June 2015 - Books By George

■ REVIEW: In the Hands of Strangers
State’s failure of care a sad tale

When the State steps in to take over the care of a child when families are unable to, those children should be safe. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case, and Beverly Wardle-Jackson’s story highlights just how badly things can go wrong. She was born to a broken family, her father drifting in and out of […]

■ REVIEW: In the Hands of Strangers
State’s failure of care a sad tale Read Post »

■ REVIEW: The Secret Life of James Cook
Imagination fills gaps in story of James Cook

NZ books, People

The premise for The Secret Life of James Cook sounds a bit naff. A fictionalised account of the famous navigator’s early life up to his first circumnavigation, based on letters to his patient wife . . . who actually destroyed the letters so no one ever knew the contents. Graeme Lay has recreated Cook’s life,

■ REVIEW: The Secret Life of James Cook
Imagination fills gaps in story of James Cook Read Post »

■ REVIEW: 100 Things You Will Never Do
Dreaming of the impossible

General non-fiction, Humour

I refuse to set myself a bucket list and believe the phrase should be eradicated from our language, but must admit I did enjoy this trip through what many would see as the ultimate bucket list. Author Daniel Smith has compiled a fun and diverse list of 100 things most of us are unlikely to

■ REVIEW: 100 Things You Will Never Do
Dreaming of the impossible Read Post »

On the bookshelves: July 2015

New releases

New releases coming in July. FICTION China Rich Girlfriend, by Kevin Kwan: A funny tale of social climbing, lovesick bilionaires and art-world scandal. Published in July by Allen & Unwin (RRP $33), this is from the bestselling author of Crazy Rich Asians. The Festival of Insignificance, by Milan Kunder: The first novel in twelve years,

On the bookshelves: July 2015 Read Post »

■ REVIEW: An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth
Astronaut’s exploits are out of this world

People

Chris Hadfield is without doubt the world’s most well- known astronaut since the hey-day of the Moon landings and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. He is the dude who made us all smile last year with his music video of David Bowie’s Space Oddity because, aside from anything else, he is probably one of few

■ REVIEW: An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth
Astronaut’s exploits are out of this world Read Post »

■ REVIEW: The Gods of Guilt
Cracking good read

Mysteries & thrillers

This was my first encounter with the very popular “legal-thriller” genre and so I had no reference point against which to compare it. After reading The Gods of Guilt, I doubt that it will be my last encounter. The main character is Mickey Haller, an LA-based defence attorney who comes with the usual “baggage” of

■ REVIEW: The Gods of Guilt
Cracking good read Read Post »

■ REVIEW: Are Men Obsolete
Tackling gender debate with lots of humour

General non-fiction, Humour

This little book takes on the gender debate with four talented feminist writers and critics taking a crack at the argument both for and against those hairy creatures we share our lives with: Men. In centuries past, women have tended to end up getting a bit of a raw deal: We’ve put careers (and sometimes

■ REVIEW: Are Men Obsolete
Tackling gender debate with lots of humour Read Post »

■ REVIEW: Dolphins Down Under
Seeing the value in NZ’s dolphins

NZ books

Found only in New Zealand’s waters, Hector’s dolphins are both cute and fascinating. They are also – as the publisher points out – as “Kiwi as the kiwi but their numbers are under threat”. All too often, we lose sight of what it is that makes our little corner of the world so appealing to

■ REVIEW: Dolphins Down Under
Seeing the value in NZ’s dolphins Read Post »