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Good dog! Norman Bilbrough

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy Lynley Dodd Mallinson Rendel, $30.00,  ISBN 9781877423147 Beginner writers often think that writing a picture book must be easy. But a story – any story – needs drafts and more drafts before it is ready…
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Posted in Children, Literature, Review

Strangers and journeys, Norman Bilbrough

Hideout Lorraine Orman Longacre Press, $18.99, ISBN 9781877361814 Teresa Moran Soldier Ken Catran Lothian Books, $19.99, ISBN  9780734409638 Zillah Penelope Todd Longacre Press, $18.99, ISBN 9781877361739 Losing it Sandy McKay Longacre Press, $18.99, ISBN 9781877361746 These four young adult novels…
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Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review, Young adults

Picture books, the cunning genre, Norman Bilbrough

Papa’s Island Melanie Drewery, illustrations Fifi Colston Reed, $16.99, ISBN 1869485947 Nobody’s Dog Jennifer Beck, illustrations Lindy Fisher Scholastic, $16.99, ISBN 1869437284 Haere – Farewell, Jack, Farewell Tim Tipene, illustrations Huhana Smith Huia, $16.99, ISBN 1869691040 Uncle Jack Kate De…
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Posted in Children, Literature, Review

Love and damage, Margie Thomson

A Short History of Paradise  Norman Bilbrough Penguin, $28.00, ISBN 0143020358 Kissing Shadows  Renée Huia, $34.99, ISBN 1869692039 How often can one say of local fiction, and mean it, that it’s an absolute delight to read? Known as a writer…
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Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review

Facing off, Norman Bilbrough

This Thing in the Mirror: Self Portraits by New Zealand Artists Claire Finlayson Craig Potton Publishing, $49.95, ISBN 1877333182 This Thing in the Mirror has a foreword by television presenter John Campbell, and the opening statement, “This is a book…
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Posted in Art, Non-fiction, Review

Primitive satisfaction, Norman Bilbrough

The Real Thing Brian Falkner Mallinson Rendel, $16.95, ISBN 0908783825 Seal Boy Ken Catran Random, $16.95, ISBN 1869416112 Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?  Sandy McKay Longacre Press, $14.95, ISBN 1877135976 Colin Goes Bush Sandy McKay Longacre Press, $14.95, ISBN…
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Posted in Children, Fiction, Literature, Review, Young adults

Hills, weather, houses, Norman Bilbrough

Why Go To The Riviera: Images of Wellington Peter Shaw Godwit, $99.95, ISBN 1869621018 When Evelyn Page arrived in Wellington in 1947 she was captured by the capital’s energy and bustle. She often painted scenes from her car, even obtaining…
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Posted in Art, Non-fiction, Review

Hunting down the story, Norman Bilbrough

A Friend in Paradise Des Hunt HarperCollins, $14.95, ISBN 1869504429 Henry and the Flea Brian Falkner Mallinson Rendel, $16.95, ISBN 0908783779 The Dragon’s Apprentice Linda McNabb HarperCollins, $14.95, ISBN 1869504127 Artists Are Crazy and Other Stories Ken Catran Lothian Books,…
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Posted in Children, Fiction, Literature, Review

Stirring lilacs, Norman Bilbrough

The Secret History of Modernism C K Stead Harvill Press, $29.95, ISBN 1864069418 Usually I find it a pleasure to read my way into  C K Stead’s particular world; to encounter the consciousness beneath – and attached to – the…
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Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review

Sidelong reflections, Norman Bilbrough

All Done With Mirrors Russell Haley Hazard Press, $24.95, ISBN 1 877161 68 3 This is the sort of novel you could search through – in vain – for a narrative skeleton: the firm coat-hanger from which the story is…
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Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review
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