Blog Archives
Into the labyrinth, Nicholas Reid
The Crocus Hour Charlotte Randall Penguin Books, $28.00, ISBN 9780143008927 Whatever criticism you make of Charlotte Randall’s novels, you cannot say that she has no sense of place. In The Crocus Hour, as in her four earlier novels, she ventures…
Tagged with: Charlotte Randall, Issue 83, Nicholas Reid, Penguin Books, Spring 2008
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review
A child’s eye view Gavin Bishop
Back and Beyond: New Zealand Painting for the Young and Curious Gregory O’Brien Auckland University Press, $34.99, ISBN 9781869404048 This is a delicious book. As a child, I would have loved it. It reminds me of children’s books that were…
Tagged with: Auckland University Press, Gavin Bishop, Gregory O’Brien, Issue 83, Spring 2008
Posted in Art, Non-fiction, Review
Posted in Art, Non-fiction, Review
Unstill life, Linley Boniface
Rita Angus: An Artist’s Life Jill Trevelyan Te Papa Press, $69.99, ISBN 9781877385391 Reading Rita Angus: An Artist’s Life, it’s difficult not to be periodically overcome by frustration at Angus’ exasperating personality. The picture that emerges is of a woman…
Tagged with: Issue 83, Jill Trevelyan, Linley Boniface, Spring 2008, Te Papa Press
Posted in Biography, Non-fiction, Review
Posted in Biography, Non-fiction, Review
Behind the curtain, Michael Nicolaidi
The Theatre Royal: An Illustrated History Clerestory Press, $50.00, ISBN 9780958288804 Grand temples of pleasure and entertainment, rather like temples of prayer and meditation, have the power to galvanise a particular kind of angel when they come under threat of…
Tagged with: Clerestory Press, Issue 83, Michael Nicolaidi, Spring 2008
Posted in History, Non-fiction, Review
Posted in History, Non-fiction, Review
Imperial vision, Richard Hill
The Best Man Who Ever Served The Crown? A Life of Donald McLean Ray Fargher Victoria University Press, $50.00, ISBN 7980864735607 The name Donald McLean pervades the historiography of colonial New Zealand. But despite this ubiquity, until now no extensive…
Tagged with: Issue 83, Ray Fargher, Richard Hill, Spring 2008, Victoria University Press
Posted in Biography, Non-fiction, Review
Posted in Biography, Non-fiction, Review
Bury my heart in the Maniototo, Laura Kroetsch
Speaking for Themselves: Ex-pats Have Their Say Jan Morgan Cape Catley, $29.99, ISBN 9781877340123 Visitors to New Zealand are asked, not long after arrival, a little question that comes up again and again – “So, what do you think of…
Tagged with: Cape Catley, Issue 83, Jan Morgan, Laura Kroetsch, Spring 2008
Posted in Non-fiction, Review, Sociology
Posted in Non-fiction, Review, Sociology
Letters – Issue 83
Balance before vitriol I was sorry to read Graeme Hunt’s letter (NZB Winter 2008) in which he takes offence at Trevor Richards’ admirable review of Spies and Revolutionaries (NZB Autumn 2008). Hunt demands novel admissions from his reviewer – first,…
Containing multitudes, Hamish Clayton
The Plumb Trilogy Maurice Gee Penguin Books, $40.00, ISBN 9780143007562 Towards the end of Sole Survivor, the final instalment of Maurice Gee’s The Plumb Trilogy, journalist Ray Sole reflects on both the desire and difficulty of writing the story of…
Tagged with: Hamish Clayton, Issue 83, Maurice Gee, Penguin Books, Spring 2008
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review
Cock-a-doodle-do Jane Westaway
Roosters I Have Known Steve Braunias Awa Press, $30.00, ISBN 9780958275057 When my kids were small, we kept a bantam rooster called Mr Wingspan. The name was meant to be ironic, but what Mr Wingspan lacked in stature he more…
Tagged with: Awa Press, Issue 83, Jane Westaway, Spring 2008, Steve Braunias
Posted in Essays, Non-fiction, Review
Posted in Essays, Non-fiction, Review