IN BRIEF – RECENT READING


The Inside Story – Storylines Year Book 2006

Published by the Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust this annual is an interesting and informative snapshot of 2006 from a children’s literature perspective and as such is an invaluable tool for all who have an interest in this field.

Listed are all the various book and author/illustrator awards not only from New Zealand awards but from around the world. The Margaret Mahy Lecture by Robyn Belton is included along with numerous enchanting illustrations from books she has illustrated.

Copies may be obtained from the publisher for $16.00 including post & packing,at
P.O.Box 96 094, Balmoral, Auckland. Or join up as a member of Storylines and get your copy free each year.

For full details visit their website at www.storylines.org.nz



The Joys of Engrish by Stephen Caires Penguin Books NZ$20.00

This is an incredibly funny but very non-PC look at the world of Engrish which finds its greatest expression in Japanese and Chinese signs, t-shirts and restaurant menus. It consists largely of misspellings, doubtful abbreviations and jarring literal translations.

The author started collecting Engrish examples in 1987 when he first went to Japan as a student. Over the course of 10 years while studying and working there he accumulated so many examples that he set up a website, www.engrish.com , that attracts more than 8 million visitors a year. This book brings together the best (or worst?) of them. Hilarious.



Blame Vermeer Vincent O’Sullivan Victoria University Press NZ$25.00

From one of NZ’s leading writers, author of biography, novels, plays, short stories and poetry (he has won the Montana NZ Book Awards for poetry twice) comes his latest collection of poems with the fun title, Blame Vermeer.


A woman of thirty pours the inch or so of milk
Left in a jug, sets the jug on a high shelf
Inside a small cupboard because the children
From next door, are to stay the night, she’ll
Not risk their picking at its precious glaze.
She takes the ring from her third finger.
She hears steps on the path.

From the title poem.


VQR - The Virginia Quarterly review – Spring 2007.

I wrote about this publication back on March 29.

Now the first copy of my new subscription has arrived

Sub-titled A National Journal of Literature & Discussion at the University of Virginia the theme of this issue is “Drawing the Line”, I might have called it “Borders and Boundaries".It starts with a series of superb essays, and poems as well, dealing with the thorny problem of the Mexico/US border and illegal immigration. There is even a series of book reviews featuring books on the same theme. Very thought-provoking stuff.

Also included is an interesting story by Nadine Gordimer who began her publishing career in the U.S. in the pages of VQR with her story “The Catch” in the summer 1951 issue. Her story in this issue is part of a series in progress. “The First Sense” appeared in the New Yorker in December, “The Second Sense” is in this issue of VQR, and “The Third Sense” will appear in Playboy in May.

www.vqronline.org