Set in Venice, the descriptive writing in this book is so good it could probably appeal to travel fans every bit as much as murder-mystery fans. It seems this one is part of a series written by Donna Leon that features Commissario Brunetti and his sidekick (for want of a better word) Ispettore Vianello and […]
Author’s skill saves flat ending from losing me Read Post »
We are fortunate to live in an incredibly picturesque country and that unrivalled beauty is to the fore in this stunning book that shows New Zealand’s development since European settlement. Developed with the help of Fairfax Media newspapers from one end of the country to the other, New Zealand: Portrait of a Nation is a
Beautiful book tells NZ’s story Read Post »
I’m a wee bit on the slow side sometimes when it comes to getting hooked on television programmes. Bones, a TV series about forensic anthropologist Temperance “Bones” Brennan — which was written by and based on the life of real-life forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs — is a prime example of that. It wasn’t until the
The elite Sigma Force is back in action in James Rollins’ latest novel, The Judas Strain. Sigma Force is made up of brilliant scientists, who are called on to save the world from time to time. This time around, a mysterious algae leads to an even more mysterious epidemic that infects both humans and animals,
Perfect blend of history and drama Read Post »
After moving to the Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts with her husband Dean, Madeline Dare takes on a job as a teacher at an academy for troubled teens with wealthy families. At the academy, she discovers a disturbing world where the founder’s manipulative ways and “therapeutic regimen” leave Madeline feeling uneasy. She questions his methods but
Disturbing world uncovered Read Post »
Everyone knows that famous image of Che Guevara that adorns T-shirts and posters, that of a young revolutionary looking all wind-swept and interesting in his flash beret. Unfortunately, that photograph, taken by Cuban photographer Alberto Korda, may be all that some younger readers know of Che, and there’s certainly much more to the bloke than
More to Guevara than that image Read Post »
If you’ve ever struggled to come up with the perfect insult to hurl at an annoying sibling/co-worker/spouse, this could be the perfect book for you. It’s packed full of witty, blunt, clever and even slightly corny insults. They range from the very clean to the just ever-so-slightly PG-rated and are broken down into categories, meaning
Not all insults but still good value Read Post »
Okay you tree-hugging, hairy armpit-toting hippies, look away now. This book isn’t for you. We’ve heard plenty about why global warming is a bad thing, but what about the flipside? Peter Janssen takes an irreverent look at global warming in this book, illustrated by Malcolm Evans. It includes cartoons and words on the debate over
Tree-huggers should stop reading now Read Post »
The back cover of the book describes it as “a heartbreaking story of abuse, betrayal and ultimate redemption” but I think it’s fair to say that any tale of abuse of a child is going to be heartbreaking. Author David Thomas’ parents split up when he was young and he had to endure growing up
Readable but not brilliant Read Post »
Us Kiwis have always been suckers for Aussie farming stories, in book and on TV, so it’s no surprise that Rachael Treasure’s books are proving popular. In this story, loveable larrikin Kate Webster is the star. Kate tends to live for today and worry about tomorrow when it happens. Unfortunately, she has a habit of
Easy read and not too soppy Read Post »
