Blog Archives

Drawing pictures in the mind, Barbara Else

Posted on August 31, 2016 by NZ Books

Coming Home to Roost Mary-Anne Scott Longacre Press, $20.00, ISBN 9781775538592 The Road to Ratenburg Joy Cowley Gecko Press, $20.00, ISBN 9781776570751 Twice now I’ve been a marker at a regional Lit Quiz where teams of top intermediate age readers…

Tagged with: Barbara Else, Gecko Press, Issue 115, Joy Cowley, Longacre Press, Mary-Anne Scott, Spring 2016
Posted in Children, Literature, Review

A lot to live up to, Caoilinn Hughes

Posted on December 5, 2013 by NZ Books

When Our Jack Went to War Sandy McKay Longacre, $20.00, ISBN 9781775533092 Brave Company David Hill Puffin, $20.00, ISBN 9780143307570 Speed Freak Fleur Beale Random House, $20.00, ISBN 9781775534709 When Our Jack Went to War is “a fictional story based…

Tagged with: Caoilinn Hughes, David Hill, Fleur Beale, Issue 104, Longacre Press, Puffin, Random House, Sandy McKay, Summer 2013
Posted in Children, Literature, Review, Young adults

Girls under fire, Tatjana Schaefer

Posted on June 1, 2010 by NZ Books

Copper Top Coral Atkinson Dancing Tuatara, $20.00, ISBN 9781877192388 Real Life Ella West Longacre Press, $19.99, ISBN 9781877460395 Brother Sister Soldier Cousin Phyllis Johnston Longacre Press, $17.99, ISBN 9781877460319 Three novels about teenage girls disconnected from their families and trying…

Tagged with: Coral Atkinson, Dancing Tuatara, Ella West, Issue 90, Longacre Press, Phyllis Johnston, Tatjana Schaefer, Winter 2010
Posted in Children, Literature, Review

Big schtick, Garth Baker

Posted on June 1, 2010 by NZ Books

Antipodes Mark Price Longacre Press, $34.99, ISBN 9781877460364 Twisting Throttle America Mike Hyde HarperCollins, $39.99, ISBN 9781869507473 Sleeping with the Dead Marko Cunningham Random House, $37.99, ISBN 9781869792701 These books cover three different kinds of travel experience – a focus…

Tagged with: Garth Baker, HarperCollins, Issue 90, Longacre Press, Mark Price, Marko Cunningham, Mike Hyde, Random House, Winter 2010
Posted in Memoir, Non-fiction, Review

Days in the sun, Helena Brow

Posted on March 1, 2010 by NZ Books

Gods and Little Fishes: A Boy and a Beach Bruce Ansley Longacre Press, $39.99, ISBN 9781877460418 The Phoenix palms that line the main street of New Brighton, Bruce Ansley’s childhood home, have a sad air about them. They look grey…

Tagged with: Bruce Ansley, Helena Brow, Longacre Press
Posted in Memoir, Non-fiction, Review

Still sacred lives, Helen Watson White

Posted on March 1, 2010 by NZ Books

Red Studio: Forty-five Prints John Z Robinson Longacre Press, $39.99, ISBN 9781877460388 John Z Robinson is an artist in many media, and in two major modes. One is the ebullient use of colour in free-style painting; the other the witty,…

Tagged with: Autumn 2010, Helen Watson White, Issue 89, John Z Robinson, Longacre Press
Posted in Art, Non-fiction, Review

Back in Gloriavale, Susan Pearce

Posted on December 1, 2009 by NZ Books

Sins of the Fathers: The Long Shadow of a Religious Cult Fleur Beale Longacre Press, $29.99, ISBN 9781877460302 At 27 Philip Cooper left the conservative Christian community ruled by his bullying, monomaniacal father, Neville Cooper. He left behind his wife…

Tagged with: Fleur Beale, Issue 88, Longacre Press, Summer 2009, Susan Pearce
Posted in Memoir, Non-fiction, Review

Flights of fancy, Diane Hebley

Posted on September 1, 2009 by NZ Books

Sting Raymond Huber Walker Books, $16.99, ISBN 9781921150890 The Strange and Diverting Story of The Loblolly Boy: A Fantasy Novel Involving Enchantment, Mystery, one Garden Gnome and a Wombat’s Bottom James Norcliffe Longacre Press, $19.99, ISBN 9781877460258 Return for the…

Tagged with: Diane Hebley, Issue 87, James Norcliffe, Longacre Press, Margaret Hall, Raymond Huber, Spring 2009, Walker Books
Posted in Children, Literature, Review

Celebrating the singular, Julia Millen

Posted on June 1, 2009 by NZ Books

Sit There and Draw That! Helen Crabb (“Barc”): Artist and Teacher Patricia Fry Steele Roberts, $29.99, ISBN 9781877448546 Bill’s Story: A Portrait of W A Sutton Pat Unger Canterbury University Press, $39.99, ISBN 9781877257704 Painting Out the Past: The…

Tagged with: Canterbury University Press, Helen Crabb, Issue 86, Julia Millen, Longacre Press, Pat Unger, Patricia France, Patricia Fry, Richard Donald, Steele Roberts, W A Sutton, Winter 2009
Posted in Art, Biography, Non-fiction, Review

Brave new worlds, Joan de Hamel

Posted on June 1, 2009 by NZ Books

The Tomorrow Code Brian Falkner Walker Books, $19.99, ISBN 781921150340 Juno of Taris Fleur Beale Random House, $18.99, ISBN 781869419882 About Griffen’s Heart Tina Shaw Longacre Press, $19.99, ISBN 87746015 Chronicles of Stone: Scorched Bone Vincent Ford …

Tagged with: Brian Falkner, Fleur Beale, Issue 86, Joan de Hamel, Longacre Press, Random House, Scholastic New Zealand, Tina Shaw, Vincent Ford, Walker Books, Winter 2009
Posted in Children, Literature, Review