Blog Archives

On men of a certain age, John Horrocks

Posted on June 9, 2015 by NZ Books

The Conch Trumpet
David Eggleton
Otago University Press, $25.00,
ISBN 9781877578939

Wonky Optics
Geoff Cochrane
Victoria University Press, $25.00,
ISBN 9780864739810

Half Dark
Harry Ricketts
Victoria University Press, $25.00,
ISBN 9780864739841

Feeding the Birds
Kevin Ireland
Steele Roberts, $20.00,
ISBN 9781927242810

The job of reviewing poetry may one day be redundant. A neural-net programme could conceivably learn enough from previous responses to collections of poetry to make critical judgements, even write passable poetry. A large data set would be essential. Harry Ricketts, Geoff Cochrane, Kevin Ireland and David Eggleton have now produced a total of 55 books of poetry, a formidable starting-point even for a computer.

Tagged with: David Eggleton, Geoff Cochrane, Harry Ricketts, Issue 110, John Horrocks, Kevin Ireland, Otago University Press, Steele Roberts, Victoria University Press, Winter 2015
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review

Green thoughts in green shades, Hugh Roberts

Posted on December 1, 2012 by NZ Books

The Truth Garden Emma Neale Otago University Press, $30.00, ISBN 9781877578250 The Bengal Engine’s Mango Afterglow Geoff Cochrane Victoria University Press, $25.00, ISBN 9780864737618 Warm Auditorium James Brown Victoria University Press, $28.00, ISBN 9780864737649 From Manoa to a Ponsonby Garden…

Tagged with: Albert Wendt, Auckland University Press, Emma Neale, Geoff Cochrane, Hugh Roberts, Issue 100, James Brown, Otago University Press, Summer 2012, Victoria University Press
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review

Good returns, Cilla McQueen

Posted on June 1, 2010 by NZ Books

Table Talk Kevin Ireland Cape Catley, $25.99, ISBN 9781877340246 Africa Alistair Paterson Puriri Press, $36.00, ISBN 9780908943364 The Lakes of Mars Chris Orsman Auckland University Press, $24.99, ISBN 9781869404086 The Worm in the Tequila Geoff Cochrane Victoria University Press, $25.00,…

Tagged with: Alistair Paterson, Auckland University Press, Cape Catley, Chris Orsman, Cilla McQueen, Geoff Cochrane, Ian Wedde, Issue 90, Kevin Ireland, Puriri Press, Victoria University Press, Winter 2010
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review

Stitches in time, Janet Hughes

Posted on December 1, 2009 by NZ Books

The Blind Singer Chris Price Auckland University Press, $24.99, ISBN 9781869404338 Vivid Familiar Stephanie de Montalk Victoria University Press, $25.00, ISBN 9780864735980 The Tram Conductor’s Blue Cap Michael Harlow Auckland University Press, $24.99, ISBN 9781869404307 Pocket Edition Geoff Cochrane Victoria…

Tagged with: Auckland University Press, Chris Price, Geoff Cochrane, Issue 88, Janet Hughes, Michael Harlow, Stephanie de Montalk, Summer 2009, Victoria University Press
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review

From Pine Hill to elsewhere, Dougal McNeill

Posted on June 1, 2008 by NZ Books

Geography for the Lost Kapka Kassabova Auckland University Press, $25.00, ISBN 9781869403874 Made for Weather Kay McKenzie Cooke University of Otago Press, $29.95, ISBN 9781877372490 84-484 Geoff Cochrane Victoria University Press, $25.00, ISBN 9780864735584 Cold Snack Janet Charman Auckland University…

Tagged with: Auckland University Press, Dougal McNeill, Geoff Cochrane, Issue 81, Janet Charman, Kapka Kassabova, Kay McKenzie Cooke, Victoria University Press, Winter 2008
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review

Smoking documents, Anna Livesey

Posted on June 1, 2005 by NZ Books

Hypnic Jerks Geoff Cochrane Victoria University Press, $24.95, ISBN 08647350006 Milk & Honey Michele Leggott Auckland University Press, $28.00, ISBN 1869403347 Cassandra’s Daughter Michael Harlow Auckland University Press, $25.00, ISBN 1869403320 Writing poetry – seriously writing poetry and expecting someone…

Tagged with: Anna Livesey, Auckland University Press, Geoff Cochrane, Issue 70, Michael Harlow, Michele Leggott, Victoria University Press, Winter 2005
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review

The novelist as poet, Nick Ascroft

Posted on December 1, 2003 by NZ Books

Lazy Wind Poems Graham Lindsay Auckland University Press, $21.99, ISBN 1869402855 Moody Bitch Stephanie Johnson Godwit, $22.95, ISBN 1869621050 Vanilla Wine Geoff Cochrane Victoria University Press, $24.95, ISBN 0864734719 Summer on the Cote d’Azur Alistair Paterson HeadworX, $19.95, ISBN 04730980244…

Tagged with: Alistair Paterson, Auckland University Press, Geoff Cochrane, Godwit, Graham Lindsay, HeadworX, Issue 64, Nick Ascroft, Stephanie Johnson, Summer 2003, Victoria University Press
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review

Zigzags and jags, John Horrocks

Posted on March 1, 2001 by NZ Books

Rhyming Planet David Eggleton Steele Roberts, $19.95, ISBN 1877228567 Clearances Alan Riach Hazard Press, $21.95, ISBN 18772700705 Acetylene Geoff Cochrane Victoria University Press, $24.95, ISBN 0864734190 David Eggleton, street entertainer, licensed to rave, appears in a surprisingly subdued pose on…

Tagged with: Alan Riach, Autumn 2001, David Eggleton, Geoff Cochrane, Hazard Press, Issue 53, John Horrocks, Steele Roberts, Victoria University Press
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review

Passages to India John O’Connor

Posted on October 27, 1999 by NZ Books

Into India Geoff Cochrane Victoria University Press, $19.95, ISBN 0 86473 357 7 The Girls on the Wall Diana Bridge Auckland University Press, $19.95, ISBN 1 86940 209 X Geoff Cochrane’s Into India is divided into two sections. The first…

Tagged with: Auckland University Press, Diana Bridge, Geoff Cochrane, Issue 40, John O’Connor, Victoria University Press
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review

Fantastic account, Heather Murray

Posted on August 27, 1995 by NZ Books

Tasman’s Lay Peter Hawes Hazard Press, $24.95 ISBN 0 908790 52 X Tin Nimbus Geoff Cochrane Victoria University Press, $24.95 ISBN 0 86473 279 1 The Warrior Queen Barbara Else Godwit Publishing, $19.95, ISBN 0 908877 61 7 Remains of…

Tagged with: Barbara Else, Elizabeth Sheppard, Geoff Cochrane, Godwit Publishing, Hazard Press, Heather Murray, Issue 19, Peter Hawes, Spring 1995, Victoria University Press, Vintage Random
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review