New Zealand/Aotearoa Recent Picks

October 2004

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	Slipping into paradise : why I live in New Zealand by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson. (2004) "Jeff Masson is one of the world's most erudite polymaths. He is also a brilliant and original thinker. So, naturally, even in paradise he is restless, but then any paradise devoid of the spice of intellectual quest and moral debate would be tedious. One does not so much as 'slip' into Masson's paradise as take a razorback ride, full of wit and insight, through his views on culture, national identity, public intellectuals, New Zealand history, New Zealand flora, fauna and beaches. There is never a dull moment, and I suspect that this book will cause a further surge in the tourist boom to the Land of the Long White Cloud." (Janette Turner Hospital, author)
	Book book by Fiona Farrell. (2004) "As war is waged in the Middle East, a woman in New Zealand has her nose in a book. Kate is immersed in other battles, engrossed in eye-witness accounts of an earlier war in ancient Persia. She has grown up, left her Otago home and returned, and in all these years books have shaped her life and made sense of the world - offering mystery and solace, entertainment and enlightenment. In an evocative and moving mix of memoir and fiction, award winning novelist Fiona Farrell writes of life from The Little Red Hen to Owls do Cry, from T.S. Eliot to Aphra Ben." (Randomhouse)
	Heart songs: readings for weddings compiled by Pinky Agnew. (2004) "A collection of poems, prayers, readings and prose pieces suitable for reading aloud at weddings and commitment ceremonies. It offers a range of material, from traditional to contemporary. The increasing popularity of non-religious ceremonies mean couples are free to - and do - use a wide range of texts in their wedding service. Today's couple is looking for a unique way of expressing their commitment, one that reflects their personal style. Pinky Agnew is a professional wedding celebrant who has married over 200 couples. She is a high profile performer and media personality, and she lives in Wellington." (RandomHouse)
	Ernst Plischke : das Neue Bauen und die Neue Welt : das Gesamtwerk by Eva B. Ottilinger, August Sarnitz. (2004) "Revered in his homeland, Austrian architect Ernst Plischke (1903-1992) was a key figure in the introduction of international modernism into New Zealand architecture and design. After emigrating to New Zealand in 1939, Plischke designed private houses, worked in town planning, received significant public commissions, and wrote and spoke extensively on modernist architecture." (Courtney Johnston - City Gallery Wellington) "This monograph showcases the astounding scope of Plischke's accomplishments: his private residences and apartment buildings, high-rises and churches, furniture design and plans for entire towns. Numerous drawings, blueprints and colour photographs along with informative essays explore Plischke's key role in bringing Modernist architecture to New Zealand." (Book jacket) Plischke's life and career has been translated into English to mark the City Gallery Wellington exhibition 'Ernst Plischke: Architect' (5 September-28 November 2004).

From breadballs to Brazil, and beyond by Bonnie Kennedy-Grant ; with photographs by Ralph Talmont. (2004)
"This is not your average embroidery book. It is a delightful collection of craft , embroidery and patchwork inspirations interspersed with anecdotes, snippets of history and personal recollections. As she 'flits from flower to flower' we get the strong feeling that it's all about having fun. It is also a personal plea to all readers to have the confidence to create their own designs, to go beyond their comfort zones and reap a very real reward of self achievement." (Book flap) "Eclectic, eccentric and enchanting, Bonnie Kennedy-Grant's embroidery and sewing transcend ordinary work to become art. Her eye for colour is natural, her taste exquisite, her skill extraordinary." (Shona Koea)

The 48-hour day : working mothers tell it like it is by Sarah Boyd. (2004)
"This book contains interesting, detailed stories of working women balancing family and jobs, plus a great deal of useful information, advice and ideas for families, presented in an attractive and accessible way. Interviewees include: MP Katherine Rich; actor Miranda Harcourt; Shelley Dew-Hopkins, a regional Federated Farmers president; and Lisa Sproat, who set up the JK Kids clothing empire. THE 48-HOUR DAY also has photographs, tips and advice and an appendix outlining the law affecting parents, including the new parental leave provision. Sarah Boyd is a journalist with 15 years experience. She has two young children. She works two days a week as a producer for the Nine to Noon show on National Radio with Linda Clark." (RandomHouse)

The look of Masterton : a celebration of 150 years, 1854-2004 by Gareth Winter. (2004)
"The look of Masterton tells of the town's beginnings and progress over the last 150 years. Witrh an informative text indicating the milestones along the way, the story is principally told through a collection of photographs - many published for the first time - that brilliantly evoke Masterton's transformation from wooden village to thriving 21st century town. Gareth Winter, a widely resoected authority on Wairarapa history, is archivist at the Wairarapa archive." (Cover)

The look of Greytown : New Zealand's first planned inland town 1854-2004 by Chris Slater and Ian F. Grant. (2004)
"Greytown was New Zealand's first planned town. Many towns develop haphazardly, their existence and growth determined by the needs of settlers in the area and the economic conditions at the time. But Greytown - along with Masterton - was the practical expression of the dream of a group of early Wellington and Hutt Valley settlers that working class families should be able to purchase their own land." (Book jacket)

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