New Zealand Books

If you have seen the film 'Rabbit Proof Fence', then you simply must read this book. Carolyn Wadley Dowley has presented all the historical context necessary to allow the reader to understand the themes and setting of the film more deeply, and has richly illuminated this period of Australian history.

Wadley Dowley succeeds masterfully in bringing this fascinating episode in Australian history to life, filling the framework provided by historical archives, contemporary analysis and oral histories with fresh emotion and reality. Through Silent Country is all the more remarkable for its ability to preserve a clear distinction between the voice of the author and those of the real historical actors in this human drama. Wadley Dowley's treatment of the historical sources and oral history transcripts, along with her honest and moving journal record, provide a strong basis for the reader to understand - from several fascinatingly diverse perspectives - her new and complete account of the escape from detention of this group of Aboriginal Australians, and their epic trek back to their home country. This work is important and ground-breaking, both in content and in style. It deserves to be widely recognised as such. I recommend it without hesitation to all who want to explore the landscape of Australian history, and especially to Australians who hope to discover a new perspective on their past.

This book is an excellent contribution to Australian history. I recommend it highly.

This exceptional book - which I note has just received a significant Australian history award - is the author's account of an event from 1921 in the Western Australian goldfields. Further, it is the story of what was required to uncover such history. Through Silent Country is history as it all too rarely written - emotive, gripping, full of fascinating characters, and ultimately triumphant. The 'heroes' of the tale are the Wongutha people of the Western Desert, who walk hundreds of kilometres across unknown (silent) country to return to their homes from forced exile. Loved it!

This book follows the circumstance of the forced removal, in 1921, of the Wongutha people from their their homeland in the Western Australian goldfields to Mogumber, a feared place of detention.The events are set in context, the complete picture slowly emerging through the author's own travels over the escape routes the Wongutha used, from `speakings' about the escape and related concerns, documents (officialdom's cold tone chills even now) and a `new account; by the author. This is not a dreary recitation of facts but an imaginative reconstruction of the events. The Wongutha's plight, as they face encroaching settlement and drought, is emotively drawn. Just brilliant.
Good Reading Magazine(Australia). January 2003.

Unfortunately I gave this gorgeous book away as a gift! It is visually beautiful, wonderfully written and leaves you wanting to book a ticket downunder

Michael Cooper's WINE ATLAS OF NEW ZEALAND is the first wine atlas dedicated just to New Zealand - a nation becoming known world-wide for its high quality wines. Michael Cooper has over 25 years experience researching and writing on his subject and is the perfect professional choice for producing a guide which reviews the nation's climate, soils, ten wine-making regions, and nearly 300 wine companies. Add color photos of labels, countryside and productions throughout and you have an important basic reference.

Here's a region-by-region profile to over 280 wine companies accompanying in-depth profiles of 10 selected New Zealand winemakers and packed with maps and new photos. Analysis of climate, soils and wine styles accompany an illustrated history of the wine industry and a regional organization just perfect for the destination-oriented New Zealand wine fan. But you don't have to be traveling there to appreciate the extensive geography and wine grape facts packed into Michael Cooper's Wine Altas Of New Zealand: with John McDermott's color photos gracing nearly every page, armchair wine fans have a lot to enjoy, too.

At the Montana New Zealand Book Awards 2003, announced 22 July, Wine Atlas of New Zealand, by Michael Cooper, won the Montana Medal for the supreme work of non-fiction. The judges' commented that "the final decision on the winner of the Montana Medal was influenced by our collective view that the Wine Atlas of New Zealand could not possibly be improved upon - it is elegantly written, superbly designed and produced and its impact on the community has been considerable. Michael Cooper has written many superb books on wine in New Zealand - this is unquestionably his Magnum Opus."

There's not much more to say than that this is a fantastic treatment of its subject. The book is well laid out, fantastically researched, beautifully photographed and a joy to look at (let alone read!). It is little wonder this won the Montana Book Award - Cooper has meticously researched his subject.
The book starts off with an introduction (as they tend to do) then explores the fascinating history of viticulture in New Zealand before tracing the impact of New Zeland wine on the world market. We also get to explore the most commonly grown grape varieties in New Zealand and how they are characterised in New Zealand wines.
General information out of the way, Cooper then explores in detail the wine regions of New Zeland with fantastic maps, photographs and notes on individual wines and wineries.
The book is also indespersed with profiles of key players in the New Zealand wine industry and history.
To sum up - its a beautiful book and a must for anyone interested in the area. It is by far the most comprehenive treatment of New Zeland viticulture, and worthy of the accolades it receives.

I've been traveling through Australia on expedition (mostly in the Simpson Desert) and this book features awesome panoramic photography throughout the continent. Unfortunately, the references to "God" once again muddy its pages. You know what to do, though: get out that permanent marker, careful to keep the real beauty unscathed.

In this age of immense suburban sprawl and the drive by many to pollute this world as much as possible, we can be reminded of some of the beautiful places that still exist. This book is an example and what a terrific book it is. It's absolutely appalling one would take a permanent marker to this book to black out God's glorious name. He did, afterall, create this place that we all share as our home. God created it for us to enjoy and we ought to praise Him for that everyday... not black out His name.

Ken Duncan has managed to capture Australia beautifully. This is an an excellent buy for those who appreciate landscape photography.

This is a beautiful book of a gifted photographer. Just like the "America Wide" this book offers much joy and peace in browsing through its pages. Thanks God for giving Ken such talent and skills.

You have to hand it to the Brits: there were elements of almost mystical grace about the way they lost, or shall we say misplaced, their Empire.

On dune and headland sank indeed the fire. But in its fading glow there were elements of decency and heroism, including Britain's lonely fight against Nazi Germany, survivors in the South Atlantic in 1982 singing "look on the bright side of life", and here, the conquest of Everest by a bunch of amateurs and jolly Sherpas, the latter being drunk most of the time on Strange Brew indeed.

Chronicled by a bloke who later became a lass who carried the message to Garcia with Tom Brownian pluck, who played up, played up, and played the game so that a chit of a girl could add a jewel to her crown, in a land no longer British.

Having stumbled around mountains myself courtesy of the patient tutelage of Outward Bound, another British invention, I can relate to a non-mountaineer slogging up into the thin cold air. And rather than sentimentalising mountain vistas when they are seen up close and personal, Morris makes it clear that these places are alternately glorious, unearthly in their beauty, and demon-haunted, and terrible in their menace.

The worst aspect of mountaineering for the tyro is, as Morris shows, the descent when everything has been done, but instead of basking in your accomplishment, you have to slog down, and gravity becomes your mortal enemy, driving weary bones into each other and mocking a descent that turns into another fall of man:

From what height thou see'est, into what pit fall'n

Sentimentalists in the American wilderness wonder at the bad temper of pioneers who name such picture postcard views, Devil's Leap, Hell's Rockyard, Lucifer's Barstool and Jornado del Muerte. They need only walk the walk on the talking rocks that mock you in the sun, or on Morris' ice falls turning into vile mush to realize that we have to earn our ticket to the Sublime.

Morris describes in this re-issued book, published long ago right after the great events, a gone world. Today, on Everest, every prospect pleases (well, many do) but only man is vile, and can pass people dying in the Yuppie way. That wouldn't have occured to the men he describes.

The solution to the transmission problems alone is worth the price of the book: like the book The Victorian Internet, this book shows that before the Internet, the urge to connect time and space was real and people were willing to do what was necessary to get the message to Garcia.

It is nobler to think that the Empire ended at "Coronation Everest", the decent bits, anyway. The Empire of time-serving colonial pukka sahibs and their impossible wives ended at Suez. The Empire of ideals, of Bertrand Russell, of hymn singing when the ship went down, of genuinely decent people doing their best, that ended on top of the world the week before the Coronation.

This is a wonderfully written book of the events surrounding the historic Everest expedition of 1953 which saw Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay summit Mount Everest. It was written by special correspondent for The London Times, James Morris, who accompanied the expedition and first broke the news to the world of the successful summit. The news fortuitously reached England on the eve of Queen Elizabeth's the II coronation of June 2, 1953, and was the cause for much nationalistic pride. Hence, the name of the book.

The book is reflective of the time in which it was written and evokes a feeling of an era long gone. Therein lies its charm. Nostalgia buffs will love it, as will those readers looking to consume anything about Everest. It will not disappoint, though the book is not about the climb to the summit in the strictest sense. The book chronicles in great detail the author's journey to Everest, as well as his personal experiences and observations while at Everest, waiting to break the story of the end result of the historic climb to the summit. It also chronicles the cloak and dagger methodology which he employed in order maintain exclusivity for The London Times.

It should be noted in the interest of clarity and to avoid confusion, that times do indeed change. The author, James Morris, underwent a gender change subsequent to the original 1958 publication of this book. When the book was released again, however, the publisher did so under the name which the author had since adopted, Jan Morris. James or Jan, the author is a hell of a writer, and the book is well worth reading.

Although the outcome is known, there is much to be gained from reading this book.

Apart from the specific history of the climb which 'conquered' Everest (a much-used but dubious claim about one of the great feats of human endeavour, and one not used by those involved), I was particularly interested in several aspects:

* The description of the expedition took place, the mechanics of it from someone outside the actual expedition;
* The non-mountaineer's view of mountain-climbing and experiences in the Khumbu ice-fall and Western Cwm especially. This was the experience many an armchair-Everesteer would wish for themselves, I am sure;
* The journalist's view of the people involved - all the other accounts I have read have been written from the point of view of being 'insiders' in the ecpedition - Hunt, Hillary, Tenzing, for example
* The mechanics of how Morris set up 'exclusive' media coverage from the mountain! It is amazing to think that it was a mere 50 years ago that messages were taking 8 days to reach London, when nowadays we hear live radio broadcasts of people dying in snowstorms, have immediate Internet access to expedition journals etc.

Thoroughly recommended for anyone with any interest at all in the subject.

This slim volume details the trip of London Times journalist Jan Morris with the 1953 British Everest Expedition. It provides interesting and unique first-hand accounts of Hillary, Tenzing, and other expedition personnel, as well as beautifully written descriptions of the landscape and persons encountered on the expedition. It is written in the style of its day - English "Public School" in tone - and reflects a love and command of the English language all too lacking in today's expedition accounts.

The account flows easily and draws the reader along with the expedition. Despite knowing the outcome, the reader is kept interested by the tone and language, and by the behind-the-scenes looks at how this mammoth effort came together, and its ultimate effect on those on the mountain and those back home in England. For example, as the book opens on the eve of Elizabeth II's Coronation, we see Field Marshal Montgomery reading the Time's account of Hillary and Tenzing's triumph as he waits in robes to process in the Coronation parade. Small asides such as this give the book its unique flavor, and make it an interesting and invaluable addition to the armchair (or actual) mountaineer's collection

Darkest Hour is not only an excellent historical account of one of the most important "battles" at the beginning of World War II but also an entertaining read that is hard to put down. The author does a good job at character development, which is often something lacking in these kinds of books. He follows the Lark Force from its inception in Australia to its demise (mostly) in the wretched hold of a Japanese cargo ship. All is not hopeless as the stories of those who did manage to escape the island and get back home are told in adequate detail. This book made we want to read more about this period of World War II in the Pacific theater.

The book "Darkest Hour: The True Story of Lark Force at Rabaul" is a compelling historic accounting of those Australian men and women on the southwest Pacific island of New Britain that was run over by the invading Japanese Army. Their fateful encounter began at the early morning hour of 2:30 a.m. on January 23, 1942. The Japanese rushed ashore to completely overwhelm the 1500 men and six nurses in the garrison; thus begins one of the most tragic tales of WWII.

Less than 25% of those in the garrison were able to escape and evade and after many weeks of hardship found their way off the island to safety. However, those that remained were captured and endure cruel and sometime lethal treatment at the hands of the Japanese. In one incident alone, two hundred POWS were executed. But a worse fate was still awaiting 850 of the survivors when they were torpedoed by an American submarine and went down with the ship while locked in their holding cells below deck.

The book is obviously researched very well. Author Bruce Gamble writes this historic story as if he were an eyewitness to the events. It is a most compelling and entertaining tale that shows the courage, sacrifices and horrors of war first hand. Gamble makes us feel the emotions of that group as he shares with the reader some of the small details of the events by the people involved. The writing is top notched and goes beyond a mere reporting of what happened. It captures the heart and soul of that time and place. Reading this true story will change you; you cannot help but be moved by what happened to these men and women.

This book is one of those that once you begin reading it you do not want to pout it down until you are finished with it. I give this book my personal endorsement and highest recommendation. It has also earned The Military Writer's Society of America's top book rating of FIVE STARS! This book is more than just history--it is also a tribute to those fine soldiers and nurses of Lark Force who gave their lives for freedom.

Pearl Harbor, Normandy, Stalingrad, Iwo Jima. These are just a handful of the battles that come to mind when people think about World War II--and rightfully so. Thankfully, though, Bruce Gamble extends his vision to one of the most gripping, and tragic, stories of the entire war. The story of Lark Force. Not only a true page turner (Gamble is an excellent story teller), Darkest Hour is obviously well-researched and filled with detail. Put simply, their story deserved to be told, and Bruce Gamble provided a fitting tribute to their legacy.

Darkest Hour is a moving book about one of Australia's least known World War Two incidents.
My grandfather died on the Montevideo Maru and for years I've searched for information about his death and his time on Rabaul. This book provided me with many answers others haven't.
Bruce Gamble writes about the members of Lark Force as real men and honestly discusses the controversy surrounding their fate.

A compelling, disturbing book that brings this darkest hour in Australian war time history into the light.

As someone who grew up in London in the sixties and seventies and who now lives in New Zealand this was a must buy. Plus I've been a long time fan of the Pretty Things ever since I picked up a mint copy of their original Fontana lp (from Shoppertunities in Holborn) in the early seventies. The photographs are illuminating (there is some repetiton but this is not a problem) and the text is both informative and entertaining. NZ even now in 2006 has its retro qualities but not to the degree that existed in the sixties. My first visit in 1977 helps me accept the introverted nature of the culture there in previous years as shown in this book. If you're a Pretty Things fan then this is essential for your life. If you're not then try their 60s recordings and then read this - it's a distillation of the progress of rock from its black American roots to its current situation and thus is applicable many times over everywhere in the western world.

If you are a fan of The Pretty Things already then you will want this tidy magazine-style book revealing all about the group's momentous 1965 tour of New Zealand with Sandie Shaw. Even if you are not a fan of The Pretty Things (why not I wonder?), I'm sure after reading this revelatory account, you will be rushing to your nearest record emporium to snap up as many of the group's platters as you can afford or can carry home. Yes, it's true, this is the most revealing account of a group on tour in the early days of rock-group-goes-on-the-road as you could hope to ever imagine in your wildest dreams. If you've ever wondered what the source, or origin was for all these excessive hotel trashing, tv throwing, vomit-stained tales of hard rockin' & hard livin' pop groups on tour...THIS IS IT! If you are of a nervous disposition, or get queasy easy, then please do take care turning the pages. This is a unique, one-off publication of a totally one-off, unique rock group's tour - actually not much more a couple of weeks at the most, told by the participants, and put together by a intensely dedicated team of passionate experts...this is the last word on that fateful Pretty Things visit to New Zealand in the late summer of 1965, with all the words, pictures, tall tales, truths, half-truths, lies all brought forth into the light for the first time ever. Yeah. BUY IT NOW...before it disappears - Lenny Helsing (The Thanes) Scotland UK

Mike Stax and Co. have done a superb job yet again of bringing the rock'n'roll past to life in all of its raucous glory. The Pretties' 1965 tour of New Zealand is a high point in pop mayhem but this is the first time anyone has told the story fully. The photos are fantastic, the overall archival research superb, and the writing excellent throughout. If you want a snapshot of what rock'n'roll was like before it became scripted and predictable, read this book. Truly an excellent story excellently told. Kudos.

For those in the know, the Pretty Things were every bit as cool as the Brian Jones-era Stones. Here is a detailed account of their notorious tour of New Zealand where the outrageous antics of their drummer Viv Prince got them banned for life. Filled with press clippings, a well-researched text (it appears that all of the principals were interviewed) and lots of pictures, the book is obviously a labor of love. Published by UT Publishing, a spin-off of the fabulous Ugly Things magazine, the coolest zine of its kind. Recommended for all age groups.

Get your kids to learn to pronunce rumbustification and you will all enjoy the two great stories in this book. Great illustrations too.

My 5 year old son just loves this book, we have been reading it over and over again for the past year. Great fun for both kids and parents!

This book was read to me by a teacher as a way to learn to write a story outline, and with this book I found it extremely easy. The Librarian and the Robbers was hilarious and easy to follow.

It's kind of sad that the lack of reviews here makes it look like no one has looked at this funny book on this site since 1998. It's very funny and just the kind of book a young boy would make any adult read to him over and over. And girls will like it too.

If you had put your hand over my eyes and read the first paragraph of the first story to me, with main characters Alpha, Oliver and Omega, I would have known who wrote it right away. It has Mahy's rhythm, her humor that comes from the sound of the words, the alliteration she loves. This is a book made to be read aloud. It sounds funny, and it means funny too. The plot of these two stories twist in ways that, even having read a lot of Mahy, I never could have predicted. Everytime I encounter one of her stories, I wonder how that kind of twist came to her. I wish I could do it myself.

The first story is about three boys who have recently moved into a house. In the apartment, whenever the boys tried to do something adventuresome, they were told to wait until they were in a big house. Then they'd have space enough to have an adventure. Well, they were in the new house, and nothing was happening... until a pirate decides their house is the perfect place to "steal" a party.

In the second story, a bunch of atypical robbers kidnap an orphaned librarian reasoning that her "parents" would be the city, and they would have to come up with ransom in order to open the library again. But of course, the librarian always wins. Mahy was herself a librarian for many years.

Perfect read-aloud book. Lots of fun. And the illustrations are an extra (goofy) plus. They are done by Quentin Blake, the illustrator who worked on Roald Dahl's books, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, BFG, The Witches etc. You'll recognize his style when you see it.

I have a personal connection to this book that makes it valuable in many deep ways. My son was the contemporary of these adventurers. He shared some of them and also was the crazy graphic artist mentioned in the book. Up until 1992 when he died in a parapente accident, my son Leo Geary designed Rob Hall's expedition branded items, such as hats and stationery. During the years 1987-1992 he was in New Zealand so most of what I knew of his life was through letters. He loved the climbing, skiing, and parapenting that was taken to greater extremes by his friends and others in this book. It tells the life stories of Hall & Ball through all their exciting adventures, up to and beyond their deaths. Through this book I can feel why they did what they did, the vivid life experiences that made the sacrifices worth it. It is a great document and historical record that is quite precious. The photography and printing is outstanding.

Rob Hall and Gary Ball, two New Zealanders who lived the dream of conquering 7 of the world's highest summits in 7 months. This book is full of breathtaking photography, a touch of humour, the heartaches and joys of conquering the summits and the tragedies which cut their lives short. This book is a must for those who have similar aspirations and dreams.

As a fan of mountaineering writings and photography I was pleased to 'discover' this fine new book. Most people will know of Rob Hall in light of the tragic storm that took his life and several others in May of 1994. But as you will find there is very much more to the Hall story and his amiably unorthodox business partner and friend Gary Ball. This book is very well-written and lavishly adorned with inspiring climbing photography. It tracks the early days of Hall and Ball on their home peaks on the South Island of New Zealand to the world's Greater Ranges. Although, there is plenty of lively dialogue concerning Everest and the issues of commercial expeditions between the covers, this book as a whole is a pleasant santctuary from the "controversies" of the Everest disaster. It serves to joyfully remind its audience of the enduring appeal of high mountains and the vibrant life that can be found there. I highly recommend this book. It is a thoughtful illumination of two legendary mountaineers and the great adventure that was their lives.

Both the pictures and text of this book are authentic and tell the story of typical New Zealand adventurers that became famous and died in the mountains. The pictures are by Hall, Ball, and friends. You see what you have only read about in books on Everest climbs, from the dawns to the garbage. The text puts the Himalayan climbing tragedies in context of the lives of the heros and their friends. Details come from journals, letters, interviews, and memories. The author knew Hall & Ball well. This is a great tribute, compelling read, and looks good on a coffee table too (big book).

My five year old is so excited about losing her teeth and getting in her "grown up teeth" that I thought she'd enjoy this little book. She definitely did and wanted to read it to everyone! Her kindergarten class surely enjoyed it.

I got this book for my 5 year old daugter to prepare her for the toothfairy and to show her what it is all about with teeth. This is well written and illustrated, even a 3 year old would get a great deal from this book, but a 5 or 6 year old would understand the more technical things like the picture of what a tooth looks like from the inside. It encourages good toothcare for kids and my daugter is beginning to read it by herself now.
We can only recommend this book (the entire series is great!!)

When my 5 year old lost his first tooth, he was asking all sorts of questions: WHY did I lose a tooth, WHEN will I lose more....

Thi sbook answers those questions. It has a chart which looks inside the gums to show a new tooth pushing out the old. The book alternates between a story line and a poem. At the end it gets funny with a boy not being able to sing the rhyme like the others because he lost 2 teeth and he "thounds funny".

I let my son's reactions rate books: this is a 5.

This book is an excellent educational tool. I am a public health dental hygienist and I use this book in grades K-2. The bright pictures and clever rhymes make it very entertaining for children. It is a great way to teach kids about their mouths and oral health!

I suffer from hyperventilation syndrome and had Amazon "search for an out of print copy". Months went by and no book. Eventually I gave up on Amazon after repeated e-mails. Finally, I ordered the book from Barnes and Noble.com and the book arrived with no problem. B&N seems to be a better service. And yes, the book is very helpful! The book is not out of print as stated by Amazon, it just does not have the demand they require!

this book turned my life round after years of misdiagnosis. Best news -- this book is back in print -- into its 3rd edition.

This is a great book for people who unknowingly hyperventilate. It is written in easy to understand language. I use it with my patients in general (family) practice in New Zealand and find it by far the best resource on hyperventilation.

As secretary of The Hyperventilation Syndrome Support Group based in Auckland, New Zealand I can verify how invaluable this book is for HVS sufferers.Many of our members refer to it as their "Bible". The 3rd edition, now available in NZ, covers many personal stories and a guide to BETTER BREATHING by true and tested methods.The new edition also includes a Work Book which enables people to graphically illustrate the identification of their symptons and chart their own performance of good breathing/relaxation exercises. Many Respiratory Physicians and GPs keep this book on hand which they lend out until patients obtain their own copy. Until a new publisher is appointed in the USA you could contact Tandem Press, 2 Rugby Road, Birkenhead, Auckland, New Zealand. PH 64-9-480-1452 Fax 64-9-415-1455