Forward — and back
Next issue we welcome back Fiona Kidman. Her new novel, Ricochet Baby, gives us the opportunity to make a retrospective assessment of her work. We expect that will be a centrepiece of our March number. Meantime, our reviewer says a first glance suggests a different direction.
As we were going to press we received Barbara Anderson’s new novel, Proud Garments. Look out for that in March.
Also in that issue Sir Geoffrey Palmer will be back, to review books on the troubled accident compensation scheme. As a young man in the 1960s Sir Geoffrey advised the royal commission which proposed the scheme. Ian Thynne will assess ministerial and public service accountability over the Cave Creek disaster. David Pearson will look at the controversial topic of Asian immigration in a review of several books.
Religious writing gets a look in with a review by Paul Morris of Judith Batten’s Celebrations for Southern Seasons: Rituals for Aotearoa. Missionaries, nuns and Catholic boys bring back Nicholas Reid, who will also assess a new range of books on New Zealand film for the June issue, when we can track them down. Alison Gray will scan writing on women’s lives.
Howard Warner will review a clutch of thrillers, a genre gaining ground in New Zealand writing. This issue Paul Thomas’s latest is assessed. And Aorewa McLeod will examine an exciting novel by Sia Figiel, new both in the sense of a first novel but also as representative of an emerging genre — the Pacific island novel. Lydia Wevers will examine literary journals, from Sport to JAAM.
And Paul White will taste our wine writing. Does it have a good nose? Or should we trust our judgement?
In the warehouse
Ricochet Baby illustrates one of our quandaries as a reviewer in depth. We received the review copy close to our deadline. We might have rushed a review into print and we would have been confident of a review of quality. But we look to go further than simply review the book — and that takes time and care; moreover, the reviewers we look to are usually also very busy people and must fit their reviewing into difficult schedules.
That is one reason we build up a backlog of books. Usually that results in a delay of only one issue. Sometimes, however, the delay is longer.
In some cases, that is because some reviewers take their time and promised reviews may take several issues, even up to a year, to materialise. In some cases the delay is because we have not been able to identify a suitable reviewer. To our great discredit most of the Maori books fall into this category. We will make strenuous efforts to put this right next year.
In other cases we want to consider a book simultaneously with companion volumes (as with Patrick Day’s The Radio Years, for example) or with other books on the same topic. This is so with books that are not strictly in our territory as a serious review journal but which we think merit examination as a class of book: gardening (see Alistair Fox’s review on p19), self-help, management guides are examples.
We also collect large numbers of children’s books. Occasionally, as with The Bantam and the Soldiers in our August issue, we will deal with a children’s book on its merit as a fine piece of work. Otherwise we will select out some of the best for review (see p7) or, as we will do next issue, assess the standard of writing for children of the past two years, covering many books.
We have no fixed exclusionary criteria. We are always on the lookout for a book which will give us the opportunity to run something distinctively different: as, for example, our review by children of Dexter and Friends on p14.
But there are books we are for a variety of reasons unlikely to review. Among them are some important books, for example, Te Hikoi Maarama — a directory of Maori information resources. Likewise, we are unlikely to review reprints unless they have been very substantially revised or they can form part of a retrospective of an author’s work or they fit into a group with first-run books. In our list are some important works: Jock Phillips’ A Man’s Country should be on everyone’s bookshelf; so should Patricia Grace’s novels; and the Bridget Williams Books’ reprints listed below are all important contributions to our bibliography.
Below we list the books we have received but not reviewed or assigned yet. In future we intend to print a list of the books received since the previous issue but not yet assigned.
How to write
Dorothea Brande, Becoming a Writer, MacMillan
Barry Turner, The Writer’s Companion, MacMillan
The arts
Peter and Dianne Beatson, The Arts in Aotearoa/New Zealand, Massey University
John McDermott, Auckland — Our City, Tandem
Music
Joy Tonks, Bravo! The NZSO at 50, Exisle
The Music of Scotland, Waikato University
ed John Thornley, Music in the Air — Song and Spirituality, Songpoetry
Mervyn McLean, Maori Music, Auckland University Press
Poetry
ed Alistair Paterson, Poetry NZ (featuring Alan Riach), Brick Row
ed Bridget Musters and Jillian Sullivan, Ten, Nelson Writers Group (40 Nile St Nelson contact Rachel Bush)
Apapera Hineira Kaa, nga kokako huataratara — the plumes of the kokako, Waiata Koa 1995
Andrew Johnston, The Sounds, Victoria University Press
Ed Alan Loney, A Brief Description of the Whole World Nos 1 and 2
Alan Loney and Mark Wills, Envoy, Puriri Press
Collected writing
Warwick Roger, The Other Side, Cape Catley
John Clarke, A Dagg at my Table: Writings 1977-1996, Hodder Moa Beckett
Ranginui Walker, Nga Pepa a Ranginui/The Walker Papers, Penguin
Fiction
Geoff Palmer, Telling Stories, Secker and Warburg
J H MacDonald, The Free World, Victoria University Press
Dominic Sheehan, Finding Home, Reed
John Elder, The hidden mask, Octant Press
Sam Fisher, Laura, Pedro, Te Tiriti and I, Ethos Press
Liz Falkner, Dr Beale’s Wednesday, Random
Sue Reidy, The Visitation, Black Swan/Transworld Publishers
Barbara Anderson, Proud Garments, Victoria University Press
Maori fiction
Witi Ihimaera, Te Ao Maarama — Contemporary Maori Writing, Vol 5, Reed
ed Huia publishers, Ngaa Pakiwaitara a Huia (Maori short stories), Huia publishers
ed Trixie Te Arama Menzies, He Wai: a song.— First Nation’s Women’s Writing, Waiata Koa
Arapera Hineira Kaa, Nga Kokako Huataratara, Waiata Koa
Wiremu Kaa, Nga Korero a Rewiti Kohere, Victoria University Press
Anaru Reedu, Nga Korero a Mohi Ruatapu, Canterbury University Press
Te Ohorere and Wiremu Kaa, Apirana Turupa Ngata Ana Tuhinga i roto i te reo Maori, Victoria University Press
Te Ohorere and Wiremu Kaa, Mohi Turei. Ana Tuhinga i roto i te reo Maori, Victoria University Press
Huia Short Stories 1995, Huia Publishers
Judy Corbalis, Tapu, Sinclair-Stevenson
Pacific Islands fiction
ed Albert Wendt, Nuanua — Pacific Island writing in English since 1980, Auckland University Press
Tupou Posesi Fanua and Lois W Webster, Malo Tupou: an Oral History, Pasifika Press
Plays
Lorae Parry, Eugenia, Victoria University Press
J Broughton, M Forster, S O’Connor, Renee, F Farrell, Playlunch, Otago University Press
Young adult fiction
David Hill, Curtain up, Heinemann Reed
Fleur Beale, Fifteen and Screaming, Tui (Harper Collins)
Pat Quinn, Sounds crazy, Reed
Gaelyn Gordon, River Song, Tui (Harper Collins)
Marie Gibson, Butterflies in the Dark, HarperCollins
Janice Marriott, Hope’s rainbow, Penguin
David Hill, Cold Comfort, Mallinson Rendal
Julie Williamson , A Summer to Remember, Tui (Harper Collins)
Christine Johnston, A Friend of Jack McGuire, Tui (Harper Collins)
William Taylor, Circles, Penguin
Ken Katran, Dream Bite, Penguin
Sherryl Jordon, Secret Sacrament, Penguin
Vivienne Joseph, Worlds Apart, Mallinson Rendal
Jane Westaway, Reliable Friendly Girls, Longacre
Maori writing for children
Hepora Young ill. Kerry Gemmill, Hinemoa and Tuutaanekai — a te Arawa legend, Huia publishers
Hepora Young ill. Kerry Gemmill, A Hinemoa raaua ko Tuutaanekai — he koorerohanga anoo o teetahi o ngaa pakiwaitara rongonui o Te Arawa, Huia publishers
Esther Tamehana ill. James Molnar, Roimata’s Cloak, Huia publishers
Esther Tamehana ill. James Molnar, He Kahurere, Huia publishers
Witi Ihimaera, te Kaieke Tohoraa, Reed
Brian Birchall, Kahu Te Kiwi Tupato, Golden Press
Jack Lasenby, Tiare Te Kea Whakatara, Golden Press
Brian Birchall, Hemi Te Poaka Kapene Kuki, Golden Press
Jack Lasenby, Rewi Te Tia Whero, Golden Press
Julia Graham, Opo Te Aihe Harikoa, Golden Press
Robyn Kahukiwa, Kehua. There’s something scary in the hall. Is it a ghost?, Penguin
Religion
Peter J Lineham, Bible and society. a sesquicentennial history of the Bible Society in New Zealand, The Bible Society of NZ/Daphne Brasell associates press
Jocelyn C Murray, Windows on Widowhood, Highland Books
Kimberley Paterson, The Future Seekers Way and Means to see into your future, Penguin
Biography
Ian Dougherty, Arawata Bill, The story of legendary gold prospector William James O’Leary, Exisle
Sigrid Crump, Bushwoman, Reed
Christine Leov-Lealand, Barry Brickell — A head of steam, Exisle
R C J Stone, Dilworth, Dilworth Trust Board
Margaret Lovell-Smith, Plain Living High Thinking — the family story of Jennie and Will Lovell Smith, Pedmore Press
Alex Frame, Salmond — Southern Jurist, Victoria University Press
Bradford Haami, Dr Golan Maaka — Maori Doctor, Tandem
Grant Shanks, We just want our daughter to live, Penguin
Lynley Hood, Minnie Dean, Penguin
Elizabeth Harding, You are a Brave Man: A Kiwi Odyssey in the Himalayas, Random
Rebecca Swan, The Big C: My Experience with Cancer, Hodder Moa Beckett
Wira Gardiner, Return to Sender, Reed
Politics and policy
Electoral Commission, Everything you needed to know about MMP
Foreign Affairs
Sir Frank Holmes, The Trans-Tasman Relationship, Institute of Policy Studies
Sir Frank Holmes, Terence O’Brien, New Zealand and ASEAN: The Strategic and Economic Outlook, Institute of Policy Studies
Raj Vasil, New Zealand and ASEAN: A Critical View of the Relationship, Institute of Policy Studies
History
Dave Leitch, Steam, Steel and Splendour, HarperCollins
Tony Hurst, Farewell to Steam — Four decades of change on New Zealand railways, HarperCollins
ed Frances Porter and Charlotte Macdonald, “My Hand Will Write What My Heart Dictates”. The unsettled lives of women in nineteenth-century New Zealand as revealed to sisters, family and friends, Auckland University Press/Bridget Williams Books
Patrick Day, The Radio Years: New Zealand Broadcasting, Auckland University Press
Richard S Hill, The Iron Hand in the Velvet Glove — the history of policing in New Zealand, Vol 3, 1886-1917, Dunmore
Roberta Nicholls, The Women’s Parliament, Victoria University Press
Dorothy Page, The National Council of Women: A Centennial History, Auckland University Press
Maori Resources
Compiled by Chris Szekely, Te Hikoi Maarama — a directory of Maori information resources, Bridget Williams Books
Maori history
Bill Dacker, Te Maemae me te Aroha/The Pain and the Love, Otago University Press
Pei Te Hurinui Jones and Bruce Biggs, Nga Iwi o Tainui, Auckland University Press
War/security
Lawrence Watt, Mates and Mayhem. World War II: Frontline Kiwis Remember, HarperCollins
Harry Bioletti, The Yanks are Coming, Random House
Social policy
Richard A Epstein, The Role of the State in Education, Business Roundtable
Adrienne Von Tunzelmann with David Cullwick, Social Responsibility and the Company: A New Perspective on Governance, Strategy and the Community, Institute of Policy Studies
Derek A Dow, Safeguarding the public health — a history of the NZ department of health, Victoria University Press
Jim Sprott, The Cot Death Cover-up?, Penguin
Marilyn Waring, Three Masquerades: Essays on Equality, Work and Human Rights, Auckland University Press/Bridget Williams Books
Law
Gill Gatfield, Without Prejudice: Women in the Law, Brookers
Auckland gay and lesbian lawyers group, Out Law — a legal guide for lesbians and gays in New Zealand
Maori society
Margaret Orbell, The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Maori Myth and Legend, Canterbury University Press
Hirini Moko Mead, Taawhaki. The Deeds of a demigod, Reed
Hirini Moko Mead, Taawhaki Nui A Hema, Reed
Maori Language Commission, Te Matatiki. Contemporary Maori Words, Otago University Press
Joan Metge, New Growth From Old. The whanau in the modern world, Victoria University Press
Architecture
Adrienne Rewi and Euan Sarginson, Architects at Home — 30 New Zealand architects and their houses, Shoal Bay
Jeremy Ashford, The Bungalow in New Zealand, Viking
David Kernohan, Wellington’s Old Buildings, Victoria University Press
drawing by Lewis E Martin, Buildings to enjoy, Dunmore
Sport
Alex Veysey, Gary Caffell and Ron Palenski, Lochore: An Authorised Biography, Hodder Moa Beckett
Bob Howitt, Midfield Liaison The Frank Bunce, Walter Little Story, Rugby Publishing
Grant Doulton Glen Sowry, Endeavour. Winning the Whitbread, Hodder and Stoughton
Penny Whiting, Sailing with Penny Whiting: A step-by-step guide to the basics of sailing, Penguin
New Zealand
Sam Hunt/Gary McCormick, photos John McDermott, Roaring Forties, Hodder Moa Beckett
John King, On the Road — a journey down state highway 1, HarperCollins
Photos David Kerr, text Kirsten Warner, Islands of the Gulf, Hodder Moa Beckett
Photos Holger Leue, text Witi Ihimaera, Faces of the Land, Reed
Ted Reynolds, My Side of the River — Tales from a Marlborough Vineyard, Godwit
John King, Wings Over New Zealand: A Pictorial Chronicle of New Zealand Aviation, Saint Publishing
Philip Holden, Station Country: Returning to the New Zealand back country., Hodder Moa Beckett
Peter Lynch, The New Zealand Home Exchange and Rental Directory 1997, Lynch
Ed Ralph Talmont, New Zealand the Ultimate Experience, David Bateman
NZ Adventure Council, New Zealand — The Adventure Playground, Saint Publishing
John Dawson and Rob Lucas, New Zealand Coast and Mountain Plants. Their Communties and Lifestyles, Victoria University Press
Mary Jane Boland, Good Weekend Guide: Out of Auckland, Penguin
Environment and natural history
Kennedy Warne, New Zealand Geographic, Bateman
Peter Hayden photos Rod Morris, Wild South’s Living Treasures of New Zealand, Harper Collins
Nic Bishop, New Zealand Wild — the greenest place on earth, Reed
Geoff Moon, Auckland Birds and Wildlife — where to go and what to see, Reed
Philip Temple, The Book of the Kea, Hodder Moa Beckett
Penguin Pocket Guide, New Zealand’s Native Birds of Bush and Countryside, Penguin
Michael Roche, Land and Water — water and soil conservation and central government in New Zealand, Historical branch, Department of Internal Affairs
R G McLaren, K C Cameron, Soil Science — sustainable production and environmental protection, Oxford University Press
Andrew Crowe, Which Native Forest Plant?, Viking
Andrew Crowe, Which Native Fern?, Viking
Owen and Audrey Bishop, New Zealand Wild Flowers Handbook, Hodder and Stoughton
Susan Firth, Martyn Firth, Elizabeth Ferth, Ferns of New Zealand, Hodder and Stoughton
Bruce Houghton, Vince Neall and David Johnston, Eruption: Mount Ruapehu Awakes, Viking
Archaeology
Kevin L Jones, Nga Tohuwhenua Mai Te Rangi — a New Zealand archaeology in aerial photographs, Victoria University Press
ed Douglas Sutton, Origins of the First New Zealanders, Auckland University Press
Health and living
Dr Nora Duffield, Talking to Kids about trouble. A book for adults and children, Random House
June Thornton, Aromatherapy for New Zealanders, Viking
Lynda Wharton, Be Well Naturally. A New Zealand women’s guide for healthy living, Tandem
Annemarie Jutel, The New Zealand Woman’s Guide to Running, Longacre Press
Angela McCarthy and Margie Thomson, Anorexia and Bulimia. The Hungry Heart, Hodder Moa Becket
Bob Feigel and Malcolm Walker, The Senior Citizens’ Survival Guide: Beyond the New Millennium, Saint Publishing
Psychology
Gail Ratcliffe, Take control of your life, Simon and Schuster
Lloyd Lalande, What do I really want, Harper Collins
ed Douglas Paton and Nigel Long, Psychological aspects of disasters, Dunmore Press
Kathy Macdonald, Ian Lambie, Les Simmonds, Counselling for sexual abuse — a therapist’s guide to working with adults, children, and families, Oxford University Press
Rhonda Pritchard, Love in the Real World, Penguin
Gwendoline Smith, Sharing the Load. What to do when someone you love is depressed, Random House
B Maley, B Berger, P Morgan L Sullivan A Tapper, Home Repairs: Building Stronger Families to Resist Social Decay, Centre for Independent Studies
Carroll du Chateau, Raising Other People’s Kids, Tandem
Money and work
Martin Hawes, Property investment in New Zealand. A Strategy for Wealth, Shoal Bay
Ed Vos, Personal Financial Planning for New Zealanders, Dunmore
Martin Hawes, Taxation: Living with Tax in New Zealand, Shoal Bay Press
Jenny Phillips, Business Energy. 10 ways to boost your business in changing times, Random House
Christine Dekker, Transferable Skills, Random House
Adrienne Von Tunzelmann with David Cullwick, Social Responsibility and the Company: A New Perspective on Governance, Strategy and the Community, Institute of Policy Studies
Laurie Hilsgen/Helen Vause, Working from Home, Viking
Marie Stuttard, The Power of Public Speaking, Bateman
David Forman, The Wealth Creators, Viking
Ann Gibson and Annie Gray, Understanding Investment: The New Zealand Commercial and Industrial Property Market, Hodder Moa Beckett
Ed Gary Hawke, Employment and the Future of Work, Institute of Policy Studies
Technology
Katherine Phelps/Chris Lipscombe, Surf’s Up: Internet New Zealand Style, Reed
Peter Wiggin, Wired Kiwis. Every New Zealander’s Guide to the Internet, Shoal Bay
Food
Susan Parkinson, Peggy Stacy and Adrian Mattinson, Taste of the Pacific, Bateman
Allyson Gofton, Casual Dining, Bateman
Allyson Gofton, Casual Nibbles, Bateman
ed Alison Dench, Granny’s Pantry — New Zealand Favourites, Penguin
ed Alison Dench, Granny’s Potatoes — new ways with an old favourite, Penguin
Country Women’s Institute, Recipes from the Heartland, Penguin
Jocelyn Sonne, An Apple a Day Favourite New Zealand Recipes for all Seasons, Viking
Carole Ruta, Terrific Tomatoes, Viking
Dianne Taylor, The Cafe Cookbook: Great Eating from New Zealand’s Best Cafes, Viking
Robyn Martin, New Zealand Quick ‘n’ Easy: Vegetables — soups, snacks, salads and more, Hodder Moa Beckett
Allyson Gofton, The Next Book of Fabulous Food, Viking
Decorating
Lindsey Dawson, The Next Book of Home Decorating for New Zealand, Viking
Crafts
Carol Matheson, Hardanger Plus for New Zealanders, Bateman
June Thornton, Make Your Own Cosmetics — skin lotions, soaps, shampoos and conditioners, Viking
Catherine McGreivy, Hot Flowers, Penguin
Gardening
Denis and Jillian Friar, Private Gardens of New Zealand (South Island), Hodder Moa Beckett
Gillian Painter, Essential Herb Garden — growing and using herbs in New Zealand (revised ed), Viking
Sue Linn, Palmers Book of Spring Bulbs, Random House
Penelope Hansen and Ann Skelly, Herbs. Growing and Using Herbs in New Zealand, Viking
Stephanie Parkes, The Renovated Transitional Bungalow Garden, Shoal Bay
Gillian Painter, The Herb Growers Handbook for New Zealanders, Bateman
Ed Matthew Bradbury, A History of The Garden in New Zealand, Viking
Jacqueline Sparrow, Seaside Gardening, Viking
Mark Everton, Living Earth, Viking
Others
Andrea Hammond, Star Signs for New Zealanders, Penguin
Bob Kerridge, Talking for the Animals, Tandem
John Barnett and Lesley Kaiser in assn with Brian Schaab, The Penguin Book of New Zealand Jokes, Penguin
Reprints
Ed Peter Donovan, Religions of New Zealand (2 ed), Dunmore
Jock Phillips, A Man’s Country. the image of the pakeha male — a history, Penguin
Maurice Shadbolt, This Summer’s Dolphin, Hodder Moa Beckett
Maurice Shadbolt, Danger Zone, Hodder Moa Beckett
Jane Mander, Allen Adair, Godwit
Harry Bioletti, The Yanks are coming — the American invasion of New Zealand, Random
Halina Ogonowska-Coates, Krystyna’s Story, Bridget Williams Books
Pauline O’Regan, A changing order, Bridget Williams Books
Frances Porter, Born to New Zealand — a biography of Maria Atkinson, Bridget Williams Books
ed Adrienne Jansen, I have in my arms both ways — stories by 10 immigrant women, Bridget Williams Books
John Elder, The Hidden Mask, John McIndoe
Ed Ambury Hall, Below the Surface, Vintage
Eidel Rasmuss, By the Light of the Moon, dean farran (print productions)
Patricia Grace, Potiki, Penguin
Patricia Grace, Mutuwhenua, Penguin
Witi Ihimaera, The Whale Rider, Mandarin