Kiwi Readers discussion

I thought some introductions might be in order, as this group has been pretty quiet lately - so I'll start.

I'm a 49-year-old writer who lives in Wellington, New Zealand. I've had five books published so far - two short story collections, one novel, and two poetry collections.

My latest book is short story collection Transported, published by Random House. "New Zealand Books" called Transported "dazzling and highly entertaining", which I was pretty pleased about.

I'm also a keen reader - I especially like poetry, science fiction, literary fiction, and books about cricket.

If you'd like to find out more about my books and my writing, please see my blog:

http://timjonesbooks.blogspot.com

I'm a 44-year-old non-writer who works in Wellington and lives on the Kapiti Coast. The only books I've added here at GoodReads are those I've started reading since I signed up here. I use LibraryThing to catalogue what's actually on my shelves. Looking forward to seeing more introductions here.

Steven.

I'm a student at Victoria University in Wellington, studying law and politics. I read almost anything, but I'd like to read more New Zealand and Scandanavian literature in the future. If you have any recomendations, chuck them my way.

Hi, Steven and Renee! I also use LibraryThing as my main cataloguing site, but Goodreads is better set up for authors than LT is.

I am very poorly read in Scandinavian literature - the last Scandinavian book I read was a biography of Abba - but if I was to recommend one New Zealand book (or series of books) it would be the Plunb trilogy by Maurice Gee.

There's three books by New Zealand authors published last year I would recommend: Thornspell by Helen Lowe, which is a YA fantasy published in the US but now becoming available here; and two books of poetry, My Iron Spine by Helen Rickerby and Moonshot by Harvey Molloy.

Finally, if you like NZ short stories, it's worth checking out the annual "Best New Zealand Fiction" series, now up to Volume 5. (Disclaimer: I had a story in Volume 4.)

I lived in Dunedin for 17 years and still get down there whenever I can - I hope you enjoy it! (Lots of good bookshops, too.)

At last, some Kiwi readers older than 15! I am a teacher from Masterton. I think this group needs a new (or co) moderator as Shanti does not seem to have been around for a while. I am nominating Tim:-)

I agree with Debbie's suggestion.
Thanks for the recommendations Tim.

Thanks, Debbie and Renee. If being a moderator means "keeping an eye out for messages and responding to them occasionally", I'm happy to do that - but is there more involved?

Organising the folders and keeping a weather eye out for bad behaviour! I am a moderator in the Language and Grammar group, and I think you have to message Shanti and ask her to make you a co-moderator. If she has left then you could contact Otis and ask him what can be done (on Feedback group)

Thanks, Debbie - I'll follow that up with Shanti and see what happens.

Hi all. Reader and non-writer in Christchuch (or close to)

Hi, Ross. Debbie, a PS to my #11 - it's possible Shanti hasn't been active recently because of the Xmas/New Year holiday, so I think I'm going to leave it for another week or so before approaching her.

Fair enough Tim.....but I note that her last contribution to Goodreads was on the 9th of December and her last activity in this group was March!

Hi - I'm a non-writer but I work for a book chain. I've three children and am constantly reading - we live and play in Auckland.

Hi Paula......you lucky thing....to work in a bookshop!!!

#s 15, 16: Hi, Paula! Do you actually work in a bookshop, or are you working in a different capacity for the book chain?

(Excuse the curiosity, but, as a writer, insights into how these things work are always valuable!)

I work in another capacity - admin for the buying team, which is fun. I guess you'd be able to tell that by the ammt of proof copies I read - as an example, I can say that the upcoming Picoult is damn good!

See!? Lucky!!
What do you write Tim?

I write fiction and poetry. I've had five books published: see the left-hand column on my blog

http://timjonesbooks.blogspot.com

for more info about each of them. Thanks for asking!

Regards
Tim

Hi everyone,I'm the elusive Shanti. I've recently become active on this group again as I had no idea that it had finally taken off.

I'm 39 (next week), a Kiwi, and currently live in Auckland. However, I have lived all over the shop; the U.S., the U.K., Vietnam, and Japan.

What do I do? I have taught and lectured in English as a second language for quite a number of years until last year when I went back to uni to do my graduate diploma in Primary teaching. My interests are in literacy and social identity and I am currently looking for work in some capacity involving those...but outside of the classroom!

I'm excited to see that we are getting a nice mix of people here on Kiwi Readers and am looking forward to lots of great books and discussions:-)

Yay!!! Now we're a grown-up group! A pic and TWO moderators! Looking forward to the discussions to come.....and maybe a 'group read'...we all read the same book (polled and voted on) and review/discuss here. Whaddya think?

I've decided to put that to a poll as not everyone will come back and read this thread. That way we can find out what interest there is.

Hi Moonmidwife,
The poll is dated for today, but "today" doesn't start until it is today in the US as that is where the site is based. That's why you couldn't vote yet. I've now been in and changed the start day to the 22nd so you should be able to access it now.
Shanti

Hi Kiwi Readers,

I live in Rotorua and love reading and mountain biking (if only I could combine the two).

Having trouble sleeping tonite as it SO hot, and I've just finished my book and decided to write a review for it to post on here. Then I wondered if there were other kiwis on the site - so glad that I found you.

Hi Mekerei, I used to live in Rotorua. I hear its scorching up there.

Welcome Merkerei!
It's awesome to see our group growing:-)

Hi Mekerei....been hot in Masterton too......try propping the book on the handlebars! :-)

Hey, I'm Jennifer.
I live in wellington and would read 24/7 if I could! I love some of the books on the Kiwi readers bookshelf. I only joined Goodreads not long ago but it is always good to connect to fellow kiwi readers! I also love to dance.

Hi Jen....are you are ballet dancer? I love ballet ...

Welcome Jennifer!

No I dance jazz and Hiphop and Contemporary but adore ballet. Thanks!

So does my daughter....she teaches hip-hop part-time for the local studio and I am a Friend of the Ballet - a practical way to support the company (beyond buying a ticket of course!!).

Hi, I'm Robyn - expat Kiwi living in Beijing. I work in an International School with students from 41 different countries - although unsurprisingly we have a number of Korean students and American Chinese students. I am an avid reader - all sorts of books from work to pleasure.

Hullo ny friend....they're a quieter bunch in here than in Language and Grammar.....

Welcome Robyn. I'm also a teacher and started this group when I was still in Japan. Nice to have more expats onboard:-)
Shanti

Hi Robyn, do you teach English?

Hello, I am new to the group and was filling in a bit of time while waiting for daughter to get organised for her next taxi ride to after school activity.

I live in Auckland, originally from Lower Hutt, background various - public service, banking industry, garden design. Throughout all been great reader, belonged to a book group for past 13 years, and just recently been involved in setting one up closer to home. First meeting last night. Overall I enjoy NZ writing, a lot of it however is quite dark and heavy, and I find it all a bit tedious at times. Recently read Charlotte Grimshaw "Opportunity", which I just loved, and am very much looking forward to reading her collection "Singularity".

Welcome Kiwiflora:-)

Dear Kiwiflowa,

Hi! We aim to dispel some of the darkness and heaviness here!

Regards
Tim

Good to hear. Acutally a good read we had of NZ lit that I remembered after yesterday's post was 'The Rope of Man' by Witi Ihimaera. There are one or two in our group who like doing the 'everybody read the same book' thing which is reluctantly done by the rest of us. Mainly because the books chosen are generally not very good choices. Anyway someone chose this one, which met with mixed success. It is really two novels combined being Tangi and The Return. Overall I enjoyed reading the book although I didn't like the character he created in The Return which is the child in Tangi as an adult, Tama I think his name is. I felt Tangi was written for an NZ audience with a strong NZ flavour, but The Return was written for an audience that did not know much about NZ or Maoritanga, bit patronizing in its tone. Nevertheless I love Witi's writing, Bulibasha and Nights in the Garden on Spain being favourites. Can't go past Whale Rider either. Both my children studied this at primary school, year 6 from memory, far too young I think to understand what it is about or to appreciate it.

Kia Ora! I'm Rachel! I will be 19 soon.
I'm a first year, Canterbury University student, (Majoring in Biology). I LOVE reading, and this site is great for keeping track, though I'm also into bookcrossing.com, as I post many books overseas, for people to find in their mail box! =-D
I put up 'The Dare' for Joanna Orwin books after I met her at school, they are more 'teen reads' but they are still nice stories!
Hey Tim you books would be in the libraries right?
I'll have to keep an eye out for them!!

Bye!

Dear Rachel,

Good to hear from you. Re my books - there are 5 of them in Canty Uni library and plenty in the Christchurch library system - there are lots of "Tim Joneses", but a search on "Jones, Tim, 1959 June 15-" should find them in the catalogue.

Regards
Tim

Kia ora Rachel, and welcome to the group:-)

Cool, I'll have a look!

Hi Everyone
I recently found goodreads through a recommendation via Twitter and being a keen reader (not so hot on the writing) thought I would give it a go.

I'm a tertiary educator in Dunedin and picking up on Jen and Debbie's comments also love dance. I leave the ballet side of things to my daughters now but still do an adult jazz class each week.

Leisure reading is my pleasure time and relaxation so looking forward to lots of great recommendations and sharing thoughts.

Cheers Heather

Kia ora Heather:-)

G'day Heather

Hi everyone. I'm Kelly. I'm almost 20 and I'm working towards a science degree at UC.

Rachel introduced me to the site a couple of months back. I don't read books as often as I used to, with work, studies and running an anime and manga appreciation club on campus. But I do write some stories as well as drawing (mostly original characters), with some of my work posted on deviantArt.

Nice to hear from you, Kelly (and Heather)!

Kia ora, Kelly, and welcome:-)