Book Loving Kiwis discussion

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message 301: by Anna (new)

Anna | 9 comments I'm reading Lady Midnight
Amazing! I like the plot and characters very much


message 302: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Not my scene, Anna.

I'm having fun reading the children's chuck-outs from the library stack. I got my hands on Monica Edwards Black Hunting Whip and Elfrida Vipont's The Lark in the Morn


Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) (sandyj21) London's Glory (Bryant & May, #12.5) by Christopher Fowler London's Glory by Christopher Fowler an amusing collection of short stories. Very entertaining!


Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂  | 1374 comments Mod
I'm reading A History of New Zealand Women Its going to be a slow read, not least because the book is physically very heavy! I tried reading it on a tray last night but even that was difficult. The only solution will be to read it at my dining room table. I'm also reading one of Georgette Heyer's suppressed books Barren Corn & The Portobello Road and other stories by Muriel Sparks. The latter is a "Penguin 60" - it is tiny so perfect for slipping in my handbag! :)


message 305: by Erica (new)

Erica | 1280 comments Mod
Look forward to hearing what you think of the history of NZ women...I've had my eye on that one.


Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂  | 1374 comments Mod
Erica wrote: "Look forward to hearing what you think of the history of NZ women...I've had my eye on that one."

Do some weight training first! Seriously though very promising so far!


message 307: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Just waiting for 'Visitor' CJ Cherryh's newest in the Foreigner series to land in the post box.


message 308: by Anna (new)

Anna Faversham (annafaversham) | 220 comments I'm reading When Lucy Ceased to Be
by Julia Bell and so far I am thoroughly enjoying it. Surprising twists and turns.


message 309: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Still waiting for 'Visitor'. Oh the frustration!!

Raided the library and found Anne Perry's 'Corridors of the Night' Hester and William Monk newest.
and McCall Smith's 'The Woman who walked in Sunshine'

So I've got something worth reading for a while.


message 310: by Darkpool (new)

Darkpool | 1032 comments Nearly finished Season of Salt and Honey by Hannah Tunnicliffe, an author I only know about thanks to this group. There are recipes dotted through the books at relevant spots, and I made one earlier in the week for dinner with my mother and sister - appropriately, as family is a very strong theme in the book. The recipe didn't quite turn out perfectly, but was still yummy. (and I'm enjoying the book very much. Tunnicliffe clearly chooses her words with great care.)


message 311: by Erica (last edited Apr 29, 2016 01:52PM) (new)

Erica | 1280 comments Mod
Sounds like a good read Darkpool - good on you for giving one of the recipes a go!

I've currently got two books on the go, but they probably couldn't be more different:

The Feminine Mystique- I've only read 3 chapters so far but I'm hooked! Really insightful. I had previously assumed that in the fight for equal rights for women it had progressed steadily over the years with more and more freedoms and rights gained. However, this book looks at 1950's America where to be anything but a loving housewife was un-feminine. The author looks into why there has supposedly been this backward step in the progress for women's rights. Written in the 60's it's really fascinating and an easy-to-read non-fiction work. So far!

The second I'm reading is Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children which is YA fiction with a really creepy undertone. Weird photos throughout complement the story nicely :)


message 313: by Angie (new)

Angie (seren-lucy) | 1147 comments Darkpool (protesting GR censorship) wrote: "Nearly finished Season of Salt and Honey by Hannah Tunnicliffe, an author I only know about thanks to this group. There are recipes dotted through the books at rele..."

I read her book, The Color of Tea, and enjoyed how every chapter was named after a different, and usually very original, macaron flavour. I didn't realise she had written other books. I'll be adding them.


message 314: by Andrene (new)

Andrene Low (andrenelow) I'm reading Sunshine Hunter by Maddie Cochere. Enjoying it so far.


message 315: by Melissa (new)

Melissa (melissa98) | 1 comments I'm about to finish The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris. Has to be one of my new favourite books.


message 316: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Ah, The Feminine Mystique-! That book really started me down the road to active feminism and yet we are still having to fight it all over again.

The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine has been soothing my soul. A lovely gentle laugh at our human frailties..

Will order Hannah Tunnicliffe from the library. Where would I be without our library?


message 317: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Anyone seen this list. 50 NZ books Kiwi kids should read.
put together by the book council.

http://booknotes-unbound.org.nz/50-ne...


message 318: by Angie (new)

Angie (seren-lucy) | 1147 comments Thanks for posting. I hadn't seen it, but so many of these books have been a part of my childhood. Others I'm revisiting or reading for the first time with my wee fella. Mr 12 months would definitely agree with the Donovan Bixley books being included.


message 319: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments At the Water's Edge

This seems promising. Here's hoping. My other read is a Scandinavian whodunit and it's bleak in the Scandinavian tradition.


message 320: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Struggling with The Goldfinch


message 321: by Erica (new)

Erica | 1280 comments Mod
Think The Goldfinch is quite a devisive book - I personally liked the story although thought it could have done with a bit more editing. Loved the cover :)

I'm currently reading two books: The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton and Things Fall Apart (can't remember the author's name and the books not near me - but it's apparently a classic of African literature). I'm enjoying them both.


message 322: by Anna (new)

Anna Faversham (annafaversham) | 220 comments I'm listening to Unusual Uses for Olive Oil (Portuguese Irregular Verbs, #4) by Alexander McCall Smith
part of a series but stands alone.

Gently funny.


message 323: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Enjoyed the whole series. Anna. As an author McCall Smith gives the reader such a lot to think about which is not often written about but is really worth thinking about.

Am enjoying 'Baker's Blues'
Baker's Blues

Also enjoying 'The Surgeon of Crowthorn'
The Surgeon of Crowthorne


message 324: by Anna (new)

Anna Faversham (annafaversham) | 220 comments I've read the whole series too (except for this one) but quite a while ago. Listening to Hugh Laurie or Julian Rhind-Tutt read the books is a real treat.


message 325: by Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ (last edited May 27, 2016 07:46PM) (new)

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂  | 1374 comments Mod
Kathleen wrote: "I'm sitting in the bookshop with nothing to do.

Are you not allowed to read?:(

I worked this morning because they were short.

I'm reading Four Nails which is a read for review PDR arranged. Enjoying so far.

I'm also reading The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing but it glitched on me when I accidentally hit that I've finished. I'll probably leave it off GR until I really have finished.

& I have The Return Of The Naked Chef to peruse.


Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂  | 1374 comments Mod
Kathleen wrote: "

Well, perusing is encouraged, but immersing isn't a good id..."


Heh! Jamie is cute but I like my chefs clothed thanks. I've mainly brought it home for my husband who is now a keen cook & likes Jamie's laddish style.


message 327: by Anna (new)

Anna Faversham (annafaversham) | 220 comments My husband started cooking after watching Nigella Lawson's girly style! I have a lot to thank her for :)


Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂  | 1374 comments Mod
P.D.R. wrote: "Anyone seen this list. 50 NZ books Kiwi kids should read.
put together by the book council.

http://booknotes-unbound.org.nz/50-ne..."


Just seen this! You are not going to get me to argue (much!) with a list that puts Margaret Mahy at the top. I was privileged to hear her read The Great White Man-Eating Shark: A Cautionary Tale many years ago.Still my favourite New Zealand children's book.

My son & my nephew loved The Little Yellow Digger. Boy did they love it.

& Dawn McMillan is a volunteer at "my" op shop! Absolutely lovely person.


message 329: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Isn't it a crime that so many of Mahy's wonderful books are out of print and not even ebooked?


Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂  | 1374 comments Mod
P.D.R. wrote: "Isn't it a crime that so many of Mahy's wonderful books are out of print and not even ebooked?"

I didn't realise that. Explains why I have got quite good prices for a couple of them.

I'd put Lynley Dodd higher up. Rich use of language & Scarface Claw is one of my favourite literary felines.


message 331: by P.D.R. (last edited May 30, 2016 10:21PM) (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Yes, I agree about Lynley Dodds but then you see she was too successful and earned lots of money from her books. Tut!

Oh, and they were only children's books too!!!!


message 332: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments An American visitor told me he'd had problems with making things rhyme properly in Hairy Maclary and then he visited NZ and discovered we don't speak American!


message 334: by Angie (new)

Angie | 175 comments Started All the Light We Cannot See yesterday. Really enjoying it so far.


message 335: by Darkpool (new)

Darkpool | 1032 comments P.D.R. wrote: "An American visitor told me he'd had problems with making things rhyme properly in Hairy Maclary and then he visited NZ and discovered we don't speak American!"

LOL!!! classic!!!


message 336: by Darkpool (new)

Darkpool | 1032 comments I'm on the last 15% of Warriors of the Storm. Huge fan of this series.


message 337: by [deleted user] (new)

One of my favourite reads for 2015. A beautiful book.


message 338: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Just discovered Andrew Taylor's historicals. Really enjoying 'The Ashes of London.'

The Ashes of London


message 339: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments 'An Astronaught's Guide to life on Earth'. Smashing book, non-fiction, and funny too. Thanks for recommending it whoever it was.

An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth


message 340: by Darkpool (new)

Darkpool | 1032 comments P.D.R. wrote: "'An Astronaught's Guide to life on Earth'. Smashing book, non-fiction, and funny too. Thanks for recommending it whoever it was.

An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield[book:An ..."


:-) That was one of my nominations for the bookpool! I've not read it yet, so very pleased to hear it was a good choice.


message 341: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments It's a fascinating read for the way it turns a whole lot of standard thinking upside down - I particularly liked the 'think negative'.


message 342: by Anna (new)

Anna Faversham (annafaversham) | 220 comments I lived north of the Zimbabwe border for some years and it's strange the way the west has intervened in some countries but seems to have left Mugabe's systematic destruction of a very fine country alone.


message 343: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Don't get me started about countries poking their noses where they shouldn't go and never helping where they should!!!

Instead I'll tell you all about Lindsey Davis's new Flavia novel which I've just started. It's called 'The Graveyard of the Hesperides'. Promising so far.


message 344: by Anna (new)

Anna Faversham (annafaversham) | 220 comments I'm currently listening to Jeeves and the Wedding Bells written by Sebastian Faulks in honour of P.G. Wodehouse.


message 345: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Is it any good? I hate my favourite authors ruined by greedy publishers getting other writers to copy them. And I love Wodehouse and still think Ian Carmichael and ???? argh what was his name as Jeeves were by far better and truer to Wodehouse than Laurie and Fry.

They are at it with Ngaio Marsh now.


message 346: by Anna (new)

Anna Faversham (annafaversham) | 220 comments It works very well as a bedtime story (which is when I do my listening). It isn't long before I fall asleep!

That is not a slur. It means it is read in a fashion suited to the prose, and the story is gently funny, as expected, and so I feel comfortably cosy and sleepy.

I've only heard the first chapter or so. Faulks has the Wodehouse family's permission and states that he is not trying to copy PGW but sticking to the spirit and style (or something like that). That said, he's doing it very well.


message 347: by Erica (new)

Erica | 1280 comments Mod
This weekend I started what must be one of the longest novels every written! haha. I'm 100 pages into A Suitable Boy. I'm finding the characters really fun and the story really engaging. Despite the length I think this will be quite an easy, colourful read.


message 348: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Hurray, the library dumped a whole load of book pool books in my basket today.
Now I can get reading in the competition again.


message 349: by D.L. (new)

D.L. Heather (dlheather) How to be a Canadian


message 350: by P.D.R. (new)

P.D.R. Lindsay (pdrlindsay) | 1760 comments Now into Douglas Hume's 2nd book and it's good too.

The Woman Who Walked Into the Sea


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