Blog Archives

Pulling no punches, Sue Court

Music in New Zealand: A Reader from the 1940s ed Allan Thomas University of Canterbury School of Music, $25, ISBN 090871808X What does an anthology of source readings, soberly titled Music in New Zealand: A Reader from the 1940s have…
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Posted in History, Music, Non-fiction, Review

Stone upon stone, David Eggleton

Collected Poems 1967-1999 Bill Manhire Victoria University Press, ISBN 086473411 (paperback), $34.95 ISBN 0864734212 (hardback) $49.95 In this Collected Poems, the private universe of Bill Manhire is made readily available to his ever-increasing audience. But it may take years and…
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Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review

Poem – John O’Connor

Memo: Fragrant as a Rose   It is reported that Comrade Stalin has smiled. Fleetingly. Between vodka and signing permissions for fresh interrogations, Comrade Beria had mentioned the Civic Crèche and an upcoming visit to Australia. Comrade Stalin’s distrust of…
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Posted in Poem

Poem – Mary Macpherson

Chiaroscuro (for Terry)   It’s clear how quickly darkness swims up the gums – there’s light and shadow, then the silver trunks and tossed heads are gone. Bats call in darkness. I’ve seen this in Auckland too – a city…
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Posted in Poem

Mating rituals, Jock Phillips

Mates  text by Jim Hopkins, photos by Julie Riley HarperCollins, $29.95, ISBN 1869503678   Telephone rings. S.Nag:  Hullo. Sam here. B.Loke:  Gidday, mate. Brucey here. How about coming down to the pub to watch the footie on the big screen?…
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Posted in Non-fiction, Review, Sociology

The cave of making, Chris Else

Below Tim Corballis Victoria University Press, $24.95, ISBN 0864734131 Let me say at the outset that this is a remarkable novel; subtle, complex, delicately wrought. It is the kind of work that leaves you thinking not just about the material…
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Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review

Poem – Nick Williamson

Margaret’s Roses   Christmas Day and Uncle Frank is glued to the Queen’s Speech. Her pigeon voice glides over oceans and out of the fraying mouth of a wireless. She wishes us well stuck at far-flung corners of the Commonwealth…
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Posted in Poem

Obiturary — Allen Curnow

Allen Curnow (1911-2001)   When did a wind of the extreme South before Mix autumn, spring and death? (“Elegy on My Father”, Allen Curnow, 1949) I cannot remember when I first encountered Allen Curnow’s poetry. It seems to have been…
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Posted in Obituaries

Words for music perhaps, Nick Bollinger

Love This Life: Lyrics 1978-2001 Neil Finn Allen & Unwin, $35.00, ISBN 1865085081 Lyrics without melody Mahinarangi Tocker Street Women Press, $19.95, ISBN 0473074427 I have always been a passionate pop fan, but never a great lover of the printed…
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Posted in Literature, Music, Non-fiction, Poetry, Review

Perils and blessings, Charlotte Yates

“Imprints” I have three Joni Mitchell albums in my collection – The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Blue and Heijira. They have acted as both a personal and a professional musical resource. They’ve become albums I return to, not exclusively but…
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Posted in Imprints
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