Steve Braunias is a master of biting satire, so if you are looking for a friendly little travelogue highlighting the awesomeness of various locale, you might you might want to look elsewhere. However, if you want a read that is equal parts challenging, funny and provocative about the quirks and foibles of various towns and […]
Steve Braunias explores heartland and margins Read Post »
I’m sure we’ve all, at some point, looked up the meaning of our own name in one of those dinky little books that list all the names you can think of (and a few you never would have thought of in a million years). However, this book is much more than just a list of
Humorous book on names has a Kiwi twist Read Post »
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
Thrillers take different turns 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
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
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
Advice from skin care to intuition 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
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.
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
Whole-patient care is vital Read Post »
Every song has a story to tell and New Zealand’s pop classics are full of great stories. Freelance music writer and Stuff blogger Simon Sweetman had the job of picking out 30 of the best Kiwi pop songs to feature in this book and I have to say it’s a task I would have struggled
Well-tuned mix of Kiwi songs Read Post »
