The Well Read Kitty

Getting the bum's rush

2012-01-13T17:05:00.000-08:00

I realised yesterday that we are almost two weeks through the year and I have only managed to read two books. Eeek! If I have any hope of surpassing last year's amount of books read in a year - 87 - than I better crack on.

Which is why I told my boyfriend "sorry, can't do housework today Honey or pack for moving house in two weeks time, I have to read." He's currently not speaking to me (which actually isn't a bad thing: no interruptions of my reading!).

So what was book number two this year? The Girls Guide to Homelessness by Brianna Karp - she's a very smart, articulate woman that finds herself living in a trailer on a Walmart parking lot after losing her job in the recession. It shows another side to homelessness - that anyone is vulnerable (I'm sure I read somewhere most people are 2 lost paychecks away from homelessness): it is not just those with alcohol or drug addictions or mental health issues that are forced to live on the streets. I didn't always agree with her choices (eg: using backpayment of unemployment benefits to fly her internet love out from Scotland to the US for a month instead of putting it towards bond/rent on an apartment/house) but it was eye opening, thought provoking and strangely, also very entertaining.

I'm already 42% (thank you Kindle) through book number 3: You Deserve Nothing By Alexander Maksik. This novel has one the least interesting/inspiring cover designs I have seen and yep, I totally judged the book by it. I only became interested in the novel when the scandal broke, and as mentioned before, I love me a good literary scandal.

You Deserve Nothing is about a teacher who works at a school in Paris for westerners and is kind of a “Dead Poets Society” style inspiration to his students. He just happens to be having an affair with one of his female pupils who gets pregnant to him and eventually has an abortion after their relationship is revealed.

As it turns out, the “fictional story” is more or less autobiographical and the author was the supposedly fictional teacher. His former students have said parts of the story happened almost identically to what happened in the real world and the girl he was “romancing” is said to be extremely upset about the affair being rehashed – especially to the critical acclaim the book first received prior to the scandal.

All this makes the way Maksik has written the book extremely interesting. It's in three voices: that of the teacher Will Silver, Gilad one of his male students who is enamoured in a completely asexual way with him and Marie, the girl he is having the affair with. Writing from her perspective, putting thoughts and words into her mouth... well I dunno, is that brave or stupid or naive or incredibly hurtful?

So what did I think so far...well knowing that he is writing about himself makes some of the glowing descriptions of the teacher (charming, sexy, brilliant, attractive, inspirational, life changing...you get my drift) a bit, well wanky to be honest. And the fact he claims this as fiction when his former students say it is more or less verbatim what happened makes him look cowardly and weak. Check out this article about the whole sorry, sordid mess.

All in all it smacks a little of James Frey doesn't it - just in reverse. At least Mr Frey was honest enough in the end to admit he was wrong. Mr Maksik on the other hand, has remained deathly quiet and is clearly riding out the storm. As a random aside he is the first author I have come across that has an invite only Twitter account.

If it makes me a hypocrite for continuing to read this book knowing the above, so be it. There's no denying Alexander Maksik is a skilled writer and I'm interested to see how he paints himself as the affair progresses.

I'll keep you posted.

And we're off! (My reading year that is)

2012-01-03T22:50:00.000-08:00

Despite a heavy head cold (in summer!) doing its darndest to render me miserable and incapable of lifting my head off the pillow for more than ten minutes at a time, I have finished my first book of 2012!

It was When She Woke by Hillary Jordan - a futuristic retelling of The Scarlett Letter.

The premise completely grabbed me when I spotted it in the tree-book shops before New Years and I rushed home to buy it - on ebook...

Which has actually got me thinking and counting and realising: the last seven books I've read have all been ebooks. I am loving the format more and more: I should really write that post about why I made the move to digital that I've been threatening for awhile huh?

But for now, the realisation above is enough to prod me to go and look at my (dusty, forlorn) treebooks waiting to be read bookcase and liberate something from it!

2011 – What a varied reading year you’ve been!

2011-12-30T23:33:00.000-08:00

Like an icy cold margarita slushie on a hot summer's day, so refreshing has been my year of reading for me. No reading for reviewing, just pure unadulterated reading for pleasure. And I have clearly loved it - I finish with the career best figure of 87.5 not out. (The 0.5 is for Save Me by Lisa Scottoline which started great but quickly left me wishing someone would save me from the author's continual (over)use of the phrase "she hit the gas." Honestly, it's got to the point where it set my teeth on edge each time she does it...which was every 3-4 pages.)

So here are my personal highs and lows...

The book I think about the most: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua.

Voy! Amy Chua isn’t a mum to be messed with. The measures she goes to in an effort to have her two daughters achieve at the highest level totally blew this Kiwi kid’s mind…and also weirdly, left me a little jealous. Sophia and Lulu excel academically and musically to heights I can only imagine. Of course the flip side to this success was the hundreds of pain filled hours of homework and practise, tears and tantrums from both the children and their mum.

My animal-lit choice of the year: I’m a sucker for a good animal story and you’d be hard pressed to find one better than Bonobo Handshake by Vanessa Woods.

My interest in Bonobos was started by the fiction novel Ape House by Sara Gruen (she of Water for Elephants fame). These clever, extremely promiscuous creatures on the verge of extinction are our closest relatives and yet we hear very little about them. I defy you to read Vanessa’s hilarious, moving and informative account http://wellreadkitty.blogspot.com/2011/02/january-animal-lit.html) of her time working at Lola La Bonobo Sanctuary in the Congo and not fall a little bit in love with these fascinating, frisky apes.

Surprise of the year: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell.

I’ve kinda given up on chick lit – along with thousands of other women it would seem as sales of this genre have plummeted in the last year. But Attachments was a glorious, unabashedly feel good story for women to fall a little bit in love with.

Maybe some of it was the nostalgia factor it evoked (if 12 years ago can qualify as nostalgia inducing) when we were all just getting to grips with this fancy fandangled thing called the internet. Or the simple but sweet forbidden love story which sees online security geek Lincoln fall for unlucky in love Beth – even though he only knows her through reading the emails she shares with her besty Jennifer that come up on his security alert list. Or even the sparklingly funny dialogue, cringe worthy (and very real) situations they all found themselves in.

Whatever it was, I loved this book far more than I expected to and it has become my go-to recommendation for anyone wanting a return to the glory days of chick lit writing.

Disappointment of the year: "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" - Aimee Bender

Fantastic, evocative title with an exciting and fresh premise. Really disappointing book. Made me realise I don’t really do magical realism as a genre though so not all bad.

Honourable mention: "When God Was A Rabbit" - Sarah Winman – some beautiful turns of phrase but way too many huge coincidences and no real emotional connections. Just didn’t do it for me. *Shrug*

Great story ruined by a saccharine sweet/unbelievable ending: "The Story of Beautiful Girl" - Rachel Simon. On the proverbial dark and stormy night in the late 1960s, two runaways turn up on the doorstep of an old woman’s home. Homan is Black and deaf, Lynnie is white and mute. They carry with them a secret – their forbidden love in the institution they live in has produced a baby. When the authorise catch them, Lynnie speaks just two soft but important words: “hide her.” And so retired schoolteacher and widow Martha does just that, taking baby Julia and raising her as her own.

As the ending approached, having already forgiven some fairly large coincidences, I started to get nervous. It was clear the author had two paths open to her to conclude her story and as I read along, I started to get a sickening sense she was going to go for the happily ever after ending. I stopped reading, tweeted about it, hoped really hard and then ploughed back in…and got the very thing I dreaded.

Note to authors: it’s okay to not give your characters Hollywood endings. In fact sometimes we readers really really like it when you don’t. Just saying.

Why did it take me so long to get round to reading it: "The Tenderness of Wolves" - Stef Penney

This book has been languishing on Mount TBR for years. It was the winner of the 2006 Costa Award and came with rave reviews…and maybe that is the very reason I left it for so long. More fool me. A beautiful, intriguing, slow burning novel with evocative descriptions of the bleak Canadian winter wilderness amid the murder mystery.

A novel I just plain loved: "Delirium" - Lauren Oliver

“They say that the cure will make me happy and safe forever. And I’ve always believed them. Until now. Now everything has changed. Now, I’d rather be infected […] for the tiniest sliver of a second than live a hundred years smothered by a lie.”

Amor Deliria Nervosa, the disease of love. Residents of Portland, USA fear it, can’t wait to turn 18 and receive “the cure,” Lena included. That is, until she meets Alex, an “invalid” from The Wilds…

An awesome YA novel which I was delighted to learn was the first of a trilogy because it ends on a gasping-for-breath cliff hanger.

This is the novel that also got me out of my comfort zone and enjoying books set in dystopian societies… The Hunger Games, Never Let Me Go, I am Number Four…

Happy New Year everyone!

Bookie things I'm loving right now...

2011-12-19T02:04:00.000-08:00

1. This article about Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney. My 10 year old nephew is a great fan of his books; I'm a great fan of the man himself. Despite being one of the highest selling children's authors currently in the world, he still works the same full time job he had before Wimpy Kid went batsh*t crazy with kids everywhere. He actually slots his writing/creating time into around nine months of his nights and weekends. I so admire that. Possibly his wife doesn't: :P

2. This pic...

... which got me thinking of all the other literary star crossed lovers you could swap names into: Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler, Henry DeTamble and Clare Abshire, Edward and Bella (*shudder*), Cecelia Tallis and Robbie Turner, the lead male + the lead female in any of Nicholas Sparks' books, Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall, Tatiana Metanova and Alexander Belov, Bridget Jones and Mark Darcy... or is that Daniel Cleaver?

I could on and on (feel free to add yours in the comments box!)

3. This lovely bit of whimsy from the clever people at Flavourwire: if everyone's favourite depressed literary donkey had an ipod, what tunes would he be playing?

4. The new Stephen King novel, 11/22/63. I haven't picked up a book by the horror master since I was a teenager. This one, while shaping up to have a few supernatural elements, is most assuredly not a horror: it is however, extremely good! It comes with a very interesting premise - a portal to 1958 is in a dying diner owner's storeroom and he asks local high school teacher Jake Epping to go back in time and stop the assassination of President John Kennedy. Time however doesn't always want to be changed...

The Kindle app tells me I am 54% through it and although I am not finished, I can tell you that it is in need of a firm edit. That's not stopping me from really enjoying it and I have found myself thinking about it in quiet moments throughout my day - always a sign of a winner.

5. The proliferation of posts of clever people making Christmas trees towers out of books - some complete with lights!

6. And speaking of Christmas...the sweet anticipation of the morning of December 25 and the lovely books and/or book vouchers I'm hoping to receive!

Meri Kirihimete everyone!

Dedication Page by Jo Emeney

2011-12-10T01:00:00.000-08:00

So during my bloggy hiatus something quite momentous happened in my life: I got engaged!

Of course this means lots of reading of wedding books/magazines/websites for inspiration or in my case, lots of shock at the outrageous amounts of money spent on just one (albeit special) day - you could buy thousands upon thousands of books with the budgets of some nuptials.

But in my searches I have stumbled upon a most beautiful poem that I would love to have read at my wedding, whenever that may be. It may take some convincing of my beloved though - he's not a reader at all, nor much into poetry. But hopefully when he hears it he will be moved by its gorgeous bookie charm.

Dedication Page
by Jo Emeney

Let us be books together
you and I.
Let us closely lie
stacked two-tiered,

backs touching,
spine-edges spooning,

soft cloth-bound
and gilt-edged

on some antique
pleasantly dusty ledge.

Let us read each other
without having to look

at the words.
Let our time be spent

between the lines –
open content exposed,

inhaling our life's promise
like new-cut pages' scent.

Let us be prequel and sequel,
equal to the story we tell today:

our once upon a time.
Our wedding day.

Let us vow to stay
companion volumes

always.

Ereaders...

2011-12-03T00:08:00.000-08:00

Love em or hate em, they are everywhere right now. Yup ereaders. Kindle, Kobo, Sony, tablet - so many options and so many differing points of view...and some really interesting statistics coming out about them.

For example, a survey in the US has shown "as much as 32% of ereader users read from 11 to 20 books a year – twice as much as readers of traditional books."

Isn't that awesome? I mean who cares HOW people reading, just as long as they ARE reading. As bookies we all know the amazing benefits of reading - increased knowledge, vocabulary and written ability, reduction of stress levels, and improved memory. If more people are doing it and experiencing the positives, then isn't that the most important thing?

And ebook sellers will be heartened by the survey as well: ebook readers tend to buy more books per year than "traditional" book buyers. So ebooks are good for the economy too, which needs all the help it can get in these very troubling financial times. (Okay, that might be stretching it a bit :P)

Here's a graphic of some of the survey results for you to mull over. Meanwhile, I'm off to read on my *gasp!* ereader. Yes I joined "the dark side." I'll tell you all about my conversion next week.

After an unintended hiatus...

2011-12-01T21:53:00.000-08:00

After an unintended hiatus...

in which I completely lost my blogging mojo....

I think I'm back!

Well...let's not scare me off...baby steps on this one and see shall we?

(Feel free to stroke my ego and tell me how much you've missed me :P :P :P)

Also, please read the new post below!

Two years! Two years! I'd have given up long ago...

2011-12-01T21:27:00.000-08:00

I was doing my Christmas shopping online (hurrah for Book Depository!) when I came across a book by Mem Fox called Where is the Green Sheep.

I started googling to find out more and whether it would be suitable for one of the little people in our family and I discovered an awesome post she had made on her website about the book. Now it is quite long but if you have some spare time (wishful thinking? Especially at this time of year I know), I really highly recommend it. I always thought children’s picture book authors had it so easy: plonk a few words down on a page, rhyming if you want to be tricky, and wallah! Well, was I in for a surprise…

It took Mem two years to complete this book – all 190 words of it. (Oh and as an aside she tells us that 188 of those words have only one syllable!). She wrote and rewrote hundreds of drafts, scrutinizing every word, every syllable, every combination of words to get the book to be very best it could. She even includes an early draft and the finished product so you can get a sense for how much they are worked on and revised – I think the only similarities between the two versions is they both contain a green sheep!

I also didn’t know that picture book authors generally write in isolation: they have a concept, thrash it out until they have a story, send it off to the publisher and that’s it. The publisher takes over, gets someone to put illustrations to your blood sweat and tears and sends it out to market. If you are lucky you will have some input on the illustrator but mostly not – only really if you are a children’s book high flyer like Mem Fox can you get that sort of treatment. Amazing isn’t it.

And that is why I could never be a children’s picture book author: giving over my “baby” that I had slaved on for weeks/months/years and not having any control over what the illustrations that go with it will look like. Oh and that I have not even an iota of enough patience to agonise over a 200 word book for two years!

Anyway, as I said, if you have the time to read it I do recommend – it’s written in Mem’s very easy and engaging style and you will learn some fascinating stuff about the mind of a children’s author.

Oh you might need the link huh? It's here: http://www.memfox.net/green-sheep-secrets.html

And lastly, please don't tell my partner's niece this is her Christmas present from Auntie Kelly!

Review: Sophie’s Legacy: a mother’s story of a family’s loss and their quest for change.

2011-08-13T22:45:00.000-07:00

Sophie’s Legacy: a mother’s story of a family’s loss and their quest for change.
- Lesley Elliott with William J O’Brien

We all know Lesley Elliott has been through hell: her beautiful, smart and talented daughter was viciously stabbed and mutilated in her bedroom at the hands of her former boyfriend, Clayton Weatherston. In her own words, Lesley tells of the horror of hearing Sophie’s cries as she was attacked, of breaking into the room and seeing her violated body, of fleeing for her own safety already knowing in her heart her vivacious daughter was dead.

As if this wasn’t enough, Weatherston pleaded not guilty and the Elliott family was forced to watch as day after day he attempted to trash her reputation to save his own skin using the defence of provocation. This incredibly emotional and compelling read tells of Lesley and her family’s unbearable anguish at Sophie’s brutal slaying, their suffering at the protracted and often unfeeling judicial system and their pursuit of changes to how victims and their families are treated.

Sophie and her mum were incredibly close. Their relationship transcended the usual mother and daughter bond: they were also friends and confidants. As Sophie was caught up in a swirling, unpredictable, controlling relationship with Weatherston, Lesley watched her daughter lose her ease and confidence and often consoled and counselled her about this unbalanced and unhealthy match.

With her recently honours degree behind her, Sophie was just one day away from heading to Wellington and a much coveted position at Treasury, leaving behind her tumultuous relationship with Weatherson.

I knew going in this was going to be a very difficult read and I wasn’t mistaken. Lesley’s pain transcended the pages and grabbed at my own heart. I cried for Sophie; a beautiful girl on the cusp of a brilliant future. Lesley’s diary entries to Sophie were particularly tough reading as she sort to make sense of her death and the lengthy legal process they endured to achieve justice.

And though she has suffered unspeakably, Lesley has found the courage to create a foundation in Sophie’s honour, to raise awareness among young women of the signs of controlling, unhealthy relationships and where they can go for help. It is truly a fitting legacy.

Rest in peace Sophie.

Saying goodbye to Frankie.

2011-08-05T22:09:00.000-07:00

This is a post not about books, but about kitties. Specifically one kitty; our beloved ball of fur and purr Frankie.

I knew we were heading for bad news. Somehow over the last month I didn't see, or didn't want to see, that she had been declining. Miss Puss as she is also known, (other aliases include Frankienstein, Frankie Puss and Frankles) was diagnosed with Feline Aids earlier this year after developing an awful infection in the nail beds of all four paws. As if this wasn't enough, in amongst all the infection our vet found a tumour on one of her toes. She bravely came through amputation surgery and the indignity of having her paws bathed daily to keep the infection at bay since her own immune system just could not fight it.

Poor wee girl.

And I mean wee - she barely makes it to the 4kg mark and I am sure a quarter of that could be attributed to her beautiful long pelt. It's the kind of luxurious fur coat ladies in the roaring 20s would have loved to wrap around them but is a total b*tch to keep knot free. Luckily she loves to be brushed...well to a point… and naturally that point is to her tum where the most fearsome tangles reside. I leave that job to my honeypot - after all, she’s “his” cat; Miss Puss and my partner were a two piece package in the same way I came to our relationship with Paddy and Guntha and the motto "Love me, love my cats." We became a blended fur family three and a half years ago when we moved in together.

Like with most combination families, ours took some time to adjust and settle into something resembling harmony. Despite that long coat, Frankie is the most laid back, non-demanding member of our furbabies. She loves hanging out in the garden: at #ruralparadise she can often be found on top of the water tank or on the woodshed roof. She's not a foodie - except when it comes to beef mince, everything else she adopts an air of "Oh, I'll eat it if I must!" whereas the boys will hoff down theirs without chewing half the time, and then start eyeing up hers as she daintily picks each mouthful.

She also never begs for attention; to do so would be totally beneath her. Where Guntha and Paddy will dive bomb your lap repeatedly for affection, you feel a real sense of honour when Frankie alights on your knee. Usually she chooses a spot around the house that she will sleep in for perhaps a week before changing her mind and selecting another one. Recently it was the hot water cupboard. Then the kitchen floor in front of the oven. Now her spot of choice is on top of one of my partner's free standing stereo speakers. The later, while on the face of it an odd choice, makes sense when you know it is right next to the fire.

Sleeping on the speaker also serves as a cunning way to block Paddy and Guntha from coming into the lounge; it is situated right next to the doorway into the hall which we have blocked with a kiddie gate on account of my rabbit Bonnie who resides in the living room. For some reason the boys don't like jumping all the way over the gate; instead they jump on top of the speaker (even though it's higher) and then over to the other side. But with little Miss Puss in residence atop the speaker they are stuck either in or out of the lounge. Three and a half years living together and we are still working on that loving/tolerant step-family dynamic!

But on Thursday night when I picked her up from her spot on the speaker, I noticed something that beautiful silken coat had been hiding. Underneath it she was terribly thin and with a heavy heart we took her to the vet this morning.

The vet only got as far as "Okay, so I've found two large masses" before I started sobbing. Miss Puss has a tumour in her neck and one in her stomach. Given her age (12+ years - she's an SPCA cat so no exact age known), the size and location of the masses and the feline aids, our vet Aileen, who has been through the whole horrible decline of Frankie’s health this year, advised us to end her suffering.

So tonight we will brush her one last time, shower her with affection, love and warmth and tell her how much we love her and what she means to us. Tomorrow we will do that most unbearable of things: say goodbye one last time to someone you love.

It hurts so much I can’t bear it.

3672

2011-06-05T23:40:00.000-07:00

Based on my age and if I continue reading at the same weekly rate, I only have time to read a further 3672 books.

*gulp*

This does mean that, in theory, I should clear my TBR bookcase (which hovers somewhere around the 200 book mark at last count) which will make my boyfriend happy at least.

Visit this nifty wee website and leave a comment with your number. Are you happy with your number? :P

I have found my Mecca.

2011-05-25T21:04:00.000-07:00

Every year thousands of pilgrims make their way to their holy lands: Jews to Israel, Muslims to Mecca...and now book lovers to Buenos Aires.

The city which has been named the 2011 World Book Capital has built a beautiful 25 metre high installation of over 30,000 books donated from libraries, readers and more than 50 embassies.

Called the "Tower of Babel" it stretches for seven floors and visitors to the tower climb its interior scaffolding while listening to music composed by creator, Argentine artist Martaor Minujin, and her voice artist repeating the word 'book' in scores of languages.

Minujin, who worked with American artist Andy Warhol, built a full-scale model of the Parthenon in Buenos Aires in 1983 using books banned by the military dictatorship that ended that year.

This year's installation marks Buenos Aires' naming as the 2011 World Book Capital by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

"We've been laying books for 10 days straight," Sebastian Atienza, 26, who works for the company that built the tower under Minujin's supervision. "But it's worth it. It's where all languages come together."

Within the tour, Japanese children's books lay alongside adventure tales from Patagonia and Basque translation of Argentina's epic cowboy poem Martin Fierro in an epic salute to literacy.

Sadly, tomorrow is the last day the structure will stand. Deconstruction will begin on May 28 but Minujin said literature lovers will be allowed to come and pick one book each. The remaining books will start a new archive that she has already been dubbed The Library of Babel, the name of a story by Argentina's most famous author, Jorge Luis Borges.

More gorgeous photos here.

I adore everything about this amazing art installation and fervently wish I could have jumped on a plane and seen it myself. Such a pity it couldn't have been a permanent fixture.

John Cleese Memoir to pay the bills

2011-05-10T01:13:00.000-07:00

I'm not one to hold grudges, but for John Cleese I make an exception.

Call me petty but five years on I have still not forgiven him for those infamous, scathing comments he made about my beloved hometown Palmerston North.

So it's fair to say I am not exactly waiting with baited breath for the memoir Mr Cleese is now writing.

The 71 year old has been forced to put pen to paper to help fund his 12.2 million pound divorce settlement from third wife Alyce Faye Eichelbergerw which left her richer than the comedian/actor. The pair did not sign a prenuptual agreement before they wed in December 1992. (Cleese is now dating a woman 31 years his junior).

The book, to be entitled 'The Maintenance Memoirs', will be written by the Monty Python funnyman and an official biographer, with them each taking it in turns to write a page. The book is thought to be able to command an advance of around £2 million from potential publishers.

I wonder if his comments on Palmy, the public furore it created and the cities' revenge will get a mention in the book?

A little literature with your cocoa pops?

2011-04-26T01:22:00.000-07:00

An ambitious, outside the (cereal) box idea to promote childhood reading is coming to breakfast tables in the UK.

Publishers Puffin have partnered with UK supermarket chain Asda and the estate of beloved children's author Roald Dahl and will publish excerps from some of his most popular titles on the backs of 10 million cereal boxes.

Managing director of Puffin-owned Penguin Children's Books Francesca Dow, said she hoped the snipets from perenial favourites such as The Twits, Witches, The BFG and Danny the Champion of the World, would spur children on to wanting to read the whole book.

They have chose extracts that are "the most immediately exciting bit, something that plunges you straight into the story," she said.

So......what do you think of this novel approach to promoting literacy? I've got the proverbial devil and angel on my shoulder about this one. Let me explain.

On the one hand, anything that gets kids interested in reading is a brilliant thing and if that happens to be a packet of cornflakes then so be it.

However on the other hand, the purist in me thinks it's kind of tarnishing the "Roald Dahl brand" by having his stories printed on a weety box. It's not really...becoming of this amazingly imaginative, talanted man. Or so says the book snob in me anyway.

But wait, there's more.

Okay so Roald Dahl is a tried and true author that kids lap up like I do lattes. Why not use undiscovered/up and coming authors instead, to introduce children to a wide variety of writers and genres? After all, most children are going to be exposed to the magic of Dahl anyway, so why not try something different?

I'd love to know what you think.

I love me a good literary scandal....

2011-04-20T03:17:00.001-07:00

So the hotly anticipated (by me anyway) 60 Minutes story on Three Cups of Tea author Greg Mortenson has aired and is now available online: http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/60minutes/main3415.shtml

It's certainly very damming but Mortenson is so far unrepentant. Here is an article from the Washington Post with some rebuttal from him.

I don't think Mr Mortenson is doing himself any favours at the moment with his very thin excuses. Maybe it's time he manned up and told the truth - not just about the facts in his book but what schools actually have been built and how he can justify the massive amounts of money he accepts from his charity for "book expenses" despite earning tens of thousands of dollars in appearance fees.

With all this going on, I have finally picked up my copy of Mortenson's first book "Three Cups of Tea" but am finding it difficult: there’s a little voice in my head going “liar, liar, pants on fire!” as I read.

And I remembered why this book has languished on my TBR shelf for such a long time. The introduction, written by journalist David Oliver Relin who also cowrites the book, lays on the love for Mortenson thicker than Dame Edna lays on makeup. Maybe I have a bit of that that great Kiwi knocking machine in me that doesn't take well to exalting achievements loud and proud or extravagant public displays of adulation for others. Relin would have us all worshipping at the alter of Mortenson given half a chance. I wonder if he still feels the same now he has been hung out to dry somewhat in Mortenson's rebuttal?

But I will plough on with the book; as even his most ardent detractors have acknowledged, Mortenson has done some truly amazing things for Pakistani and Afghani people. I wonder why he felt what he has achieved wasn't enough and needed to be embellished?

A new literary scandal brews...

2011-04-16T05:41:00.000-07:00

All eyes in the book world will be on 60 Minutes on Sunday night (US time) as they reveal allegations against inspirational author Greg Mortenson that stories in his best selling memoirs are blatantly untrue.

After a failed attempt to scale the world's second largest mountain, K2, an exhausted and lost Mortenson apparently stumbled into a Pakistani village where the kindness and warmth he received led him to build a school there.

But 60 Minutes allege many stories in the book that resulted from this experience, "Three Cups of Tea" and his follow up "Stones Into Schools" are half truths and lies - including an alleged abduction by Taliban militants in Afghanistan in 1996.

And it's not just allegations of story fabrication Mortenson faces: 60 Minutes also reports a charity watchdog has information which shows large amounts of money raised by his charitable organisation Central Asia Institute (CAI) to build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan have never made it to their intended destination. Some of the schools the CAI built were empty, others were not built by CAI at all while some did not even exist.

The explosive allegations, to which Mortenson has not yet responded to, can be read here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/15/60minutes/main20054397.shtml

Kinda makes the James Frey/Oprah controversy look a little tame in comparison huh? I will definitely be picking up tomorrow my copy of "Three Cups of Tea" (which has been languishing on my To Be Read bookcase for a couple of years).

Hoorah! A new wellreadkitty post (in which I admit to listening to The Rock)

2011-03-21T00:53:00.000-07:00

Since moving to our #ruralparadise last November, my boyfriend and I carpool to work. Somehow, against my better judgement, I seem to have relinquished control of the radio on our morning commute. Okay so truthfully, I am usually still half asleep and am still trying to register it is morning much less what we are listening to. Consequently the dial goes to The Rock. Yes, that great bastion of the airwaves that has such classy competitions as "Win a Ukrainian mail order bride!" or "Win a Boob Job." *roll eyes*

So I literally did the open-mouth-like-a-stunned-mullet look this morning when their guest was... wait for it ... Lord Jeffrey Archer.

He's in New Zealand promoting his latest, sure to be a best seller book "Only Time Will Tell" and helping raise funds for earthquake ravaged Christchurch. The 71 year old dropped in to talk to Paul, Leah, Bryce and Roger and was urbane, warm and well, outright witty - which rather surprised me given this rather sharp piece from the fierce, pull no punches journalist Michelle Hewitson in the New Zealand Herald.

What's more, I think given his obviously relaxed, give as good as he got banter he might actually have won himself a few new fans if the following true conversation I had with my (non-reading) beloved is any indication:

Boyfriend: Heh, he's quite funny. Do you have any of his books?
Me: Honey, YOU have one of his books.
Boyfriend: I do?
Me: Yes. Your mum** gave it to you last Christmas. I read it for you.
Boyfriend: Oh. Was it any good?
Me: Yes. You should read it.
Boyfriend: Um.... nah, too many words.

Well maybe not.

If you want to listen to Lord Jeffrey Archer with The Morning Rumble, click here.

**who gives him a book every Christmas in a (hopeful?misguided?) attempt to get him to read (he's 31, I think it's a lost cause)

Kia Kaha Christchurch

2011-02-26T23:47:00.001-08:00

I haven't read a single book this week. Rather, I have been glued to the internet and telly, watching the unimaginable: our beautiful garden city Christchurch once again rocked by an earthquake, this one deadly.

If you ever want to feel small and ineffectual, sit safe and well-fed in your cosy home while thousands of others in your country are left without adequate shelter, water, toilet facilities, food and transport while not knowing if their loved ones have survived the innumerable building collapses.

Like thousands of other New Zealanders, I am so proud to call myself Kiwi, especially after the amazing way our country has banded together to offer help and love to our Cantab whanau. If you can, please donate to The New Zealand Red Cross. No amount is too small. There are so many people affected and the relief effort will go on for a long time to come.

And please, spare a thought for the animals. Last year in September Paw Justice were able to send down six tonnes of pet food to shelters and families in need, raised by donations. Now they need your help again. Please text FOOD to 4662 (NZ only) to make a $3 donation.

January = Animal Lit.

2011-02-14T01:02:00.000-08:00

This one trick pony had to take myself firmly in hand recently. You know that love of Animal Lit I was espousing in my 2010 wrap up post? Yeah, it continued unabated in January…to the point where even the one fiction title I managed to squeak in had cat in the title.

It’s hard not to get sucked into the feel good factor that is animal stories though. No matter what creature, from wild, gregarious, promiscuous Bonobos to charismatic commuting kitties, they worm their way into your heart with their antics and uplift the spirit – something I desperately needed at times in the first month of the year when my Dad took ill suddenly.

So the highlights?

Vanessa Woods.

What. A. Star.

I started with her recently released Bonobo Handshake: a memoir of love and adventure in the Congo and was instantly hooked. Vanessa is warm, witty and totally smitten with the Bonobos of the Lola La Bonobo sanctuary in Congo where she works, and it’s nigh on impossible not to fall a little for these rare apes that share 98.7% of our DNA - making them human’s closest relatives. I mean what’s not to love: Bonobos are an extremely peaceful, female dominated species that the term promiscuous was made for – even the orphaned babies, who have been taken from their mothers at tragically young ages, have sex. Yikes!

After being mesmerised by the Bonobos, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on her Vanessa’s first book “It’s Every Monkey For Themselves,” this time dealing with the Capuchin monkeys of South America. For 14 hours every day, Vanessa and a host of other researchers chased tribes of monkeys through thick, unforgiving jungle, charting their every squabble, squeak and spiteful backstabbing. Allegiances shift within the blink of eye…and that’s just the monkeys.

Yes, before long life amongst the researchers begins to bizarrely echo that of the Capuchins as they vie for favourite status and the rewards that come from being “alpha monkey”. For Vanessa it’s a journey of self discovery punctuated with friendships, enemies and an abscess the size of a melon on her face.

An honourable mention from January has to go to Tales of a Bondi Vet by Chris Brown, he of the telly show of the same name. Chris is ridiculously good looking; with luxurious, floppy blonde hair that would make any American soap opera star jealous, a rippling chest, toned arms and a Colgate perfect smile, he is the Adonis of the vet world. And of course, animals fall for his charms just as much as their human owners. Well, most animals.

His book is a quick easy read - snap shots of his practise in Sydney’s super hip, surfy Bondi suburb, some of which I remembered from his telly show.

Gripes? I really enjoyed parts of “Casper the Commuting Cat” by Susan Finden – he was clearly quite a character! And I would have loved it if this story had a happier ending, but life isn’t always like that huh? But that’s not what annoyed me about this; rather it was the inclusion of chapters supposedly written by Casper himself. They really didn’t add anything to the book – they merely recapped everything Susan had previously said in her own voice. It was all rather patronising, childish and a little bit silly, not befitting this clever, well travelled kitty.

Birthday Best Sellers

2011-01-17T23:26:00.000-08:00

Ever wondered what was top of the literary pops when you were born?

Wonder no more my friends, thanks to this awesome little site which tells you the New York Times best sellers for the week you were born:

http://www.biblioz.com/best_sellers.php

I was really surprised to find amongst mine from 29 years ago (gulp, yes I know I'm staggeringly close to 30) some names that are still uber popular today - in fiction, romance matriarch Danielle Steele, horror legend Stephen King, acclaimed Australian author Colleen McCullough and great American novelist and poet John Updike.

High up on my non fiction titles, I was delighted to see The Lord God Made Them All by James Herriot - I remember when I was around 10 or 11 years old discovering we had two copies of this book on our shelf and wondering why (I still don't know the answer) and thinking it must be really good to warrant this: we weren't a family of book buyers (oh how I have changed that!).

I can still vividly recall how much I instantly loved this book and couldn't believe it had been sitting there (x2!) for all this time when I could have been devouring it. I loved the simpler, sweeter time the James Herriot books were set in, the amusing/touching/heartwarming/heartbreaking anecdotes, the colourful cast of characters (my first literary crush was on Tristan!) and of course, the gorgeous Yorkshire setting. I even harboured dreams of being a vet myself for a while there, such was the important place these books occupied in my literary heart.

So click on that link and find out who the literary powerhouses were on your birth date and leave me a message with your most interesting authors. I can't wait to see the comments!

Win a chance to meet Stephenie Meyer

2011-01-12T22:29:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I've made it pretty well known: I don't do vampires that sparkle.

But apparently I'm in the minority: a staggering 450,000 copies of the Twilight saga have been sold in New Zealand alone.

Which means a few of you might want to meet the uber-successful author Stephenie Meyer...and now you have a chance.

To celebrate the April release of The Twilight Saga: The Official Illustrated Guide, publishers Hachette will host a special International Fan Event, featuring Twilight fans from around the world. Ten fans will be chosen to have an once-in-a-lifetime intimate meeting.

Just one lucky fan will be chosen from Australia, India, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK to join other winners from Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico and Taiwan at the exclusive event.

Each special guest will receive an advance copy of The Official Illustrated Guide and get to talk extensively with Meyer, who will answer their Twilight-related questions.

Fans are invited to upload a short video clip explaining why they are the ultimate Twilight fan. Finalists from Australia, India, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK will go on to a final judging round, from which the ultimate Twilight fan will be picked. Further details can be found at www.stepheniemeyer.co.uk.

Good luck!

Things I learnt from reading in 2010

2011-01-10T23:29:00.000-08:00

It's already the second week of January and most people are firmly looking forward to all the good things 2011 will bring.

Me? I'm looking back and taking stock of my literary life in the year just been.

Here's what I learnt...

I managed a paltry 52 books in 52 weeks. While that is always my stated aim for a year, it's not necessarily the aim I have gnawing away in my tiny little brain. Must try harder, if only because I can't afford to lose too many more brain cells to the aim muncher.
My love for Animal Lit continues unabated; in fact I am in danger of becoming a one trick pony at the moment, so heavy is my reading diet in this genre. Part of me thinks "man cannot live by bread alone" while the other part thinks "screw it, if you enjoy it, why not?" I'll let you know which voice wins.
Speaking of enjoyment, late 2010 saw me regain reading purely for fun - and what a relief it was. Don't get me wrong I love reading and reviewing books and nothing gives me more of a thrill than hearing someone say they have read one of my reviews and decided to grab their a copy, I just needed a break and a chance to read what I want, when I want. I'm still relishing that freedom.
I rediscovered the joys of the library! Not only did I get a job in one - and could you ask for a better job for a bookophile? - I actually began using it...but if I am truthful not without some initial resistance. I'm a creature of habit okay? And also, I LOVE having my own copies of books, to look at them all pretty on my shelves and to lend to people and share the love. But libraries! All those endless, wonderful options - for free! Pretty soon I became like all the other staff members, with a maxed out card, reserve list heaving. I even roped my non-reading boyfriend in to getting a card so I could get even more books out at a time!
Just as 2009 saw me saying goodbye to chick lit (with exceptions of course), 2010 saw me saying goodbye to something too, or more accurately someone: Jodi Picoult. I think I am done with her as a "must read" author. I really enjoyed her earlier books; they were fresh and original, tautly written with great emotional depth. But I think Ms Picoult may be suffering from creative fatigue. Her latter books seem to be recycling ideas from earlier ones, they lack their predecessors pace and punch and are crying out for a fiercer edit. Just my humble opinion of course.
I still love a good young adults novel...
...and books set in the Southern US during the Black Civil Rights era.
Sometimes it pays to believe the hype. I've got this natural resistance to anything that gets too popular; like I'm suspicious of anything the masses like - snobby huh?!? But then along came my most amazing read in 2010 - Room by Emma Donoghue. I cannot recommend this book enough and it was so deserving of its many accolades. Funnily enough though, I have not been even slightly tempted to read Donoghue's previous six novels. Maybe something to rectify in 2011...?
As much as I tried to, I am not a crime/thriller fan. Stieg Larsson's Girl With The Dragon Tattoo scared me and squimmed (yes, that's a word :P) me to much to derive any pleasure from it. But I still love the Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay. Go figure.
Sometimes remakes don't spoil the original; I loved the faithful and tender handling of the beloved Winnie the Pooh series by David Benedictus in his Return to the Hundred Acre Wood. It gives me great hope for British actor Emma Thompson's proposed addition to the Peter Rabbit stories originally by Beatrice Potter due out in 2012.
And lastly, I still don't do vampires that sparkle. Not even a little. :P

Is anybody out there?

2010-12-08T22:57:00.001-08:00

And..........take two...

This is my second attempt at this post; blogger decided to throw a tanty and not save the last one I did. *pout*

So...it's been a while between innings huh? Don't you just hate it when real life gets in the way of your literary one? But I envision that changing now the long lazy days of summer are here. I intend to spend lots of time catching a breeze, book in hand, on the deck of our new house in #ruralparadise.

In the meantime, I have for your reading pleasure my last two ever book reviews for The Nile. Yes I have hung up my official reviewing boots for now and am strictly reading for pleasure - no paperback pressure for this girl. That said, I am certain I will find myself compelled/annoyed/enchanted/spurred into writing my own reviews anyway; if I have an opinion I love to share it :P

So without further ado ... click here to read my review of The Queen of Palmyra by Minrose Gwin - a novel set in the heart of Civil Rights era America

And click here for my thoughts on the absolutely too cute/clever for words "Homer's Odyssey" by Gwen Cooper.

Cheerio for now

Kelly

Review: Room by Emma Donoghue

2010-10-27T02:25:00.001-07:00

Quite simply, this is one A-MAZ-ING book - far and away the best I have read this year and one of my all time favs as well.

Thoroughly deserving of its Man Booker Nomination.

Click here to read my review.

Review: Ape House by Sara Gruen

2010-09-30T02:06:00.000-07:00

At last, a new review - it's been a while between innings admittedly - is up for your reading pleasure on The Nile's blog. Click here to read it.

Literary Linky Dinks

2010-09-24T22:43:00.001-07:00

I'm baaaack!

Did you miss me? Hopefully you followed me over to The Nile and got your dose of wellreadkitty anyway :-)

The upshot of my guest blogging stint over there is that I have the blog bug bad. After a wee break this week, I'm ready and raring to go again.

So without further ado, here's some of the literary links that have captured my attention in the past few days...

The big news on the NZ book scene this week was Penguin's decision not to honour their word and reprint plagiariser Witi Ihimaera's novel "The Trowenna Sea." What really grates is their refusal to comment on just why that is. The ever delightful Bookiemonster wrote a great ranty pants post which sums the situation up nicely.
Bookies on the web completely fell in love with this story about Sir Terry Pratchett; after being knighted last year, he created his own sword - by hand. Amazing author and swordsmith, who woulda thunk it?
From the what were they thinking? files comes The 20 Worst Children's Book Covers. Baffling and amusing in equal measure!
"A rose by any other name is still a rose" - or so goes the saying. Perhaps someone should point that out to blockbuster novelist Danielle Steel who claims her books don't fit into the romance genre. Hmmmm???
How's this for commitment to your reading; a US bus driver was caught on camera reading from his Kindle while driving down the highway with a load of passengers on board. I just wanna know what he was reading that was so good!
He spent 5 years in a American prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, now Australian David Hicks is to release a book covering his training with al-Qaeda to his incarceration.
And lastly, fans will be sad to hear True Blood creator Charlaine Harris has been forced to cancel her NZ book tour due after the passing of her mother. Her Australian dates have also been cancelled.

Exciting news/Hiatus

2010-08-13T22:20:00.001-07:00

Exciting news!

Wellreadkitty is going into hiatus for a few weeks but never fear, I will still be blogging!

You can catch me guest blogging at Swimming in the Nile - the book blog of www.thenile.co.nz and www.thenile.com.au

My first entry will hopefully be up Monday.

Please come on over and leave comments and questions *insert smiley face here*

I Think I Love You - Allison Pearson

2010-08-13T22:12:00.000-07:00

Another review is up at thenile.co.nz for you to sink your literary teeth into. Click here to read about "I Think I Love You" by Allison Pearson.

2010-07-27T21:35:00.000-07:00

A haunting and difficult but hugely emotional and necessary read - my latest review on thenile.co.nz, Message From an Unknown Chinese Mother by Xinran, is up. Click here to read it.

Another review at thenile.co.nz is up for you - and the book is beautiful!

2010-07-18T00:52:00.000-07:00

The benchmark has been set; Hannah's Dream by Diane Hammond is my favourite read so far in 2010. Read my review here.

Blood for books?

2010-07-16T04:08:00.000-07:00

From the seriously weird files, comes this story from The Wall Street Journal.

A luxury book manufacturer has mixed a pint of cricketing superstar Sachin Tendulkar's blood with paper pulp to create a limited edition book about the player nicknamed "the little maestro."

Publishers Kraken Pus said the books, limited to a print run of just 10, are priced at US$75,000 each and have already sold out.

More than a little twisted huh? No word on how much Mr Tendulkar was paid for his pint of blood nor what he thought of the venture

However, it seems this kind of weird and wacky novelty book with a high ticket price is not a one off.

The Wall Street Journal says Kraken Opus is one of a handful of high-end publishing houses that are pushing the boundaries of extravagance and novelty in the luxury book market. Such books are being treated as investments and sometimes commanding prices usually reserved for original art works.

Other examples, either published or in the pipeline, include:

A photography book on the lunar landings sold with pieces of the moon - 12 copies were made with one selling for US$112,500

An 800 page book on Muhammad Ali complete with four signed photos of the boxer and a sculpture by Jeff Koons – asking price US$7,500

A book on Ferraris featuring rare images of Enzo Ferrari’s villa and action inside F1 racing pits plus the signatures of all living Ferrari champion drivers – just 399 copies will be made with an asking price of US$40,000

A limited edition, 754 page book on installation artists Christo and his late wife Jeanne-Claude complete with 1965 lithograph and an original sketch – yours for just US$50,000

Do any of these tomes tickle your fancy? If money was no object, do you think one of these or their ilk would adorn your book case?

Wanted

2010-06-24T00:28:00.001-07:00

Yes, my reading mojo, that precious and life affirming gift, has deserted me of late and I am immensely sad.

It was last seen about three weeks ago when I finished "Thereby Hangs A Tail" by Spencer Quinn. Possibly I left it between the pages of that highly entertaining and original novel - which I have since leant to my Mum in Palmerston North. Bit of a drive to retrieve should it be hiding itself down there.

But I think it is more likely lurking somewhere around Hamilton as I have had very brief glimpses of it, in the form of reading junior fiction books. I am discovering a new found enjoyment for novels aimed at a younger audience; my job as a junior advocate at the library means I am constantly exposed to great stories aimed at under 12s and I have been delighted with what I read(highlight so far: Friends Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop).

So tonight, armed with a pile of books ranging in genre, length and topic I hope to lure my long lost little buddy out of hiding and bury myself in the wonderment that is a good book.

Wish me luck!

A Creature of Habit

2010-06-14T01:47:00.000-07:00

The ever delightful Bookiemonster recently posted about her reading habits and it got me thinking about my own foibles when it comes to reading. And then, because I am nice I thought I would share them with you.

So, here goes:

I’ve given up having a designated reading spot, unless you count my bed which is where I inevitably head to when I pick up my book. Completely horizontal is my most favoured position with the blankets tucked up to my chin, electric blanket on during winter and usually a cat or two fighting for my attention. I tend to read for a short period before going to sleep at night and during weekend afternoons while studiously ignoring the housework.

Unfortunately horizontal reading does often tend to lead to my second favourite activity – sleeping. It seems the older I get, the shorter my attention span is. Gone are the days of sitting up reading until the wee small hours of the morning. >Insert sadface here<

When it comes to transport, I’m completely incapable of reading in any form of moving vehicle. I’ve never been able to - even looking down at my cellphone for too long while in a car makes my stomach heavish. I don’t mind this too much except on long journeys which just feel like a complete waste of precious reading time. I should really invest in more talking books.

I’m far too anal about keeping my books pristine to read in the bath. Yes, I am one of those sad individuals who like to keep their books looking brand new and try not to even crease the spines on first read through (and don’t get me started on people who dog ear pages!). So bathrooms, with all that water and steam and risk of damage to the health and wellbeing of my beloved books would be just plain torture.

Which reminds me, I once had a flatmate who, because our flat didn’t have a bathrub, would read in the shower instead. Seriously risky behaviour!

I’m only a recent library convert and even now only in a limited capacity (mostly non-fiction). I just love having my own copies of books too much. That said, like Bookiemonster I have a shameful library secret; I keep my books right until the due date – even if I have finished with them days earlier – just to spite the next person who has ihem reserved/the universe in general. Selfish no?

Also like Bookiemonster (and booklovers everywhere I suspect), I struggle to decide on what I will read next. I can spend hours staring at my touring To Be Read bookcase hemming and hawing like an old woman. I used to ask my beloved to help me choose but he now refuses after too many suggestions being rejected by me because they didn’t feel right at the time.
I really struggle to give up on a book, no matter how bad it is. It feels like a personal failing to put it down and move on to something new, even though I firmly believe life is too short to read bad books. I am nothing if not contrary. That said, there have been some that were a delight to ditch and never sully my brain with again.

So that's me and all my reading quirks. Care to share yours?

2010-06-10T02:47:00.000-07:00

"Thinking it must be a terrible trial to be Lionel Shriver. Let's hope she doesn't have to cope with too many other awards."

I think this tweet from British novelist Jojo Moyes sums up Lionel Shriver's reaction to her most recent award win for "We Need To Talk About Kevin" rather well. I'm guessing the two of them are not likely to ever be friends.

Lionel Shriver wins 'dumb' Orange winners'
prize after public vote

09.06.10 | Katie Allen - http://www.thebookseller.com/news/120547-lionel-shriver-wins-dumb-orange-winners-prize-after-public-vote.html

Lionel Shriver’s 2005 novel We Need to Talk About Kevin has received the public vote as the most popular previous Orange Prize winner. Waterstone’s held the vote to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the prize, which is awarded tonight (9th June).

In the press statement Shriver said: "OK, it's official. 'Kevin' no longer belongs to me, but to you lot. While I am abashed at this honour, Kevin himself is smugly self-satisfied. Think of all the attention that one school mass-murder has earned that guy." Shriver’s title about a schoolboy murderer won 26% of the vote, with 20% going to the second-place title, Small Island by Andrea Levy.

Waterstone’s fiction buyer Janine Cook added: "Not only does the Orange Prize choose great winners, the books it chooses last in the eyes of readers – We Need to Talk About Kevin still sells many thousands of copies a year at Waterstone's. It’s a provocative, intense novel that never fails to elicit a reaction from a reader – it’s a book that will last a long, long time."

Shriver offers a different analysis of the latest spin-off to the main Orange prize to the Independent, describing the prizes as "dumb": "I'm critical of the Orange people on this front. The more prizes you give, the more meaningless they become. It's a stupid thing to have more than one winner; it's deluding and it means nobody wins."

Kevin was re-released by Serpent’s Tail as part of its new Classics list in May; the title has sold over 640,000 copies since publication in 2005. BBC Films is also adapting the novel, with Tilda Winton and John C Reilly in starring roles.

Marian Keyes writes to her fans

2010-06-07T21:58:00.000-07:00

Good news for all Marian Keyes fans.

The queen of chick lit has written on her website for the first time in months, after being "laid low with crippling depression."

In the lengthy message to her fans, Marian writes extremely candidly about her mental health struggles, the blackness she has felt and her numerous attempts at help - all while maintaining her usual quirky, humorous turns of phrase, despite the often bleak subject matter.

However, a new novel is still a long way off as Marian is still unable to write. In fact, she says the website message is her first real writing in eight months.

You can read the full entry here.

Again, I send my bestest, warmest, healthiest wishes to Marian. Depression is an insidious and devastating illness, one I sadly know about first hand. I applaud her candour in discussing it with her fans and hope others may take heart from her battle and hopeful recovery.

Power to the People!

2010-06-03T01:41:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the people of Tauranga! They have achieved a great victory over the city council there who proposed charging for all adult fiction and non fiction items in the city's libraries.

The decision reached yesterday means the controversial fees plan has been axed and most library items will remain free in the city. However, popular new titles, DVDs and CDs will face a rise in fees to help offset the costs council faces in running their libraries.

A unanimous decision - perhaps unsurprising given the issue has generated overwhelmingly negative public opinion and 2010 being an election year (is that too cynical of me?) - it is conditional on council signing off the 2010-11 annual plan later this month.

However, there was no word on another proposed revenue generating idea floated by councillors involving the libraries. In a meeting in April, the proposal of selling naming rights to the libraries to corporate groups was mooted, with Councillor Bill Faulkner stating "I have no problem with Coca-Cola Library." Tauranga ratepayers faces an annual bill of $6.4 million-a-year to run its libraries.

So a grand success story for people power in Tauranga with the overturning of the proposed fees for adult items in its libraries! Congratulations to all involved in rallying the public and making those voices heard. A more sedate congratulations too, to the mayor and councillors for seeing sense. And while I understand the council's need to relieve rates pressure, I find the idea of corporate sponsorship of libraries rather distasteful and even a little tacky...but probably not so much that it would put me off using this invaluable public resource.

A week of highs and lows for The Wonky Donkey

2010-06-03T00:05:00.001-07:00

Sick of hearing about my favourite children's book The Wonky Donkey yet? :P

Bookman Beattie (a most excellent blog btw) is reporting the delightfully silly children's book is about to be certified Platinum with sales in excess of 40,000 in New Zealand alone.

But that's not all.

The recent winner of the much coveted Children's Choice title at the New Zealand Post Book Awards is now New Zealand's bestselling book across all categories, edging out competition of big name international authors like Stieg Larsson, Lee Child and Jodi Piccoult!

But wait, there's more!

It has been the number one New Zealand children's title for eight consecutive months

Craig Smith's book and CD have now been released in the USA, Canada and India, bringing joy to many more children. It's also a nominee in two more awards, the PANZ Book Design Awards and the LIANZA Russell Clark award for illustrations (superby drawn by Kaz Cowley).

But with great success often comes detractors, as the following story from the Otago Daily Times shows.

Intermediate school teacher Margaret Marsick is claiming Smith plagiarised an old joke (what do you call a donkey with three legs? A wonky donkey) to create his much loved and feted book. Ms Marsick says she has found versions of the joke online and the basis for the book should have been referenced in the book.

Smith and Scholastic say the jokes found on the internet were placed there after the song was recorded and sold on CD.

Smith maintains the song stemmed from a short version of the internet jokes and that he did not see the longer version until being told about it years later. "I've never ever made a secret of the fact that the inspiration to the song was from a joke... I have never said this was 100% my idea - never ever."

Asked if those who posted the joke online had plagiarised his song, Smith said: "I don't think so; I think the joke's been around for a long time."

The accusation had put a dampener on his award.

"It is a little bit of a hard thing to have to deal with... I think she's picking on my one maybe because everyone likes it."

Scholastic publishing manager Diana Murray said it was a shame someone was dampening down the book's success. "We haven't seen a success like this for a very long time."

Is it just me or does anyone else sense a little bit of good old fashioned Kiwi Tall Poppy bashing here? It's so disappointing to see Craig Smith and his gorgeous wee song and book being knocked in this manner. I agree with him and his publishers assertions that you can't copyright such an old joke and I applaud Craig for always being so open and honest about his inspiration for the song. To Margaret MarsickI say apologise and retract your unfounded claims and to Craig Smith - don't let one person with an axe to grind take the shine off your awesome success!

Hot Guys Reading Books

2010-05-29T22:29:00.000-07:00

Is there anything better than books?

How about hot guys reading books?

Yes, it is a book lover's soft porn; this awesome website I just discovered that invites readers to take snaps of cute blokes reading and send them in to be published online for all bookies to enjoy. Boys in uniform (my personal fav), boys in bookshops, topless boys on the beach, boys in Greece - and yes all of them with a book in hand, looking intensely lost in deep literacy love.

Slightly pervy? Maybe, but also incredibly good fun - especially as most posts include the title of the book said hot guy is reading. As most bookies will agree, there is something innately satisfying about looking at a picture and reading the titles of books shown in the background. Online auction sites are cracker for this; it seems taking photos of the stuff you want to sell in front of your bookcase is TradeMe de rigour - leading to hours of happy (albeit slightly stalkerish) perusing for those so inclined (yes I am one of them).

I'd love to submit my own beloved reading a book to Hot Guys Reading Books - after all, I think he is pretty damn hot obviously. The problem being, as HGRB creator Alli Rense writes on her site blurb: "there are plenty of attractive men in the world, but unfortunately few of them that are avid readers." And this sums up my honeypot perfectly. Cute...but book adverse. Too many words apparently. The closest reading material he allows is his monthly issue of "PC Powerplay" magazine and looking forlornly at the paperback his mother insists on buying him each Christmas ... and which I invariably read and tell him about so he can attempt to fool his mum that he has in fact done more than just toss it on the floor beside the bed. (Sorry to shatter any illusions if you are reading this Janice :P).

(photo taken from http://hotguysreadingbooks.tumblr.com/)

Foursome - Jane Fallon

2010-05-29T20:30:00.000-07:00

I once boldly claimed on this blog I was over chicklit. I was wrong. If it is witty and intelligent and just a little sassy - ala Jane Fallon - then I am all in. Read my review of her latest novel here.

The Land of Painted Caves - new Jean M Auel novel in the pipeline

2010-05-29T03:35:00.000-07:00

The final instalment in one of the best selling and most beloved historical fiction series has been announced. The Land of Painted Caves will be the sixth and last novel in the Earth’s Children series by Jean M Auel and publication date for this widely anticipated book will be on March 29, 2011, by Hodder & Stoughton.

The book will be simultaneously published worldwide, including the UK, Italy, Sweden, Germany, France, Holland, Spain, Serbia, Croatia, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Japan.

The Land of Painted Caves will continue the story of Ayla, her mate Jondalar, and their little daughter, Jonayla, as Ayla struggles to find a balance between her duties as a new mother and her training to become a Zelandoni – one of the Ninth Cave community’s spiritual leaders and healers. Once again, Jean Auel combines her brilliant narrative skills and appealing characters with a remarkable re-creation of the way life was lived thousands of years ago, rendering the terrain, dwelling places, longings, beliefs, creativity and daily lives of Ice Age Europeans as real to the reader as today’s news.

The Earth’s Children series has staggering worldwide sales - more than 45 million copies, including nearly 22 million copies in the United States alone - showing the immense popularity of this prehistoric series. It has consistently made publishing history, beginning with the groundbreaking first novel, The Clan of the Cave Bear (1980), and continuing with The Valley of Horses (1982); The Mammoth Hunters (1985), which was the first hardcover to achieve a first printing of more than a million copies; The Plains of Passage (1990); and The Shelters of Stone (2002), which debuted at Number 1 on sixteen international bestsellers lists.

I know this series immensely popular here in New Zealand as well and I am in no doubt it will top the best seller list here when it is released. Are you a fan of this series? What is it that appeals so greatly to you? Are you looking forward to this final instalment in the series? I must admit I have tried and failed to get into this series, so go ahead and try and sway me to give it another try :)

Old Hu-Hu Takes Out Top Children’s Literature Prize

2010-05-20T02:15:00.000-07:00

A gentle story about love and loss was the supreme winner at last night's New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards ceremony.

Old Hu-hu by Kyle Mewburn and illustrated by Rachel Driscoll won the feature award with their tale about a family of Hu-hu bugs and is described by publishers as a story of death and the celebration of life, reassuring children about losing a loved one.

Awards convener Rosemary Tindall said Old Hu-Hu was "the complete package".

"It is a tender story that focuses on the positive aspects of growing old without succumbing to sentimentality. Driscoll has also performed the amazing feat of making one of New Zealand's ugliest insects ... heroic and loveable."

My congratulations to Kyle and Rachel on their deserved win. We read Old Hu-Hu at our library playgroup this week and the children (and parents especially) really enjoyed it.

Of course my commiserations go to Craig Smith, author of The Wonkey Donky and his illustrator Katz Cowley for missing out on the big prize. The epically selling silly rhyming story that I adore did however take out the Children's Choice award and was said to be an easy winner of the votes.

For a complete list of winners in all the categories (and congrats to you all!) can be found here.

Chick Lit author adds MP to her resume

2010-05-07T02:47:00.000-07:00

Best selling British chick litter Louise Bagshawe is writing a new chapter in her life story, this time as a Member of Parliament.

Mother of three, Bagshawe has won the Corby and East Northamptonshire seat for the Conservative Party in the closely fought British general elections on Thursday. Incumbent Phil Hope, who held a ministerial role in the Labour government, had held the seat for 13 years before being ousted by first timer Bagshawe.

She has written 14 novels so far, including Career Girls and Passion, selling over 2 million copies in the process.

Getting The Pretty Back - another celeb turns author

2010-05-05T01:56:00.000-07:00

I love celebrity gossip only a little less than I love books. So I'm a very happy kitty when the two are combined together even if they are "I-was-famous-once-and-now-trying-to-relive-my-glory-days" ones like Elizabeth Berkley.... or Molly Ringwald.

Yes the red haired 80s teen queen has penned a book titled "Getting the Pretty Back" in which Ringwald, famous for movies like 16 Candles and Pretty In Pink, shares advice and personal experiences with her readers on everything from friendships and motherhood to aging and insecurities.

The publishers blurb says "In Getting the Pretty Back, Molly encourages every woman to become "the sexiest, funniest, smartest, best-dressed, and most confident woman that you can be." She shares personal anecdotes and entertaining insights about the struggle to get through the murky milestones and identity issues that crop up long after the prom ends. Whether she's discussing sex and beauty, personal style, travel and entertaining, motherhood, or friendship, Molly embodies the spirit of being fabulous at every age, and reminds us all that prettiness is a state of mind: it's "the part of you that knows what you really want, that takes risks." Lavishly illustrated by Ruben Toledo, Getting the Pretty Back is sure to charm women of all ages with Molly's unforgettably personal, refreshingly outspoken take on life, love, and, of course, finding that perfect red lipstick. . .

If this latest celeb offering tickles your fancy, you can test the waters and read excerpts here.

Another award nomination for The Wonky Donkey

2010-05-02T23:14:00.000-07:00

My love for Craig Smith's gorgeous children's book "The Wonky Donkey" continues unabated.

And it would seem I'm not alone.

As already reported here at wellreadkitty, it has sold a staggering 70,000 copies and been nominated for a New Zealand Post Children's book award (winners are announced later this month - I'll keep you posted!)

So it is with great delight this fan girl can tell you of another award nomination; this time in the 2010 Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) Book Design Awards.

Yay!

The delightful Wonky Donkey, superbly illustrated by Katz Cowley, has been nominated for the Scholastic New Zealand Award for Best Children's Book for its cheeky cover design co-created by Cowley and Anita Mcleod of Book Design Ltd.

Competition in the category comes from Old Hu-Hu by Kyle Mewburn and Ben and Mark: Boys of the High Country by Christine Fernyhough and John Bougen.

Other categories in the competition include best illustrated and best non-illustrated books, best educational book and best cover for adult fiction - the latter of which my money is on the absolutely arresting design created for Gothic novel Magpie Hall by Rachael King.

Click here for the full list of categories and nominees.

The awards are run by the Publishers Association of New Zealand (PANZ) to promote excellence in, and provide recognition for, the best book design in New Zealand. The competition is judged in six categories, with a winner for the highly coveted Best Book chosen from the shortlist.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Auckland on 22 July. The awards are sponsored by a range of publishers, along with North & South magazine and Kalamazoo Wyatt & Wilson printers.

Good luck to The Wonky Donkey!!!!

Elizabeth Berkley to write teen self esteem book

2010-04-30T03:08:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Berkley.

Remember her?

Don't worry I didn't either until I googled her. Her biggest claims to fame are playing Jessie in the early 90s high school show "Saved By The Bell" and starring in the smutty stripper movie "Showgirls" a few years later.

So it is with some surprise I note the now 38-year-old Berkley is to pen a self-esteem handbook for teen girls. The book, entitled 'Ask Elizabeth,' will be based on questions the actress has been asked over the years. The book ties in with an as yet un-aired MTV reality series and teen self-help programme, both of the same name, created by Berkley.

While I am all for empowerment of teenagers and realise this is a difficult time for many, I can't help but wonder (in my best Carrie Bradshaw musing tone); would today's teen girls really want to take advice from a once-was-famous-but-now-is-very-much-not celebrity?

"Ask Elizabeth" is due out in the North American spring.

That disappointing feeling - another thenile.co.nz review...

2010-04-29T00:23:00.000-07:00

...and sadly it's not a book I would recommend. Click here to read why.

Titbit of trivia

2010-04-12T00:31:00.000-07:00

I heard an interesting little factoid on the telly news tonight;

New Zealand has more bookshops per capita than any other country,
around one for every 7500 people.

A most astounding (and pride inducing) piece of trivia!

(The story this comes from can be found here and is about international best selling author Lee Childs' fears for the future of the book industry - and in particular, author's livelihoods - in the wake of the rising popularity of e-books).

One of the most delightful books I have had the pleasure of reviewing...

2010-04-10T22:31:00.001-07:00

...is David Benedictus' Return to the Hundred Acre Wood. Click here to read my review for The Nile.

For your reading pleasure.....

2010-03-21T22:22:00.000-07:00

...I have another review up over at The Nile's blog. Click here to read my thoughts on the epically best selling novel The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson.

Another thenile.co.nz review is up for your reading pleasure

2010-03-18T01:33:00.000-07:00

Click here to read my review on this funky young adults novel by Amanda Ashby.

Water for Elephants - The Movie

2010-03-13T16:29:00.000-08:00

The Great Depression, the circus, a love story and an elephant named Rosie – Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen is one of my favourite novels ..and is now being adapted for the big screen.

Hollywood starlet Reese Witherspoon has won the role of Marlena Rosenbluth, the beautiful horse trainer in the Benzini Bros Most Spectacular Show on Earth who is married to August (Christoph Waltz) a charismatic but fiery and erratic animal trainer.

Twilight heartthrob Robert Pattinson will play veterinary student turned zoo vet and rival for Marlena's affections, Jacob Jankowski (I can hear the teenage girls swooning already).

The movie is currently listed as in pre-production and slated for a 2011 release.

It's definitely one movie I will be following news of and will be interested to see the outcome of. I hope they can do this big hearted, warm novel justice.

Water for Elephants - Publisher's Description:

When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, swindlers and misfits in a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that Jacob meets Marlena, the beautiful equestrienne who is married to August, a charismatic but violently unpredictable animal trainer. Jacob also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems unmanageable until he discovers an unusual way to reach her. Water for Elephants is a story that has it all - warmth, humour, poignancy and passion. It has an energy and spirit like the feeling under a big top when the show is about to begin. It is a novel that will win your heart.

The Wonky Donkey nominated for children's book award

2010-03-03T22:29:00.000-08:00

Last year I brought you news of the gorgeous children’s book The Wonky Donkey by Christchurch musician Craig Smith. It is with great delight today that I read The Wonky Donkey has been named as a finalist in the 2010 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards Picture Book Category! The simple but enchanting rhyming story adored by all ages has sold over 70,000 copies and is, in my eyes, a most deserving nominee (and I hope winner!).

Winners will be announced on May 19.

However, The Wonky Donkey will face stiff competition in an awards competition packed full of exciting entries including offerings from perennial author favourites Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy.

The nominees in all categories selected from over 130 titles published in New Zealand in 2009 are:

Picture Book Category:

Cowshed Christmas by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Gavin Bishop (Random House New Zealand)
Old Hu-Hu by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Rachel Driscoll (Scholastic New Zealand)
Te reo edition: Hū-Hū Koroheke, translated by Kāterina Te Heikōkō Mataira (Scholastic New Zealand)
Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig Goes to Dad’s Cafe by Diana Neild, illustrated by Philip Webb (Scholastic New Zealand)
The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith, illustrated by Katz Cowley (Scholastic New Zealand)
The Word Witch by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by David Elliot and edited by Tessa Duder (HarperCollins Publishers)

Non-fiction Category:

Ben & Mark: Boys of the High Country by Christine Fernyhough, and John Bougen (Random House New Zealand)
Dear Alison, edited by Simon Pollard (Penguin NZ)
E3 Call Home by Janet Hunt (Random House New Zealand)
Rangitoto by Maria Gill, illustrated by Heather Arnold (Puffin Books)
Willie Apiata, VC: The Reluctant Hero by Paul Little and John Lockyer (Puffin Books)

Junior Fiction Category:

Cry of the Taniwha by Des Hunt (HarperCollins Publishers)
Friends: Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley, illustrated by Gavin Bishop (Gecko Press)
The Loblolly Boy by James Norcliffe (Longacre Press)
My Story: The Mine’s Afire! By Susan Battye and Thelma Eakin (Scholastic New Zealand)
Sting by Raymond Huber (Walker Books)

Young Adult Fiction Category:

Banquo’s Son by T.K. Roxborogh (Penguin NZ)
The Beginner’s Guide to Living by Lia Hills (Text Publishing)
Blood of the Lamb: The Crossing by Mandy Hager (Random House New Zealand)
Brainjack by Brian Falkner (Walker Books)
End of the Alphabet by Fleur Beale (Random House New Zealand)

Bridget's back!

2010-03-01T18:34:00.000-08:00

We loved and laughed with her in the best selling chick lit novels. We flocked to the cinemas to watch her hilarious love life antics unfold on the silver screen. Now Bridget Jones' Diary looks set to come to the small screen with news of a weekly sitcom underway.

The 2001 romantic comedy and its 2004 follow-up, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, are being reworked for television through a new development deal between NBC Universal and Working Title.

Renee Zellweger who played the unlucky in love Bridget in the film adaptations will not be reprising her role and the hunt is on for a new granny pant wearing, chain smoking "singleton."

Bridget Jones' Diary is not the only successful film Working Title and NBC are planning on converting to TV shows; a number of films from Working Title’s library of over 90 British theatrical releases – which includes Four Weddings and A Funeral, Billy Elliot, Notting Hill, and Nanny McPhee - are to be given the small screen treatment also.

With sales of over 2 million copies for the first novel alone, Bridget is a well loved fiction character and I am definitely a fan. I will be interested to see how the telly series goes - is it something you will tune in to watch? Are you still interested in the quintessentially British Bridget or is it too long since the book and film releases for you? Are you sitting with fingers and toes crossed for the rumoured third movie chronicling Bridget's attempts to get pregnant in her 40s?

Feeling the fear...and doing it anyway

2010-02-22T20:06:00.001-08:00

Have you ever had a book you are too scared to read? Not because it's a horror (or maybe it is), but because you are worried it will disappoint?

That's the situation I have been in for the last 3.5 years with The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

It's been sitting all forlorn on my bookshelf for that length of time because I am terrified I will not like it, despite it being universally loved by everyone I know that has read it. What if I am the odd one out who doesn't enjoy it? What does that say about me? There's been all this perceived pressure banging about in my head that I just haven't been able to bring myself to start it.

Until now.

I'm not sure what caused the change of heart after all this time. It's not like I don't have lots of other books also clamouring to be read (161 at last count). But last night I took the plunge , settled myself in bed and cracked the spine of this novel so beloved by many.

Its early days but so far so good :)

I'll let you know if it lives up to the hype when I am done.

And please, let me know if you too have been inflicted with book fear at some point. Maybe you can take inspiration from my leap of faith and try your scary novel too!

Yet another review on thenile.co.nz is up :)

2010-02-19T20:43:00.000-08:00

Click here to read my review of the gentle but wonderful debut novel by Gin Phillips, The Well and the Mine. My best read so far this year.

Another thenile.co.nz review is up for your reading pleasure

2010-02-16T23:13:00.000-08:00

Another review is live on thenile.co.nz website: this time on the biography of a Kiwi comedy legend - Billy T: The Life and Times of Billy T James by Matt Elliott. Check it out here.

Popular Penguins' New Zealand titles to be released in March

2010-01-28T18:37:00.000-08:00

New editions in the Popular Penguins series will see classic kiwi literature re-released for new audiences to enjoy.

Penguin has announced ten titles will be available from March 2010 and includes well known authors and Montana Award winners alike.

Highlights include The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera and Came A Hot Friday by Ronald Hugh Morrison, both of which spawned film adaptations, and Plumb by Maurice Gee.

The Popular Penguins were developed as part of celebrations of the publisher's history and as the series' title suggests, have proven very popular. Penguins says they appeal to a wide audience - readers who love the books and want to collect the whole series, readers who have ‘always meant to read that book’, and brand-new readers who are prepared to try out something new as the price is so affordable.

Penguin anticipates the launch of the New Zealand titles into Popular Penguins will enable a whole new audience to discover some of the treasures of kiwi writing.

The full list of titles:

Oracles and Miracles by Steven Eldred-Grigg
The Skinny Louie Book by Fiona Farrell
Plumb by Maurice Gee
Going West by Maurice Gee
Potiki by Patricia Grace
The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
The Grandiflora Tree by Shonagh Koea
Came A Hot Friday by Ronald Hugh Morrison
Man Alone by John Mulgan
Smith's Dream by CK Stead

Tauranga Library set to introduce fees for ALL lending

2010-01-26T16:20:00.000-08:00

In a move sure to outrage, Tauranga libraries may soon be charging for loaning of books.

The fees generated would help fund two more libraries needed in the city.

Mayor Stuart Crosby, while saddened by the need to charge, said the fees were necessary because not all funding for the new libraries could come from rates.

"At the end of the day, we're looking at substantial rates increases over the next five to ten years and our library services, we believe, aren't sustainable at this point of time because we do want to sustain them, but we want to sustain them on a better platform of funding."

The Mayor admits library patronage is likely to drop if new charges are introduced for the city's library books.

Mr Crosby says that many people believe charging to borrow books goes against everything a public library stands for but says many people paying high rates never use the library.

"In other people's minds, they're paying over $300 in their property taxes and don't use the library. What we're proposing is to shift that balance to a different mix of rate-funded library services and user-pays library services."

The move is not entirely a done deal and public submissions will be called for in March.

What do you think bookies? I know many libraries, including my local Hamilton ones, have small fees for new release items, CDs and DVDs and audio books. So, playing devil’s advocate for a minute here, is charging for “regular” books that much more of a stretch?

Personally I am pretty appalled. I think libraries are an incredibly important resource for the whole community to enjoy.

This move speaks to some of the things I have been learning about in my library studies diploma: “All citizens have access to their public library as of right, regardless of age or
background.” (Informing New Zealand, page 67)

This includes all ethnicities, ages, backgrounds, social status, and even those who have mobility or other issues that prevent them from physically accessing the library building. It’s a big ask but public libraries must cater to all of the needs of the community they serve. Charging for books - even small fees – will disadvantage many who may not otherwise have access to reading and learning materials.

A big fat “shame on you” to the Tauranga City Council. I hope the public speaks up through the submissions process and this terrible idea never happens. I will follow it and keep you posted.

Marian Keyes laid low with depression

2010-01-07T16:54:00.000-08:00

There is a very sad new post on Marian's Keyes' very pretty(!) new website; the chick lit queen responsible for nine best selling novels including "Sushi for Beginners" and "Watermelons" is taking a break from writing "because I am laid low with crippling depression. Regular readers know that I’ve been prone to depression on and off over the years but this is in a totally different league. This is much much worse."

You can read the whole (short) piece here.

You can also leave messages of support in the comments section. I know first hand how crippling mental illness can be and I wish Marian a speedy and safe recovery.

The Babysitters Club returns!

2010-01-06T17:54:00.000-08:00

The Babysitter's Club books by Ann M Martin were to my tween years what Miley Cyrus is to pre-pubescent girls today. The books sold a staggering 176 million copies worldwide during their 14 year print run before coming to a halt in 2000.

And now Kristy, Claudia, Stacey, and Mary Anne are back!

Children's book publisher Scholastic Inc has announced plans to resurrect the series which followed the four 12-13year old girls on their babysitting adventures and friendships which garnered 213 titles. Scholastic will reissue repackaged and slightly revised versions of the first two volumes of the series in April in the hopes of igniting enthusiasm in a new generation of readers.

At least one prequel is also planned.

Scholastic editorial director and an editor of the original The Baby-Sitters Club David Levithan, said the decision to bring back the old series was at the request of fans.

“This whole generation of girls who had grown up reading ‘The Baby-Sitters Club’ were now teachers, librarians or mothers,” Mr. Levithan said. “And at any opportunity they had, they let us know they wanted them back. We couldn’t go to a convention without having women come up to us and say, ‘You’ve got to bring these books back.’ ”

Original author Ann M Martin, who wrote more than 60 of the original books, admitted to missing the books which propelled her career.

“When I started to think about the books with a certain amount of nostalgia, I was happy to revisit them,” she said.

Mr. Levithan said the publisher was aiming the series at a slightly younger age group than it was originally pitched — at girls ages 7 to 10 rather than 8 to 12. But some likely readers are older fans, many of them now in their 20s and 30s, who recall the series fondly if not with rabid passion. Some of the outdated expressions and technologies, such as perms and cassette players, would also be updated for modern readers he said.

Do you remember (fondly or otherwise) The Babysitter's Club books? I loved them and wanted to form my own club - sadly living in the country, miles away from my friends and the legal age for babysitting being 14 made this an impossibility. I'm delighted to see these rather wholesome, pleasant reads coming back and hope pre-teens of today (and their parents) will latch on to and love them again. I also hope story lines such as Mary Anne losing her kitten and Jessie being told she is too tall to be a ballerina will have as much pulling power as the current fad for vampires and werewolves.

The 2009 Round Up

2009-12-29T01:17:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to you all, bookies!

I hope 2010 is a great one for you, in life and all things books.

But before the new year kicks off, I thought I would look back on the year that has been and the books I have read. Here's a quick stats recap :

Number of Books Read = 65.5 (I’m half way through Mercy by Jodi Picoult)

Fiction = 49
Nonfiction = 16

Written by Men = 27
Written by Women = 36
Co-Authored = 2

Re-Reads = 1

Novels = 45
Memoir = 6
Biography = 7
Current Events = 1
Chick Lit = 6

Books read by Author Nationality:
Irish = 2
New Zealand = 8 (must do better!)
UK = 18
US = 28
Australian = 6
India = 1
South African = 1

So to all the wellreadkitty readers, I wish you a Happy New Year and many happy hours of reading in 2010!!!!!

More thenile.co.nz reviews up

2009-12-20T17:36:00.000-08:00

Another review up - this time the long awaited second novel by Audrey Niffenegger. Find out what I think of Her Fearful Symmetry by clicking here.

In other thenile.co.nz news, I was thrilled to recently discover I am trans-Tasman! My reviews also appear on thenile's sister website in Australia, thenile.com.au. Hurrah!

Rant aka A Review of The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells

2009-12-20T01:03:00.001-08:00

Title: The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder
Author: Rebecca Wells
Publisher: Harper
Price: $39.95

I always thought I had quite the sweet tooth. I love all things chocolate and candy and am not opposed to a bit of sweetness in my literary life too. But with all things moderation is best - I just wish someone had told Rebecca Wells this when she was writing her latest novel, The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder.

Calla Lily grows up under the adoring gaze of her parents in the small town of La Luna, Louisiana with dreams of following her beloved M'dear into the world of beauty. After graduating from high school, her heart is broken when her childhood sweetheart Tuck moves away to college nad jilts here. But in her plucky style, she mends her heart and follows her dream, moving to the big smoke, New Orleans, and training at a prestigious beauty academy. There she captures the attention of one of her tutors, who sees in Calla Lily the "healing hands" of beauty that her own mother possessed, a rare and special gift.

I can't tell you what else happens in the story (not much I suspect), that's as far as I go - 200 pages out of 390 in and I was ready to put my head in the oven and turn the gas on. The phrase saccharine sweet could have been coined especially for this treacly sap of a book that lacks characterisation, motivation, plot, conflict, drama - you know, those things you need in a book to progress a storyline and maintain a reader's interest. There's no depth of story, everything is laid out for you in Calla's perfect little life. Calla is completely one dimensional, naive and guileless, universally adored by all for her looks and sweet nature - a fact that is repeated ad-nausum throughout the story. I found myself wanting to stuff her mane of amazing waist length hair down her throat and choke her with it. Of course then we would have had to sit through the crying and gnashing of teeth by her beloved friends who would get another chance to tell us how beautiful and wonder-freaking-ful Calla was.

There was so much I should have loved about this book. It ticked many of my boxes; set in the southern USA during the Black civil rights movement, a sassy female character, southern charm, and of course it was written by Rebecca Wells. I adored Little Alters Everywhere and Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood (Ya Yas in Bloom not so much). I actually wanted to be Sida or failing that, one of the Ya Yas - alcoholic addiction, depression and gay husband included! The only thing I wanted from The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder was to have the waste of precious reading time back and the brain cells that died off reading such drivel to be restored to me.

Take a bow Rebecca Wells, with The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder you just won my award for worst novel read in 2009. (I'm sorry you were suffering from Lyme Disease when you wrote this but that's no excuse for your publisher/editor allowing such terrible story writing!)

More thenile.co.nz reviews up

2009-12-11T00:33:00.000-08:00

I've been busy reading and reviewing for thenile.co.nz

Click here to read my review on the most excellent Magpie Hall by Rachael King.

Click here to read my review on Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby.

I have my very own logo!

2009-12-02T16:52:00.000-08:00

It's been a long held dream of mine to have a unique logo for the wellreadkitty site but I lack the design skills or budget to be able to get one.

That is, until a very clever and kind friend on Twitter responded to a very cheeky plea and whipped up this gorgeous, stylish design!!

Don't you just want to eat his little marshmallow ears?

Tell me how much you love it in the comments section :-)

The world's smallest library?

2009-11-30T01:15:00.000-08:00

From bbc.co.uk comes this gorgeous little story about what is quite possibly the world's smallest library - a telephone booth!

The traditional red phone box in Westbury-sub-Mendip in Somerset has been turned into a functioning library, holding a collection of just 100 books.

The idea was the brainchild of a resident when the village lost their telephone box and mobile library in quick succession.

The library is open to all to use 24 hours a day and works on a book exchange principle: users simply stock it with a book they have read, swapping it for one they have not.

Parish councillor Bob Dolby said the library had "really taken off."

"The books are constantly changing. It is completely full at the moment with books. Anyone is free to come and take a book and leave one that you have already read.

The phone box was purchased by the village's parish council from British Telecom for the token amount of one pound. Other councils have done the same, turning their red phone booths into everything from art installations to a shower and even a public toilet.

What reading has taught me in 2009...

2009-11-27T16:25:00.000-08:00

1) I'm a sucker for a "shaggy animal story" of which there have been a plethora released this year (and which I have devotedly read) including Cleo and Dewey.

2) I will never understand the fascination/mania surrounding the Twilight books. I managed to force myself through the first two then gave up in frustration. In my opinion they are poorly written drivel YET I admire how Ms Meyer has managed to create a series that a) got everyone talking and b) has switched teenagers on to reading (like JK Rowling before her).

3) It's possible to have a crush on a serial killer - Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay

4) I have a growing love for young adult fiction. Far from being "dumbed down" or too easy reads, often these novels are surprising in their depth of emotional pull - The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne and Love, Aubrey by Suzanne LaFleur.

5) I need to read more New Zealand novels. I absolutely adored Kate de Goldi's The Ten PM Question and Derek Hansen's Remember Me.

6) I have fallen out of like with chick lit. Unless it is clever and surprising and new (such as My Husband's Sweethearts by Bridget Asher) then I'm no longer interested. I'm not even remotely tempted to try the new Marian Keyes novel, something I never thought I would hear myself say. I'd like to stress it's not snobbery that has caused this change, everyone needs some light escapism reading from time to time. It's just they no longer do it for me.

7) I have a great love for books set in the South of the US, especially during the Black Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s - The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Future Homemakers of America by Laurie Graham, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

8) I never have been, nor probably never will be, a great reader of "the classics." I'm learning to live with this even if others may look down their noses at me. Reading for me, is about enjoyment not about what others think I should be reading. Case in point The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger.

9) Whatever You Do, Don't Run by Peter Allison has made me fall in love with Botswana and I am desperate to go on safari there.

10) Two of my biggest personal thrills this year have been connected to reading and this blog; a) being asked to be the reviewer for thenile.co.nz and b) having awesome authors Kylie Ladd (After the Fall) and Lisa Genova (Still Alice) read my reviews of their books and post a comment to me. I'm still buzzing about this one in particular - I admire authors so much and to have not one but two read my thoughts on their blood, sweat and tears is beyond awesome!

thenile.co.nz

2009-11-25T23:27:00.000-08:00

I'm really thrilled to be able to share with you some exciting news that recently came my way.

Via my blog, I have been asked to write reviews for thenile.co.nz - New Zealand's largest bookstore and one of my favourite book buying sites, double win!

I've done two reviews for them so far and am eagerly awaiting the arrival of more books to get stuck into reading and then reviewing.

Click here to read my review on the marvellous One Day by David Nicholls

Click here to read my review on the sweet and sentimental Cleo by Helen Brown

The Wonkey Donkey

2009-11-25T22:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, I admit it. I'm 27 years old and I am completely enchanted with The Wonkey Donkey!

It's the gloriously funny brainchild of Christchurch musician Craig Smith which won him the 2008 APRA New Zealand Children's Song of the Year competition and has now been made into a top selling book and accompanying CD.

Take 3 minutes out of your day to be tickled pink by this super funny, super cute, feel good little song.

(BTW if you are a small person in my family, this is what Auntie is getting you for Christmas this year :P).

Click here if you want to see the lyrics.

Reading Recap

2009-11-15T20:33:00.000-08:00

My apologies - it's been a bit quiet on the blogging front of late as life has got in the way of my writing mojo.

But it hasn't stopped the reading though.

So here's a quick wander through a few of my latest reads...

Handle With Care - Jodi Picoult
Exactly what we have come to expect from Ms Picoult, formulaic and somewhat predictable but still an enjoyable, easy read, this time about a little girl named Willow with Osteogenesis Imperfecta - brittle bone disease. The crux of the story is Willow's mum tears the family apart to sue her midwife (who just happens to be her best friend) for not seeing soon enough Willow had this disease during the pregnancy.

A few gripes to be had though and warning these do contain spoilers:

1) there was a completely superfluous storyline involving the lawyer and her adoption, a stronger edit would have taken care of this insultingly predictable plot.

2) Handle With Care, Picoult's 16th novel, also suffered something of an originality fail - borrowing thematic elements from previous novels, particularly My Sister's Keeper, often in quite obvious ways.

3) Things often didn't ring true. For instance, we are expected to believe 6-year-old Willow is incredibly bright and has an advanced reading age, managing to read and comprehend the classic To Kill A Mockingbird yet had to be baby talked through what a lawsuit was by her mother. Or another example, the family are on the point of collapse financially due to costs caused by Willow's illness, yet the cheque for $8 million dollars damages they win in the court case goes uncashed, and is instead left magneted to the fridge.

4) Just once I would like to see Ms Picoult break out of the mould and have her characters not win in uplifting dramatic style in the court room. You can't win all the time.

I'm in two minds as to whether I will pick up her next offering. There's no doubt Ms Picoult is a good story teller but maybe her writing is suffering from the frequency of which she delivers books.

The Future Home makers of America - Laurie Graham
A gorgeous novel about the wives of 96th Bombers regiment that has given me something of an author crush on Laurie Graham. The story starts off in England where the American 96th bombers are based and the life long, endearing friendships begin which survive infidelity, love, death, spousal abuse, success, failure, religion and taxidermy. Cliched but true, I laughed and I cried and I lapped up every word of this fresh, fast paced novel told through the sassy strong voice of Peggy.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time - Mark Haddon
Don't be put off by the Young Adults tag of this cracking little novel by Mark Haddon. Christopher investigates the murder of Wellington, his neighbour's poodle, speared with a garden fork, of which Christopher is the prime suspect. But Christopher is hampered by his inability to read body language and the world around him. It's a murder mystery of a different sort as we follow Christopher's sleuthing against his father's wishes and he uncovers some uncomfortable truths about his family. Haddon perfectly gets inside the head of Christopher and his Asperger's syndrome behaviour in a perfectly believable, relate-able way. I'm not at all surprised to find A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time is the winner of some very prestigious writing awards including the 2003 Whitbread Book of the Year and the 2004 Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book.

Firmin - Sam Savage
Firmin is quite possibly the most intelligent rat to walk the planet. Born in a second hand book store and nibbling on its wares, Firmin discovers he can read - and a vivacious appetite for books he possess, equalled only by his appetite for the "lovlies," the after midnight films shown at the local cinema. A hopeless idealist, Firmin's idyllic life in the bookstore comes under threat when his unrequited love, Norman the bookstore owner, tries to poison him. Through fate, Firmin then becomes the pet of a sci-fi writer but all their livelihoods are under threat as the city of Boston looks to redevelop the crumbling and grubby part of the city this rag tag group of characters call home. It's charming, it's fresh and original and it's smart, Firmin has read all the classics and has the vocabulary to match making this human feel rather meek and puny in comparison. Special mention has to be made of the nibbled away cover too - a cute touch to Sam Savage's debut novel.

Bowling Through India

2009-10-24T23:57:00.000-07:00

Title: Bowling Through India; five kiwi blokes take on India at Cricket
Author: Justin Brown
Publisher: Random House NZ
Price: $39.95

There is only one thing better than receiving a free book, and that's receiving a great free book and after winning a competition on Twitter run by Bowling Through India's author Justin Brown that was exactly the position I found myself in.

Bowling Through India is the true account of five kiwi blokes who set out for a holiday with a difference; travelling through India with a cricket bat and a ball named Vicki, to play backyard cricket in the most cricket obsessed nation on earth. The appropriately named "Black Craps," include a photographer, farmer, businessman, radio DJ and the trip bludger affectionately nicknamed "Blanket Boy."

It's a travel books with a difference: I don't think Lonely Planet guidebooks will tell you how to go about organising a cricket match in a Varanasi cemetery, in front of the magnificent Taj Mahal or along side the Ganges River as bodies (both human and canine) float by. Nor will many travel books take you so far off the beaten tourist tracks as our intrepid Black Craps ventured in their pursuit of a game against the next Tendulkars or Kumbles.

Don't think this is a book reserved for cricket aficionados only (although as a mad keen fan of our summer game I absolutely adored it). The Black Craps' journey, as the book's blurb states, is in equal parts about travel, humour, mateship in often trying conditions as well as the game that unites people whatever their age, situation and station.

And then there is the amazing photography by Brendon O'Hagan throughout. His images are liberally sprinkled throughout and are simple but effortlessly beautiful, capturing the stunning scenery, the magic and the misery of everyday India as well as those hard fought international matches.

Bowling Through India is a good old fashioned kiwi yarn, full of humour (with nary a bad sporting pun in sight), warmth and of course, cricket. It's an effortless read, helped along by that magical photography and is a near perfect Christmas present for the blokes in your life (at least that's what my Dad will be getting this year!).

I've got a crush on you...:P

2009-10-18T00:16:00.000-07:00

I'm a bit in awe of authors. They have achieved that rare and magical thing that I covert; to have a book published with their name on it. Consequently I put them up on a bit of a idol worshipping pedestal - and I was delighted to find one of my favourite kiwi authors most certainly belongs up there.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting Michelle Holman and Deborah Challinor. Both Waikato based ladies are New Zealand best sellers and were at Hamilton Library for New Zealand Book Month. They were friendly, talkative and honest. Oh and funny! They were the perfect combination; Michelle Holman's zesty wit coupled with Deborah Challinor's drollness.

And it was the reigning queen of kiwi chick lit (sorry Sarah-Kate Lynch :P) in particular who completely charmed the audience. Oh okay yes, and me!

Yes I have an author crush on Michelle Holman.

She spoke engagingly and dynamically about her writing, how her novels are formed, her writing style, her journey to publishing (and what a lucky old story it is too) and all the highs and lows of being a novelist in Aotearoa. Afterwards she was super friendly and polite, chatting and encouraging as she signed books for the small but eager crowd. She took time to personally sign the books with a wee message.

And then today while strolling through the local mall, who should I bump into collecting for breast cancer research but...Michelle Holman! And to my absolute delight, she remembered me! (as well as impressing the socks off my boyfriend that a bone fide author "knew" me!) She again encouraged me to keep on writing (I've taken the plunge and signed up for NaNoWriMo - see blog button to your right) and asked me to let her know how I get on.

She was so genuine and lovely and left me absolutely buzzing with happiness. And yes, crushing just a little.

I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of her third novel "Knotted."

And if by some miracle you read this Ms Holman - thank you!!

I did it!!!!!!!!

2009-10-15T01:36:00.001-07:00

This afternoon I completed book #52 for the year!!!

And with 10 weeks to spare!!!

Kiwis can't get Kindle...yet

2009-10-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

Want an Amazon Kindle and live in Zimbabwe? No problem!

Want an Amazon Kindle and live in New Zealand? Sorry, no can do.

New Zealand tech-heads were one of the unlucky ones in the recent Amazon announcement of an international version of its much vaunted e-book reader. Available from this Monday in 169 countries, other countries to have missed out include the potentially lucrative markets of Canada and China.

But all is not lost.

Today the NBR is reporting cellphone carrier Vodafone and its telecommunications rival Telecom are in talks to bring Kindle to New Zealand.

Telecom spokesperson Rebecca Earl told NBR: “We can see the appeal of the Kindle and are looking into our options for a device of this type, there are content considerations also and for this reason it’s too soon to comment further.”

Vodafone would not comment other than to confirm it is in talks with Amazon.

So...if Kindle comes to Aotearoa, would you be tempted to buy one? Maybe you are an international reader of wellreadkitty and already have one - if so, what do you think? Would you recommend it? I'd love to hear your views.

New character coming to the 100 Acre wood

2009-10-02T18:11:00.001-07:00

Lottie the Otter, a new female character, is set to join Pooh and friends in the 100 Acre Wood.

The first new authorised Winnie the Pooh book in 80 years, "Return to the 100 Acre Wood," will be released next week. Written by David Benedictus and illustrated by Mark Burgess, it has been approved by the Pooh Trustees.

Lottie the Otter is described as “a smart and elegant character” who is “always dressed in pearls,” and who “has her own ideas about how things should be done and believes that everyone should follow the correct etiquette.”

In the course of “Return to the Hundred Acre Wood,” the book's publisher said, Lottie takes a swim in Christopher Robin’s bath, helps to set up a school for the denizens of the Hundred Acre Wood, and turns out to be great at cricket.

How do you feel about the introduction of a new character to one of the world's most beloved childhood favourites?

Who is your favourite Winnie the Pooh character and why?

I'm a Tigger girl myself. He's impossible not to love.

Sara Donati/Rosina Lippi on enforced writing hiatus

2009-09-29T20:10:00.000-07:00

Rosina Lippi, as well as being an emotive and absorbing writer of historical and contemporary fiction, was one of the first authors I discovered who was using the internet to actively engage with her readers. Her blog was a stimulating and interesting place to visit with posts about the writing process, her life, her books and her childhood. Oh and some lovely giveaways too - one of which I was the lucky recipient of and the signed copy of "Tied to the Tracks" I won is off limits for anyone wanting to borrow it. I guard it like a tigeress.

So you can imagine why I thought it was odd no blog entries had popped up in my RSS feeds lately and all became clear when I read the following message posted on her website:

"If you were looking for my weblog (called Storytelling), or following a link to a particular post on the weblog, you have landed here because the weblog is not available. The economic downturn and family circumstances being what they are, I find myself in a position I knew might well come some day -- I'm going back on the job market, looking for more traditional employment. This means that I will be putting writing aside for the foreseeable future, and so I've taken down the weblog, for the time being at least. Many of you have followed the weblog for six years, and I'd like to thank you for your continued interest and support. For newer readers, I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to get to know you better."

I'm in no doubt we have not heard the end of Ms Lippi but I am a very sad kitty indeed to know there is nothing more in the works after the January 2010 release of "The Endless Forest," the final instalment in the "Into the Wilderness" series.

Going Rogue: An American Life - Sarah Palin

2009-09-28T19:39:00.000-07:00

Back in November, wellreadkitty brought you news that then Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin had signed a rumoured US$7 million book deal.

It seems since Ms Palin quit as her state's governor she has been writing up a storm with news from her publisher Jonathan Burnham today the book is finished and will hit the shelves on November 17.

"Governor Palin has been unbelievably conscientious and hands-on at every stage, investing herself deeply and passionately in this project," he said. "It's her words, her life, and it's all there in full and fascinating detail."

Titled "Going Rogue: An American Life", it will have a massive first print run of 1.5 million copies - the same as Sen. Ted Kennedy's "True Compass," printed shortly after his death.

Palin, who abruptly resigned as Alaska governor over the American summer with more than a year left in her first term, has been an object of fascination and ridicule since being plucked from obscurity as Sen. John McCain's Republican running mate in the 2008 presidential race.

Although easily defeated by Democrat Barack Obama Palin remains a favourite among conservatives and is a rumoured contender for 2012.

Anyone going to be rushing out to buy it?

Still Alice - Lisa Genova

2009-09-21T01:02:00.000-07:00

Title: Still Alice
Author: Lisa Genova
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Inc
Price: $28.95

It seems suitably appropriate that today I finished reading "Still Alice" by Lisa Genova, a novel about a 50-year-old Harvard professor who develops Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. September 21st is World Alzheimer's Day - a day when Alzheimer's organisations all over the globe raise awareness about Alzheimer's and dementia.

Alice Howland is a world renowned cognitive psychology professor at Harvard University. She's happily married and looking forward to becoming a grandparent. But lately her brain has been playing tricks on her - words disappear from her mid sentence, she has no idea what things on her to-do list mean, she gets lost on her run, a route she takes daily.

At just 50 years of age, Alice is given a terrifying diagnosis: Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease and her life and those of her loved ones are never the same again.

Words like "uplifting" and "heartbreaking" get bandied around a lot by reviewers but in the case of "Still Alice" they are totally justified. Lisa Genova explores this fragile topic with empathy and grace showing the impact on Alice and her family as her once sharp and brilliant mind succumbs to this frightening disease and the threat that hangs over her three children; did they inherit the malfunctioning gene which caused Alice's condition?

I loved the passages when Alice was listening to the conversations around her having no idea what they were about and trying desperately to figure it out - they seemed so genuine and real and achingly beautiful to read. On more than one occasion when confusion sets in I wanted to reach through the pages and hug her tightly and let her know it would all be alright.

But of course everything won't be alright.

Alzheimer's is a cruel and relentless disease, one I watched first hand take away my Nana from us. It is the most common form of dementia. Progressive and irreversible, there is currently no cure. Affecting about 10 percent of people age 65 and up, the prevalence of Alzheimer's doubles roughly every 10 years after age 65. And with a globally aging population, more and more people and their families will be living with this mental illness - it is estimated about 16 million people will have the disease by 2050 in the United States alone.

I loved this novel. It is moving, it is dignified, it is compelling, it is raw in its honesty - an emotional story that will stay with me.

Love ya Nana. Bee happy! xoxox

Book Bloggers Appreciation Week Reading Meme

2009-09-16T16:31:00.000-07:00

I love a good meme especially a good meme about books! This one comes from Book Bloggers Appreciation Week. Read all about it here.

1. Do you snack while you read? If so, favourite reading snack? Not usually, I can't seem to read and do other things at the same time (I'm a woman and I can multi-task, just not when it comes to books).

2. Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you? Horrifies!

3. How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open? Bookmark which can be anything from a proper pretty bookmark to a grocery shopping receipt, I'm not fussy.

4. Fiction, Non-fiction, or both? Fiction mostly

5. Hard copy or audiobooks? Hard copy

6. Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point? To the end of the chapter if I can - I'm usually fighting sleepiness to get there though

7. If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away? Look it up later…if I can still remember it.

8. What are you currently reading? The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd (loving it!)

9. What is the last book you bought? Michael Zadoorian ~ The Leisure Seeker

10. Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time? Just one at a time, it gets my full attention.

11. Do you have a favourite time of day and/or place to read? In bed! And that can be any time of the day :)

12. Do you prefer series books or stand alone books? Usually stand alone

13. Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over? Lately, I can't stop singing the praises of The Help by Kathryn Stockett, otherwise The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

14. How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?) They're randomly placed on my bookcases except for my favourites shelf.

After The Fall - Kylie Ladd

2009-09-14T23:39:00.000-07:00

Title: After The Fall
Author: Kylie Ladd
Publisher: Allen&Unwin
Price: $38.00

"The anatomy of an affair" is how "After the Fall" by Australian author Kylie Ladd is described in the book's blurb, and a thoroughly intoxicating and intriguing read it is too. It centres around the marriages of Kate and Cary, Luke and Cressida who's lives are summersaulted into turmoil when Kate and Luke begin a steamy affair. Far from tawdy, the novel explores how Kate and Luke were happily in love with their respective partners yet submitted to a lust and an eventual love bordering on obsession that consumed them and their marriages.

Told in parts by the four characters we see ever facet of the affair, the conflicting emotions, the near misses from each side, the should haves and would haves. It takes a while to get used to this very fast paced style of story telling but I found it drew me in and made me feel the story even more, with no stone or emotion left unturned. It left your loyalties to the characters shifting as effortlessly as turning the page - quite a feat for a debut novelist.

Yet if it hadn't been for the recommendation of a trusted bookie friend, I would never have picked up this novel that hooked me from its intriguing opening:

Kate: 'I had been married three years when I fell in love. Fell, collapsed, stepped off the curb and found nothing but air. Oh, I already loved my husband of course, but this was different.That had been a decision; this was out of my control, an impulse as difficult to resist as gravity.'

I think the only thing that let this absorbing novel down was the choice of cover art; a poorer, less unappealing cover I cannot recall. It does little to make me want to grab the book off the shelf - vital when there are so many (more appealing) covers competing for attention in the stores. I only hope future print runs have a more attractive cover and thus, more attention from readers.

Bookie people are the best people

2009-09-10T01:54:00.000-07:00

I've been feeling a bit low of late and two chance encounters with strangers have brought an unexpected smile to my face - and what brought us together was a mutual love of books.

The first was last week when I went to pick up a new novel, "The House of Special Purpose" by John Boyne (sorry, I haven't read it yet but it's on the top of the TBR pile and I am expecting most excellent things after the very good "Boy in the Striped Pyjamas"). I was greeted by the most effervescent and friendly Babs who felt like an instant friend as we chatted about books (naturally), family, careers and life in general. We plan meet up for coffee soon.

The other incident was this afternoon. I took myself off to Starbucks for my latest addiction, a Mocha light frappacino while curled up in one of their armchairs in the sun. Only the place was packed save for one lone armchair across from a woman doing exactly what I was about to: drinking a frappe and reading. I plucked up the courage to ask if I may share her table, something I would usually never do but she looked like a kindred soul. And I was right. Over our caffeine we debated who was reading the trashier novel (we decided on a draw - and in case you are wondering I am reading the very light weight but witty "To Love, Honour and Betray Til Divorce Do Us Part" by Kathy Lette), what some of our fav reads this year had been and gave each other recommendations.

These two little random encounters not only made my day but reinforced my belief that bookie people are the best people: warm, engaging, and always ready to share a smile and a story.

Don't you agree?

The Help - Kathryn Stockett

2009-08-30T21:25:00.000-07:00

Title: The Help
Author: Kathryn Stockett
Publisher: Penguin
Price: $37.95

It might only be the end of August, but I think I have already found my best read for 2009; a beautiful novel called The Help by Kathryn Stockett.

1960s America is a bleak place if you are Black - and no place is bleaker than Jackson, Mississippi. A Black maid can cook and clean, know every intimate detail of the household and raise white the boss' children but can't use the same bathroom, sit at the same lunch counter or shop at the same stores.

And born out of this oppression is an unlikely friendship between three extraordinary women.

Aibileen - a smart, dignified and perceptive maid raising her 17th white child, Minny: smart mouthed and sassy but boy can she cook and Skeeter, an educated white woman full of hopes and ideals and love for the maid who raised her who has disappeared and no one will tell her why.

Despite the gulf between them, these three women come together to work on a plan that places all their lives in grave danger but will change their town and the small minded attitudes it perpetuates, forever.

I'm a sucker for stories about Southern America. I love the language, the imagery, the oh-so-different attitudes and opinions - and Kathryn Stockett captures these all beautifully as she tells the story in three unique voices. Each voice is strong and true without a single "off note" hit in this softly building but utterly gripping novel.

Needless to say, I loved "The Help." I couldn't wait to find out how it ended (and a warning, you might need a tissue or two along the way) but at the same time, I didn't want it to end at all. I wanted to stay for as long as possible in the world Stockett created with all its love and food, bigotry and pain.

I can't more highly recommend this book. Just buy it and I promise you won't be disappointed.

New Zealand's own library moggie

2009-08-20T16:04:00.000-07:00

First there was Dewey Readmore Books, the ginger kitty who stole the hearts of library patrons in Spencer, Iowa. Now here in New Zealand there is Del, a grey striped moggie who has taken up residence in a Christchurch library.

The male cat was found in the nearby Farmers car park on Wednesday and taken in by Central Library staff.

"He was very distressed and hungry, so may have been there for a day or two," said Carolyn Robertson, of Christchurch City Libraries.

While the library staff searched for the owner Del has been spending his time lazing around in the information technology room, making himself quite at home. (I'm guessing the warmest spot in the library - smart kitty!)

After a visit to the vet on Wednesday, staff brought Del back to the library where staff said he was enjoying himself.

"He's obviously a very well-loved cat as he's very affectionate and very friendly," Robertson said.

However, library staff wanted to return the cat to its owner. "We know that there's an owner out there who will be missing him desperately," Robertson said.

Christchurch libraries have had many cats-in-residence.

George lived at the old Canterbury Public Library on Cambridge Tce from 1963 until his death in 1976, while in the 1990s, the Shirley Library adopted a cat called Pete which lived in the library before retiring to a librarian's home. Other library cats included Malvina at the Hornby Library in the 1970s and Boysie at Library Outreach Services.

Find Your Soulmate Between the Covers

2009-08-18T19:41:00.000-07:00

Patrons at a New York book store might come in looking for the latest blockbuster novel…but leave with a love match.

Independent bookstore Word on Brooklyn's Franklin Avenue has created a match-making bulletin board to see if the books people love could possibly bring them together.

Store manager Stephanie Anderson told the Greenpoint Gazette the board invites visitors to write down their favourite books and authors - think “likes and dislikes, turn-ons and turn-offs” of a literary nature - along with their contact information, in hopes of finding a “literary soulmate.”

“It actually started when a friend of mine walked into the store and saw two books together behind the counter, one by Neil Gaiman and Steve Toltz, and she said, ‘tell me those are for the same guy, and please tell me he’s single!’ So, I got to thinking we could match people by literary taste.”

With the burgeoning popularity of internet dating cites, Anderson thought the match-making board might serve as a way for people to meet, to interact, and to bond over a mutual love and interest in reading.

“Book people are really talkative actually,” Anderson said. “It’s funny because reading is something people do by themselves but they love talking about it, they could talk about it for hours. Even with all the social media—which we at Word also love—people fundamentally love to group together, and books are a perfect thing to group around.”

“Books are romantic and I don’t know why!” Anderson said. “You can learn so much about someone by the books they read—not the books they’ve read, but the books they really love.”

A brand new project, Anderson has yet to see any matches be made, but is optimistic about the prospect of literary love blossoming via bulletin board.

“In an ideal world, a couple would meet on the bulletin board and get married in the basement,” Anderson said. “I mean, they could propose in the children’s section!”

- I think this story is too cute for words!

And then it got me thinking.

I love books, I buy far too many of them and read every spare moment I get. BUT in the 3.5 years my partner and I have been together I have only seen him read one book (about motorsport legends of New Zealand). His regular reading is restricted to daily perusal of websites and monthly editions of PC Powerplay magazine.

Yet we are very content together.

And If I had waited for my perfect match on a bulletin board, I might have missed out on my own happily ever after.

That said, if I was single and living in Brooklyn I'd definitely be putting my info up on that board!

Library Week 2009

2009-08-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

Share the love – visit your local library and help celebrate New Zealand Library Week on right now!

Held in New Zealand for over 35 year, Library week is a wonderful chance to promote the many benefits and opportunities libraries offer our communities.

This year’s theme, “Escape, Explore, Discover,” I think sums up perfectly what libraries are for me – a safe place to escape to where other worlds both fiction and non-fiction are just an arms’ reach away waiting for you to discover new and fascinating stories, facts and even worlds.

There have been some great activities already this week including “New Zealand’s biggest story time on Wednesday with libraries across the country simultaneously reading “Itiiti’s Gift” by Melanie Drewery and illustrated by Fifi Colston.

Today (Thursday) is Living Heritage Day with public and school libraries will teaming up for an online bilingual initiative that enables our young people to be storytellers in their own language by creating websites which preserve New Zealand history and culture in a digital form.

But really it’s Friday’s activities I am looking forward to. After all, what goes better with books than chocolate? Why, free chocolate of course!!!

Friday 14 August will see libraries celebrating Love Your Library Day with special romance themed displays, activities and chocolate give‐aways.

And there are competitions for all ages to take part in too.

Check out the website for more info or see you at your local library!

Latest Philippa Gregory novel to be tweeted

2009-08-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

Philippa Gregory’s latest historical fiction is about to hit the bookstores and her publisher is embracing social media to promote it.

The White Queen will be serialised on Twitter in the week preceding its publication, with the first tweet to be posted tomorrow (August 11) at 5pm. You can view the tweets here.

The novel will then be released internationally on August 18.

Gregory, who has written the tweets herself, said it was a difficult process to turn her 150,000 word novel into 140 character bites.

“Tweets are a discipline, rather like a haiku, and the shortness of the sentence gives each one a rhythm which is really interesting for prose. It was more like writing poetry than prose.

And some of the tweets seem to me to be more arresting than the prose of the book. I especially like the first one: 'If my mother were not a witch, and the descendant of the goddess Melusina, I think none of this could ever have happened to me. But it did'. I like this so much, I have re-used it when describing the novel, it doesn't appear in the novel but only in the Twitter version, but it encapsulates for me the mood of the novel, its dreamlike quality, the character of the heroine and invites you to read more. I am certainly going to write creative tweets again."

The White Queen is the first in a series of novels set amid The Wars of the Roses. The book is a tale of one woman's ambitious ascent to royalty and the unsolved mystery around her son's imprisonment.

I'm a mad-keen twitter fan and I love how more and more businesses are latching on to the opportunities social media has to offer - as well as being a great way to catch up with friends and meet new ones. I will definitely be following Ms Gregory's tweets with interest.

Is it something you will follow too? Do you like publishers trying to engage with consumers this way? Is it something you would like to see more of?

Mister Pip in safe hands to come to the big screen

2009-08-04T23:18:00.000-07:00

The Kiwi director behind blockbusters like Shrek and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is set to turn his cinematic skills on a New Zealand best selling book.

Andrew Adamson has written the screenplay and will direct the movie adaptation of Lloyd Jones' booker shortlisted novel "Mister Pip". The film is set in Papua New Guinea where Adamson spent much of his teenage years growing up.

Shooting will take place in Australia although there is no word yet on when this is likely to begin or any casting decisions.

I'm really pleased at the decision to entrust this book to Andrew Adamson - because it's a New Zealand novel now being brought to the big screen by another Kiwi, and because Adamson will bring an understanding and a sympathy for the setting that I doubt other directors could.

And while I wasn't the biggest fan of this book, I will be curious to see how the movie turns out.

Do you have any suggestions for casting for the novel? Any Hollywood big shots or relative unknowns you think would suit the parts of Mr Watts and young Matilda?

The Lovely Bones

2009-08-04T22:37:00.000-07:00

The only thing that made me more excited about my favourite book, The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold being made into a movie was the news that legendary Kiwi director Peter Jackson was to direct.

Now the trailer is out.

Click here to watch.

I. Can't. Wait!

Out of Character

2009-08-04T02:46:00.000-07:00

**Warning: contains spoilers**

I’ve finished reading the latest offering from Marina Lewycka on the weekend. “We Are All Made of Glue” is what we have come to expect from the pen of Lweycka – full of quirky characters who meet in the most unlikely circumstances but ultimately help each other through life’s follies. There’s Mrs Shapiro – the Jewish lady who epitomises the crazy old cat lady label, Wonderboy the marauding tomcat, Georgie recently separated with a teenage sun suffering an existential crisis and Mr Ali and the Uselesses, the Arab immigrants who are great company but terrible “fixitup” men.

The story deals with some pretty meaty issues of modern day life including care of the elderly, the end of the world and the Israeli-Palestine conflict – so not your usual light fiction read. But each issue is handled with finesse and a touching gentleness, as well as the author’s trademark cracking humour.

And then she spoilt it all by making one of her characters do something completely out of character.

**Last warning: stop reading now if you don’t want any spoilers!**

In what I can only surmise was a fit of trying to find a way to wrap everything up neatly, Lewycka kills of the beloved Wonderboy and then has Mrs Shapiro move into a care home that does not allow animals. We are supposed to believe this elderly woman who is so devoted to her furry felines she slept with them, let them have the run of her house (and all the bodily functions deposited about the place that entails) and even wanted them smuggled into the hospital to see her, would just blithely agree to rehome them.

Maybe others who have read this book (are you out there? Tell me your thoughts!) didn’t feel this was the howler I see it as. Maybe it resonated with me because with three furbabies of my own, I am well on the way to becoming a crazy old cat lady in the future and the eccentricities of Mrs Shapiro really resonated with me. Yes, I identified with her. And I could not ever imagine giving up my moggies simply because it would make a convenient ending for someone else’s story.

It also makes me wonder how the author could do it; they know the character so much more intimately then we do, after all they have been living in their heads for the duration of the book’s writing life.

What about you, dear readers? Have you ever been reading a book and thought “wow, the author just dropped a clanger there!!”??

(Other than that, I really enjoyed "We Are All Made of Glue" although I think "A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian" is her first and finest work. This one drags a little in the middle, getting bogged down under the weight of some of those heavy issues but gets back on track quickly. As always her characterisation is fabulous, Mrs Shapiro will live on in my head for some time to come and I could hear her thick rich accent as I read. I particularly enjoyed her reminiscences of her and her husband's lives).

Tell all book on the way about Paris Hilton

2009-08-02T22:16:00.000-07:00

The man who says he created the Paris Hilton brand, is planning to tear the socialite apart in a tell-all book.

The heiress’ estranged manager, Jason Moore, is shopping a book about her which has sparked something of a bidding war among publishers.

Pitched as a business book about how Moore moulded "this blond piece of clay into a global icon" with her own reality TV franchise and fashion and beauty lines, it is also expected to dish the dirt on behind the scenes, never before told dramas – Moore allegedly never signed a confidentiality agreement with Hilton

"Jason will demonstrate how, for 10 years, he managed to save his mercurial client from disgrace by manipulating the media, and Paris herself," according to a pitch letter making the rounds.

"Paris was often times her own worst enemy, making a sex tape with a former boyfriend, nursing hangovers during photo shoots, falling asleep everywhere, and getting thrown in jail for numerous driving violations. If Paris Hilton didn't have Jason Moore pulling the strings, cleaning up her messes ... she could well have faded into oblivion."

Moore, who'll call his memoir "Controlling Chaos," says the girl unkindly branded a "celebutard" was more than willing. "[She] spent hours at a time posing in front of the mirror, nailing down the ideal position to create the perfect paparazzi photo."

Her hope, he says, was to become "the kind of character ... that would land commercials, international endorsements, film and television roles." He winkingly adds, "... and the man (or maybe even the girl) of her dreams."

Moore, described in the proposal as Hilton's "Wizard of Oz-like manager," will also talk about the temptations he saw - "the all-night partying; easy access to women and drugs."

Moore and Hilton parted ways last year amid reports that his wife was fed up with the time he was devoting to his client.

Hilton, who recently returned from taping a new international version of her "BFF" series in Dubai, also had no comment. But a friend of hers claims, "Given the legal issues, I'd be surprised if this book sees the light of day."

Not Without You: Some People are Just Destined to be Together - Alan & Irene Brogan

2009-08-01T14:33:00.000-07:00

Title: Not Without You: Some People are Just Destined to be Together
Author: Alan and Irene Brogan
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton, 2008
Price: $37.95

It’s not often you find true love at age seven and nine. But that’s what happened for Alan and Irene Brogan. But as the saying goes “True love never runs smooth” and this was certainly the case in Not Without You, the couple’s real life story of life and love in children’s homes in 1950’s and 1960’s England.

Both born in Sunderland and losing their mums at an early age, the children were placed into the unfeeling care system of the day which was strictly regimented, which seemed to aim to make children into automated robots with little time for play, fun or any of the normal delights of childhood. Torn from their families the two children find each other at a home in Rennie Road, Sunderland and solace in finally having a friend who understood them.

But their friendship ultimately costs them their happiness. In the tightly reined in world of children’s care, friendship between a boy and a girl is a dangerous and suspicious thing and an ill-timed perfectly innocent tickled fight proves their undoing.

It is 45 years and many hardships and heartaches before Irene and Alan see each other again but the friendship that bonded them remains.

This charming and entertaining story about the hand destiny deals us is told in alternating chapters between the couple. For me, the early years of deprivation and sadness in the children’s homes which make up the bulk of the book, werea richly detailed and absorbing: it is so hard to imagine anyone could think showing any form of kindness to children in care would be a bad thing. It must have been a staggeringly cold and clinical world for children to be dumped into, often times snatched from the streets and their loving families as in Alan’s case.

Not Without You is a satisfyingly pleasant read, but more importantly, a timely reminder in an often cynical and too-busy-to-care world, true love really can conquer all.

Inked up librarians pose for great cause

2009-07-30T00:55:00.000-07:00

A group of Texas librarians are banishing the stereotypical librarian look: no hair in a bun, spectacles on a chain, long covered up dress, and a finger poised at her lips ready to hiss “Shush!” for these luscious ladies.

Instead they are showing some skin - tattoos and all - to raise disaster relief money to help damaged libraries.

Members of the Texan Library Association have put together an 18 month calendar, The Tattooed Ladies of the TLA, showing off their usually concealed body art.

Librarian Shawne Miksa says it's a way to get people to notice library issues. As the model for November 2010, she shows off Chinese characters on her lower back that mean "wisdom" and "desire".

The ladies' calender is a follow-up to the successful Men of Texas Libraries calendar, which raised $US9000 ($NZ13,936) to help libraries damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The TLA says libraries promote diversity and freedom of expression and The Tattooed Ladies of TLA calendar is a testament to both.

15 books....

2009-07-29T00:54:00.000-07:00

The rules are simple: Don't take too long to think about it, just list 15 books you've read that will always stick with you. They should be the first 15 you can recall in no more than 15 minutes. Then tag 15 friends, including me, because I'm interested in seeing what books my friends choose.

Okay, in no particular order, here we go...!

1) We Need To Talk About Kevin – Lionel Shriver
2) The 10pm Question – Kate de Goldi
3) To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
4) The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
5) Invisible Crying Tree - Tom Shannon & Christopher Morgan
6) In the Name of Honour - Mukhtar Mai
7) Dreamhunter – Elizabeth Knox
8) See ya Simon – David Hill
9) A Friend Like Henry – Nuala Gardner
10) The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
11) The Diving Bell and the Butterfly - Jean-Dominique Bauby
12) Water for Elephants – Sara Gruen
13) Dancing With Rose - Lauren Kessler
14) Bridget Jones’ Diary – Helen Fielding
15) The Other Hand - Chris Cleave

I tag Bookiemonster, Amanda Ashby, Andrea/Impossiblecat, Texanoutofwater, missannajane, Cafe Chick, Scribbles, Heather, D. Rock and anyone else who fancies giving this a go!

More celebs attempt to be authors...

2009-07-28T01:18:00.000-07:00

It's a trifecta of celebrities making publishing houses wring their hangs together in revenue-gathering glee and book lovers shaking their heads in bewilderment.

First up is former playboy girlfriend Kendra Wilkinson, following in the footsteps of former housemate Izabella St James who wrote Bunny Tales: My life at the Playboy Mansion. Who? I hear you ask. Exactly. And her book is equally uninteresting nonsense - I know because I had the misfortune to read it, thinking it would spill juicy gossip about Playboy life that for some reason I thought I wanted to know. It didn't. But if you don't believe me, here's the first 40-odd pages.)

Anyway...Kendra, who dated the Playboy lethario for four years is writing a memoir and plans to reveal details of her life at the mansion. (Isn't that what the tv show Girls Next Door was for?)

The one-time glamour model who is expecting her first child with new husband Hank Baskett also described her untitled manuscript, due out next summer, as a "humorous, relatable, fish-out-of-water tale".

"I feel like the luckiest girl in the world," Wilkinson said in a statement released by her publisher Simon Spotlight Entertainment. "I have a husband I adore, a baby on the way, and now my memoir is going to be published!"

The second celeb penning a memoir is Good Charlotte star Joel Madden. The band's singer, who is currently expecting his second child with partner Nicole Richie, told People that he was "lightly working" on a literary project.

"I don't want to put a book out there if it's not actually meaningful. I'm not going to go there unless I can deliver," he explained. It would be about my life. It would be about, mostly, the big changes in my life, kids, relationships, moving to LA... the big life changes that I've gone through. If I put a book out, I want it to be something that matters to me. It has to be real, you can't just put a book out, to put a book out. I want every page to mean something."

There is no word whether Madden has a agent or publishing contract as yet.

And lastly Jennifer Love Hewitt, who last month revealed she is working on a dating book, has also been busy penning a 10 part series of comic books. "Jennifer Love Hewitt's The Music Box," will hit stores in November and is about a possessed music box and the strange things that happen to those who come in contact with it.

The "Ghost Whisperer" star describes the series as a "horror/thriller," and said that creating the comic has been "like a very fun nightmare come true."

"I've always been fascinated by the notion that an inanimate object can hold as much malevolent energy as a human being can," said the 30-year-old actress, "and when the two meet, or are at cross purposes, very bad things can happen."

Hewitt recommends the "Music Box" as "lights on" reading.

Any of these sound like your cup of tea?

Full list of 2009 Montana New Zealand Book Award winners

2009-07-27T05:25:00.000-07:00

Montana Medal for Fiction or Poetry winner and Fiction category winner: Novel About My Wife by Emily Perkins (Bloomsbury).

Fiction runners-up: The 10PM Question by Kate De Goldi (Longacre Press) and Acid Song by Bernard Beckett (Longacre Press).

Poetry category winner: The Rocky Shore by Jenny Bornholdt (Victoria University Press).

Montana Medal for Non-Fiction winner and Biography category winner: Rita Angus: An Artist's Life by Jill Trevelyan (Te Papa Press).

Environment category winner: A Continent on the Move: New Zealand Geoscience into the 21st Century edited by Ian J Graham (Geological Society of New Zealand).

History category winner: Buying the Land, Selling the Land by Richard Boast (Victoria University Press).

Reference and Anthology category winner: Collected Poems 1951-2006 by CK Stead (Auckland University Press).

Lifestyle & Contemporary Culture category winner: Ladies, A Plate: Traditional Home Baking by Alexa Johnston (Penguin Group New Zealand).

Illustrative category winner: Len Castle: Making the Molecules Dance by Len Castle (Lopdell House Gallery).

Maori Language Award: He Pataka Kupu te kai a te rangatira, the first-ever dictionary written entirely in te reo Maori. Compiled by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo (the Maori Language Commission) and published by Penguin Group New Zealand.

Each category winner was presented with a prize of $5,000. The winners of the Montana Medal for Fiction or Poetry and the Montana Medal for Non-Fiction were each presented with an additional prize of $10,000. The runners-up in the Fiction category received $2,500. The Readers' Choice Award carries a monetary prize of $1,000.

BREAKING NEWS: Novel About My Wife wins Montana New Zealand Fiction Book of the Year 2009

2009-07-27T03:34:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Emily Perkins - just annoucned winner of New Zealand's post prestigious literary award, the 2009 Montana Fiction book of the year!!

Perkins took out the award with her book, A Novel About My Wife which centres around Tom Stone. Madly in love with his wife Ann and pushing forty the couple are expecting their first child, and buy a semi-derelict house in Hackney. Despite their spiralling money troubles, they believe this is their settled future. But Ann becomes convinced she’s being shadowed by a homeless man whose presence seems like a terrible omen. As their child grows, Ann’s behaviour becomes increasingly erratic, feverish and disturbed. On the verge of losing everything, Tom makes a decision that he hopes will save their lives.

Novel About My Wife is described as a taut, sensuous and chilling portrait of a marriage beset by paranoia and obsession.

Want to know a little more about the author? Emily Perkins was born in Christchurch in 1970. She is the author of Not Her Real Name, a collection of short stories which won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize and was shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, and the novels Leave Before You Go and The New Girl.

Emily Perkins was the 2006 Buddle Findlay Sargeson Fellow. She used the fellowship to work on Novel About My Wife (Bloomsbury, 2008). She lives in Auckland.

Congratulations to Emily!!!

And commiserations to Kate de Goldi - her young adults novel "The 10pm Question" was a fabulous contender and it must have been a very tight race!

New Zealand Book Sellers Awards

2009-07-26T02:29:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the big one, the announcement of New Zealand's biggest literary prize - The Montana book awards.

But tonight was the chance for the book stores around the country to have their moment to shine at the Hachette New Zealand Ltd Conference Dinner & Industry Awards.

I'll bring you a full list of winners as soon as I can but for now a huge congratulations to Independent Bookshop of the Year recipients Unity Books in Wellington. And I am so proud that one of my all time favourite book stockists in my beloved home town of Palmerston North took out Regional Bookshop of the Year - North Island - yay for Bruce McKenzie Booksellers on George Street!!

Authorised Winehouse Biography in time for Christmas

2009-07-24T22:55:00.000-07:00

For those of you who like to get in early with your book wishlists to Santa, comes the exciting news you can now add the authorised biography of Amy Winehouse to it.

New Holland publishers will release Saving Amy by celebrity interviewer Daphne Barak in October/November. It will draw on six months of in-depth and exclusive interviews with Winehouse and her family conducted in St Lucia.

The book will look at the singer's life as a child, her rise to fame and her fall into the depths of addiction.

Written from Barak's point of view, it will also include photographs. And while it will be Barak's first book she has previously interviewed hundreds of high-profile figures including Michael Jackson, Mother Teresa and Hillary Clinton.

Meanwhile still to hit the shelves is an offerings from Winehouse herself.

The “Rehab” singer, now famous for her drug and alcohol indiscretions as much as her music, was reported in April to have penned a book of poetry about her troubled life and chaotic relationship with her estranged husband Blake Fielder-Civil.

A source claims that since living on Caribbean island of St Lucia Amy has been stimulated to write.

“She loves the chilled-out Caribbean atmosphere and has found it has encouraged her to write again. Pete Doherty once told her that poetry was a good way to express yourself, so she thought writing a book of poems about her life would be a fine start. She really wants to write a children's book one day so thought a book of poems would be great practice."

Please note: I did not photoshop the picture :P

Also please note: this one is not going on my Christmas wish list. I quite like Ms Winehouse's Back to Black album but I treat every Santa wish as precious and wouldn't be wasting one on this book when so much of it can be read in the English tabloids.

Montana Poetry Day - July 24...It's here!

2009-07-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

It's Montana New Zealand Poetry Day!!!

As promised, I thought I would share with you one of my favourite poems from a NZ author. This poem by Dennis Glover was first read to me (and probably thousands of other kiwi kids) at primary school and I immediately loved the onomatopoeia - being a farm girl I completely identified with it. I learnt it by heart and can still remember it almost word perfect.

The Magpies

When Tom and Elizabeth took the farm
The bracken made their bed
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said

Tom's hand was strong to the plough
and Elizabeth's lips were red
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said

Year in year out they worked
while the pines grew overhead
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said

But all the beautiful crops soon went
to the mortgage man instead
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said

Elizabeth is dead now (it's long ago)
Old Tom's gone light in the head
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies said

The farms still there. Mortgage corporations
couldn't give it away
and Quardle oodle ardle wardle doodle
The magpies say.

- Dennis Glover

And while I love the poem, magpies are one of those creatures that make my blood run cold with their beady little hate-filled eyes and their razor sharp talons and beak just waiting to dive bomb you as you innocently cycle home from school... *shudder*

Make over

2009-07-23T02:11:00.000-07:00

The wellreadkitty has had something of a make over today, not without a few technical glitches, a few of which you will note still need to be ironed out.

Hope you like the more refined, less busy look!