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…
Month: April 2010
Questions You’re Not Supposed to Ask
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…
Appeal for all age groups
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…
Kiwi colloquialisms distract
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…
Record of a generation
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…
Kiwis love Reacher
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…
Worth the wait
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…