Picking up a new thriller to read while on holiday was a case of deja vu all over again … two books by different authors share a common title. No Way Back, by Matthew Klein (Allen & Unwin, RRP $30) I read the back cover of this one and was hooked from the start, but […]
Intergenerational histories are treasures for local communities, telling the stories of the people who built the present. In this case the focus is on a farming enterprise, down and across five generations based primarily at Pukerau-Kaiwera-Waipahi, though also touching on Central Otago. The founding matriarch, Otago immigrant Irishwoman Alicia McKenna, had a hard and tragic
■ REVIEW: Carse Head & Crichton Park Farms
Farmers’ heritage: gritty determination Read Post »
Apart from all the info telling me what a great book this is, the back cover also tells me that during her career Tina became one of the most recognisable faces on New Zealand and Australian television. The only trouble is I didn’t recognise her at all. So I Googled her name and even after
■ REVIEW: A Life in Three Acts
Drama, strife and a TV life Read Post »
It could be said that it’s something of a surprise that a book on the history of a country as small and as young as New Zealand could be so huge. At close to 500 pages and in an A4-size format, the Illustrated History of New Zealand is a massive tome that would take
■ REVIEW: Illustrated History of New Zealand
A big, interesting history Read Post »
Self-help books available now include: We have methods of treatment for all our physical injuries but most of us have no idea how to treat day-to-day emotional injuries such as failure, rejection, guilt and loss. Dr Guy Winch – a licensed psychologist and author who has also dabbled in standup comedy – says these kinds
This is the second in the “Fury of Aces” series by New Zealand writer Steve Wheeler. The crew of Basalt are continuing their adventures. Their success so far has brought both blessings and curses. Popularity and fortune vie with jealousy and the pressure of further success. As seen in book one, a new and potentially
■ REVIEW: Crystal Venom
Futuristic and a little unbelievable Read Post »
This collection of stories kept me thinking and eager to read on. It made me look forward to the 11th collection and want to read the previous nine too. It’s difficult to pick out a favourite but I think it had to be “Awa” by Shelly Davies. It’s about a man “coming home”. Shelly won
■ REVIEW: Huia Short Stories 10
Highly recommended collection Read Post »
The things collected by Kiwis are as many and varied as the collectors themselves and this book offers a fascinating glimpse into just a tiny portion of the collections tucked away in our homes, garages and sheds. It seems we all end up collecting something in the course of our lives, whether on purpose or
■ REVIEW: Kiwi Collectors
All things collectable Read Post »
The latest in the Awa Press Ginger Series tackles the topic of sailing. The “Ginger” books are guides to a variety of subjects, from art to birdwatching. They aren’t guides in the traditional sense, more an explanation of what is so awesome about a particular topic, written by someone who is passionate about that topic.
■ REVIEW: How to Sail A Boat
Cute with but plenty of sound advice Read Post »
For most of us, dealing with sickness is something that happens occasionally and on a very personal level. However, for health care professionals, dealing with illness – minor and major – is an every-day event. Robin Youngson understands that the health care system often fails both patients and practitioners, that in this busy world we
■ REVIEW: Time to Care
Whole-patient care is vital Read Post »
