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 »
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
Farmers’ heritage: gritty determination 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 »
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
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
All things collectable 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 »
It was a case that shocked everyone on both sides of the world: Malcolm Webster was convicted of murdering one wife in Scotland and trying to kill a second wife in New Zealand. Award-winning journalist Charles Lavery has followed the case closely and in The Black Widower he examines the crimes of this callous and
Killer’s web of deceit ably described Read Post »
I’m more than a little fed up with the whole vampire craze so I am enjoying the resurgence of interest in the other undead: zombies. Author Fredrik Brouneus has taken the zombie apocalypse theme and given it an awesome southern flavour with this young adult sci-fi novel set in Otago and Southland and the result
Zombie turns up in romp through southern lands Read Post »
It’s hard to believe it has been three since the deadly aftershock that hit Canterbury, following the September 2010 quake. Cantabrians have had an awful time since the quakes happened and even now, as the frequency and strength of the aftershocks diminish, things are still pretty rough for many living in those areas. Life goes
Quake-city humour to tickle your funny bone Read Post »
