New books on display at Hurunui District Library from 23 Feb – 1 Mar

 

 

 

     “The new organic gardener” by Tim Marshall

Organic gardening is much more than simply throwing a bit of mulch onto your garden beds. A true organic gardener adopts a holistic approach, starting with the most precious organic element of all: the soil.  Beautifully designed and illustrated, and drawing on Tim’s vast experience in organic gardening, this book is a truly comprehensive reference that features all the latest, most-up-to date thinking balanced with tried and true methods. The New Organic Gardener is the set to become the gardening bible for every gardener. [Cover]

 

 

 

     “Private games” by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan

The Olympic Games have arrived in London, and the world is waiting in eager anticipation of the biggest event in global sport. The preparations have gone flawlessly and the stage is set for one of the greatest Olympic Games of the modern era. However, one man is plotting to destroy the Games. Having waited years for this chance, he is ready to exact his vengeance.  When Sir Denton Marshall, key member of the London 2012 organising committee, is found decapitated in his own back garden, Peter Knight, head of the London branch of Private investigation agency, is called to the scene. Private have been hired to work alongside the security operations at the Games, so Sir Denton was a client. He was also Knight’s mother’s fiance.  Having only recently lost close friends and colleagues at Private London in a fatal plane crash, this new personal grief threatens to push Knight over the edge. But when it becomes clear that this attack was not an isolated incident, Knight knows that he cannot afford to crack under the pressure – the fate of the Olympics rests on his shoulders. [Cover]

 

 

 

     “Top to bottom : off road” by Marc Ellis

When Toyota decided to test-drive the new FJ Cruiser by driving the length of New Zealand off-road, Marc Ellis was the obvious choice to be the driver. In his latest book, Marc recounts the highlights of this journey – the hard case characters he meets along the way, the challenges he had to undertake, the highs, the lows, plus some great stories from the road. From Cape Reinga to Bluff – and everywhere in between – join Marc on a journey that celebrates the best of New Zealand and what it means to be a good keen New Zealander. [Cover]

 

 

 

     “The ideal man” by Julie Garwood

Dr. Ellie Sullivan has just completed her residency at a large urban hospital. While jogging in a park nearby, she witnesses the shooting of an FBI agent in pursuit of wanted criminals, a couple identified as the Landrys. The only person to see the shooter’s face, Ellie is suddenly at the center of a criminal investigation. But the Landrys have been captured before, and each time the witnesses are scared into silence – or disappear before they can take the stand. FBI agent Max Daniels vows to be Ellie’s shadow until the trial, and it isn’t long before sparks fly. #1 New York Times bestselling author Julie Garwood brings us a contemporary romantic suspense that will appeal to her fans and reach new ones as well. [Cover]

 

 

 

     “A home-grown cook : the Dame Alison Holst story” by Alison Holst

Dame Alison Holst holds more titles than her damehood suggests: she’s been invariably described as ‘Mother of the Nation’, ‘Queen of the Kitchen’ and ‘a groundbreaker in the culinary world’. In the sixties, Dame Alison singlehandedly changed the way women prepared food for their families with her legendary television programme ‘Here’s How’. She went on to become a prodigious fund-raiser for Plunkett, the chocolate-coated voice of radio, author of a hundred bestselling cookbooks, a successful business brand, as well as our favourite promoter of New Zealand products overseas. In A Home-grown Cook, Alison Holst’s fascinating memoir unfolds with the characteristic charm and calm spirit that is so familiar to us all. From a modest upbringing in Dunedin to becoming one of our most endearing Kiwi icons, A Home-gown Cook brilliantly captures Dame Alison’s distinctive voice on every page. [Cover]

Other titles on display this week :

“Patterns of the past : tattoo revival in the Cook Islands” by Therese Mangos

“77 Shadow Street” by Dean Koontz

“The kingdom of childhood : a novel” by Rebecca Coleman

“The boy in the suitcase” by Lene Kaaberbol

“Old Bucky & me : dispatches from the Christchurch earthquake” by Jane Bowron

“Into dust” by Jonathan Lewis

“Horses never lie about love” by Jana Harris

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 16 Feb – 23 Feb

 

 

 

 

“Inheritance” by Robert Sackville-West

A fascinating memoir of an extraordinary family told through the vast,  four-hundred-year-old house,  Knole.  Since its purchase in 1604 by Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset, the house at Knole, Kent, has been inhabited by thirteen generations of a single aristocratic family, the Sackvilles.  Here, drawing on a wealth of unpublished letters, archives and images, the current incumbent of the seat, Robert Sackville-West, paints a vivid and intimate portrait of the vast, labyrinthine house and the close relationships his colourful ancestors formed with it. Inheritance is the story of a house and its inhabitants, a family described by Vita Sackville-West as ‘a race too prodigal, too amorous, too weak, too indolent and too melancholy; a rotten lot, and nearly all stark staring mad’. Where some revelled in the hedonism of aristocratic life, others rebelled against a house which, in time, would disinherit them, shutting its doors to them forever. It’s a drama in which the house itself is a principal character, it’s fortunes often mirroring those of the family. Every detail holds a story: the portraits, and and all the junk which the subjects of those portraits left behind, point to pivotal moments in history; all the rooms, and the objects that fill them, are freighted with an emotional significance that has been handed down from generation to generation. Now owned by the National Trust, Knole is today one of the largest houses in England, visited by thousands annually and housing one of the country’s finest collections of second-hand Royal furniture. It’s a pleasure to follow Robert Sackville- West, as he unravels the private life of a public place on a fascinating, masterful, four-hundred-year tour through the memories and memorabilia, political, financial and domestic, of his extraordinary family. [Cover]

 

 

 

       “The Freudian slip” by Marion Von Adlerstein

Early sixties in Sydney. Women wear princess-line dresses, edge-to-edge duster coats, gloves, perfectly matched handbags and shoes and seamed stockings. They are defined by the vital statistics of their bust, waist and hip measurements and if they are over thirty they’re over the hill.  Kings Cross is bohemian, Paddington is pre-gentrified and the crowd at Beppi’s and the Ozone charge their boozy lunches to job numbers. At the advertising agency Bofinger Adams Rawson & Keane, two talented women hold important creative roles.  One, Bea, is a copywriter. The other, Desi, is a television producer. Because they are successful in their work and rewarded by it, few of their colleagues know how adept they are at mismanaging their private lives. Anxious to join this starred twosome is a young secretary named Stella, who embodies all the qualities for success ambition, dedication, energy, efficiency except creative talent. In its absence she relies on stealth, flattery and plagiarism, to walk, in her Jane Debster toe-peepers, all over the others in realising her ambition. She succeeds. At least, for a while …  [Cover]

 

 

 

     “Mountaineers” by Ed Douglas

This is an epic guide to the most intrepid mountaineers in history. Written in association with the Royal Geographical Society and The Alpine Club, “Mountaineers” tells the story of the pioneers who first conquered the giddy heights of our planet. Full of great tales of endurance and perseverance, more than 100 of the top mountaineers are profiled, from Hannibal to Hillary. It helps you share in their triumphs and tragedies from the comfort of your living room as journal extracts and never-before-seen photographs and maps from the unpublished archives of the RGS and The Alpine Club help recreate history’s greatest ascents. “Mountaineers” introduces you to a host of intriguing characters, from the Brits who insisted on hauling cases of vintage champagne up to Everest base camp in 1924, to the Italian Duke of the Abruzzi who took 10 iron bedsteads upAlaska’s Malaspina glacier. Along the way you’ll also find out about the important scientific discoveries that have shaped the course of human history and enjoy accounts of great bravery, fellowship and good humour in the face of adversity, all making “Mountaineers” a fascinating read for anyone with a spirit of adventure.[Cover]

 

 

 

    “Stella makes good” by Lisa Heidke

Stella Sparks is on good terms with her ex-husband despite the fact he left her for another woman. Stella’s philosophical about it – the marriage had run its course, though they still get on and have a shared focus on the wellbeing of their kids. Stella’s two closest friends, Carly and Jessie, envy her togetherness and wish they could take a leaf out of her book. Jessie’s husband, Steve, is a control freak who’s driving her crazy, but she has two small children and can’t see a way out. Carly, meanwhile, suspects her husband is having an affair and isn’t sure what to do about it though she does know she needs to cut down on her drinking…Stella’s life takes a distinctly upward turn when she meets a handsome, apparently single – no ring, anyway – father at her son’s school speech night. But for Carly and Jessie things will get worse before they get better.  Fun but insightful, Stella Makes Good will cause flashes of recognition in most women. [Cover]

   

 

 

“Minxy vintage” by Kelly Doust

Do you browse through vintage clothes at flea markets and wish you had the knack to breathe new life into dated smocks, flares and kaftans?  Kelly Doust’s Minxy Vintage is the book that will help you transform those items and, in fact, anything that has been sitting in the back of your wardrobe, waiting for a reinvention. In Minxy Vintage,  Kelly combines her love for fashion with creativity and her enthusiasm for craft, and transforms stained, musty, dated clothes into modern and unique pieces. Feel inspired with over 50 projects ranging from customised frocks, wedding dresses and trench coats to cardigans and accessories. This is not just a book about loving vintage fashion ‐ it’s about seeing the possibilities for rei nventing all old clothes, and how to look fabulous doing so, no matter what your age, location or budget.   [Cover]

 Other titles on display this week :

“Titanic love stories” by Gill Paul

“The translation of the bones” by Francesca Kay

“Our lady of Alice Bhatti” by Mohammed Hanif

“The women of the Cousins’ war” by Philippa Gregory

“Dirty money” by Matthew Benns

“Copper Beach” by Jayne Ann Krentz

“Red mist” by Patricia Cornwell

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 9 Feb – 16 Feb

 

 

 

 

 ”Vegetarian food for kids” by L:aura Washburn

Here you’ll find plenty of ideas for quick and easy meat-free meals along with advice to help you ensure that young vegetarians get all the nutrients they need while tucking into great-tasting food. Start each day with an energy-boosting Breakfast-choose a Strawberry Orange Yogurt Smoothie; Multi-grain Pancakes; or Apple and Raisin Muffins. Lunchboxes & Snacks that pack a powerful nutritional punch include Potato and Sweet Bell Pepper Tortilla Squares and Chickpea Bites. Soups & Fast Food provides quick fixes for when time is short-try a bowl of Pizza Soup; Noodles with Sesame Peanut Sauce; or Cornmeal and Sweetcorn Fritters. The fun recipes featured in Kids’ Favorites means veggie kids don’t have to miss out-treat them to Mushroom Barley Burgers or Bean and Vegetable Tacos. Family Feasts is full of great dishes the whole family will love, such as Cheesy Polenta Pie; Mac n’ Cheese with Spinach; and Vegetable Chili with Pumpkin. [Cover]

 

 

 

 “The wine of solitude” by Irene Nemirovsky

Introspective, intense and poignant, The Wine of Solitude is the most autobiographical of all Irène Némirovsky’s novels, now available in English for the first time. Imbued with melancholy, and regret, it explores the troubled relationship between a young girl, her distant, self-absorbed mother and her mother’s lover, Max. We follow the family through the Great War and the Russian Revolution, as the young Hélène grows from a dreamy, unhappy child into an angry young woman. Through hot summers in a fictionalised Kiev (Némirovsky’s own birthplace) and the cruel winters of St Petersburg, the would-be writer Hélène blossoms, despite her mother’s neglect, into a clear-eyed observer of the life around her. The Wine of Solitude is a powerful tale not of a less of the end of innocence, than disillusionment; the story of an upbringing that produces a young woman as hard as a diamond, prepared to wreak a shattering revenge on her mother. [Cover]

 

 

 

 “Beached as” by Craig Levers

NewZealand’s favourite beaches in magnificent “then and now” photographs. With nostalgic images that invoke memories of days gone by, each spread features a stunning photograph from over 60 years ago, taken by the author’s aunt, and a present day image shot from the exact same spot. The beaches featured cover New Zealand from top to bottom. [Cover]

 

 

 

  ”Autumn Laing” by Alex Miller

Autumn Laing seduces Pat Donlon with her pearly thighs and her lust for life and art. In doing so she not only compromises the trusting love she has with her husband, Arthur, she also steals the future from Pat’s young and beautiful wife, Edith, and their unborn child. Fifty-three years later, cantankerous, engaging, unrestrainable 85-year-old Autumn is shocked to find within herself a powerful need for redemption. As she begins to tell her story, she writes, ‘They are all dead and I am old and skeleton-gaunt. This is where it began…’ Written with compassion and intelligence, this energetic, funny and wise novel peels back the layers of storytelling and asks what truth has to do with it. Autumn Laing is an unflinchingly intimate portrait of a woman and her time – she is unforgettable. [Cover]

 

 

 

 “The natural home” by Judith Wilson

The collective consciousness is turning overwhelmingly green, and many of us are looking to live in a more ecologically sound way. That means introducing natural materials and substances into our home, designing it with energy-saving principles in mind and looking more closely at sustainable sources, as well as recycled materials. Yet it is also time to understand that being natural does not have to mean sacrificing style. With the latest ideas, sources and inspirations crowding the market, it is now possible to reinvent “The natural home” as chic, simple and very desirable. Creating a natural home is all about making informed choices, but also stamping your own personality onto your environment. “The natural home” shows how to do it stylishly and effortlessly, whilst developing your personal eco-philosophy to see you through the next crucial decade. [Cover]

Other titles on display this week :

“War & peace and Sonya” by Judith Armstrong

“Scheisshaus luck” by Pierre Berg

“Locked on” by Tom Clancy

“Believing the lie” by Elizabeth George

“Death comes to Pemberley” by P.D. James

“The Bruce McLaren scrapbook” by Jan McLaren

“Constance The tragic and scandalous life of Mrs Oscar Wilde” by Franny Moyle

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 2 Feb – 9 Feb

 

 

 

 ”The storyteller of Marrakesh” by Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya

Each year the storyteller Hassan gathers listeners to the city square to share their recollections of a young foreign couple who mysteriously disappeared some time ago. As various witnesses describe their encounters with the couple – their tales overlapping, confirming and contradicting each other – Hassan hopes to light upon details that will explain what happened to them, and to absolve his own brother, who is in prison for their disappearance.  As testimonies circle an elusive truth, the couple take on an air as enigmatic as their fate. But is this annual storytelling ritual a genuine attempt to uncover the truth, or is it intended instead to weave an ambiguous mythology around a crime? [Cover]

 

 

 

  “Steve Jobs’ by Walter Isaacson

From bestselling author Walter Isaacson comes the landmark biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. In Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography, Isaacson provides an extraordinary account of Jobs’ professional and personal life. Drawn from three years of exclusive and unprecedented interviews Isaacson has conducted with Jobs as well as extensive interviews with Jobs’ family members, key colleagues from Apple and its competitors, Steve Jobs: The Exclusive Biography is the definitive portrait of the greatest innovator of his generation. [Cover]

 

 

 

 “You deserve nothing” by Alexander Maksik

Set in an international high school in Paris, “You deserve nothing” is told in three voices: that of Will, a charismatic young teacher who brings ideas alive in the classroom in a way that profoundly affects his students; Gilad, one of Will’s students who has grown up behind compound walls in places like Dakar and Dubai, and for whom Paris and Will’s senior seminar are the first heady tastes of freedom; and Marie, the beautiful, vulnerable senior with whom, unbeknowst to Gilad, Will is having an illicit affair.  Utterly compelling, brilliantly written, “You deserve nothing” is a captivating tale about teachers and students, of moral uncertainties and the coming of adulthood. It heralds the arrival of a brilliant new voice in fiction. [Cover] 

 “The space shuttle” by Bizony Piers

This superbly designed and lavishly illustrated book marks a special moment in history: the final mission of the space shuttle. Noted space and science author, Piers Bizony, has put together a retrospective that covers all 134 space shuttle missions, including the final flight of the shuttle, which is scheduled for September 2010. In addition to covering every space shuttle mission, the book also covers the development and design of the space shuttle, as well as the technical specifications of the vehicle and details of its major assemblies and subassemblies. A full double-gatefold provides a large-scale technical drawing of the space shuttle. [Cover]

 

 

 

  “Go to sleep” by Helen Walsh

As she drinks in the view in front of her, Rachel Massey stands on the cusp of the biggest journey of her life. For Rachel is about to become a mother. Mere hours from now, her first baby will be here and she can’t wait to meet it. Terrified and excited, there is nothing she wants more, yet she senses things will never be the same again.  This is the story of Rachel’s voyage into motherhood. Full of the same hopes and dreams as any parent-to-be, she soon realises that nothing about this new world is as she imagined. As the raw shock of sleep deprivation takes its toll on her and the truth begins to blur with the unreal, Rachel becomes consumed by one sole desire  -  to sleep. But how far will she go to get her baby to sleep?  Devastatingly honest and shockingly painful at times, Go To Sleep is a heart-wrenching story about one woman and her newborn child. It strips motherhood bare in the most unforgettable of ways. [Cover]

Other titles on display this week :

“The quest for Anna Klein” by Thomas H Cook

“Manhattan” by Ronni Cooper

“Metal style” by Karen Dougherty

“Nightwoods” by Charles Frazier

“Christchurch dreaming” by Mary Hobbs

“Shadowstory” by Jennifer Johnston

“A winter on the Nile” by Anthony Sattin

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

 Avril