Kiwi Readers — Who's your favourite Kiwi author?

[[deleted user]]

I saw this topic come up for Aussie readers so I thought us Kiwis could do it to. Mine is Marita A. Hansenfor adults, Maurice Gee for teens and tweens, and Lynley Dodd for the little ones. Though, if I had to pick one I'd choose Marita A. Hansen.

[Marita]

Angela wrote: "I saw this topic come up for Aussie readers so I thought us Kiwis could do it to. Mine is Marita A. Hansenfor adults, Maurice Gee for teens and tweens, and [author:L..."

Thanks, and I agree with Maurice Gee and Lynley Dodd. My kids enjoyed the Hairy Maclary stories, and I loved "Under the Mountain" as a kid.

[Angie]

One of the things that I love about this group is that I am constantly being encouraged to read a variety of books by NZ authors. Interestingly, I initially set up this group with the purpose to discuss any book I was reading. It wasn't until a member suggested the books have a NZ focus, that things really came together. Thanks to that person!
As a child, I loved books by Margaret Mahy, Lynley Dodd, Joy Cowley, Sherryl Jordan and Tessa Duder.
As a teacher, I try to read a range of books for children and young adults, so that I can suggest books to my students. Recently, I read See Ya, Simon by David Hill and couldn't believe I had never read it before. What a moving book. I highly recommend it! I often read aloud books by V M Jones to my class. You may have heard of Buddy, Juggling with Mandarins or the Karazan Quartet (couldn't find them on Goodreads). The kids love them! (as do I!)
As a high school student, we had to read many NZ short stories. I loved Witi Ihimaera and Katherine Mansfield.
In recent years, I have enjoyed historical NZ fiction by Deborah Challinor and I absolutely loved Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones.

[Angie]

Almost forgot, my favourite children's author at the moment is Kyle Mewburn. His books Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! and Old Hu-Hu are amazing!

[Laura]

I know I haven't read enough New Zealand authors which is a good reason to have joined this reading group. I love Elizabeth Knox, and Keri Hulmes Bone People. Really enjoyed Noel Hilliard a few years ago.

[Marita]

Laura wrote: "I know I haven't read enough New Zealand authors which is a good reason to have joined this reading group. I love Elizabeth Knox, and Keri Hulmes Bone People. Really enjoyed Noel Hilliard a few yea..."

I want to read the Bone People. I'll probably buy it from Amazon because the book shops were asking too much for it. Pity it isn't an ebook, because I would've snapped it up in a second.

[BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...)]

Hard choice... I really like both Patricia Grace and Alan Duff. But I also enjoyed Keri Hulme's The Bone People years ago. If I had to pick just one author, then I guess it would be Alan Duff, because of his Once were warriors trilogy.

[Jo]

On a slightly different note there's some really great children's books such as the real thing by Brian Falkner and willies dad by Scott tulloch, not to mention the wonderous Margaret Mahy

[LadyDisdain]

I'm ashamed to say I haven't read enough kiwi writers to have a favorite, but I do love Kate DeGoldi's "The 10pm Question". Stunning, stunning book. I'm in love with it. And I do love Katherine Mansfield - I think she was a genius. That's about as wide as my tastes stretch I'm afraid - typical kiwi favorites, I suppose =|

[Tui]

Strange how we're all different. 10pm question just didn't do it for me. I bought a copy all excited to read it but was left a bit flat. Just not my style of thing. I do read a bit of YA but prefer YA books with perhaps a touch of fantasy as long as it's not overdone. Mahy is the master for me.
As far as adult fiction goes, for me the top NZ book of all time is The Bone People. But haven't read Kidman and too few of Witi's books either. Must hope they're in e-book form now so I can rectify this.

[Erica]

I have to say Jenny Pattrick is my new favorite kiwi author but I do also love Witi Ihimaera (Bulibasha was great!) and Patricia Grace.

[Selina]

I like all of the above!

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

A reading goal for me is to read more NZ books.

Children's - my overall favourite would be Linley Dodd. I was lucky enough to attend an exhibition of her work in Hamilton a couple of years ago - she is an amazingly talented artist. & her writing appears effortless! I've been told writing young children's books is the hardest kind of writing there is, as every word has to count.

As far as an individual book goes my favourite children's book (Not just NZ) is Margaret Mahy's The Great White Maneating Shark. We are lucky in NZ (small country, small population)- I was fortunate enough to see/hear her read it.

Adults - still nothing comes close to Katherine Mansfield.
I read Rain by Kirsty Gunn recently & that was very good. I don't read Mills & Boon any more, but when I did
Daphne Clair & Susan Napier were streets ahead of anyone else that wrote for them.

Cookbooks Nadia Lim & the late Digby Law although some of his recipes will be out of favour in these more health conscious times - he did love his NZ dairy products!

[Carole]

I have for the last few years made a habit of only buying NZ authors books from book stores and I buy overseas authors from Amazon etc... I figure I'm helping NZ authors. generally only buy paperbacks too.

Fav NZ authors? Have to be Jenny Patrick, Paul Thomas, I especially loved Danielle Hawkins two books, can't wait for her next, they are pretty much down to earth kiwi books. Also loved Sarah Kate Lynch's first couple of books, don't know that her last 3 were as good. I remember reading one of Derek Hansen's first books and enjoying it and loved The Uncle's story by Witi Ihimaera.

[Isaac]

I agree with most of the authors above but here are some of my favourites Lynley Dodd, Margaret Mahy, Joy Cowley, Joan de Hamel, Maurice Gee.

[Anna]

I think it's great to support NZ authors! :o)

[Michael]

Well, me, because I have to live with myself and if I'm not top of the list, life gets complicated.

I've always loved Maurice Gee, Sam Hunt, Murray Ball, C.K. Stead, Witi Ihimaera, Margaret Mahy and Phillip Mann (who we'll borrow as an honorary Kiwi as he lived here for many years) to name only a few.

[Kirsten]

I'm going to say Paul Cleave for NZ crime.
Margaret Mahy for NZ YA.
Nicky Pellegrino for more lighthearted NZ fiction.

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while)]

Kirsten wrote: "I'm going to say Paul Cleave for NZ crime.
Margaret Mahy for NZ YA.
Nicky Pellegrino for more lighthearted NZ fiction."

Definitely agree with you re Paul Cleavefor crime,

Margaret Mahy for YA

but I prefer Danielle Hawkins for lighthearted NZ fiction.

[Dione]

There are some brilliant newer authors too. Kirsty Powell and J A Grierson as a start

[Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂]

I'm glad this thread has been revivied!

See message #15 for some of my favourites.

For crime I would say Vanda Symon I am hoping to read her book Bound within the next month.
I haven't read a lot of NZ YA but I did like Donovan Bixley & love his work as a children's book illustrator