New Zealand Books

The latest release of Kamminga and Mulvaney's book is a must for anyone interested in Australia's past. For decades, this book has represented the cutting-edge of knoweledge about Australian prehistory and the latest complete re-write fails to dissapoint.

This work covers all areas of Australian prehistory in a clear and concise manner, that makes is invaluable for students/academics and the interested 'armchair archaeologist' alike.

This book is written by two scientists who have played important roles in the rapidly developing subject of Australian prehistory. It is not simply a revision of the 1971 book - the picture archaeologists have of the prehistory of Australia has transformed in the past 30 years, and this book captures that exciting transformation. The archaeology of aboriginal occupancy of Australia is also a politically charged subject and the authors manage the difficult task of presenting this story with sensitivity. I think that the book is a fine example of how to present a mass of scientific evidence by weaving it into an engaging and moving story. The authors presentation of human response to the shifting Pleistocene and Holocene palaeoenvironment in Australia is excellent. The references are thorough and well organised and a useful glossary of archaeological, geological and biological terms is appended. The book concludes with three chapters on aboriginal rock art. Finally, the book is well formatted and easy on the eye. First rate - highly recommended to all literate Australians (given the wide ignorance of this important subject in our country) and to anyone with an interest in prehistory. I can't recommend it highly enough!

This was an interesting introduction to Australian prehistory. I'd not come across a similar general text on the subject before this one, although I've read some of the data as passing references in other books on prehistory. Some of the discussion on the flint technology was a little slow-going because the differences in technique, stone sources, and styles among the various periods and regions were less apparent and less engrossing to me than they obviously are to the authors. In other respects the book is an excellant starting point for anyone with an interest in Austrilia or in prehistoric culture in general.

Interesting: I saw this paperback here, and deciding to write a review I read the ones that existed. My thoughts ran the same trail as the others:

I've owned this paperback since the 80s. I will not ever get rid of it.

About Once a year I re-read it. It's a simple read, but very good with playing on the whole Time Travel theme and, as mentioned earlier, some of the paradoxes (like the incident in the field).

Like the others, I'd love to give examples, but don't want to ruin the story for others.

If you love a good Time Travel story that does not involve itself with a lot of deep character study, then this book is a must read.

This is a really good read, definitely one that I continue to re-read. It deals with the classic problems of time travel, and then adds a few in. It is definitely worth your time, particularly if you are interested in time travel. I recommend it!

I have my own copy of this, and I will not lend it to anyone. About once a year I re-read it. It's about a fellow who runs from the future, only to be chased thru time. The story plays on a number of paradoxes, which I can't give away. If you can get a copy, it's worth the effort.

La Boatique is a wonderful intimate view of the dream of many weekend sailors -- to make an ocean voyage, visiting all the islands of the Pacific. She tells which anchorages are best, how they fished for dinner during a 23 day passage between islands in the Pacific. They have medical emergencies, boat problems, etc., but as part of the sailing community, they are in touch with other "yachties" making similar passages, and they all help each other. Great story!

I enjoyed reading about the adventures at the exotic tropical islands far off the beaten path.

As a mother of two with a fixer-upper house, my husband and I stay on dry land and do not take risky vacations. Ms. Wagner's book is great in that she shares the stage for being on an exotic get-a-way far from the comforts of home. Sometimes while doing dishes I look out the window and see the ocean - but fortunately for me - I have yet to get sea sick!

287 Pages, 11.5" x 8.75", Hardback. A simply superb book, lavishly illustrated in full color, beautifully demonstrating the power and magic of the shields of New Guinea and the surrounding islands. Hundreds of full-color items and 14 maps.

It is a bit sad that the people living in such an idyllic location as the islands of the South Pacific. But of course there were people there and that means that there was conflict.

Among the many differences in these shields from those commonly seen in European collections is that the South Pacific islands had no iron, no metals of any type. While the Europeans were constantly innovating and improving their weapons, the islanders were still making fighting equipment from organic materials such as animal hide, bark, wood, rattan. That means, among other things that these shelds were made relatively recently when compared with European exhibits.

Surprisingly, although this book is titled Shields of Melanesia, many of the areas of what is now called Melanesia such as Vanuatu and New Caladonia never developed shields at all. This book will represent the definitive work on this class of shields, it is beautifully printed and illustrated.

A great work about the various shield types of Melanesia. The book deals mostly with mainland New Guinea, but also with surrounding Islands and the Solomons. There are beautiful pictures in color of the shields and old b/w field photographs. It includes also many distribution maps of the different shield types. Until now, this is the first reference book about Melanesian shields, and a must for anybody who is interested in that field. Not only the allready well known regions like Sepik-, Asmat and Highlands of P.N.G. are described, it deals also with lesser known areas like Digul or Waropen.
Barry Craig had long-time field expirience at the Min region (see his other book about that region „Art and Decoration of Central New Guinea". The austrian Harry Beran, is an expert about the Massim Art.
It's a pitty, that the book is not available from the original publisher in australia. He is a specialist for books about Melanesia-New Guinea. Without his enthusiasm, many books about that field, would not have been published.

New Zealander Darcy Farrell has been raising her orphaned niece, Brooke, for the last eight years. Her sister had died in childbirth and had listed the father as unknown on the birth certificate. So when Travis Denton suddenly arrives from America and claims that no only was he her sister's husband, he is Brooke's father too, she's stunned! She's not convinced that Travis knows what he's talking about. However, Travis is determined that his daughter will come to America and live with him. How can Brooke part with the child she's loved as her own for the last eight years? As Darcy and Travis spend time together in order to allow Travis to get to know Brooke, they begin to have deeper feelings for each other. Darcy isn't sure that Travis's feelings for her alone, or because of his daughter. Can they form a family together?

Three Hearts was an enjoyable read. I grew to care about both Travis and Darcy, even though occasionally you want to hit Travis for his totally oblivious determination to tear his daughter from the only home and mother she's ever known. While the story occasionally slows to a crawl, I was still invested in Travis and Darcy's finding their happy ending together. Three Hearts is most certainly an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon!

Melissa
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

At the start of the book I hated Travis Denton who came over as arrogant, self opinionated and judgemental. He made assumptions about Darcy Farrell's way of life, employment and from that he decided that she was not a good guardian for Brooke who he thought was his daughter. There were times when Travis was lovable and I began to warm to him but always he reverted to the kind of person he was when he arrived in New Zealand. On the other hand I wanted to know if the two main characters became a couple so that it had a happy ending for the child. I particularly enjoyed the tour of parts South Island - areas which I visited in February 2006. It brought back such lovely memories of the people and the beautiful landscape together with the folklore wrapped around it.

I took this book on my EBookman to Mexico for a holiday read and found that I couldn't put it down. It was both annoying as well as moving and it was easy to imagine this as a true life situation.

A good story, easily enjoyable and well worth settling into.

A delightful romance. Set mainly in New Zealand, readers are sure to enjoy their little 'tour' of the beautiful South Island. Appealing characters - you'll fall in love with Travis! Definitely a "curl up on a rainy day" book. Enjoy!

This is an excellent, well set out book with clear instructions to make suck quilts as:
Berried Treasures
Bishopdale
D'Urville
Fifeshire
Marble Mountain
Sandy Bay
Tasman Bay
Trafalgar Square and others.
Using Joyce's Squirty & Squiffy family of quilting shorthand one look through this book should make you think "I can make that."
I have very successfully made mitred borders with Joyce's instructions - they're now a breeze!!!
Quilts are photographed on location (eg Berried Treasures in a Berryfruit garden) in and around Nelson, Top of South Island of New Zealand.

Joyce Jones' Uncovering Traditional Quilts provides piecing tips and techniques, showing how to explore combinations of piecing techniques and how to use squares and rectangles to easy advantage. A recommended pick for avid quilters.

This book is more than what it might seem at first look. Yes, it is a primer for making simple traditional-style quilts. Beginners as well as more experienced quilters will have excellent results using Joyce Jones' easy techniques, largely new to America. One happy fact is that no triangles have to be cut or pieced to create any of the many new designs in the book - hard to believe, but true! The author presents her system of quilt construction and her "quilt shorthand" language for analyzing any traditional quilt patterns clearly and with humor. But what I found even more intriguing are the many original designs themselves. I've been quilting for a number of years, and I'm pretty familiar with traditional designs. These quilts look like they might have been made one hundred years ago by our great grandmothers - almost! In each case, there is a freshness to the design; a bit of a different look that lets the reader know this book comes from somewhere else - New Zealand in this case. I'm tempted to make several of these quilts, because I know that each one is going to look original and refreshingly new to my fellow quilters. If you like to piece, like the geometry of traditional designs but want to make something just a bit different from the usual, and want to work quickly and accurately, give this book a try. The author covers, with thoroughness and clarity and excellent illustrations and photos, the basics of fabric selection, preparation, all the steps in quilt construction, and finishing techniques. From inspiration to standing back and listening to the complements, this book will be an invaluable guide to you in your next several projects.

NZ is not littered with large hotels; most tourist accommodation is bed and breadfast and very good at that. This book documents most of the best in the country, with detailed comments, prices and several pictures of each place so that you have a clear idea of what it will be like.

I was in one of the boutique hotels that is featured in this book one night while out of my home town on business. (Dorothy's Boutique Hotel in Christchurch - a must stay place! ) In each of the rooms of this hotel was this fanastic guide to NZ accommodation.

Instead of being one of those typical hotel nights, where you are bored silly, I was fascinated to flick through the pages and see somem of the regions of our great country that have adopted the concept of becoming unique in themselves.

I have since visited many of the Hotels and Guest rooms featured, and in every case it has felt like staying with friends, not that plastic feel that alot of hotels have.

I would seriously recommend this book for all travellers that want to see the "real" New Zealand. Not that NZ is fake, but there are so much more to our country than the central cities.

I have this book on my coffee table at home, representing some of the best NZ places to visit and stay.

This small book is the most authoritative source on the subject ever written. I work in a military educational centre in the UK where we have four copies, all of which are always out on loan. We have actually made another 1/2-dozen copies and, after cataloguing, will make them available too.

Apparently the initial print run was too small, and this important study is therefore hard to locate. Type the title into google and a scanned edition will come up online, or get Amazon's second-hand search team to secure you an original copy. It's the best study of WWII Axis jointery available. It is thorough, well argued and supported by plentiful relevant examples.

The book is great. I love the www references, the personal touches and for me the descriptions and comments make me feel like I am already there.
Richard Hart

An activity guide packed with detail on everything from horseback riding and camping to fishing, cruising, hiking and more. Chapters are organized regionally and make it easy to look up local accommodations and eateries, inland and water adventures, and even small local maps for quick consultation.

Wish it was available more readily..

Kapka Kassabova, Bulgarian immigrant to New Zealand, the author of a couple of collections of poems and of a couple of novels, and though she is a talented novelist, she is most of all a brilliant poet. Here comes her writings of longings and not belonging really to its right, with poignant thoughts and words drizzled with her special touch of East-European melancholy. With the ever present ocean under an often discontented sky she speaks of restlessness, doubt, dreams and wonder, love and pain, here and elsewhere. All Roads Lead to the Sea was the debut that sent her straight to the upper shelves among both contemporary and classic poetry. Highly recommended!