Tag: Bookclub Blog

2016 NZ Book Awards

There was a lot reading that could have been done this year, a lot of reading we wanted to do, but alas, there isn’t time for everything! So, we read what we could and that included the fiction section and a few of the… Continue Reading “2016 NZ Book Awards”

A Villa At The Edge Of The Empire – Fiona Farrell

READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS A book which examines the evolution of cities and of Christchurch in particular after its destructive earthquakes. ➤ “Prior to reading I thought this would be an important book to Cantabrians, but now I see this is a book relevant to… Continue Reading “A Villa At The Edge Of The Empire – Fiona Farrell”

Chappy – Patricia Grace

READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS “A deserter of the Japanese army stows away on a ship to New Zealand at the onset of WWII. Known as Chappy, he remains in the country illegally and marries a Māori woman. Decades later his grandson wishes to… Continue Reading “Chappy – Patricia Grace”

The Back Of His Head – Patrick Evans

READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS Trustees overseeing the estate of Kiwi Nobel laureate Raymond Lawrence discover more than they wanted to know while struggling to keep his affairs in order. A satire about the making and manipulation of literary fame. ➤ “When I read… Continue Reading “The Back Of His Head – Patrick Evans”

In A Fishbone Church – Catherine Chidgey

READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Sonya Three generations of the Stilton family are affected by the truths in one man’s diaries of the 1950s. When Clifford Stilton dies, his son Gene protects his carefully kept diaries. They span continents and decades, from Berlin raves… Continue Reading “In A Fishbone Church – Catherine Chidgey”

Maori Boy – Witi Ihimaera

READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS An honest, emotive work detailing not only Ihimaera’s childhood but also early life in rural New Zealand and Māori history. Ihimaera (Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki) tells of the myths that formed his early imagination, and the real life experiences that influenced… Continue Reading “Maori Boy – Witi Ihimaera”

Maurice Gee: Life & Work – Rachel Barrowman

READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS Ten years in the writing, this biography sets out to reveal the life and all the secrets of literary great Maurice Gee. ➤ “I have read a lot of Maurice Gee’s work so was itching to read my autographed… Continue Reading “Maurice Gee: Life & Work – Rachel Barrowman”

Coming Rain – Stephen Daisley

READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS Lew McLeod and Painter Hayes have been travelling Western Australia since they were boys, shearing, charcoal burning, whatever work comes. They take shearing jobs for a large farm, where the younger of them, Lew, falls in love with the… Continue Reading “Coming Rain – Stephen Daisley”

The Invisible Mile – David Conventry

READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS A reimagining of the 1928 Ravat-Wonder team from New Zealand and Australia who were the first English-speaking team to ride the Tour de France, then 5476 km of unsealed roads. A psychological journey in which the cyclists rode over mountains… Continue Reading “The Invisible Mile – David Conventry”

Genesis – Bernard Beckett

READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Becks Anax sits an all-day exam for admittance to The Academy, the governing body of her utopian society. However, things are not as they seem and instead unresolved scientific and philosophical questions are raised. Unable to attribute misfortune to… Continue Reading “Genesis – Bernard Beckett”