Blog Archives

On a wing and a prayer, Christine Johnston

Posted on December 1, 2007 by NZ Books

How to Watch a Bird Steve Braunias Awa Press, $24.99, ISBN 9780958262965 Steve Braunias is preaching to the converted in the case of this reviewer, who lives within cooee of native bush and shallow water. I can admire white-faced herons…

Tagged with: Awa Press, Christine Johnston, Issue 80, Steve Braunias, Summer 2007
Posted in Natural History, Non-fiction, Review

Double jeopardy, Anne Else

Posted on December 1, 2007 by NZ Books

Looking Back, Moving Forward: The Janus Women’s Convention 2005 Dale Williams (ed) The Janus Trust, price not available, ISBN 095826452X Hands up all those who immediately switch off as soon as they see those tedious, ever-so-70s words “w—n” or “f—–sm”? …

Tagged with: Anne Else, Dale Williams, Issue 80, Summer 2007, The Janus Trust
Posted in Gender, Non-fiction, Review

Acting out, Michael Nicolaidi

Posted on December 1, 2007 by NZ Books

Nola Millar: A Theatrical Life Sarah Gaitanos Victoria University Press, $50.00, ISBN 0864735375 Just Who Does He Think He Is? George Webby Steele Roberts, $30.00, ISBN 1877338826 Once upon a time – 40 years ago – a convergence of forces…

Tagged with: Issue 80, Michael (Mike) Nicolaidi, Nola Millar, Sarah Gaitanos, Steele Roberts, Summer 2007, Victoria University Press
Posted in Autobiography, Biography, Non-fiction, Review

Ironic projections, Lawrence Jones

Posted on December 1, 2007 by NZ Books

Small Holes in the Silence: Short Stories Patricia Grace Penguin, $34.99, ISBN 0143020994 Patricia Grace’s new collection, Small Holes in the Silence: Short Stories (her fifth), appeared last year. This was 31 years after Waiariki burst on the scene to…

Tagged with: Issue 80, Lawrence Jones, Patricia Grace, Penguin, Summer 2007
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review, Short stories

At home in Hobbiton and Boy Land, Gavin Bishop

Posted on December 1, 2007 by NZ Books

Gavin Bishop leafs through two boyhood favourites. The three of us are about the same age – my first picture book, my teddy bear and me. The book lies, or should I say languishes, coddled in tissue and plastic to…

Tagged with: Gavin Bishop, Issue 80, Summer 2007
Posted in Imprints

Worlds away, Elspeth Sandys

Posted on December 1, 2007 by NZ Books

Shadow Waters Chris Baker Huia, $27.00, ISBN 1869692357 Black Earth White Bones Chris Else Random House, $27.99, ISBN 9781869418625 Overdue New Releases Matt Johnson Longacre Press, $29.99, ISBN 1877361429 Holocaust Tours Julian Novitz Vintage, $27.99, ISBN 9781869417284 Apart from the…

Tagged with: Chris Baker, Chris Else, Elspeth Sandys, Huia, Issue 80, Julian Novitz, Longacre Press, Matt Johnson, Random House, Summer 2007, Vintage
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review

New Zealand a Christian country? Paul Morris

Posted on December 1, 2007 by NZ Books

Shaping a Colonial Church: Bishop Harper and the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch 1856-1890 Colin Brown, Marie Peters and Jane Teal (eds) Canterbury University Press, $45.00, ISBN 1877257443 James Michael Liston: A Life Nicholas Reid Victoria University Press, $49.95, ISBN 0864735367 …

Tagged with: Bishop Harper, Canterbury University Press, Colin Brown, Issue 80, James Michael Liston, Keith Newman, Marie Peters Jane Teal, Nicholas Reid, Paul Morris, Reed, Summer 2007, Victoria University Press
Posted in History, Non-fiction, Religion, Review

More or less, Linley Boniface

Posted on December 1, 2007 by NZ Books

Opportunity Charlotte Grimshaw Vintage, $27.99, ISBN 9781869418793 On an Island, with Consequences Dire Kelly Ana Morey Penguin, $28.00, ISBN 9780143020950 A newspaper columnist of the cantankerous-old-bastard variety lies in his hospital bed, delirious with pain. As nurses fuss over him,…

Tagged with: Charlotte Grimshaw, Issue 80, Kelly Ana Morey, Linley Boniface, Penguin, Summer 2007, Vintage
Posted in Fiction, Literature, Review, Short stories