Thursday, August 16, 2007

BRIEF TAKES ON RECENT NEW & NOTABLE TITLES

THE BLUE Mary McCallum

Penguin Books $28

This is former broadcaster Mary McCallum’s first novel and what a great debut.
Set on Arapawa Island in Tory Channel in 1938 it is the story of the people who live there in the small whaling community. Well researched and stylishly written. I was pleased to read that McCallum is now working on her second novel.


Lynley Dodd’s Slinki Malinki adventures now in miniature

Slinki Malinki is Lynley Dodd’s mischievous cat that has young fans around the world.
Now three of the most popular adventures have been published in new pocket sized hardback editions. At NZ$12 these will be popular.





MISS ME A LOT OF Louise Wareham Leonard

Victoria University Press $30

The author grew up in Wellington, Sydney and New York, was educated at Columbia College in New York and Victoria University of Wellington. This is her second novel, and like the first Since You Ask, is a well written rather bleak literary tale.
Holly is 21, a student, with a powerful & controlling businessman father and a socially anxious New Zealand mother.. The story is set in the U.S. initially at the lake where the family have their summer holidays and has much to do with their neighbours and their relationships with them,. The story then moves to New York.

LESSONS TO LEARN Natasha Judd
Cape Catley $28

Natasha Judd won the Katherine Mansfield Short Story Award in 2003 and that was the starting point for this novel. It tells the story of Charlotte who, haunted by tragedy, wants to flee New Zealand and so moves to Korea to teach English. A delightful story, or as a librarian friend of mine put it so well- Lessons to Learn is funny, tender and evocative.






MAORI – A VISITORS GUIDE Paora Walker Reed Publishing $20

The author says in his introduction that the inspiration for this book came from the publisher who felt that visitors to Aotearoa/New Zealand would be exposed to things Maori, and that it would be good for all concerned if those visitors could learn a little prior to their exposure – which is where I have entered the picture.
Then he quotes his friend Nick Theobald – We are all tourists when it comes to the world of the Maori.
So this book is not only for overseas visitors, your genuine tourists, it is for all of us. Tatou.

This is a wonderful little book, (96 pages), well illustrated with colour pics by James Heremaia, that deals with all aspects of Maori life from myth and religion and including language, the Treaty of Waitangi, the marae, the hangi and Maori arts.
There should be one in every home.

HARPOON – INTO THE HEART OF WHALING
Andrew Darby Allen & Unwin $35

This is a timely book from a man who holds a masters degree in Antarctic politics. It reveals the deception and manipulation at the highest levels of international politics that have allowed countries such as Japan to continue whaling against the wishes of the world. How can it be that 20 years after whaling was banned that whales continue to be harpooned. Highly readable, deserves a wide audience. Let’s hope it is translated into Japanese, and Norwegian!

THINK BEFORE YOU SWALLOW Noel O’Hare Penguin $30


We are bombarded with dubious health information and made to feel anxious by scare stories in the media. Now experienced health journalist Noel O’Hare casts his skeptical eye over many of the ‘facts’ we’ve been encouraged to believe – from the dangers of cholesterol to the value of supplementary vitamins. Informative and entertaining.

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