Fashion, culture and modern life

         ‘Adorned in dreams: fashion and modernity’

                               by Elizabeth Wilson

If you believe that fashion is no more than a superficial and frivolous aspect of everyday life, this book will make you think again. While adornment has been a preoccupation of human beings for millenia, the concept of ‘fashion’ is distinctly modern. It is inextricably linked with the rise of an urban, capitalist and industrialized society.

Today, the fashion and beauty industry is a global, billion dollar empire. In fact the history of early industrialization largely revolved around the clothing industry, and the author describes the appalling conditions in the 19th century sweat shops. Shamefully, such practices have not been abandoned but merely displaced from Western Europe to other parts of the world.

The conundrum of modern fashion is that is aims to express individuality, yet often does this by an insiduous pressure to conform to certain standards of beauty. Perhaps this is why those personal make-over shows on television make such ghastly yet utterly compelling viewing…

      ‘Looking flash: clothing in Aotearoa New Zealand’

                             edited by Bronwyn Labrum, et al.

If you are intrigued to know what New Zealanders have made of of the fashion question, this book gives a fascinating insight into a variety of topics such as colonial and Maori dress, wartime garb, uniforms, beach wear, and of course the black singlet.

Both highly recommended,

 Sylvia

‘Looking flash : clothing in Aotearoa New Zealand’ is on display at Hurunui District library from 14-21 February.

Avril

New books on display at the Hurunui District Library 17-24 January

        ‘Dreams from my father’ by Barack Obama

Before Barack Obama became a politician he was, among other things, a writer. In this book he traces his black African and white American roots starting in a small town in Kansas, retracing to his mother’s family in Hawaii, then to his childhood home in Indonesia and finally to confront the bitter truth of his father’s life in Kenya.

      ‘Daughter of the East’ by Benazir Bhutto

This riveting autobiography, first published twenty years ago has been updated in 2007 and shows how Pakistan has been thrust into international limelight since 9/11. Daughter of the East gives the reader an overall picture of the chaos and tyrannies that overshadowed Pakistan during the seventies and eighties and under the reign of Zia ul-Huq.

      ‘The divinity code’ by Ian Wishart

Investigative journalist Ian Wishart presents evidence that is turning both science and religion on their heads. With chapters on How did life arise? Did Jesus Christ even exist? this is written in a easy-to -read style.

     ‘Nathan Astle’ - autobiography

Speculation and rumour has been rampant ever since Nathan Astle retired from international cricket. Here is the truth from Astle himself, coach John Bracewell and captain Stephen Fleming.

    ‘New Zealand shipwrecks: over 200 years of disasters at sea’

This is the eight edition of this book and covers from 1795 to 2007. For those keen on history, diving, genealogy or who just enjoy a tale well told, New Zealand shipwrecks is an indispensable record of a fascinating aspect of new Zealand’s maritime history. 

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

Avril

Sir Edmund Hillary

One of the most admired and loved New Zealanders, Sir Edmund Hillary, has passed away at the age of 88. His life and adventurous exploits will continue to fascinate for many generations to come. Christchurch City Libraries have published a web page with extensive information on Sir Edmund’s achievements.

       Click here to visit the Christchurch City Libraries site on Sir Edmund

The book ‘Sir Edmund Hillary: an extraordinary life’ by Alexa Johnson, one of the most comprehensive biographies available, can now be reserved and will be on display at the District Library from Friday 18 January.

Sylvia

New Zealand’s literary heritage online

With the advent of the Internet it became possible to publish and read books online. While some commentators concluded that it would herald the end of the printed book, this has certainly not been the case so far. You just don’t curl up cosily with a computer screen!

Nevertheless, the online environment has provided at least one great outcome and that is the wider public availability of rare and historical texts. A striking example is the New Zealand Electronic Text Centre hosted by Victoria University in Wellington. It contains a freely accessible online archive of New Zealand and Pacific Islands texts and heritage materials. The site is continuously expanded and includes images, full text books, manuscripts and journals.

             Click here to connect to the NZETC

For instance the site includes the full text of ‘The great journey: an expedition to explore the interior of the Middle Island, New Zealand, 1846-8′ by Thomas Brunner, as well as a fascinating collection of 19th century New Zealand novels, such as ‘Utu: A Story of Love, Hate and Revenge’ by Tua-O-RangiMargaret Bullock’ (published in 1894) and ‘Amongst the Maoris: A Book of Adventure’ by Emilia Marryat Norris (published in 1874). Also of considerable interest are the books on New Zealand history, in particular the large number of works on World War I and II, including the official histories of several battalions.

The web site currently has 2600 texts available and receives over 10,000 online visitors a day! Well worth a look,

Sylvia