All Reviews

23 November 2009

Kate Winslet’s Oscar performance takes us into the private life of Hanna Schmitz, a stranger who has an affair with fifteen-year-old Michael Berg, nearly half her age, during World War II. Based on the book by Bernhard Schlink, the story is chronologically told from Michael’s perspective, as we... More..

23 November 2009

The setting is Spain but the palette will suit mediterranean scenes. He makes it look so easy!JM More..

23 November 2009

A wonderful delicious book with beautiful photographs to match. The recipes are easy to follow, authentic and great to eat.JM More..

20 November 2009

If you haven't tried an audio-book before….this is a great one to start with. The story itself along with the accents used throughout the story will have you totally engrossed! Four strangers, all of different nationalities, are brought together to a beautiful property called ‘Villa... More..

19 November 2009

Based on her own experience of grief, Mary Polce-Lynch shows us how to write a last communication such as a letter to a loved one - healing final words that give a sense of closure.JM More..

17 November 2009

Set in Australia in a small mining town, this is a story told through the eyes of a young girl using the first person. The reader glimpses family life falling apart because of the actions of her older sister, and the impact this has on three generations. In parts sad, in parts amusing, this is an... More..

12 November 2009

Mike Parker is a map addict of the first order, from early days ensconsed in the back seat of his grandparents' car dictating directions, to more recent encounters with GPS. His enthusiasm for maps is infectious. You will never look at a map of Scotland showing the Mull of Kintrye with a straight... More..

4 November 2009

Set in Nantucket Island on the eastern seaboard of the United States, this book follows the fortunes and dramas of a Boston banking family who have been spending their summers in the huge house that has been in the family for generations. This summer they are all gathering for Nona's 90th birthday,... More..

4 November 2009

If you are of a sensitive nature, then I would advise you to not read this book, number three in the series. However, if you enjoy a little of the macabre and some black humour, then this is a chuckle out loud read. In attempting to find a serial murderer in his home town of Miami, Dexter allows... More..

4 November 2009

Discovered this very good film about a dysfunctional but loving family, starring Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The Savages comprise of a brother, sister and their estranged father who they are forced to take care of when he develops dementia. They collect their father from the very... More..

16 October 2009

An amazing live performance at the O2 arena in London by the seemingly inexhaustible Leonard Cohen. At his most popular in the 1970s, he hasn’t lost the magic, blending old and new songs with a group of highly skilled musicians. The concert is almost three hours long, Cohen having the stamina of... More..

16 October 2009

The author moves from Washington to Kiribati for two years, imagining a tropical paradise. The reality is, however, somewhat different: no sewage disposal system, almost non-existent healthcare, and a diet of fish, relieved only by sporadic deliveries of out of date tinned corned beef. The island... More..

15 October 2009

A school teacher has an affair with a female student.. With such a theme you might expect the novel to be a bleak tract on a community unravelling or even shattering, with people, especially young people, especially girls, falling about ruined. Not so. Above all the novel is witty. Characters... More..

15 October 2009

Starting in 1939 and set in the small town of Augusta Falls, Georgia, twelve year old Joseph Vaughan, after hearing of the brutal murder of a young girl, sets up The Guardians with his friends to protect their neigbourhood. However, despite their efforts the murders continue for the next decade and... More..

15 October 2009

Among other things, the author is Professor for the theory and practice of medicine at Stanford University as well as an excellent writer. This story is about an unusual child, in an unusual setting who lives through unusual circumstances and one book I just couldn't put down. Set in Addis Ababa... More..

15 October 2009

This debut novel is a stunner. A beautifully crafted story that takes you into the life of a woman rancher in the American West during the early days of the twentieth century. Fighting the weather, the landscape and the deprivations of isolation in the Dakota Badlands, Rachel Dupree tells her... More..

14 October 2009

I found this book engrossing and moving. Set in the present in England, it tells of two interwoven relationships, which are intricately enmeshed in a way hard to imagine but easy to believe because the characters are so well delineated by the author. It is written with such authority that even... More..

14 October 2009

This novel is set in 1960 in a department store in Sydney named Goodes, which is a fictionalised version of the Elizabeth Street store David Jones. The story is very character focused and centres on four females who work in the ladies’ cocktail frocks section. Patty and Fay are ordinary young... More..

13 October 2009

This debut novel from Tiffany Baker is an absolute treasure to read. I quickly became engrossed in the story of Truly, born with a genetic condition that keeps her growing until she is larger than everyone around her. This is ultimately a love story set in small town America, about family dramas... More..

13 October 2009

John le Carre turns his storytelling talents to the ‘War on Terror.’ Set in Hamburg, the story tells of a half-starved young Russian man claiming to be a devout Muslim, an idealistic young German civil rights lawyer, and a sixty-year-old banker, who form an unlikely alliance to get the young... More..

13 October 2009

A woman travels from New Zealand to Ireland to attend a conference, but is actually on a quest to find her father who walked out on the family when she was a young child and was never seen again.Layers within the story uncover areas of relationships with family, lover and friends. Limestone is the... More..

13 October 2009

Claire is a teenage girl who, when there is an electrical storm, switches out of her body and into the body of another person. When a gorgeous new girl appears in town and Claire’s dream guy is attracted to her, Claire wishes she were more like her. Imagine what happens when during the next storm,... More..

13 October 2009

A gripping thriller/horror with gruesome moments and a shocking ending. This film is a must-watch for audiences of horror. The plot follows a disgraced policeman whose new job as the security guard for a burnt-out department store results in his heart-pounding confrontation with a terrifying evil... More..

13 October 2009

In a nutshell, this is a book about a woman’s journey to understand who she once was. Set on board a cruise liner, which in itself supplies an interesting background, the story involves a number of disparate characters who each help her towards the resolution she has so far been denied. There are... More..

13 October 2009

Using mainly British, French, and American sources, the author examines how the Orient (principally Egypt and Palestine) has been represented in the West since the end of the eighteenth century, and how that representation has been constructed. His method is especially interesting because he... More..

13 October 2009

At first it is fabulous to fly, to soar, to be free, but a loblolly boy is invisible to all but a few sensitive creatures, and this life is not without loneliness and danger. To regain humanity a loblolly boy has to exchange his life with someone willing to leave their own behind. Out of the... More..

13 October 2009

Each story is tantalising, ending with possibilities yet to come. Many seem to be from the view of someone who is somewhat divorced from the conventional world, maybe even mad. In "Eyes of the Soul" a window treatment firm provides a fantastic solution to a dismal view...or does it? CAO More..

12 October 2009

For someone who is dead, Grace is having a lively time of it. She was shot while buying cigarettes (smoking is bad for you) but doesn't realise at first. She lives in a limbo, an almost copy of her old neighbourhood but occasionally, very rarely, she can step back into our world. The first time... More..

12 October 2009

A busload of variable teens and a team of scientists who have managed to transport creatures who may or may not be demons to our world. You just know that these groups are going to collide, but the villains and heroes are unexpected. An exploration of the ethics of way-out-there science within a... More..

12 October 2009

There are shelves of memoirs about overcoming the death of a parent, childhood abuse, rape, drug addiction, miscarriage, alcoholism, hustling, gangbanging, near-death injuries, drug dealing, prostitution, or homelessness. Cupcake Brown survived all these things before she'd even turned twenty. And... More..

12 October 2009

An eighty year old woman on her way to have lunch with the Queen has a car accident. As she awaits rescue she remembers her life with grace and gratitude. Beautiful writing.EO More..

12 October 2009

In a follow-up to the novel Boy in the World, Jay continues his search for his father. We left him in Ethiopia under the caring wing of Sister Bridget. But he still feels the pull to find his missing father - the link between his past and his future, and the piece that will complete the jigsaw... More..

12 October 2009

If you enjoy reading a nature/memoir style of book and you have a love of birds, then this is the one for you. As is oftten the case, one stray bird led to many more, with all their strange habits, along with the many ways of trying to fit in with the rest of the family. This story is told with... More..

12 October 2009

If you are a fan of David Jason’s acting in the BBC series ‘Only Fools and Horses,’ ‘Open All Hours’ and ‘Darling Buds of May’ amongst others, you will enjoy reading this biography. Right from his early childhood this brilliant comedian made people laugh, his successful career culminating with his... More..

23 September 2009

Heritage week .. now there's an occasion we can all feel ambivalent about. Just to throw a historian in among the pigeons, try James Belich. He's a punchy fellow and it's well worth priming yourself for the book by listening to his interview with Kim Hill. He "fingers" the settlement boom as... More..

21 September 2009

With an introduction by Richard Ingrams (Private Eye) this is a collection of opinions, prejudices and rants about modern life and all its (in)conveniences, aimed at baby-boomers. No gadget is spared, no public service ignored, no lapse in manners forgiven. Individually, the pieces are amusing,... More..

21 September 2009

Robbie Coltrane, Scottish star of Harry Potter and Cracker, hires a classic Jaguar car and decides to travel from London to Glasgow avoiding all motorways and A-roads and traveling only on B-roads. His journey takes him through villages and towns that have retained their unique identity, where he... More..

21 September 2009

This is a British documentary which follows the Young at Heart Chorus as they prepare for a concert in their hometown of Northampton, Massachusetts. The age range of the singers is 73 – 94, but rather than tackle the old-time favourites, their director, Bob Cilman, trains them to sing punk, rock... More..

21 September 2009

Sullivan McLeod grew up in Margaret River, Western Australia, and has always surfed. Having completed the obligatory OE, he decides to enter the surfing World Championships, just to see if he could compete against some of his idols. He starts off with good intentions, but is frequently waylaid by... More..

21 September 2009

This first novel by poet Alison Wong is set in Wellington between 1905 and 1920. It is beautifully written, almost poetic but it deals with real life, real politics and tragic situations. There are descriptions of Chinatown, its inhabitants and activities, and the issues that it raises, racism and... More..

21 September 2009

This book’s sub-title, How William Lever cleaned up the world, provides only a hint of how one extraordinary man used his personal fortune to influence and change society by practical measures founded on far-sighted beliefs. William Lever set about providing men, women and children with fresh air,... More..

14 September 2009

Although starting and finishing in the present in a prison cell in Guantanamo Bay, at the core of this story is the atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki in 1945. The lives of characters from three very different cultures are cleverly interwoven in a tale of love and loss. In this beautifully... More..

14 September 2009

Written in truly voluptuous language, this is a delightfully realistic view of life through the eyes of eight year old Nyree and her younger sister Cia. Living in Rhodesia during the days of the "Terrs" and the fall of the white government, their idyllic life is to be changed forever when a... More..

14 September 2009

This is an absorbing story about a Republican First Lady, Alice Blackwell. The similarities to Laura Bush are plain - both were school librarians, both involved in a car crash in which someone was killed, and both married into wealthy, privileged families. Alice is depicted compassionately - her... More..

14 September 2009

After being in self-imposed exile for three years, the Dixie Chicks make a comeback with their international hit album “Taking the Long Way”. In contrast to their past three albums which made them the best selling female group in America – where the girls mostly sang about break-ups and cowboys... More..

14 September 2009

This film follows the beginnings of the vigilante ‘Punisher’ in an action-packed display of awe-inspiring intelligence and artistic use of weaponry. The tension builds up gradually and leads to a thrilling finale which leaves the audience wanting more. Great acting by John Travolta and Tom Jane... More..

14 September 2009

The Grenadier Guards – scarlet tunics and bearskin helmets, Trooping the Colour, guarding the Queen and her royal palaces. My son came home from London with a Grenadier tunic, which sparked off our interest in finding out the history behind it. This DVD shows the huge amount of training and hard... More..

14 September 2009

Based on a true story which took place in 1928, Clint Eastwood directs Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich in one of the most heartrending films of the year. The film takes place in Los Angeles, where Christine Collins says goodbye to her son Walter before work, only to return home to find he has... More..

14 September 2009

Having grossed as the most successful Christmas movie at the box office, Marley and Me follows the journey of journalists John and Jen Grogan as they start their newly-wed life together in Florida. Afraid of becoming a father, John instead buys Jen a puppy in the initial months of their marriage.... More..

9 September 2009

Just when you thought life couldn't get any worse for poor Florence, it does, because in her family - and what an interesting bunch they are - things seem to happen in threes. She even gets a surprise when her one and only child arrives back into the country. Not that this is a depressing book by... More..

9 September 2009

If you enjoyed Lewycka’s A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian and Two Caravans you will love this read. It is a witty, fast-paced combination of eccentric characters who will have you laughing all the way.PT More..

9 September 2009

A slavery novel which follows the journey over six decades of an eleven year old African girl, from her capture right up until the time she stands before the British Parliament asking for the abolition of slavery. A wonderful, moving novel.EO More..

9 September 2009

A true and moving portrait of the love and courage of a family. A forty year old single mother is bringing up her one year old daughter and caring for her eighty year old father who has Alzheimer’s disease. As she watches in awe, her child’s memory grows and expands daily, but she also mourns her... More..

9 September 2009

Please note the sub-title: this is not a book about how to care for your lawn but about the social impact the lawnmower has had on people. It pokes gentle fun at the strange notion of trying to produce a uniform, monocultural landscape out of something as rampant as grass. The development of the... More..

7 September 2009

These anecdotes of growing up in the 1960s and 70s have a resonance even now. David Sedaris will make you laugh out loud with his offbeat family antics. The hilariously painful rites of passage that he describes will remind you how childhood and adolescence shapes all of us. MC More..

26 August 2009

This is a modern retelling of the Grimms’ fairytale "The twelve dancing princesses" where a young soldier, recently returned from war, rescues the princesses from an evil curse which compels them to dance each night until their slippers are worn through. Our hero Galen has a secret weapon not found... More..

26 August 2009

Having read and enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series, I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. The Host was written for an adult audience, and is about aliens invading Earth and taking over the bodies of human beings. The story follows one particular alien and her human "host", and as... More..

21 August 2009

Written as a catalogue for the exhibition held at Gus Fisher Gallery in Auckland, and the National Portrait Gallery in Wellington in 2008/2009, this book observes a wide scope of leadership within New Zealand, from Queen Victoria to Sir Edmund Hillary. This beautifully illustrated catalogue... More..

20 August 2009

So many of us have experienced a turning point in our lives, be it a tragedy or a delight. But how many of us have done something with that turning point to change the lives of others? Ben Thomas is an exceptionally mysterious man with a dark past, whose intention is solely to change the lives of... More..

20 August 2009

The author walks around London following the path of the M25. You get to see what's at the edges of the city - Waltham Abbey, Government research institutions, disused asylums, exclusive housing, Martian death rays, industrial estates, Carfax, shopping malls. A series of local histories connected... More..

19 August 2009

A novel about a 16 year old boy, Greg, with academically successful siblings who learns to stand up for himself. He realises that he will never win his parents’ approval by trying to be the person they want him to be and fulfill their dreams, and has the courage to go against their wishes and be... More..

19 August 2009

The story begins with the murder of an illegal African street vendor in a busy Venetian campo while he was attempting to sell his fake designer handbags to a group of American tourists.This book deals with issues surrounding immigrants, race and immigrant labour. The detective Guido Brunetti must... More..

19 August 2009

Award-winning journalist Sally Sara takes us on a journey of discovery through Africa, interviewing twelve very different African women. The women speak very openly and honestly about their lives and the horrors they have endured through times of war and famine. A thoroughly engaging and... More..

19 August 2009

This is an entertaining, unauthorized, account of the history of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In his introduction, Michael Gross describes the Metropolitan as a, 'huge alchemical experiment, turning the worst of man's attributes - extravagance, lust, gluttony, acquisitiveness, envy, avarice,... More..

19 August 2009

Sunny Cooper is still recovering from her unusual upbringing on a commune, dealing with her relationship with her mother and haunted by her younger sister's death, when she suffers another personal tragedy and decides to start life afresh. She moves to the small town of Harmony on San Miguel... More..

19 August 2009

This is one of the feel-good books of the year. Set in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, canny, big hearted businesswoman Grace Tungaraza is a professional with a successful cake baking business. You are drawn into her life and learn about the strength of women who have endured the horror of genocide... More..

17 August 2009

When Bunty discovers her husband is having an affair, she is more concerned about how she will maintain the lifestyle she has become accustomed to than sorry that her marriage is about to end. With no money of her own and few work skills, having spent her time as a ‘stay at home’ mum watching... More..

17 August 2009

What a wonderful, sensitive and kind hearted boy Frankie Parsons is. His anxieties and worries were very real, and it was a great reminder to me of my teenage years and the power that my problems had over me. Frankie was lucky in that he had such a wonderful support network of family and... More..

17 August 2009

I just finished reading the fourth books in the Twilight saga by Stephanie Meyer. Talk about blown away! I was very sceptical about whether I would enjoy books about vampire romance, but Bella, Edward and Jacob were so full of passion and intensity that it was impossible to not get drawn into their... More..

17 August 2009

This title is similar to the others in the Alex Rider series and other action adventure novels for teens. They're plot driven, pacy reads, with an emphasis on action, rather than relationships between characters. Reading them is a lot like watching an action thriller. The detail is in the stunts... More..

17 August 2009

It normally takes me a couple of weeks to knock off a book but if it's funny and the characters are great, I'll manage it in a couple of hours. Stop in the name of pants! is the latest in the Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison, and once again I fell in love with Georgia's... More..

17 August 2009

15 years of research went into this book which is written as if it was Henry himself who penned it as a journal covering his thoughts, emotions, decisions and events throughout his life. Through Margaret George’s writing I felt some sympathy for this king, caught between the powerful grip of the... More..

17 August 2009

Laz is well-liked, loved and admired by his family and friends but he does have the habit of checking out of his life occasionally. At first, his wife Grace was alarmed by his disappearances, but he always returned with never a whiff of infidelity. But now he has been gone for several weeks. Grace... More..

6 August 2009

David Case is 14 and worries about everything bad that may happen. If fate exists then how can he control anything? Can he escape? A thought-provoking book, you’ll instantly like David and his vulnerabilities even though he doesn’t seem to like himself very much! Winner of the 2006 Carnegie... More..

6 August 2009

Pink does it again. The theme is her marriage hiccup – she is letting her emotions out! This girl has a set of lungs showcasing a good mix of rock songs and beautifully sung ballads. You will find yourself hitting the repeat button and turning up the volume. Very enjoyable.RB More..

3 August 2009

Another DVD to view on these cold winter evenings is 'Strumpet City'. Taken from a television series, this drama is set in Dublin and based around the real-life character Jim Larkin who worked tirelessly for workers’ rights. Some excellent acting helps portray everyday life for the folk who... More..

3 August 2009

A delightful film about Jessica (played by a bright and lovely Cecile de France), who leaves her home in the countryside to live in vibrant Paris. Her grandmother had told her that, as she could not afford to live in luxury, she had worked in it, so Jessica intends to do the same, and uses her... More..

3 August 2009

A great French comedy starring Daniel Auteuil, Valerie Lemecier and Thierry Lhermitte. Gerard, a clingfilm expert, has been unemployed for a very long time. Finally, he is offered a new job, in Indonesia, but first the manager wants to check out his home life, especially his wife's cooking... More..

3 August 2009

Does the world need yet another book on Shakespeare? Yes, if it is by Bill Bryson. This is a compendium of all the facts known about Shakespeare (not actually a great many), and various conjectures that scholars and nut-cases have come up with over the years. Obsessive research, and some... More..

3 August 2009

I loved this book and the array of tempting recipes. It is presented in a totally different format to the usual Australian Woman’s Weekly recipe books and I found the photographs stunning. There is temptation on every page and having one recipe per page with the photograph on the adjacent page is a... More..

3 August 2009

This book contains anecdotes and curious information on a range of forty well-known songs and their composers, from ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow’ and ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ to ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Yesterday’. Their origins make an interesting read although some histories are over... More..

3 August 2009

Charlotte Wood dedicated this novel to her parents whose love story inspired her to write it. The book is divided into four parts. The first part is set in 1963 in Australia and involves the meeting of Martin and Jocelyn who form a deep and loving relationship. Family problems come between them and... More..

3 August 2009

I read this series many, many years ago and would recommend it to anyone who wants to read about vampires or the supernatural. I enjoyed these 3 books because I became engrossed with the characters and needed to find out what happened next. It was also a teenage love story, not like the... More..

3 August 2009

The first memoir from a woman born and raised in South Darfur is a powerful account of the horrors of the genocide in Sudan. A compelling account of Halima’s determination to survive and her passion to defend her people.P.O. More..

3 August 2009

Dawn French invites us into her most personal relationships in the format of letters written to, among others, her mum and dad, her husband, her daughter and her friend Jennifer Saunders, the ‘Dear Fatty’ of the title. A warm and funny book which reveals the surprising life behind the smile.P.O. More..

3 August 2009

The latest in the series about Marcus Didius Falco, a private investigator in Ancient Rome. Falco looks into the sudden demise of Theon, the Chief Librarian at the Great Library of Alexandria in Egypt. A great read – amusing and fascinating.P.O. More..

3 August 2009

This is the most delightful story of two men and their tussle to ask a lady to a ball – which becomes a “bird – hunt”. Read on to see what unfolds.D.J. More..

3 August 2009

The story shares the joys and humour of everyday life during the mid-life years woman face. A light easy read guaranteed to lift your spirits.Polly More..

3 August 2009

A heart warming story of Ben Mee and his family buying a zoo that has been closed down. None of them have any expertise in running a zoo, so they learn and lived to tell a story full of interesting animal facts, having to deal with bureaucracy, and heart aching human drama. H.B. More..

3 August 2009

Deborah O’Roake a young DA is investigating a gang violence case and exposes fraud and drug trafficking. Early on she meets Cage Guthrie and of course, they fall in love and work together on this case. An enjoyable, relaxing read – a romantic suspense novel with a fantasy twist.H.B. More..

30 July 2009

Maggie McElroy, food writer, goes on a “working” trip to China to write about a young up and coming chef, Sam Ling, while also investigating a paternity suit against her late husband’s estate. This is an entertaining story with fascinating information on the food culture of China. Lots of strands... More..

30 July 2009

A page turner from start to finish. A psychological thriller, the title tells it all. Set in Minnesota a crime that was not solved, until now. Who really did kill Laura Star. you will find more of his titles at hereGarfield. More..

23 July 2009

This is an alternative history set in London in 2008, but resembles a bygone era. Jessica Allendon is catapulted into this alternate world as she unintentionally finds herself swapping places with a parallel universe Jessica. This is a world in which women are subservient to men. The attitudes are... More..

20 July 2009

Death by water is a tale of a woman detective, solving mysteries and uncovering secrets. The story begins on a cruise liner where a series of jewellery thefts from first class passengers have taken place. Phryne Fisher has being hired to solve the mystery of stolen jewellery Kerry Greenwood has... More..

20 July 2009

Written and set in the 1950s by Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road (2008) is a love story unlike no other. The raw emotions intertwined with the exquisite acting from Academy Award winner and nominated actors Kate Winslet and Leonardo di Caprio makes this film one of the best adapted screenplays of... More..

20 July 2009

Based on a true story, this is a stunning book about an unusual subject and a different view of the American settlement of the west. Vivid and believable characters, outstanding bravery, brutal realities and the clash of cultures make this an unforgettable read. AH More..

20 July 2009

Set during the time of Edward IV, this book takes you into the world of the silk merchants and women's lives of the time. This well researched book brings to life the social and political scenes of this era and breathes life into real players at the court of the king. The story moves along at a... More..

17 July 2009

Mark is an only child being bought up single handedly by his mother. He needs to fundraise - I loved his problem solving skills - all in all a very enterprising young man. This book is a very enjoyable read with all the elements of sabotage/ enterprise/ problem solving/ success and intrigue. Comes... More..

17 July 2009

Intense and moving, this story of love, discovery, and the transformational power of music is set in the extraordinary situation of a hostage takeover.Strong friendships and bonds forged among the most unlikely people attest to humanity’s needs and desires being mutual and universal. Our continual... More..

17 July 2009

Coping with a terminally ill friend may not be everyone’s idea for the theme of a book, but this is written with humour and honesty, and is anything but gloomy. The reader finds that there is great empathy with the friend, who has been coerced into looking after her ill, but at times infuriating... More..

17 July 2009

This is a non-fiction book about the ongoing conflict in Palestine. Apart from being easy to read, it manages to put both points of view in a clear and fair way so that all through the book the reader is able to compare the impact of what’s happening as experienced by both the Palestinians and the... More..

17 July 2009

Adam Dalgliesh and his team are called to a private clinic to investigate the death of an investigative journalist. A good read again from one of my favourite authors, though I did find this one slightly more predictable than any of her earlier books. Still worth taking home though. SJC More..

17 July 2009

Another great read from Kate Atkinson in the Jackson Brodie series. Crime, humour and good characters in the story of the consequences of a crime committed 30 years ago. Read “Case Histories and “ One Good Turn” to get to know Jackson Brodie. In each book he is just one of a good cast of... More..

17 July 2009

A beautifully told story of the tragic consequences of the wars in Afghanistan since the Soviet invasion. A Russian woman, an American ex-spy, a Special Forces soldier and a soldier of the Taliban are together in the home of an English doctor whose wife and daughter have been murdered by the... More..

14 July 2009

If you like RnB, with a little bit of rap this album is for you. Usher is not only an amazing dancer but also has an amazing voice. This album has a wide range of RnB songs from love songs such as “simple things” to rap songs such as “Yeah”. This album has some great hits and I recommend it for... More..

14 July 2009

With the king of pop now dead, everyone is listening to his music. This album includes many of his huge hits from his very early childhood days with the Jackson 5 such as “ABC”, “Rockin' robin” and “Ben” to his more memorable hits such as “Thriller”, “Billie Jean” and many... More..

14 July 2009

With new hair cuts and with more understandable lyrics this has been reviewed as their best album.Their latest album – with four or five songs high up in the charts such as: Sex on fire, Use somebody, Revelry and Notion. This is definitely one for the CD collection. B More..

7 July 2009

Gregory has been 'ordered' to bring his beloved dalmation JP to the south of France so that JP can father a new litter of puppies. He complies, travelling light with JP tucked in front of him on a motor scooter! A light, fun read for lovers of dogs and France.cao More..

7 July 2009

This North Shore resident is a psychotherapist with many years experience working with dreams and their interpretation. She has been both teacher and practitioner and run dream workshops in New Zealand for many years. In this work she outlines the nature and range of dreams and their role in... More..

7 July 2009

Anyone who loves home cooking will love this collection of New Zealand baking favourites. Illustrated with original recipes and accompanied with commentaries on the history of the different recipes. Hard to resist Montana Book Award finalist. The author was a curator at the Auckland Art Gallery... More..

7 July 2009

A book about Chinese Taoist meditation. Translated by Wilhelm Reich, famous also for his translation of the Chinese classic: I ChingOf particular interest is the commentary by Carl Jung. The book deals with meditation techniques and the secret is about the powers of growth and development... More..

7 July 2009

Book 10, in the No1. Ladies Detective Agency series, doesn’t fail to please if you need a dose of Botswana and its characters. Mme Ramotswe holds on to those who are dear to her, including her overworked and overloaded tiny white van. These stories are always a cure for downheartedness and Mme... More..

3 July 2009

If you’re in the mood for a truly delightful read then The Earth Hums in B Flat, the debut novel by Mari Strachan is the book for you. Set in a small Welsh town in the 1950s the story centres around the inquisitive and slightly ‘odd’ 12 year old Gwenni Morgan and her quest to solve the mystery of... More..

3 July 2009

At first one is tempted to think that Passage is an over-long book. But it builds and builds to the very end, and all the strands come together in one long rope that holds more questions than answers. Connie Willis writes about uncomplicated time travel coupled with wonderfully atmospheric... More..

3 July 2009

The main character is Rosa Fiore, a middle age Librarian and the only girl amongst 8 boys in a large Italian family.Rose lives a loveless life and her only passion is cooking until she meets the handsome English chef, and writer, Randolph Hunt. Randolph calls her L'Inglese and Rosa realises that... More..

22 June 2009

This book is a witty, entertaining, well-told comical ramble through the northern part of Spain on the ancient camino – a pilgrimage from the Pyrenees to Santiago de Compostela. The author’s travelling companion is a little donkey called Shinto who has a distinct dislike of bridges, rivers and... More..

22 June 2009

Always on the lookout for the unusual and the exceptional, I have just stumbled on this delightful book which features the Oscar Wilde as a sleuth. Set in the London of the 1880’s, memorable characters include the sweet Constance, Wilde’s sons, Lord Alfred Douglas, Conan Doyle and the entire cast... More..

15 June 2009

This fictionalised biography based on the life of the Australian-born prodigy, pianist Noel Mewton-Wood, is Melbourne writer Sonia Orchard’s debut novel. The narrator is a young music student living in London at the end of World War 11. He becomes inspired and obsessed by Noel after seeing him... More..

12 June 2009

If you enjoy reading anecdotes about New Zealand then you should find this book both interesting and amusing. It describes the travels of a mid-forties Englishman, who has lived in this country for fifteen years, as he hitchhikes around the country in an effort to experience the "real" New Zealand.... More..

12 June 2009

The tale begins when a newspaper reporter arranges an interview with famous Venetian violinist Paolo Levi. The highly sought-after interview comes with a major stipulation: don’t ask the “Mozart question”. During the course of the interview, not only do we discover the meaning of the question, but... More..

12 June 2009

Rowena Batts lives with her totally outrageous, singing, apple-farming, satin-shirted Dad. Not being able to talk has its problems for her, mainly because of other people's reactions to her. Just because she can’t speak doesn’t mean she is ‘dumb’. An ongoing problem she does have is to stop her... More..

10 June 2009

The final draft for this novel was written at the Michael King Writer’s Centre where the author was writer-in-residence in 2008. The protagonist is a young woman growing up in Wellington. She is a talented cellist and a diabetic. The novel follows her life from Wellington to London where she has a... More..