Zara is in a coma, immersed in a subconscious world where she has to come to terms both with the terrible accident that took her brother’s life and a traumatic event from her childhood. The first-person narrative is always Zara’s voice but the varying styles add interest to the story – we go deep inside […]
■ REVIEW: Broken
Excellent teen fiction from NZ author Read Post »
Fran is in her mid-forties and having a weekend away with her husband and two adult daughters at the wedding of a family friend. She is the first person narrator and, as such, we can see the flaws in her thinking that take her a lot longer to discover for herself. It is soon obvious
■ REVIEW: Someone Else's Wedding
Secrets and judgements at weekend wedding Read Post »
This book has enabled me to tick the box on my summer reading bingo card (courtesy Invercargill Public Library), “a book by an author new to you”. It could add, “but will definitely read again”. Tatiana has been so badly behaved as a teenager and young adult that her beloved father has more or less
■ REVIEW: The Inheritance
A romping good read Read Post »
The subject of this biography is an important figure in the settlement of Canterbury. He was the province’s first superintendent, a politician, a watercolourist and founder of the Christchurch Press. He was ahead of his time with such forward thinking ideas as plans to help the famine sufferers in Ireland, ideas for successful colonization, and
Award-winning Mosgiel-based author, Ella West, was born in Invercargill and studied at the University of Otago. In her new thriller for younger readers, 14-year-old Viola has a genetic condition whereby the sun is dangerous, Xeroderma Pigmentosum. Viola’s “living”, therefore, is done at night. She lives on a farm inland from Ashburton and goes for walks
■ REVIEW: Night Vision
Excellent NZ fiction for teens Read Post »
After the last, very bad, African saga I read, I decided that I would read no more about that troubled continent, first met through Wilbur Smith and followed up with Bryce Courtney. The fact that this story is about real life was not an extra draw card; you can distance yourself from the experiences of
■ REVIEW: One Hundred and Four Horses
African saga a welcome improvement Read Post »
Written from the heart, this beautifully produced book is a must-have for hunting enthusiasts, both practising and armchair. He doesn’t exactly detail how he’s managed it, but Peter Ryan has done a fair amount of hunting and fly fishing in many parts of Africa and South America, as well as in Australia and New Zealand.
■ REVIEW: Wild South, Hunting and Fishing the Southern Hemisphere
A must-have for hunters Read Post »
Subtitled “recognising and coping with postnatal depression”, this is a handy guide for all new mothers and their families. It discusses the whole range of conditions from the fairly innocuous three day blues to manic psychosis and bipolar disorder. The first part gives an understanding of postnatal depression. This is followed by risk factors and
■ REVIEW: Mothers Cry Too
Understanding postnatal depression 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 »
I was excited to read the latest Des Hunt offering and was not disappointed. Set on the southwest coast near Wellington, it’s an adventure to do with a shipwreck, the strange animal that survives to come to shore, and those who wish to hunt it down for various reasons. Zac is living with his father
■ REVIEW: Phantom of Terawhiti
Solid read for young Kiwis Read Post »
