Book Loving Kiwis discussion

It's that time of year again - time to set up a challenge to read more books by kiwi authors, and about our country, its history and people.

I've set up the challenge - you should see it under the blurb on the Group's homepage. You can pick how many books you want to try and read for the challenge and enter a shelf name. When you finish a book, and mark as 'read' you can select that shelf as a 'tag' and it will count towards your challenge goal :)

Erica wrote: "It's that time of year again - time to set up a challenge to read more books by kiwi authors, and about our country, its history and people.

I've set up the challenge - you should see it under the..."

I've decided to go back to 12 for my challenge number.

My first book is likely to be Missus

I'm currently reading Billie's Kiss by Elizabeth Knox. I've had a copy for years but was hesitant to read as I wasn't a fan of The Vintner's Luck which I studied at uni. But this one is more historical fiction/mystery and much easier to read.

I'm planning on picking up Dice by local author Claire Baylis when I finish my current read. Hoping to get a few reads under my belt before I head back to work.

& finally underway with this Challenge!

#1 Portrait of the Artist's Wife
4.5★
Finished 13/3
You can read most of my comments in the other reading Challenge, but overall I loved this book, which got stronger as it went along. I don't know whether to be sad that Ms Anderson started her writing career so late in life, or glad for her that she had such a full & interesting life.

I have started Missus It did start improving by the end of the first chapter, but at first I was wondering if it was going to be as strong as Park's other works.

#2 Missus
I've decided on a 3.5★ rating. I've given my reasons in the Reading Challenge thread.
Finished 17/3

I'm on target now.

#3 Biter

For me, a mixed bag (same as most poetry collections) 3★
Finished 29/3

I'm doing really well with this challenge so far this year. Already read 4 books and will start my 5th today :) Also like that they're a diverse range of genres.

1. Billie's Kiss. I've owned this book for years but had been hesitant to read as I read this author's The Vintner's Luck at uni and it wasn't for me. But this one was very different, was historical fiction set in Scotland. I didn't love it but definitely enjoyed it.

2. Portrait of the Artist's Wife My first book by Barbara Anderson. It was a total cover buy when I was browsing at Whitcoulls one day a year or so ago. I got the version with the colourful paint on the cover. Loved the author's writing style and the story. Recommend for sure.

3. The Girl in the Mirror A mystery. I always kinda thought I knew what was going on but then the twists weren't what I was expecting. Not the greatest mystery but also very readable.

4. The Penguin New Zealand Anthology: 50 Stories for 50 Years in Aotearoa I really enjoy short stories and this was a great selection! There were a few that weren't my style but the vast majority I really liked. Definitely recommend if you like short stories, or want to give them a try.

I'm about to start Mrs Jewell and the Wreck of the General Grant. I love a survival story (probably ever since my teacher read Hatchet to our class when I was a kid). This was a random pick from my local library. Going to curl up on the couch this rainy weekend and get stuck in :)

Not even halfway through the year and I'm already halfway through this challenge. The more books by kiwis I read the more great ones I find.

5. Mrs Jewell and the Wreck of the General Grant. This was great historical fiction! 5* Sanders did an amazing job making you feel like you were right there stuck on the Auckland Islands in the middle of nowhere, wrapped in seal skins and huddled beside a fire trying to survive and keep hope that a ship would come and save you. Great attention to detail, great writing, and the atmosphere of a women alone on an Island with a group of men with all the societal limitations of the 1800s was deftly done.

Not sure what book I'll pick up next for this challenge. I really should get to some of the Catherine Chidgey books on my shelves!

I've only managed 2 so far this year, but Goodreads says I'm on track for my goal of 10, so I'll take it.

Dice 5* this is a great examination of our legal system told from the POV of jurors hearing a case. As a woman, and a mother of a teenage girl (and boys) it makes for some uncomfortable reading.

The Witching Tide 3* based on real events in the UK, it takes the reader into the life of Martha Hallybread, a mute midwife, as fear and suspicion take hold of a village. It gives us another look at how systems can be manipulated by those in power.

I've picked up The Bone Tree again after a break (and some fantasy reading) so should be able to add that to my NZ books soon.

Erica wrote: "Not sure what book I'll pick up next for this challenge. I really should get to some of the Catherine Chidgey books on my shelves!"

Me too. I've got The Axeman's Carnival on my shelf to read, and Eleanor Catton's Birnam Wood. So many great choices from NZ authors at the moment.

I've got Dice on my TBR, might have to pick that up soon. Sounds like a worthwhile read.

Yeah I've got The Axeman's Carnival on my bookshelf and The Wish Child...and Pet on reserve at the library haha.

Well done guys!

I've just read my 4th book

The Coming Year 3★ Finished 24/04.

I loved the trivia but would think it would only be of interest to former & current residents of my little town.

The Bone Tree 3* - the sentiment behind this book - of whānau, belonging and loss - are clear, painful and real, especially with our current government's approach to te reo Māori. It is also clear that this is a debut novel and parts of the plot fell a bit flat for me.

Return to Blood 4* - Protagonist Hana Westerman has left the police force and is independently investigating the discovery of a body found near the small hometown she has returned to.
I actually enjoyed this more than the first. I felt like the author has settled a bit more into writing fiction and is really working on fleshing out his main character.

& book number 5

Don Binney: Flight Path Amazing - one of the best books I've read this year 5★ Finished 8/6

I've heard good things about that book :)

I've just started Pet by Catherine Chidgey and enjoying already :)

My books 6 and 7 for this year's challenge are Pet and The Axeman's Carnival both by Catherine Chidgey.

I think I like Pet slightly more than The Axeman's Carnival but loved the writing in both and found the stories engaging and touching. These are the first books by Chidgey that I've read and will definitely be delving into her backlist soon. I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style - It feels like she really enjoys playing with words but in an incredibly readable and non-pretentious way :)

As I say in my review, it's a long story but I got stuck down at the library I volunteer at, so I picked up children's book My Kiwi Gumboots for a quick read.

I loved it - so Kiwi & the illustrations are fresh & charming. Finished yesterday (28/6) 5★

Just finished the memoir: The Fight for Freshwater by Dr Mike Joy. My 8th book of the challenge. I really liked this memoir. Nice insights into growing up in NZ before my time and then his slow path to being an environmental scientist and all that has entailed. Very accessible read.

This is a short story but I am going to count it.

The Mussel Eater
Finished 19/8 5★

Beautifully reimagined telling of the legend of Pania.

& my 8th read is a reread of my favourite NZ novel of all - time.

The Harp in the South & of course the read more than held up!
Finished 3/9 5★

I have a short story to read & then I am going on to Poor Man's Orange while this book is still fresh in my mind

I'll need to try Ruth Park!

Erica wrote: "I'll need to try Ruth Park!"

Just don't make your first one Missus Not a terrible book, but a long way below her usual standard.

Read #9 Finished yesterday (08/09) Poor Man's Orange 5★

The sequel to The Harp in the South this one is even grittier in its realism - you may find out more about bed bugs than you ever wanted to know!

Just started 'One of those Mothers' by Megan Nicol Reed today and already a third of the way through. Very engrossing and I feel like she's captured Auckland suburban life well...not that I've ever lived there haha

How are people going this year reading books set in NZ or by NZ authors? Read anything interesting recently?

I picked up some goodies on Bookshop Day last Saturday (I did the Wairarapa bookshop hop). I got a couple of old Fiona Kidman novels secondhand. I also bought a BWB essay collection from Almo's in Carterton (they have a great non-fiction range). I also found a short story collection from a few decades back called Women's Work. It's an anthology of NZ women's short stories (including the likes of Janet Frame, Keri Hulme etc.). And those were just the kiwi books I bought :)

Ooh I've just finished my challenge of reading 10 books set in NZ or by NZ authors for 2024. My recent read was Urban Aotearoa: The Future for Our Cities, a little BWB book.

I'll probably still read a few more NZ books by the end of the year, there is so much great work out there and new stuff being published all the time, it's hard to keep up!

I'm really happy with what I've read in the challenge so far this year, managed to cover off several different genres: Historial Fiction, Thriller, Short stories, Contemporary fiction, Memoir, and Essays.

I'm reading Station Amusements in New Zealand at the moment. I'm pretty confident I'll hit my target of 12.

& finished yesterday (6/11) 3.5★ Lady B is a very lively writer with an adventurous spirit, but this is a collection of anecdotes, rather than a properly structured book.

Book #10

I couldn't do a proper review as my copy fell apart & is now heading for the recycling bin!

testing

I have a copy of the first of lady barker's books on my bookshelf after someone recommended it for the Bookpool last year. Hope to get to it soon, great to hear she is a lively writer :)

Erica wrote: "I have a copy of the first of lady barker's books on my bookshelf after someone recommended it for the Bookpool last year. Hope to get to it soon, great to hear she is a lively writer :)"
I think you will love her outlook on life. Her writing has a very modern feel!

& Book #11 (& I am now confident I will complete this challenge)
Finished 17/11. 4★

True Tales of Thames Hospital

A wonderful resource for Thamesites with some fascinating stories, but it was pretty easy to pick who was still an employee in 2018 & as some of those contributions were dry. Very dry.

Book #11 Ash by Louise Wallace.

Usually a poet this is her first novel. 5*

A beautifully written book that packs a punch for only 150-odd pages.

& I have cheated a bit, but I have now completed this challenge with a Christmas favourite - A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree

The rest of my family not keen (or maybe it is me singing it!) but I still love it!

Season's greetings, everyone!

That's a great kiwi classic!

Happy Christmas :)

Erica wrote: "That's a great kiwi classic!

Happy Christmas :)"

Same to you Erica!