The word “inspirational” is often bandied about when it comes to biographies of the famous and wealthy, but this story of a teacher who simply wanted to carry on doing what he loved best is one of the few times “inspirational” is the appropriate description. David Menasche was a high school English teacher in […]
Inspiration top of ill teacher’s list Read Post »
There’s nothing quite like getting your hands on a new Jack Reacher adventure and this one’s a cracker. Action hero Reacher, the ex-military cop who is now something of a one-man army, is back and as the title of the book would suggest, this time it’s personal. Someone has taken a pot shot at the
Fresh insights into what makes Reacher tick Read Post »
The average Kiwi fish and chip shop these days is a bit different from those of my long-ago youth: they’re as likely to feature framed prints, arty menus, glossy plants and fancy-schmancy tartare sauce as they are a pile of magazines that includes a three-month old Auto Trader and tiny plastic packets of good ol’
Poster a trip down memory lane Read Post »
Billy Crystal is one of those actors that everyone knows of. His career is wide-ranging and various, and it feels like he’s done a little bit of everything. Still Foolin ‘Em is part autobiography, part reflecting on ageing, and it’s all pulled together by Crystal’s self-deprecating humour and observations about life, ageing and the world
There’s so much to like about Billy Read Post »
Meticulous Errol Martyn continues the rich history of innovation, imagination and daring of early New Zealand aviation. This slice titled Passion for Flight: New Zealand aviation Before the Great War Volume Two: New Zealand Aviation Before the Great War still includes a few of the fanciful feathered contraptions, gliders, balloons and parachutes of volume one, but now
Flying history recounted Read Post »
I’m not usually a fan of the books that insist on footnotes. I avoid them or make a slow decision about whether they are actually needed and what they could possibly add to the book. Why not just include those moments in the main text of the story? However, for New Zealand author Robert Glancy
Quirky debut mixes drama, mystery to good effect Read Post »
Set during the 1970s, this book came across as trying to be as much of a history lesson as it was a murder mystery, telling the story of the women who carved out their place in the police force of Atlanta. The story starts off with a hiss and a roar, with cop Jimmy Lawson
Misogyny distracts from juicy plot Read Post »
The fact that this is No 5 in family saga The Cazalet Chronicles probably speaks for itself. In fact, Elizabeth Jane Howard was awarded a CBE in 2002, the same year her autobiography was published, and is the author of 14 highly acclaimed novels. This instalment starts in 1956 and chronicles continuing Cazalet fortunes to
Not a page-turner but good enough Read Post »
I’m not entirely sure how it happened, but I missed the buzz over author Nick Trout’s earlier novels. The biggest buzz of all has been about 2013’s The Patron Saint of Lost Dogs. I eventually managed to catch up on that particular wee gem while I was on holiday in Aussie last year, and fell
Return to the manor a treat Read Post »
I wasn’t really expecting to enjoy this book but am pleased to say I was proved wrong. Let me begin by owning up to one thing in particular: I’m not greatly enamoured of Bear Grylls. While his fans watch his various “boy’s own adventure” TV shows and no doubt puff out their chest in collective
Grylls delivers – and some Read Post »
