Blog Archives

The archaeology of childhood, Jack Lasenby

Posted on December 27, 1999 by NZ Books

Desert Shorts Norman Bilbrough Canterbury University Press, $24.95, ISBN 0 908812 81 7 The first paragraphs of Norman Bilbrough’s title story catch the moment when the boy-child’s uncritical admiration of the parent turns to youthful embarrassment – so like and…

Tagged with: Canterbury University Press, Issue 41, Jack Lasenby, Norman Bilbrough
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review, Short stories

Adolescents and other animals, Kate De Goldi

Posted on June 13, 1999 by NZ Books

Dog Breath and other stories Norman Bilbrough Mallinson Rendel, $15.95, ISBN 0 908783 30 2 Raindancer Vivienne Joseph Mallinson Rendel, $15.95, ISBN 0 908783 34 5 Go Horatio! Pat Quinn Scholastic, $11.95, ISBN 1 86943 404 8 Comes Naturally David…

Tagged with: David Hill, Issue 38, Kate De Goldi, Mallinson Rendel, Norman Bilbrough, Pat Quinn, Scholastic, Vivienne Joseph
Posted in Children, Literature, Review, Young adults

Likely stories, Norman Bilbrough

Posted on March 1, 1999 by NZ Books

Being a writer requires three essentials. In rough proportion they are 90% determination (in other words, hard work), 8% talent (which includes imagination), and 2% luck. I suspect that those who think that creative writing classes are pointless would see…

Tagged with: Autumn 1999, Issue 45, Norman Bilbrough
Posted in Comment

Seamless and civilised, Norman Bilbrough

Posted on August 5, 1998 by NZ Books

The Blind Blonde with Candles in her Hair C K Stead Penguin, $29.95, ISBN 0 140 27375 1 The best stories in this collection are world-class, and the lesser ones are still full of interest. I felt a certain loss…

Tagged with: C K Stead, Norman Bilbrough, Penguin
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review

Putting in the bits the author forgets, Lesley Moyes

Posted on June 4, 1998 by NZ Books

Beaten by a Balloon Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Jonathan Allan Hamish Hamilton, $29.95, ISBN 0 241 13 778 0 The Bump Joy Cowley, illustrated by Linda McClelland Scholastic, $12.95, ISBN 1 86943 345 9 Nicketty-Nacketty Noo-Noo-Noo Joy Cowley, illustrated by…

Tagged with: Cape Catley, David Christiana, Hamish Hamilton, Issue 33, Jonathan Allan, Joy Cowley, Linda McClelland, Margaret Mahy, Mark Dower, Norman Bilbrough, Scholastic, Tracey Moroney
Posted in Children, Fiction, Literature, Review

Prolific and professional, Norman Bilbrough

Posted on August 27, 1994 by NZ Books

Focus and the Death‑Ride; The Ghosts of Triton; Shadow of Phobos, Ken Catran HarperCollins, $14.95 New Zealand children’s writers have come of age. They have reached a maturity that adult fiction writers in this country often fall short of. The…

Tagged with: HarperCollins, Issue 14, Ken Catran, Norman Bilbrough, Winter 1994
Posted in Children, Literature, Review

The sacred fish, Norman Bilbrough

Posted on March 1, 1993 by NZ Books

Norman Bilbrough looks at some short fiction currently available – and sorts the big from the small. Motel View Forbes Williams, Victoria University Press, $19.95 Animal Passions Sheridan Keith, New Women’s Press, $24.95 Just Like You Said It Would Be…

Tagged with: Autumn 1993, Bernard Gadd, Brick Row Publishing, ESAW Press, Forbes Williams, Issue 8, New Women's Press, Norman Bilbrough, Oxford University Press, Peter Entwisle, Sheridan Keith, Victoria University Press, Vincent O’Sullivan
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review, Short stories

Determined industry? Andrew Mason

Posted on October 1, 1991 by NZ Books

Foreigners Mike Johnson, Penguin, Auckland, 1991, $19.95 Distortions John Connor, Reed Books, Auckland, 1991, $24.95 Man with Two Arms and other Stories Norman Bilbrough, Vintage, Auckland, 1991, $19.95 The Lie of the Land Michael Henderson, John McIndoe, Dunedin, 1991, $19.95…

Tagged with: Andrew Mason, Issue 3, John Connor, Mike Johnson, New Women's Press, Norman Bilbrough, Penguin, Reed Books, Sheridan Keith, Spring 1991, Vintage
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review, Short stories