The lovely Black Sheep has created a great new social site for New Zealand and Australian book bloggers to connect – Books Down Under. Fantastic idea!
Text Publishing, RRP $39, ISBN 9781921656309, Available now. SO GOOD. Two words that sum up my entire reaction to this fabulous book. Yes, this is another crime/thriller but I have nothing bad to say about this one – what amazing writing! What fantastic characterisation! What a stunning hold on pacing and tension Hyland has! Gunshot Road is Hyland’s follow up to Diamond Dove and, like that title, follows Emily Tempest – the new Aboriginal Community Police Officer for the outback town of Bluebush. We get straight into the problems involved for Emily in dealing with her white bosses and her Aboriginal friends and townmates, problems which only get compounded with the death of an old friend in a seemingly open and shut murder. Emily, though, suspects that there is nothing open and shut about the case and embarks on an investigation of her own, one that puts her in physical danger. The [...read more...]
The Crime of Huey Dunstan by James NcNeish, Text Publishing (Australia) & Random House (New Zealand), RRP AU$32.95 & NZ$36.99. I was intrigued by this title purely because it was written by James McNeish – a New Zealand author who I confess I hadn’t yet read. The Crime of Huey Dunstan is narrated by Professor Chesney (a psychologist who specialises in trauma and also happens to blind) who recounts to us his involvement in the trial of Huey Dunstan – a young man accused of a killing that he very definitely did commit – but the question that Professor Chesney investigates is why? And what could this mean within New Zealand’s laws regarding provocation? You can probably see where this is going by now, and really it doesn’t take much. The story is not so much in the plot points but in the head space of its characters and the machinations [...read more...]
BookieMonster’s Bookshop
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Jun 262010
Buy them books! Reader alert – I’ve now got secondhand and new books for sale in BookieMonster’s Bookshop. And, if you’re wondering how it all works and how you go about buying and paying, I’ve also set up a page of Shopping Information. Coming up look out for donation-only books for sale in the Bookshop, these will be books where you get to choose how much you want to pay for them – and that includes $0 if you decide! Shipping costs will be as usual. Them books, them books, them… cool books.
Okay peoples, I have decided to compile a list of book related peoples on Twitter. To make it a little easier to go through I’ve divided them into rough groups. If you think I’ve left you off the list (woops, sorry) or you don’t want to be on the list (woops again) or you think I’ve put you in the wrong group (hey, I’m human you know) then please feel free to speak up! This is a totally moveable feast, as they say. Publishing @Auckland_UP @FergusVUP @VUPBooks @RHNZ @HarperNZ @phantom_house @PearsonNZ @penguinbooksnz @nztaylor Writers @EmilyJPerkins @ElizabethKnoxNZ @writehandedgirl @rachaelking70 @discorobot @EyelashYoung @CherylBernstein @chrisjtse @hamish_keith @modernletters @TinaMakereti @PipAdam @hinemoana @Aybrow @Lee_Pletzers @HelenRickerby @NaliniSingh @Helen__Heath @FakeChadTaylor @zenpeacekeeper @timjonesbooks @PCLittle @AliceandRachel @wendylnissen @BrownSpeak @NigelLatta @kiwiwriters @nickypellegrino @impossiblecat @rgoodchild @samelworthy @Artandmylife @pjkmorris @paul_shannon @lytteltonian @Craig_Cliff @harrismint @anna_caro_nz @AdrienneRewi @marydanae @Vampyr14 @ChrisBellNZ @MareeAnderson @amandaashby @sarahantz @lemonemma @harvestbird @ehjc @southernkbelz @rabarts @lynnejamneck @rippatton @gearsgeary @peajayar @FifiColston @traviscottreau [...read more...]
This might be a slight shock to regular readers of my blog but, yes, reading Dune was one of my life changing moments in reading. The shock will come from a distinct lack of anything science-fiction related on this blog – yes I love Terry Pratchett (but he’s really fantasy if anything, right?) but sci-fi just does not figure hugely in my reading world. I have to admit I have the same problem with most sci-fi that I have with most fantasy – it’s far too formulaic. And yes, I know, there will be plenty of fans out there who will probably absolutely fume and rant at that statement. Sorry! But let me redeem myself by telling everyone that if they only read one piece of sci-fi crazy ponytime writing let it be Dune by Frank Herbert. I first read Dune when I was around about 12? Maybe? (It’s so [...read more...]
Extra BookieMonster Blathery Goodness!