StevieB

Just read a Trilogy by Peter Wyatt (lives in Aus but don't know if he is an Aussie). Cry of the Curlew, Shadow of the Osprey and Flight of the Eagle. About 1800's frontier Australia and Anglo-Irish immigrants making a go of it. Adventure stories really, along the lines of Wilbur Smith, but one of the main characters in the series fought against the Maori in Waikato - so a bit of an NZ connection. 'A rollicking read' said some bloke I just met!

Am Loolah

All paid for on Amazon - Happy Birthday Donna!!!!

Jude J

Yes, I agree! Also A Child in Time, he really sets the scene doesn't he? I love him. Also a fav of mine (again, not an NZer) is Barbera Kingsolver. Just reading The Poisonwood Bible and it is one of very few books that has made me cry. She is a superb writer. Going to make a note of the books recommended. Love reading, much better than telly!

helinuk

Ok non NZ authors:
I read poisonwood bible in a bookgroup. Caused a lot of discussion I seem to remember. People either loved it or hated it. I liked it.
I love Josten Gaarder books : Sophies world, Maya,the solitaire mystery.
Tracy Chevalier- Girl with the pearl earing.
Philippa Gregory's 'Earthly joys' and 'virgin earth'- loved the gardening and history mix.
Dava Sobel - Galilaos daughter and Longitude- history and novel mix
I enjoy Robert Goddard, Jeffery Deaver, Dick Frances as as quick reads.
I have a whole shelf of Aussie authors, Tim Winton, Murray Bail, I particularly enjoyed Robert Hughes's The fatal Shore, and Sarah Murgatroyd's The dig Tree. Christopher Koch 's Out of Ireland was good but as I didn't manage to finish it on holiday I have 200 pages left unread!

AM loolah -great you bought the books! I just tell hubby it's all cheap on ebay - although I have used Amazon. I also often pick up books in charity shops. Are there charity shops in NZ can you buy cheap books there?
I had a surprise last week- I discovered my boss (from my days working in India)had written an autobiography and she had included a funny story about my hubby and I in it! That'll be the nearest I get to knowing an author LOL

Jude J

I haven't looked in charity shops but get some good ones at car boot sales. One thing we noticed here was the high price of books. We rarely buy a new book unless it is for a present!
Have you read Wally Lamb? I brought one of his from Whitcoulls (WH Smith) it cost $35 and saw it 2 weeks later at a car boot for $5. Also Trade Me is a good place to look.

helinuk

Have to confess I've never heard of him.What genre does he write?
I spent yesterday evening reading a Dan Brown- Angels and Demons whilst the family watched The Godfather.
I had a quick look at Trade me, it looks a good place to buy stuff, I was amazed that they had houses for sale and rent on it too.

Batty

The Warehouse usually has new releases for about $10 less than the bookshops. I buy mine on Trade Me now and also in the North Shore Hospice shop.

One of the great things I've found since coming here is all the new authors (to me) that I've discovered. Jodie Piccult for one - has anyone read her? My sister's keeper is absoutely brilliant - about a 'designer baby'. James Baldicci (thrillers) is another, Paulina Simons etc.etc.

cottageinthesky

The inaugural NZ Book Month is launched tomorrow, Monday 18th September and runs to 15th October. www.nzbookmonth.co.nz

The Weekend Dominion Post ran a poll of favourite NZ writers and books, results were published yesterday.

Top 10 Writers : 1. Maurice Gee 2. Janet Frame 3. Michael King 4. Patricia Grace 5. Keri Hulme 6. Witi Ihimaera 7. Margaret Mahy 8. Owen Marshall 9= Allen Curnow 9= Elizabeth Knox

Top 10 Books : 1. An Autobiography by Janet Frame 2. The Plumb Trilogy (Plumb, Meg and Sole Survivor) by Maurice Gee 3= The Penguin History of NZ by Michael King 3= The Bone People by Keri Hulme 4= Collected Poems by James K Baxter 4= Live Bodies by Maurice Gee 5= Potiki by Patricia Grace 5= Tu by Patricia Grace 5= The Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox 6= Blindsight by Maurice Gee 6= Tarzan Presley by Nigel Cox 7= The Best of Owen Marshall's Short Stories 7= Bulibasha, King of the Gypsies by Witi Ihimaera 7= Wrestling with the Angel: A Life of Janet Frame by Michael King 7= Sing to me Dreamer by Shonagh Koea 7= The Book of Fame by Lloyd Jones 8= Early Days Yet: New and Collected Poems by Allen Curnow 8= Going West by Maurice Gee 8= Summer by Jenny Bornholdt 8= Rain by Kirsty Gunn

Batty

Thanks a lot for that. Hmmm, I've heard of only a couple of them - more to add to the list

Am Loolah

I'm halfway through "A land of two halves" and I'm really enjoying it. The first bit is on the South Island which we just didn't get time to do in our 3 weeks hols; so I'm making mental notes of where's worth going and where's not for our first holiday when we're there - possibly 2010!!

helinuk

Thanks for the top ten list.

I bought Sole survivor from ebay- hubby read it on holiday and found it a bit slow at the beginning but really enjoyed it after that.

cottageinthesky

here it is - all sorts of things about books