book I felt like I was counselling it, looking for signs of its broken childhood, knowing that in the next-previous chapter some dark secret would be revealed. I was not disappointed.
Do not let the order of the chapters detract from Pip Adam's somewhat prophetic voice. My highlight was her chapter about a city recovering from an earthquake. I also really liked and understood the North Korean chapter.
It is a great book for people who like to think and read.
4/5
Victoria University Press
[Kindle ebook]
This was a fantastic little read. It is written backwards, which is both confusing and delightful. Reading this book I felt like I was counselling it, looking for signs of its broken childhood, knowing that in the next-previous chapter some dark secret would be revealed. I was not disappointed.
Do not let the order of the chapters detract from Pip Adam's somewhat prophetic voice. My highlight was her chapter about a city recovering from an earthquake. I also really liked and understood the North Korean chapter.
It is a great book for people who like to think and read.
4/5
New Zealand through the Goalposts
Fay Looney
[hard-cover]
Thanks Mum for my birthday present. To be Kiwi is to have at least some of your blood running with the adrenalin of rugby. This coffee table photo essay book, is a wonderful glimpse into what it means to be Kiwi and to grow up on rugby.
3.5/5
[hard-cover]
Thanks Mum for my birthday present. To be Kiwi is to have at least some of your blood running with the adrenalin of rugby. This coffee table photo essay book, is a wonderful glimpse into what it means to be Kiwi and to grow up on rugby.
3.5/5
One Good Run
The Legend of Burt Munro
Tim Hanna
[Paper Back]
Perhaps not the best-presented or proof-read book, but Tim Hanna sure spun a lovely story. I really enjoyed this book and was glad that it was nothing like the film. I have a very limited understanding of motorcycles, but still managed to keep up with the details of this well-written story. Also thanks Tim for not dressing Burt up too much.
4/5
Tim Hanna
[Paper Back]
Perhaps not the best-presented or proof-read book, but Tim Hanna sure spun a lovely story. I really enjoyed this book and was glad that it was nothing like the film. I have a very limited understanding of motorcycles, but still managed to keep up with the details of this well-written story. Also thanks Tim for not dressing Burt up too much.
4/5
One Human in Height
Rachel O'Neill
Hue & Cry Press
[Paperback]
Excellent wee read. This booked is full of deceptively long poems; each packed with a minimal supply of words. I thought I was going to read this coffee table book in one sitting. As it turned out I read the first few poems multiple times and run out of coffee. I soon realised this a book where each poem deserves a separate sitting.
My highlights were 'The Cardinal Directions' and 'Finder of the Furthest Galaxy'. Nice illustrations as well.
4/5
Hue & Cry Press
[Paperback]
Excellent wee read. This booked is full of deceptively long poems; each packed with a minimal supply of words. I thought I was going to read this coffee table book in one sitting. As it turned out I read the first few poems multiple times and run out of coffee. I soon realised this a book where each poem deserves a separate sitting.
My highlights were 'The Cardinal Directions' and 'Finder of the Furthest Galaxy'. Nice illustrations as well.
4/5
Pen Pal
Sugar Magnolia Wilson
Cats and Spaghetti Press
[Paper fold (won on Facebook)]
A beautiful and slightly odd sequence of poems in the voice of an allegedly normal young woman.
I really enjoyed this, I never quite new what I was reading, but that is what charmed me. Images of the letters have played on my mind during the week. I totally love the illustrated cat and meteorite on the 'B side' of the fold.
4/5
Cats and Spaghetti Press
[Paper fold (won on Facebook)]
A beautiful and slightly odd sequence of poems in the voice of an allegedly normal young woman.
I really enjoyed this, I never quite new what I was reading, but that is what charmed me. Images of the letters have played on my mind during the week. I totally love the illustrated cat and meteorite on the 'B side' of the fold.
4/5
Reach
Laurence Fearnley
Penguin Random House
[Kindle eBook]
After 'the hut builder' I had high expectations on this book and was not disappointed. 'Reach' is a gentle coastal Kiwi story that starts nowhere and finishes nowhere. It is full of emotion, choices and angst as it follows the intertwined lives and choices of an artist, vet and deep sea diver.
Laurence Fearnley's writing is simply stunningly beautiful. On her writing alone I give the book a 4/5. Unfortunately Penguin Random House once again let the side down with their poorly made eBooks. So overall sadly 3.5/5.
Penguin Random House
[Kindle eBook]
After 'the hut builder' I had high expectations on this book and was not disappointed. 'Reach' is a gentle coastal Kiwi story that starts nowhere and finishes nowhere. It is full of emotion, choices and angst as it follows the intertwined lives and choices of an artist, vet and deep sea diver.
Laurence Fearnley's writing is simply stunningly beautiful. On her writing alone I give the book a 4/5. Unfortunately Penguin Random House once again let the side down with their poorly made eBooks. So overall sadly 3.5/5.
The Forrests
Emily Perkins
[kindle ebook]
Okay, this was an amazing, mysterious, Blue like Jazz'ish kind of book. I was totally taken into it and loved all of its quirky and sometimes irritating twists and turns. It is a cradle-to-grave story of the lives of a family of American immigrants to New Zealand. I can only presume these lives somewhat depict Kiwi normality. This was a great, fun and addictive book, however it comes with a warning, not all will enjoy its wonderful wordy soap-operay approach.
4/5
[kindle ebook]
Okay, this was an amazing, mysterious, Blue like Jazz'ish kind of book. I was totally taken into it and loved all of its quirky and sometimes irritating twists and turns. It is a cradle-to-grave story of the lives of a family of American immigrants to New Zealand. I can only presume these lives somewhat depict Kiwi normality. This was a great, fun and addictive book, however it comes with a warning, not all will enjoy its wonderful wordy soap-operay approach.
4/5
The Fox Boy
The Story of an Abducted Child
Peter Walker
Paperback
This was a fantastic historical book. It took me back to a time in New Zealand history that needs to be talked about more. My education is badly tainted by our colonial past, this book came as an educational breath of fresh air.
4/5
Peter Walker
Paperback
This was a fantastic historical book. It took me back to a time in New Zealand history that needs to be talked about more. My education is badly tainted by our colonial past, this book came as an educational breath of fresh air.
4/5
The Happiest Music on Earth
Sue Wootton
Rosa Mira
[Kindle eBook]
I am a big fan of Sue Wootton's poetry, so approached this book with huge expectations. I was not disappointed. These three short stories were simply and beautifully written. My highlight was 'Icy Noctiluca' the story of the discovery of phosphorus.
This is a book to be enjoyed with coffee and time, unfortunately I wasted it on an airplane. Excellent book.
Rosa Mira
[Kindle eBook]
I am a big fan of Sue Wootton's poetry, so approached this book with huge expectations. I was not disappointed. These three short stories were simply and beautifully written. My highlight was 'Icy Noctiluca' the story of the discovery of phosphorus.
This is a book to be enjoyed with coffee and time, unfortunately I wasted it on an airplane. Excellent book.
The Hut Builder
Laurence Fearnley
[kindle ebook]
This is one of my favourites. A well written, beautifully spun story based in New Zealand's rural Canterbury and on the slopes of Mount Cook. I love this story and could not put the book down.
The story covers the life of Boden Black as he discovers nature, poetry and relationships. At times the beauty in the book was so totally awe-inspiring that I could smell the fresh snow on the slopes of Cook.
Definitely the best New Zealand book that I have read to date.
5/5
[kindle ebook]
This is one of my favourites. A well written, beautifully spun story based in New Zealand's rural Canterbury and on the slopes of Mount Cook. I love this story and could not put the book down.
The story covers the life of Boden Black as he discovers nature, poetry and relationships. At times the beauty in the book was so totally awe-inspiring that I could smell the fresh snow on the slopes of Cook.
Definitely the best New Zealand book that I have read to date.
5/5
The Invisible Mile
David Coventry
Victoria University Press
[eBook]
This is a wild and beautiful fictionalised account of a New Zealand and Australian team that rode the 1928 Tour de France. At times the prose are quite stunning and left pictures that I struggled to dislodge from my thinking. There are a lot of drugs, anger and grief in the story and this often left me feeling lost and tripping. A well written book, the end is maybe a little disappointing, but well worth the read.
4/5
Victoria University Press
[eBook]
This is a wild and beautiful fictionalised account of a New Zealand and Australian team that rode the 1928 Tour de France. At times the prose are quite stunning and left pictures that I struggled to dislodge from my thinking. There are a lot of drugs, anger and grief in the story and this often left me feeling lost and tripping. A well written book, the end is maybe a little disappointing, but well worth the read.
4/5
The Kiwi Diary 2014
Okay, this is a fantastic collection of everything. Reading through The Kiwi Diary 2014 was a total pleasure. It is full of lovely New Zealand focused art. In this issue art means recipes, photography, art, poetry and prose. It is a stunning diary and enough to keep you from going digital.
Conflict of interest; one of my poems is in this diary
4/5
Conflict of interest; one of my poems is in this diary
4/5
The Kiwi Diary 2016
Freda Wells (editor)
Fantastic, I really really enjoy reading the Kiwi Diary. Everything in them is worth its read. This time I also tried one of the recipes and it was absolutely delicious. It is sad that Kiwi Diary does not use Māori letters for the days of the week. This effectively means that every day in the calendar is spelt incorrectly.
Conflict of interest; one of my poems is in this diary
3/5
Fantastic, I really really enjoy reading the Kiwi Diary. Everything in them is worth its read. This time I also tried one of the recipes and it was absolutely delicious. It is sad that Kiwi Diary does not use Māori letters for the days of the week. This effectively means that every day in the calendar is spelt incorrectly.
Conflict of interest; one of my poems is in this diary
3/5
The Luminaries
Eleanor Catton
Victoria University Press
[Kindle ebook]
Excellent book. It seemed that the whole first half of this rather long story, was simply introducing the characters and where they fit in the story; I loved it. By the start of the second half I was totally caught in the tale and could not put the book down. This is simply a beautifully written story that summons all of your senses. It is based in the gold rush of an emerging New Zealand and transverses the many cultures that knits her recent history together.
Fantastic book.
4.9999/5
Victoria University Press
[Kindle ebook]
Excellent book. It seemed that the whole first half of this rather long story, was simply introducing the characters and where they fit in the story; I loved it. By the start of the second half I was totally caught in the tale and could not put the book down. This is simply a beautifully written story that summons all of your senses. It is based in the gold rush of an emerging New Zealand and transverses the many cultures that knits her recent history together.
Fantastic book.
4.9999/5
The Rehearsal
Eleanor Catton
Victoria University Press
[Borrowed paperback]
I found this book quite hard to get into and the themes a little narrow. The story is mostly focused on a drama student, a saxophone teacher with pupil and the ripple effects of sexual abuse.
Eleanor is a fantastic writer and 'The Rehearsal' is a very good read.
3/5
Victoria University Press
[Borrowed paperback]
I found this book quite hard to get into and the themes a little narrow. The story is mostly focused on a drama student, a saxophone teacher with pupil and the ripple effects of sexual abuse.
Eleanor is a fantastic writer and 'The Rehearsal' is a very good read.
3/5
The Transient
Book One of The Castle Trilogy
By Maree Ward-Russell
[eBook (won in a raffle)]
This paranormal teen romance for girls was way out of genre for me, however I did enjoy it and will read the second book in the series. It is basically about a bunch of kids, a castle and some ghosts and was quite a quick read.
The eBook formatting needs some work, but other than that it was a well written and presented book.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST; MAREE IS A FRIEND OF A FRIEND.
3/5
By Maree Ward-Russell
[eBook (won in a raffle)]
This paranormal teen romance for girls was way out of genre for me, however I did enjoy it and will read the second book in the series. It is basically about a bunch of kids, a castle and some ghosts and was quite a quick read.
The eBook formatting needs some work, but other than that it was a well written and presented book.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST; MAREE IS A FRIEND OF A FRIEND.
3/5
The Soul Keeper
Book 2 of the Castle Trilogy
M. W. Russell
[eBook (won in a raffle)]
Well again for me, this paranormal romance for teens was way out of genre. Fast reading book about ghosts, teenagers and purgatory. A good fun easy read. I plan on buying book three.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST; MAREE IS A FRIEND OF A FRIEND.
3/5
M. W. Russell
[eBook (won in a raffle)]
Well again for me, this paranormal romance for teens was way out of genre. Fast reading book about ghosts, teenagers and purgatory. A good fun easy read. I plan on buying book three.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST; MAREE IS A FRIEND OF A FRIEND.
3/5
Tough
Amy Head
Victoria University Press
[Kindle eBook]
Beautiful book full of well written meandering short-stories. 'Duck Pluck' and 'West Coast Road' were my favourites. All of the stories are located on New Zealand's rugged and isolated West Coast. The stories are speckled across the years from settler times until the present. This is a book to sit down and relax with.
4/5
Victoria University Press
[Kindle eBook]
Beautiful book full of well written meandering short-stories. 'Duck Pluck' and 'West Coast Road' were my favourites. All of the stories are located on New Zealand's rugged and isolated West Coast. The stories are speckled across the years from settler times until the present. This is a book to sit down and relax with.
4/5
Wake
by Elizabeth Knox
Victoria University Press
[Kindle eBook]
This book haunted me, it was fantastic. Elizabeth Knox has spun her tale with both depth and maturity. 'Wake' a story about an invisible monster and the human psyche was out-of-genre for me, but I loved it. I highly recommend this book.
4.5/5
Victoria University Press
[Kindle eBook]
This book haunted me, it was fantastic. Elizabeth Knox has spun her tale with both depth and maturity. 'Wake' a story about an invisible monster and the human psyche was out-of-genre for me, but I loved it. I highly recommend this book.
4.5/5
Where The Rākohu Bone Sings
By Tina Makereti
Vintage
[Kindle eBook]
Beautiful, beautiful sad, deep and and moving book. This story delicately explores issues of identity for our hybrid Moriori, Māori and Pākehā cultures. It is a lovely almost-coming-of-age tale that rewrote parts of my 1980's education.
Fantastic book.
5/5
Vintage
[Kindle eBook]
Beautiful, beautiful sad, deep and and moving book. This story delicately explores issues of identity for our hybrid Moriori, Māori and Pākehā cultures. It is a lovely almost-coming-of-age tale that rewrote parts of my 1980's education.
Fantastic book.
5/5
