The Western Front Diaries, by Jonathan King (Simon & Schuster, RRP $40): When we think of Anzacs and war, for most of us our minds immediately go to Gallipoli but the Western Front campaign also had a huge impact for New Zealand and Australia. Five times as many soldiers swerved on the Western Front...
Questions You’re Not Supposed to Ask, by Tony Williams (New Holland Publishers, RRP $24.99): Tony Williams is a bloke who likes to entertain, in person, on film or in print. He’s produced some excellent books in his literary career and this wee gem is also sure to attain that same dizzying heights of excellence....
Zero Hour, by Leon Davidson (Text Publishing, RRP $25): Leon Davidson is one of those rare authors who can write good non-fiction for young adults that makes history both real and engaging. His first book, Scarecrow Army, was about the Anzacs at Gallipoli and won the NZ Post Children and Young Adult non-fiction category...
Containment, by Vanda Symon (Penguin, RRP $28): There’s no doubting Dunedin-based author Vanda Symon’s talent as a writer and I certainly enjoyed most of this book, the third to feature stroppy chick/newbie detective Sam Shepherd. However, I don’t know that a reader who wasn’t so familiar with the southern part of New Zealand would...
Poppy Boys By Lynley Dear (Craig Print) Steven Spielberg’s epic World War II movie Saving Private Ryan was one of those gut-wrenching stories that stayed with you long after you walked out of the theatre. The tale of the search for the fourth and only surviving Ryan brother, so he can be sent home...
61 Hours, by Lee Child (Bantam Press, RRP $39.99): Benjamin Franklin reckoned there were only two things in this world that could be said to be certain: death and taxes. However, I’d like to add a third item to that list: Lee Child hitting the best-sellers list here in New Zealand with his Jack...
Too Many Murders, by Colleen McCullough (HarperCollins, RRP $54.99) Aussie author Colleen McCullough is probably best-known for The Thorn Birds and while I enjoyed that book every bit as much as everyone else in the world, I wasn’t such a great fan of some of the later offerings, particularly the Masters of Rome series....
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