The Secret Life of James Cook, by Graeme Lay (HarperCollins, RRP $37): 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…
Category: NZ books
Seeing the value in NZ’s dolphins
Dolphins Down Under: Understanding the New Zealand Dolphin, by Liz Slooten and Steve Dawson (Otago University Press, RRP $30): Found only in New Zealand’s waters, Hector’s dolphins are both cute and fascinating. They are also – as the publisher points out…
Tracing NZ’s tartan history
Unpacking the Kists: The Scots in New Zealand, by Brad Patterson, Tom Brooking and Jim McAloon (Otago University Press, RRP $70): This is an informative study of the nature and effect of Scottish migration to New Zealand. It covers myriad…
Celebrating the wonder of ‘show day’
One Hundred Summers, by John Cutt (Winton A & P Association, RRP $45): In what is a deceptively compact little book, former Southland Times farming reporter John Cutt packed in a wealth of history and information that covers 100 years…
Great piece of local history
Swaggers, Tinkers, Hawkers: Deep South Tales, by Jeannie Barnes (Sycamore Print, RRP $18.99): The launch of Jeannie Barnes’ long-awaited book on the swagmen of the south brought together a host of Southlanders – from those who contributed stories to the book…
Southern connection in highly recommended poetry collection
The Night The Rat Stepped Out, poems by Gary Elford, artwork by Tui Johnson (RRP $20): Christchurch based poet Gary Elford taught at three different schools on the Regent Street site now occupied by Aurora College, Invercargill, for 16 years, so…
A book worthy of its title
Chocolate Cake For Breakfast, by Danielle Hawkins (Allen & Unwin) Set in rural New Zealand, Chocolate Cake For Breakfast is an easy read that has a Bridget Jones feel about it. It’s about Helen McNeil, a vet from small-town New…
Excellent teen fiction from NZ author
Broken, by Elizabeth Pulford, illustrated by Angus Gomes (Walker Books): 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…
Must-do list a surefire holiday boredom-buster
Explore New Zealand: 101 Must-Do’s for Kiwis, compiled by AA (Random House NZ, RRP $45): The school holidays are now all but over, with the young ‘uns heading back to class on Monday, so maybe it’s time to start some…
Idealised reality a touch ‘homogenised’
Lazy Days: Painting the Kiwi Lifestyle, by Graham Young (New Holland Publishers, RRP $30): English born artist Graham Young has put together a collection of his kiwi lifestyle works which is just fine. Nice. Pleasant. Any of the adjectives you…