Review of Observations: Studies in New Zealand Documentary
A wide-ranging overview of New Zealand documentaries, but there are some issues with the format of the book.
View ArticleReview of Hannah's Child, by Stanley Hauerwas
Hauerwas is an American theologian, well enough known to have earned a place on a Time magazine cover. Unfortunately the edition appeared on Sept the 10th, 2001 and was eclipsed by the following day’s...
View ArticleNew Ways to Kill Your Mother: Writers and Their Families
A review of Colm Tóibín's book of essays on various writers, Irish and American and European, their peculiar personalities and their even stranger families.
View ArticleHhhh by Laurent Binet
An intriguing approach to writing an historical "novel". This is Binet's debut book.
View ArticleSinging Historian - a Memoir
Edmund Bohan's memoir is a wonderful mix of people from the music world and people working in the field of history.
View ArticleThe Voluntourist - a Review
Ken Budd wants to live a life that matters. His father, he felt, had been a person who mattered, and Budd wants to emulate him, even though he lacks the practical skills of his now deceased father.
View ArticleEvernote is Great to Use!
A short discussion of the many ways to use the note-taking programme, Evernote.
View ArticleImperial Metric
If the US ever decides to go metric, it would be wise if they didn’t follow the example of the Brits. Britain went metric on the 1st of October 1995, but in an eccentric and peculiar fashion.
View ArticleOld Cultures in New Surroundings
Three comedies looking at the ways immigrants from older cultures come to terms with living in modern Western societies.
View ArticleA Rant About Buying Men's Clothes
Going shopping for clothes - for men - is an emotionally exhausting experience.
View ArticleThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Chronicles, Creatures & Characters
Daniel Falconer and Weta Workshops produce a marvellous book on the making of the Hobbit movies.
View ArticleThe Patron Saint of Lost Dogs
Don’t be put off by the title of Nick Trout's novel: this is a delightful book that combines good storytelling with some intriguing insights into the detective work of veterinary pathology.
View ArticleGold, by Chris Cleave
By the time I’d been told on the back cover of this book that it would make me cry, make me glad to be alive, and make me count my blessings, I was beginning to feel cynical as to the book’s ability...
View ArticleI Got His Blood on Me
New Zealander Laurence Patchett's book of short stories mixes gritty storytelling and humour.
View ArticleReview: Coal Creek, by Alex Wilson
This atmospheric story is slow to gain momentum, but pulls out all the stops in its second half.
View ArticleReview: The Double, by Maria Takolander
A mix of very grim - and wildly surreal - short stories.
View ArticleReview: Jeeves and The Wedding Bells
Widely-acclaimed author, Sebastian Faulks, takes on the skin of P G Wodehouse and produces a marvellously funny novel.
View ArticleWarrington, a Village on The Coast of New Zealand
Warrington, a village on the coast of the South Island of New Zealand, is a place with fond memories for me, after I spent many of my childhood holidays there, and later on, took my own children there.
View ArticleBitter Wash Road
A review of an excellent Australian thriller from an experienced and award-winning writer, Garry Disher.
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