Whatsnewhurunuilibraries’s Weblog

 “Felted friends : 25 step-by-step projects to make and enjoy” by Sue Pearl 

Soft, squishy felting fun will bring out the playful side of every crafter. Tactile and versatile, feltmaking is easy for the beginner and endlessly rewarding for the seasoned felter. Whether you’re wet-felting the basic body shapes for these irresistible animal projects, using needle-felting skills to add embellishments, or rolling small bits of roving into beaks and spikes, you’ll enjoy creating every critter in this lovable menagerie. [Cover]

 “Bachelor boy : fifty years of Cliff in the words of those who have known him best” by Steve Turner

Cliff Richard has been Britain’s longest surviving and most consistent hit music maker. Starting his career as a rock ‘n’ roll threat to decent, upstanding citizens, he is now a friend to Royalty and prime ministers, a Knight and a holder of the OBE. This book tells his story through the voices of his friends, family and colleagues. [Cover]

 “The enchanted” by Charlotte Bingham

When Kathleen finds a mare in foal, despite the fact that she and her father can barely afford to feed her, they take her in. Tragically the mare dies, leaving an orphan which they name The Enchanted. But even as he is growing up among Ireland’s lush pastures, Kathleen knows that they will eventually have to sell him, and with him will go her heart. [Cover]

 “The book of origins” by Trevor Homer

Everything has an origin. This book is for people who want to know how, or when, things began, where they came from, why they started. Everyday items such as the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the films we watch, the medicines that cure us, the languages we use, all began somewhere (and the answers are often not what you expect). The Book of Origins celebrates the work of explorers, scientists and inventors… people who wanted to know how the world works and ended by discovering something no one had ever seen before. [Cover]

 “The brutal art” by Jesse Kellerman

In a New York slum, an elderly tenant has mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind a huge collection of disturbing but brilliant paintings. For forty years he came and went in solitude, his genius undiscovered. For art dealer Ethan Muller, this is the discovery of a lifetime. He displays the pictures in his gallery and watches as they rocket up in value. But suddenly the police want to talk to him. It seems that the missing artist had a sinister past - and the drawings in Ethan’s gallery start to look less like art and more like evidence. A brilliant and thought-provoking thriller that flips between past and present. [Cover]  

Avril

 ”Where underpants come from” by Joe Bennett

When Joe Bennett bought a five-pack of ‘Made in China’ underpants in his local Christchurch hypermarket for $8.59, he wondered who on earth could be making any money, let alone profit, from the exchange. How many processes and middlemen are involved? Where and how are the pants made? And who decides on the absorbent qualities of the gusset? Where Underpants Come From tells you all you need to know -in fact, probably more - about this mystery of global commerce. Funny, wise and insightful, it is another wonderful journey from the bestselling author of A Land of Two Halves and Mustn’t Grumble. [Cover]

 “Eggs : 150 great recipes” by Alex Barker

The definitive guide to identifying, preparing and cooking all types of eggs, including delicious dishes shown in more than 800 stunning step-by-step photographs to instruct and inspire. Includes failsafe techniques for boiling, poaching, frying, baking, scrambling and coddling and for making foolproof soufflés, omelettes, frittatas, sauces, pastries, roulades, meringues and batters. [Cover]

 “Chosen by a horse” By Susan RichardsTo reserve any of these items please contact your local library or email info@hurunuilibraries.govt.nz
 

When Susan Richard agrees to take on one of the abused horses just rescued by the local Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals a new chapter opens in her turbulent life. Caring for this trusting creature she begins a relationship that will change her view of the world. Susan Richards lost her mother at the age of five and was raised by uncaring relatives; married, unhappily divorced she had also become an alcoholic. At forty-three she found herself living with just horses for company. Beautifully-written poignant and often sharply funny this memoir is an inspiring must-read for anyone who ever loved a horse and anyone who has ever lost their lost their way in life. [Cover]

 “The complete guide to decorating with ceramic tile” by Jerri Farris

Includes the basics and traditional techniques as well as fresh projects for revamping tile walls with designer accent tiles, dressing up drab surfaces with fresh decorative tile, creating wall art with mosaic tiles, designing with large or three-dimensional tiles, using tile to add an artistic element to any room, and working with specialty tile. [Cover]

 “Anything goes” by Billy Hopkins

It’s December 1963 when Billy Hopkins and his wife Laura arrive home in Manchester after five years in Africa. The world has changed beyond recognition: it’s the swinging sixties, with headlines full of the Beatles and the pill, LSD and mini skirts. Billy’s youngest son still believes in Santa Claus and while his daughter’s reading Jackie, she’s not even a teenager yet, so Billy’s not too worried about the impact of modern society on his family. He’s more concerned about the welfare of his increasingly forgetful father and about the daily challenges he faces as a college lecturer. When the four junior Hopkins start to choose their own, unexpected paths in life, though, Billy finds it harder than usual to see the funny side of things… [Cover]

Avril

 “Careless in red” by Elizabeth George

Scotland Yard’s Thomas Lynley discovers the body of a young man who appears to have fallen to his death. The closest town, better known for its tourists and its surfing than its intrigue, seems an unlikely place for murder. However, it soon becomes apparent that a clever killer is indeed at work, and this time Lynley is not a detective but a witness and possibly a suspect. [Cover]

 “Long cloud ride” by Josie Dew

The popular cyclist, Josie Dew, cycles round New Zealand and shares her unique and entertaining perspective of Kiwi Life in the perpetual adventure of her life on wheels. [Cover]

 “Growing vegetables year-round” by Dennis Greville

Vegetable growing can be an extremely satisfying activity, and growing your own vegetables ensures that the produce you eat is chemical free, flavourful and fresh. This is a practical guide for anyone who wants to enjoy the simple pleasures of growing their own produce. [Cover]

 “What a ride, mate!” by Peter Leitch

Peter Leitch, aka the mad Butcher, is a legend in his own lifetime - a larger than life character who left school at 15 and went on to build a nationwide chain of successful butchers shops and a reputation as a foul mouthed league supporter with a heart of gold. Behind the scenes he contributed time, money, energy and his heart and soul to countless charities and good causes, while in public he championed rugby league and his beloved Kiwis and Warriors through thick and thin. For the first time, he has allowed close friend Phil Gifford to write about what his friends have always known, the story of the private family man and grandfather who has embodied the Kiwi dream. In an era of corporate highfliers, business degrees and the old boys network, the working class boy from the Hutt Valley succeeded with hard work, a handshake and a belief that a man’s word was his bond. In a revealing glimpse into the private world of the Mad Butcher, Gifford reveals just what makes the Butcher tick and made him the King of the Sausage Sizzle and everybody’s mate. [Cover]

 “Before your teenagers drive you crazy, read this!” by Nigel Latta

By popular demand, New Zealand’s most popular parenting writer has drawn on his extensive experience in family therapy and working with the country’s most difficult teenagers to write the book that will save the sanity of parents everywhere. Once you’ve negotiated the terrors of toddlerdom and the perils of primary school you think you’ve got a pretty good handle on this parenting thing - then along comes Mother Nature with her horrible hormones and suddenly you’re so far behind square one you’re starting to wonder if this raging bundle of contradictions screaming at you was switched in the night by evil aliens. With his now trademark humour and pragmatic common sense approach, Nigel debunks the politically correct nightmare of perfect parenting and argues for sanity first - yours - and reclaiming the ground parents have lost in the great “I’m my child’s best friend” debacle. [Cover]

To reserve any of these items please contact your local library or email info@hurunuilibraries.govt.nz
 

Avril

      There is a growing public awareness of individual sensitivity to certain types of food, and gluten is high on the list of culprits. However, recognizing symptoms of gluten-intolerance is not always straightforward. Also, once diagnosed as gluten-intolerant, how to avoid an ingredient which is so commonly used?

‘The living gluten-free answerbook’ by Suzanne Bowland answers many of the most pressing questions, such as the difference between food-allergies and food-intolerance, how to decipher food-labels, and how to negotiate eating out.

For practical recipe advice, the following book is highly recommended by one of our Hurunui library borrowers:

‘Everyday gluten-free cooking: living well without wheat’ by Bette Hagman

It tells you how to make your own gluten-free pasta, muesli, muffins, pies and even hot-cross buns from ingredients readily available in most supermarkets.

Sylvia

 “Sarah’s key” by Tatiana de Rosnay

Paris, July 1942. Sarah, a ten-year-old girl, is taken with her parents by the French police as they go door to door arresting Jewish families in the middle of the night. Desperate to protect her younger brother, Sarah locks him in a bedroom cupboard - their secret hiding place - and promises to come back for him as soon as they are released. [Cover] 

 “The best of fathers” by Anne Baker

Childhood sweethearts Mary and Jonty have battled against the odds to be together. Forced to run away from home when Mary’s father disapproved of their relationship, they’ve managed to build a new life for themselves. And their happiness would be complete if they were blessed with a child. But tragically, it seems that’s not to be. Until one night when, in a violent storm, a yacht is dashed upon the rocks near their home. Mary and Jonty rush to the crew’s rescue and, amid terrible carnage, they save a baby. Although they know it is wrong, they keep the baby as their own. [Cover] 

  “You don’t need to smack” by Glen Stenhouse

This is a practical, encouraging guidebook for parents and caregivers who want to learn more about effective, non-violent ways of parenting children. From toddlers to teenagers, You Don’t Need to Smack offers workable solutions for dealing confidently with children’s difficult behaviour, and also suggests how to prevent problems from occurring in the first place. Glen Stenhouse, a well-known child psychologist, maintains that you don’t have to be an expert in order to be a good parent, but you do need to put simple, clear strategies in place in your home - and stick to them. Glen’s advice has been tried and tested in thousands of homes and has proven its worth. This is essential reading for all parents and caregivers. [Cover]

 “Box frame magic” by Lizzie O’Prey

Discover the three-dimensional versatility of box frames, and create fantastic decorative displays for your own home and to give as gifts. Demonstrates in detail how to build box frames in several simple styles, then shows ways to customize them using stains, varnishes, paints, metal leaf and other materials. [Cover] “Home truths” by Catriona MacLennan

Buying or selling a home can be very confusing. Even if you have been through the process many times before it is common to feel at the mercy of the so-called experts. Should you sell at auction? How effective are Open Homes? How easy is it to sell privately? Do you really need a LIM report before you buy? ‘Home Truths’ shows you how to ask the right questions, find the answers and regain confidence in your own decision-making abilities. [Cover]

To reserve any of these items please contact your local library or email info@hurunuilibraries.govt.nz

 “Been there, read that! Stories for the armchair traveller” edited by Jean Anderson

Been there, read that! : stories for the armchair traveller is a fascinating collection of short stories from around the world. Some of the authors are well known in their native language, others are relative newcomers; for many, this is the first time their work has appeared in English. In every case, the translators invite you to share the pleasures of their art: encountering a new voice, connecting with another culture, seeing the world through very different eyes. [Cover]

“New Zealand motorhome & camping atlas”

A complete guide to short term parking, camping grounds, caravan parks, rest areas and motorhome dump stations. Featuring over 1200 sites, scenic sites, pet friendly sites and author recommended sites. [Cover]

 “The other queen” by Philippa Gregory

Stunning historical novel from the author of THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL and THE BOLEYN INHERITANCE, in which Mary, Queen of Scots, is placed under house arrest with the newly-married Bess of Hardwick and the Earl of Shrewsbury, but fights to regain her kingdom and more. [Cover]

 “Saltskin” by Louise Moulin

In the late eighteenth century, in a London basement, a gifted boy and his indifferent stepfather are commissioned to weave a tapestry of a famed mythical creature. After a crippling bereavement, and isolated in his grief, the child Angelo becomes perversely enraptured with the tapestry. His imaginings combine with his innocence to set him upon a quest that lures him far from civilisation, to the South Seas. In the present is Southlander Gilda Page, modern and pragmatic, who has decided love is for fools. But what is the secret of the family curse and of the dreams that plague her? Saltskin explores the nature of memory, love and madness, parting the veils of reality. Colourful, haunting and lively, this is a compelling first novel. [Cover]

 “Bringing up baby” by Daisy Goodwin

If you are at risk of a guilt-induced nervous breakdown coping with the experts’ conflicting advice, you are not alone. Daisy Goodwin is a mother of two who tried to follow the experts herself and found that they couldn’t all be right. So join Daisy for a realistic look at the best and worst advice that’s been given through the ages and ensure you stay sane through the most exciting (and exhausting) time of your life. [Cover] 

To reserve any of these items please contact your local library or email info@hurunuilibraries.govt.nz

Avril
 

 “The crocus hour” by Charlotte Randall

In a village cafe in Crete, 1981, a young backpacker is befriended by a troubled New Zealander, Henry Davis. He reveals that his daughter Sally vanished from the island two years earlier and has come to Crete to explore the baffling circumstances of her disappearance. From the author of the award winning “The Curative” “The crocus hour” is a spellbinding journey through shifting passages of time posing questions about how well we really know those close to us. [Cover]

 “The Archimedes codex” by Reviel Netz and William Noel

This is the true story of the greatest scientific codex extant today : the Archimedes Palimpsest. Over a thousand years old, this codex survived against all odds. It travelled through crusades and world wars, from east to west and overseas. But only now - thanks to ultra-modern imaging techniques - are it’s hidden contents finally being brought to light with surprising results that will fundamentally change our understanding of the history of science.[Cover]

 “The case of the imaginary detective” by Karen Joy Fowler

What happens when readers steal your characters? Rima Lanisell is about to find out when she visits her estranged godmother, Addison Early, the successful mystery writer of the Maxwell Lane mysteries, and discovers the truth behind Addison’s novels. A wonderfully funny and touching novel about fame, fans and stalkers, about reading and the way readers appropriate their favourite books, and about beginning again when things have not gone as planned. [Cover]
 “The woman in the lobby” by Lee Tulloch

Through a series of chance encounters in hotel lobbies, Violet finds herself an object of interest to men rich enough to know the price of everything, including the privilege of bedding supremely beautiful women. As her addiction to grand hotels and haute couture takes hold, she convinces herself that she is only doing what women have done for millennia - trading sex for life’s little luxuries. [Cover]

 “Murder’s immortal mask” by Paul Doherty

In the fourth novel in Paul Doherty’s acclaimed Ancient Roman series featuring Claudia, secret agent of Empress Helena, a killer stalks the streets of Rome. [Cover]

To reserve any of these items please contact your local library or email info@hurunuilibraries.govt.nz

Avril

      This book is aimed at teens to help them deal with anger. James Crist looks at how anger can be destructive and techniques for dealing with it. He also uses real life examples to show what makes teenagers mad and how they deal with their anger. Well worth dipping into to pick up snippets on a wide range of aspects associated with anger.

 Ngaire

 ”Kiwis in conflict” by Chris Pugsley

Kiwis in conflict is the story of New Zealand and New Zealanders at war from the mid 19th century to the present day. Originally published as “Scars on the heart”, this new revised edition examines the impact of war through the eyes of those involved using photographs, paintings, letters and diaries to give a glimpse of what these wars were like for the new Zealanders who fought in them. [Cover]

  ”Beginner’s guide to Bead Netting” by Madeleine Rollason

In this colourful and inspiring book Madeleine Rollason shows you how to produce beautiful and imaginative designs using bead netting. All the stitches and basic techniques are explained using clear, step-by-step photographs, and the eight easy-to-follow projects enable you to put your skills into practice and make gorgeous purses, jewellery and other items. [Cover]

 “The Truth Commissioner” by David Park

Henry Stanfield is pleased with his title: “Truth Commissioner”. Francis Gilroy, Minister for Children and Culture, has murky secrets that could leave him vulnerable. James Fenton is a retired RUC policeman. Danny and Ramona flick through brochures, choosing a cot for their unborn child. These four very different men hold a secret between them. Moving, insightful and utterly involving. [Cover]
 “A small part of history” by Peggy Elliott

In the summer of 1845 John Springer announces to his family his plan to go west. His third wife, Rebecca, married for just three months, has no choice but to follow him. Stoically accepting her fate, she begins preparations for her new life thousands of miles away, determined to take a small part of home with her. “A small part of history” is an epic story of remarkable courage in the face of appalling adversity, the bonds of sisterhood and, perhaps above all else, the power of love. [Cover]

 “Signs and symbols” by Mark O’Connell and Raje Airey

This stunning visual guide discusses the way signs and symbols are used by human societies as an integral and fundamental part of the way we communicate. Throughout history hundreds and thousands of icons and symbols have been developed, interpreted and reproduced through art, mythology and religion; from cave paintings and aboriginal dreamtime to computer iconography and advertising. [Cover]

To reserve any of these items please contact your local library or email info@hurunuilibraries.govt.nz

Avril

   ‘How to make a watercolor paint itself’

                                  by Nita Engle

Nita Engle’s striking landscape paintings seem to radiate light and vibrancy, yet the techniques she uses are relatively simple. In this book she encourages others to have a go and in particular to discard any inhibitions and simply play with the paint, including squirting, pouring, throwing, finger painting, stamping. The results are remarkable!

Nita Engle is an award-winning American artist who originally trained in commercial design and illustration and worked in advertising for many years. After experimenting with a plethora of different media, watercolours became her passion and she developed a unique style of painting dramatic and atmospheric landscapes which still retain a large amount of realism. Her most important source of inspiration is the ever decreasing wilderness.

This book is a must-read for both experienced and budding watercolour painters as well as for anyone with an interest in the visual arts.

Sylvia