New books on display at Hurunui District Library from 25 Jun – 2 Jul

  “Art at Te Papa” edited by William McAloon

Art at Te Papa tells the story of the evolution of the national art collection – from superb early European prints to exciting contemporary acquisitions – and in doing so, closely reflects the history of Aotearoa New Zealand itself. The book features over 400 beautifully reproduced artworks, accompanied by engaging essays by 38 of New Zealand’s top art curators and scholars. Art at Te Papa spans the Museum’s collection, and provides a fascinating insight into the personalities responsible for developing the collection over more than a century, as well as giving information about the featured artists, their works, and their practice. [Cover]

 “Some other country” edited by Marion McLeod

First published in 1984, Some Other Country quickly became established as New Zealand’s essential single-volume anthology of short stories, and has since been enjoyed by many thousands of visitors, students and readers of all kinds. Now this fourth edition adds six new writers, bringing the collection completely up to date with the diverse energies of New Zealand life and writing. The country to be found in these pages is not the place depicted in glossy picture books or economic profiles. But it is a real place, composed of that blend of accuracy and vision which only the imagination, committed to language and experience, can supply. It is the New Zealand of Janet Frame and Katherine Mansfield, of Frank Sargeson and Maurice Gee, of Witi Ihimaera and Patricia Grace. Some Other Country is a collection of stories from the body of New Zealand writing that began with the work of the young expatriate writer, Katherine Mansfield. It includes well-known stories by major writers including Vincent O’Sullivan, Joy Cowley, C. K. Stead, Owen Marshall and Keri Hulme, alongside stories by writers who have come into prominence in the last 20 years, such as Barbara Anderson, Fiona Farrell, Emily Perkins, Damien Wilkins and Alice Tawhai. [Cover]

 ”Luminous” by Alice Tawhai

Following her debut collection “Festival of miracles” comes a new collection of short stories. Her tales combine characters and occurrences that are at once cripplingly daring yet tinged with a quiet beauty and optimism and she deftly covers subjects such as love, identity, devotion and abandonment. [Cover]

 ”March to the sound of the guns” by Ray Grover

In March to the Sound of the Guns five people tell us the story of their war: the oldest is Colonel Malone, one of the very few who knows what war is about and who trains his men hard but, on going into action, is faced with incompetence at the highest levels. The other four are nineteen-year-olds who volunteer for reasons that derive from the raw colonial society in which they have been born and raised: Harry, the Christian sniper; Jim, the leftwing activist; Frank, the intellectual. Each has no alternative but to endure fear, sickness, wounds, and the immanent prospect of death under the foulest of conditions. Then there is Nelle, the nurse, patching up the remnants of men who have ’survived’. Sharing much with Band of Brothers and Pat Barker’s Regeneration trilogy, March to the Sound of the Guns has been drawn from over twenty years of research into soldiers’ diaries, letters and memoirs, along with close inspection of the battlefields and study of authoritative historians. It is a searing, searching account of a generation of New Zealanders who went to a war and were changed forever. [Cover]

 ”Ladies, a plate : traditional home baking” by Alexa Johnston

There is a good chance you can remember a time when the family cake tins were always full of biscuits, slices, fruit loaves and cakes baked by mothers, aunts and grandmothers. And, of course, home-made sponges, ginger loaves, lamingtons, custard squares were an integral part of all special occasions – whether it was a birthday, a christening, a wedding or a wake. In Ladies, A Plate, Alexa Johnston looks back to this gentler time and shares her favourite traditional New Zealand recipes. An avid collector of community cookbooks, Alexa also writes about the history of some New Zealand baking classics, showing how our favourite recipes evolved over time. This gorgeous book contains over ninety recipes and will be treasured by every kitchen enthusiast, whether in your twenties or your nineties. [Cover] 

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

 Avril

New books on display at Hurunui District Library from 18 Jun – 25 Jun

 ”A continent on the move” by Ian J Graham

Adrift in the South Pacific Ocean, separated from the rest of the world by vast distances and blessed with some of the most varied and spectacular natural landscapes on Earth, New Zealand is rather special. Generations of geoscientists have developed an increasing understanding of what makes New Zealand geologically unique and why. Highlights of this research, including many discoveries of global significance, are presented in this book. A Continent on the Move explains what makes New Zealand tick geologically, and illustrates the ways that geoscience research can make this country a better place in which to live. This book will be a stimulating addition to any coffee table and an asset in schools and universities. It will also enable politicians, planners, and developers to make more informed decisions regarding appropriate land use, beneficial utilisation of resources, and protection against geological hazards, through a better understanding of the dynamic environment we live in. [Cover]

“How to train a superdog” by Gwen Bailey

Unleash your dog’s potential and build a rewarding relationship that will last a lifetime – from walking on a loose lead to carrying the shopping, everything you need to know to train your dog and ensure you have a happy and contented canine companion. Starting with choosing the right breed for you, to understanding their exercise needs, learn every aspect of owning and training a dog. Get in-depth instruction on training, from basic obedience to advanced tricks, by following clear, step-by-step explanations and illustrations which show you exactly what to do. Understand your dog, with the aid of the latest research into canine behaviour and learn to correct problems and maximise their potential. A well-trained dog is a well-behaved, healthy and happy dog. [Cover]

 ”Victorian farm : rediscovering forgotten skills” by Alex Langlands

No electricity, no gas, no flushing toilet… and no tractor! Could you survive a year on a Victorian farm? This book reveals what the Victorians, ate, wore, how they managed their animals, farmed the land and organized their lives. It also describes advances in detail, including inventions, breeding methods and advances in agricultural science. [Cover]

“The River Cottage veg patch handbook” by Mark Diacono

Drawing directly from his experience as an acclaimed climate-change gardener, and of setting up a kitchen garden from scratch for River Cottage, Mark explains the practical aspects of organic growing, introduces us to a whole world of vegetables we may not have previously considered, and does away with alienating gardening jargon once and for all. Mark begins with a catalogue of vegetables that will grow in this country, explaining for each their benefits, what varieties to go for, dos and don’ts, and popular culinary uses. He then invites us to create a wish list of foods, and shows us his own list from his early gardening days. Next, he explains how to turn this wish list into a coherent kitchen garden plan appropriate for our space, whether it be a patch of acidic soil, a roof-top garden or an allotment, whether we put on our wellies in every free moment or are ‘time-poor’ gardeners. Then he puts all the theory into practice, showing us how to look after nutrients in the soil, how to resist pests and diseases, and how to make our garden sustainable and organic. In clear, concise sections we learn about seed trays, supporting plants with climbing structures, mulching, composting, companion planting, irrigation and promoting pollination, and there are additional tables showing sowing and harvesting times, plant sizes, and alternative varieties of plants for different sites. About thirty recipes and a directory of useful addresses finish the book, and the handbook is complemented by bright colour photography throughout. Practical and inspiring, with a textured hard cover and an introduction by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Veg Patch is destined to join Handbooks No. 1, 2 and 3 as an indispensible household reference. [Cover]

 ”Canterbury country houses 111″ by Rodney Wells

This book is a beautifully illustrated account of 70 country houses located in Canterbury. Fine pen and ink drawings by renowned artist Rodney Wells are complemented by Vicky Heward’s text which is a wonderful insight into the people who have done much to shape the culture of our country. [Cover]

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

 Avril

New books on display at Hurunui District Library from 11 Jun – 18 Jun

 ”Maori architecture” by Deidre Brown

Māori architecture charts the genesis and form of indigenous buildings in Aotearoa New Zealand. It explores the vast array of Māori-designed structures and spaces, how they evolved over time and how they tell the story of an ever-changing people. Throughout this story, the book looks at facets of early Polynesian settlement, the influence of Christian and western technology, the buildings of religio-political movements such as Ringatū, Parihaka and Rātana, post-war urban migration, and contemporary architecture. [Cover]

 ”Assegai” by Wilbur Smith

It is 1913 and ex-soldier turned professional big game hunter, Leon Courtney, is in British East Africa guiding rich and powerful men from America and Europe on safaris in the Masai tribe territories. One of his clients, German industrialist Count Otto Von Meerbach, has a company which builds aircraft and vehicles for the Kaiser’s burgeoning army. But Leon had not bargained for falling passionately in love with Eva, the Count’s beautiful and enigmatic mistress. Just prior to the outbreak of World War I, Leon is recruited by his uncle, Penrod Ballantyne, Commander of the British Forces in East Africa, to gather information from Von Meerbach. He stumbles on a plot against the British involving the disenchanted survivors of the Boer War, but it is only when Eva and Von Meerbach return to Africa that Leon finds out who and what is really behind the conspiracy. [Cover]

 ”Bake” by Allyson Gofton

Allyson Gofton has employed her years of baking experience, to create this sumptuous baking book stacked with traditional Kiwi classics and her favourite family recipes. Chapters include: pantry essentials; substitutions – what to do when you’ve started baking and realise you’re missing an ingredient; what went wrong? – how to resurrect a baking disaster so no one will ever know; fast & furious – how to whip up a dessert for unexpected guests; plus, recipes for biscuits, slices, loaves, scones, muffins, cup cakes, cakes, puddings and tarts, yeast. Beautifully designed, with stunning photographs from Alan Gillard, this is an essential addition to every home cook book library. [Cover]

 “The Italian wedding” by Nicky Pellegrino

Settled in London and with their own delicious slice of home in the form of Beppi’s restaurant, ‘Little Italy’, the Martinelli’s are a typical Italian family; fighting, eating and loving in equal measure. Now, Pieta’s sister Addolorata is getting married. Since Pieta is a bridal designer it falls to her to make the wedding gown. But she is distracted by a series of family mysteries. Why is her father feuding with another Italian in the neighbourhood? Why is her mother so faded and sad? And could the man she’s always held a torch for really be getting married to someone else? As Pieta stitches and beads her sister’s wedding gown she uncovers the secrets that have made her family what it is and that stand between her and happiness. The Italian Wedding is a feast of food and love. It’s about discovering who your family really are. [Cover]

 “Sins of the father” by Fleur Beale

Fleur Beale, with Phil Cooper and his son Israel, has written the story of Neville Cooper and the development of the 400-strong Gloriavale Community on the West Coast of the South Island. It begins with Neville’s heady, tent-touring days in Australia and New Zealand, through Phil’s realization that his father means to bend him to his will, to Neville’s public trial and imprisonment for sexual crimes against his flock, and the subsequent life of Phil Cooper and his family as ex-members. [Cover]

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

 Avril

New books on display at Hurunui District Library from 4 Jun – 11 Jun

 ”Secrets to happiness” by Sarah Dunn

Holly Frick just went through the worst kind of divorce: the kind where you’re still in love with the person divorcing you. Alex had left her on January 3rd, like a benevolent CEO who holds off the pink slips until after the holidays. Holly is left to wonder if she’ll ever find happiness again. Like Jane Austen’s Emma Woodhouse, Holly is intimately involved in the lives of those around her, and she’s compelled to give advice with unwavering moral certainty. And, like Emma, she is often completely off the mark. Soon, her advice will get her in over her head, and she’ll find herself playing therapist to her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend while at the same time falling for her married friend’s lover. Smart and touching, “Secrets to happiness” is a hilarious look at the funny things people do to be happy. [Cover]

 “New Zealand’s motorcyle heritage’ by Maureen Bull

The name Maureen Bull is one that is well know in Classic Motorcycle circles for her two previous books on New Zealand’s rich motorcycle history. The new book covers the era from the 1960’s through to the end of 2008 and includes short articles and photos on a combination of machines as well as riders. The book covers such historic machines as Dick Huurdeman’s 350cc Manx Norton Special “Bucephalus”, the iconic Kiwi made Mountain Goat, the Black Adder Harley Davidson, and Don Lowe’s amazing BSA MC1 Prototype replica.
Historic riders also get a mention, including Hugh Anderson, Graeme Crosby, Howard Gregory, Robert Holden, Ben Townley, Aaron Slight and the legendary Burt Munro.
The book even covers the other end of the scale with everyday machines that normally would not get a second glance like the humble LE Velocette and the Ariel Arrow. Mainstream bikes from the era are also covered like the Yamaha XS1100, Suzuki GS1000S, Honda GL1000 Gold Wing, Triumph T140 Bonneville, Kawasaki Voyager and the Yamaha YZ250F.
There are around 100 articles in the book making for some very interesting reading, especially with the historical nature of the bikes and the personal input from the bike’s owners. The articles include some unusual photos, facts and information not previously published. This very diversity and depth of information will make it appealing to a wide range of motorcyclists as well as the general public. [Cover]

 “The cut of love” by Helena Close

The voices of Jane’s mum and dad ring in her ears. These days, they never stop fighting. She squeezes her eyes shut and wishes she could do the same with her ears. She resorts to the only thing she knows to help her cope. When her best friend Leah questions her about the criss-cross marks on her arms, Jane blames the cat. And when Leah tells her that true best friends shouldn’t keep secrets from each other, Jane knows that’s only talk. Everyone has secrets, even Leah. She never mentions her brother Jack, sometimes it’s as if he never even existed. And yet, his absence is so palpable you can almost touch it. Alison, Jack’s mum, escapes into her dreams, where she becomes reunited with her dead son. It is less than a year since he was killed in a tragic road accident, for which she blames herself, and the pain still feels like an open wound in her chest. She struggles to hold herself together for the sake of her family, but the strain is telling, and when she and Jane’s dad Dermot meet, it feels briefly that they are kindred spirits. But darker conclusions lie in wait. The Cut of Love explores two journeys of the heart, one of an adolescent girl, the other of a middle-aged woman. As their paths interweave, a remarkable story unfolds – at once modern and timeless – that is bitingly real, deeply tender and utterly unforgettable. [Cover]

 ”Creative vegetable gardening” by Joy Larkcom

Tells how to create decorative effects in the vegetable garden, where food plants combine with flowers and foliage to create a “tapestry effect”. This book shows how the principles of good design can be applied to a kitchen plot and how to use the vibrant textures, colours, and forms of vegetables, herbs, and fruit to create glorious effects. [Cover]

 ”The girl next door” by Elizabeth Noble

A gorgeous and unforgettable novel set in a turn-of-the-century New York apartment building on the Upper East Side, it features four interwoven stories about love, life and living together. Meet Eve Gallagher in Apartment 7A, newly relocated to New York from London with her ambitious banker husband. But she’s lonely and lost…until she meets elderly neighbour Violet, who’s concealing a tragic story of her own. The Kramers and the Schulmans in Apartments 6A and 6B are about to find their lives intersecting in a most unfortunate manner when Jason Kramer falls head-over-heels for Rachael Schulman. Jackson Grayling III in Apartment 5A is 26, fantastically wealthy and a directionless and hapless layabout…but he’s attracting the attention of a gold-digger in 2B even though he’s far more interested in the beautiful and hardworking Emily Mikanowski in 3B. And finally, plain, dull and self-conscious Charlotte Murphy rents 2A and works in the Public Library…she lives in a dreamworld and is desperate to be anyone but herself. Will any of her neighbours ever take enough notice of her to save her? [Cover] 

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

Avril