Blog Archives
Anti-brain fade, Bernard Beckett
Anti-brain fade Self-confessed geek Bernard Beckett is seduced by the history of science Asked to write on a “book that means a lot to you”, I knew I’d write about non-fiction, and indeed a piece of science writing. I am…
East and west, Kim Griggs
Under the Osakan Sun Hamish Beaton Awa Press, $34.99, ISBN 9780958275026 A Long Slow Affair of the Heart Bruce Ansley Longacre, $34.99, ISBN 9781877460210 If this review were a competition, there should have been no contest – a young first-time…
Tagged with: Awa Press, Bruce Ansley, Hamish Beaton, Issue 87, Kim Griggs, Longacre, Spring 2009
Posted in Memoir, Non-fiction, Review
Posted in Memoir, Non-fiction, Review
Huddle and glut, Michael Hulse
Further Convictions Pending: Poems 1998-2008 Vincent O’Sullivan Victoria University Press, $35.00, ISBN 9780864736062 In “Being here”, the first of the 44 new poems in this generous book, Vincent O’Sullivan states explicitly for the first time an important position: It has…
Tagged with: Issue 87, Michael Hulse, Spring 2009, Victoria University Press, Vincent O’Sullivan
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review
Civilisation safe, Hilary Stace
Parliament’s Library: 150 Years John E Martin Steele Roberts, $59.99, ISBN 9781877448430 Freedom to Read: A Centennial History of Dunedin Public Library Mary Ronnie Dunedin Public Libraries and the Dunedin Public Library Association $40.00, ISBN 9780473134624 In these uncertain times…
Tagged with: Dunedin Public Libraries, Dunedin Public Library Association, Hilary Stace, Issue 87, John E Martin, Mary Ronnie, Spring 2009, Steele Roberts
Posted in History, Non-fiction, Review
Posted in History, Non-fiction, Review
A dollop of literary life, Sue McCauley
Beside the Dark Pool Fiona Kidman Vintage, $37.99, ISBN 9781869790592 Such a seductive title for a memoir, hinting at murky depths of angst, turmoil and scandal. The stuff we hope, in fact expect, to find in the autobiography of a…
Tagged with: Fiona Kidman, Issue 87, Spring 2009, Sue McCauley, Vintage
Posted in Memoir, Non-fiction, Review
Posted in Memoir, Non-fiction, Review
Strength and integrity, Graeme McIndoe
Long Live the Modern: New Zealand’s New Architecture 1904-1984 Julia Gatley (ed) Auckland University Press, $64.99, ISBN 9781869404154 In this unashamedly celebratory volume, Julia Gatley has exercised a judicious eye in selecting and describing virtuoso architecture from all eras. Long…
Tagged with: Auckland University Press, Graeme McIndoe, Issue 87, Julia Gatley, Spring 2009
Posted in Architecture, Non-fiction, Review
Posted in Architecture, Non-fiction, Review
Voicing, Harry Ricketts
The Rocky Shore Jenny Bornholdt Victoria University Press, $25.00, ISBN 9780864735805 The Rocky Shore is Jenny Bornholdt’s ninth volume of poems, published over the last 20 years. Its six extended sequences, “Confessional”, “The Rocky Shore”, “Willow”, “Fitter Turner”, “A Long…
Tagged with: Harry Ricketts, Issue 87, Jenny Bornholdt, Spring 2009, Victoria University Press
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review
Posted in Literature, Poetry, Review
Poem – Miro Bilbrough
Door-snake Door-snake got rolled. Dumped on the fringes of a shabby precinct, night. Door-snake was outsize, dirty puce. I mean, fat. Man-size. Spent the evening carousing in a low-life joint. Fleshy, hairless and invertebrate too. No wonder door-snake got…
Letters – Issue 87
From the heart Linda Burgess’ review of Chicken Feathers in the Winter issue of NZB was warm and kind and I thank her for that. She made a comment that has been echoed by other reviewers, that the book was…