News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

From magic- to gritty realism, poetry to epic prose, the minutiae of family life to the historical impact of political machinations, here are ten books written by Pacific writers, or with a Pacific setting and flavour.

1. The adventures of Vela, Albert Wendt (2009, Samoan) – a novel in verse form “where everyday matters intermingle with the chronicles of the immortal song-maker and other divine figures.” (Paula Green in the New Zealand Listener)
2. The marriage proposal, Célestine Hitiura Vaite (2007, Samoan) – also published as Breadfruit – Materena would quite like to be married but Pito isn’t so keen, then one night he drunkenly proposes and Materena finds herself in the throes of wedding preparations while keeping Pito on track.
3. Island of shattered dreams, Chantal Spitz, translated by Jean Anderson (2007, Tahitian) – the first novel published by an indigenous Tahitian writer. The story of a Tahitian family in the foreground, with the troubled political history of Tahiti and French nuclear testing as backdrop.
4. Where we once belonged, by Sia Figiel (1996, Samoan) – a coming of age novel featuring Alofa, growing up in an environment where Western and Samoan traditions and values clash.
5. Carpentaria, Alexis Wright (2006, Carpentaria – Australian) – described sometimes with reference to James Joyce’s Ulysses, Carpentaria is an epic, magic-realist tale set in the town of Desperance in the very north of Queensland.
6. The smell of the moon, Lemanatele M. Kneubuhl (2006, American Samoa) – a man seeking a complete change in his life packs up his family and moves to a South Pacific Island, whose inhabitants are a quirky and varied bunch.
7. Dark paradise, Lono Waiwaiole (2009, Hawaii) – a different sort of Hawaii from one you might expect, this one involving the methamphetamine trade and warring wannabe druglords.
8. Mister Pip, Lloyd Jones (2006, Bougainville) – the multi award winning coming of age story of Matilda, who is inspired by her teacher’s reading of Great Expectations during a time of violence and turmoil in Bougainville in the early 1990s.
9. Easter Island: a novel, Jennifer Vanderbes (2003) – the story of two women who travel to Easter Island sixty years apart, one with her scientist husband in 1913 and the other as a scientist herself in 1973, both women becoming engaged with the island and its mysterious past.
10. Galapagos, Kurt Vonnegut (1985) – a group of people take a tour to the Galapagos Islands while the world is in chaos and ruins around them.

Check out downloadable audiobook stories for children with Wellington City Libraries’ Overdrive service. Just click on ‘Browse Fiction’ to bring up the collection for children. If you click on ‘complete list’ you’ll find over 150 stories available at your fingertips – and they’re free!

The shortlist for the Orange Prize 2010 has recently been announced.  From a long list of twenty titles that included Eleanor Catton’s The Rehearsal and The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters, six novels were selected. Two are by English writers, The Very Thought of You a debut novel by Rosie Alison, and Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. The White Woman on the Green Bicycle is by Monique Roffey, who was born in Trinidad, but now lives in the United Kingdom.

The other three novels selected are all by American writers, The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver, Black Water Rising a debut novel by Attica Locke and A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore. The winner will be announced on 9^th June, 2010. More details on this year’s prize, previous prize winners and nominated writers, author biographies and novel synopsis can be found at orangeprize.co.uk

Sources: The Independent, London Evening Standard.

In the future, we will live 200 years old, we will be flying cars and live in underwater cities. Does that sound familiar? According to Paul Milo, that is exactly what our ancestors believed would happen in the twenty-first century.  Do you think you know Macbeth? Think again, because Fiona Watson shows us that the historical character had much more guts than the fictional one. And if you are keen on rough Highlanders, you’ll want to read about them in Swords for Hire. Do you want to know what other books we have in store for you? Then, check out this month’s History Recent Picks.

Check the ‘Date’ column (next to the Call Number) on the catalogue screen – if the item is ‘Available’ the date given is when it was last returned to the library.

If the date is today or yesterday it is recently returned and may be waiting to be shelved – if you’re not sure where to look library staff will be happy to help you find it.

ps – if the item is ‘On Loan’ the date given is when it is due back instead.

A few weeks ago, Miss Stephanie and I were interviewed by the Dom Post for an article on the thriving local zine scene, which was published in Saturday’s Indulgence section. The article focuses on superstar zine makers Bryce Galloway and Matt Whitwell, as well as up and comers Arlo Heynes and Wendy Allardice, all of whose work is now conveniently on display here at your friendly zine library.

If you missed the article, you can check it out on Press Display or come on in; we’ve put a copy on our zine display area on the first floor of Central Library.

Try looking it up using Oxford Reference Online – from famous quotes to Greek gods, you can find the answers you need with these quality online reference sources.

Graphic novels lend themselves well to movie adaptations, and there have been a few quality ones in the last few years, with cinematographic imagery ranging from realism (Road to Perdition) through looks-like-a-graphic-novel (Sin City and 300, for example) to animation (Persepolis). Here are ten graphic novels that have been converted to successful films, all of which are available from Wellington City Libraries.

1. Sin City, graphic novel series by Frank Miller, DVD (2005, recut and extended edition)
2. Persepolis, complete graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi (2007), DVD (2007, the film won the Jury Prize at Cannes that year)
3. 300, again graphic novel by Frank Miller (2005), DVD (2007)
4. V for Vendetta, graphic novel by Alan Moore (1990), DVD (2006, starring Natalie Portman and Hugo Weaving)
5. A History of Violence, graphic novel by John Wagner (1997), DVD (2006)
6. Road to Perdition, graphic novel by Max Allan Collins and Richard Piers Rayner (1998), DVD (2003, won the Best Cinematography Oscar in 2003)
7. Ghost World, graphic novel by Daniel Clowes (1996),  DVD (2003, with a pre-fame Scarlett Johansson)
8. Akira, graphic novel series by Katsuhiro Otomo, DVD (1987)
9. Ghost in the Shell, graphic novel by Masamune Shirow (1995), DVD (1995)
10. The Surrogates, graphic novel by Robert Venditti (2006), DVD (Surrogates) available soon!

Our travel selection this month blows hot and cold. From the heat of Mallorca to the freezing plains of Siberia, you’ll experience a wide range of sceneries thanks to our selection. For example, you can go to the worst places on Earth – that is, according to Chuck Thompson -, you can experience South India, or get to know Disney World inside out thanks to Bill Burke. And if you have a soft spot for France, Spain, or Eco Chic accommodations, check out this month’s Travel Recent Picks.

You are spoilt for choice with our cook books’ selection this month. No less than thirty books to choose from: hearty dishes, chocolate recipes, many desserts and Mediterranean fare amongst others. We also have books dealing with feeding your family on a tight schedule, cooking up amazing breakfasts and brunches, or re-acquainting ourselves with the lost Art of Cooking. And if you think that’s not nearly enough, check out for more in this month’s Cooking Recent Picks.