Books at a glance

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Books Pasifika, specialists in Pacific Islands, Maori (Aotearoa/New Zealand) and general New Zealand literature, bring you a selection of books from the quarter (October through to December 1996). The material which follows is copyright to Books Pasifika 1996 and all rights are reserved.

PROUD GARMENTS
Anderson, Barbara
Victoria University Press; Wellington, 1996 ISBN/Code: 086473316X NZ$24.95 200pp approx. softcover
This new novel by Anderson is a humourous, sometimes wickedly funny story of "family love and betrayal which moves from the 1990s Auckland of property speculation and home renovation to the fabric mills and fashion showrooms of Milan."


SPIN, THE
Anonymous
Hodder Moa Beckett; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: X14510 NZ$20.00 softcover
This story of political intrigue has been controversial in its storyline and characters that often show much in common with characters and events in recent New Zealand political history.


HE WHIRIWHIRINGA: SELECTED READINGS IN MAORI
Biggs, Bruce
Auckland University Press; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 1869401689 NZ$34.95 264pp softcover
The texts selected by Biggs are drawn from various sources including Elsdon Best "Tuhoe", Sir Apirana Ngata and Pei Te Hurinui Jones "Nga Moteatea" part 1, "Te Ao Hou" and the "Journal of the Polynesian Society". The texts and translations are published in parallel, on facing pages so that the reader can compare the two.


OUT WALKED MEL
Boock, Paula
Longacre; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 0958340595 NZ$14.95 88pp
Mel is short, angry and a bit lost. A fast moving novel written with humour and compassion for young adults and teenagers.


ALISTAIR TE ARIKI CAMPBELL: POCKET COLLECTED POEMS
Campbell, Alistair Te Ariki
Hazard Press; Christchurch, 1996 ISBN/Code: 0908790945 NZ$19.95 softcover
This is a retrospective collection of Campbell's poetry that covers his love poems, satires, elegies and poems that explore his childhood and adult life. Born in Rarotonga in 1925, Campbell moved to New Zealand in 1933 after the death of his parents.


CHILDREN OF A DYING NATION: GRAPHIC NOVEL IN 12 PARTS: NUMBER ONE OCTOBER 1996
Zak Waipara; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: X14477 NZ$5.95 softcover
This graphic novel in twelve parts is the futuristic story of a gang of young Maori, alienated from the rest of society but finding strength through each other. The story is presented in cartoon form.


WARRIOR OF THE SUN
Clyde, T.S.
Earth and Sky Publications; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 0958349827 NZ$24.95 231pp softcover
This is a first novel in a distinctive New Zealand style that is the story of a young man's journey to self understanding. Throughout the journey he deals with obstacles and undercurrents that reveal both the positive and negative aspects of our bicultural society.


TRIBUTE TO CRUMPY, A: BARRY CRUMP 1936-1996
Crump, Maggie (foreword)
Hodder Moa Beckett; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 1869584449 NZ$49.95 208pp cased
This is a tribute to Barry Crump, best-selling author and icon of Kiwi culture who died in 1996. The book features interviews with his five wives, children and step-children, long-term friends, colleagues and other writers to create a profile of his life and work.


SANCTUARY
De Goldi, Kate
Penguin Books NZ Limited; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 0140381171 NZ$14.95 160pp softcover
A novel for young adults, this is the story of a young girl's struggle to hold her life together as she is confronted by a stream of crises. Relationships in her life are pulling her in all directions and it all becomes too much to cope with when a dramatic and dangerous plan goes terribly wrong.


NEW ZEALAND LITERATURE TODAY
Dhawan, R
India Society of Commonwealth Studies; India, 1994 ISBN/Code: 8185218692 NZ$56.95 215pp softcover
Published in India, this is a series of essays on various aspects of individual authors work. The contributors include New Zealand authors' and critics as well as others from around the Commonwealth. The essays cover topics such as Janet Frame's writing, pioneer writers, human relationships in the work of Frank Sargeson, aspects of the work of Katherine Mansfield and the short stories of Witi Ihimaera.


WHERE WE ONCE BELONGED
Figiel, Sia
Pasifika Press; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 0908597274 NZ$24.95 256pp softcover
This "forceful and honest adult work" is the first book written that uses the traditional Samoan storytelling form of su'ifefiloi. It vividly, and sometimes brutally, tells the story of a teenage girl living in the village of Malaefou, her experiences as a female growing up in Samoa and her quest for her own identity.


LEANING ON THE WIND
Haysom, Bevan
Beverley Mills Publishing; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 0473039591 NZ$39.95 307pp hardcover
Set in Auckland in the 1850s and 60s this is described as a historical drama, romance and adventure story.


MATRIARCH, THE
Ihimaera, Witi
Reed Publishing (NZ) Ltd; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 0790005131 NZ$19.95 450pp softcover
This is a new edition of this classic novel by Ihimaera, "...it is at once vigorous social history, an intensive course in Maoritanga and an imaginative study of human relationships that remains highly readable and entertaining..."


DUMB SHOW
Johnson, Mike
Longacre Press; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 1877135011 NZ$24.95 256pp softcover
Told through the eyes of children this is the story of a family "under seige" and the unravelling of the "dark secrets of the family dynamics". As issues are confronted and "bones surface, the delicate power balance shifts and characters undergo transformations that will change all their lives."


LANDFALL 192, SPRING 1996
University of Otago Press; Otago, 1996 ISBN/Code: 1877133191 NZ$21.95 184pp softcover
A selection of fiction, poetry, and criticism which includes , and poetry from established writers such as Kevin Ireland.


BECAUSE WE WERE TRAVELLERS
Lasenby, Jack
Reed Publishing (NZ) Ltd; Auckland, 1997 ISBN/Code: 187713502X NZ$14.95
A novel of epic proportions, set at a time when the sun has scorched the earth. Two travellers are cast out from their nomadic society‹a young boy with a gammy leg and an old woman. Their story is one of journeys in a hostile NZ terrain, of their battle to survive, and their desire to find peace. Old teaches young how to survive, and tells myths and legends of the past. The travellers can only move on at night, and live with the fear of being left behind and alone. For ages 12 years and up.


ENVOY
Loney, Alan
Puriri Press; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 090894313X NZ$33.95 32pp softcover
A collection of poems by Alan Loney with pageworks by by Mark Willis.


BRIDGINGS: READINGS IN AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S POETRY
Lucas, Rose (editor); McCredden, Lyn (editor)
Oxford University Press; Australia, 1996 ISBN/Code: 0195535952 NZ$34.95 256pp softcover
This book introduces the poetry of seven twentieth century Australian poets. Along with a selection of their work the book contains a critical essay on each poet offering one possible "path of interpretation and critique".


TING TING BILONG MI (A SPECIAL EDITION OF PACIFIC JOURNALISM REVIEW)
Ohasio, Campion
Unisearch PNG Pty Ltd; Papua New Guinea, 1996 ISBN/Code: 9980844065X NZ$24.95 112pp softcover
This is a collection of cartoons with strong social, environmental and political themes from Solomon Island journalist and cartoonist Campion Ohasio. "The cartoons focus on Bougainville, the mounting logging crisis in PNG and the Solomon Islands, mining development, the education upheaval in PNG and socio-political issues".


BROKEN ENGLISH
Piggott, Johanna
Hodder Moa Beckett; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 1869582837 NZ$24.95 180pp softcover
This is a love story set in contemporary New Zealand. It focuses on a Croation refugee family, especially the young daughter Nina. Nina is trying to cope with the violent past of the family and also the conflicts of fitting into a new society. She becomes attracted to a young Maori boy called Eddie but also has an offer of $12,000 if she marries a Chinese friend's lover so he can enter the country. The situation gradually builds to a head.


RIDING TO JERUSALEM
Sandys, Elspeth
Hodder Moa Beckett; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 1869584430 NZ$29.95 304pp softcover
This new novel by Sandys is a love story set in rural England in the 1800s and presents a "fascinating insight into the lives of the kind of people who came to settle New Zealand."


MANOA: A PACIFIC JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL WRITING: VOLUME 9
Steward, Frank (editor)
University of Hawaii Press; Hawaii, 1996 ISBN/Code: 10457909 NZ$40.00 softcover
Published twice yearly, Manoa is a journal containing literary reviews from Asia and the Pacific.


GUERILLA SEASON
Thomas, Paul
Hodder Moa Beckett; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 1869582969 NZ$18.95 300pp softcover
This is another fast moving novel set in Auckland. "When sexy socialite Rusty Trousdale marries her fabulously wealthy husband Maurice, they agree she can continue to make her legendary bedroom conquests as long as she is totally discreet." Trouble starts when Rusty has her diary stolen and the blackmail calls begin. The plot is intertwined with murder and stories of Maori separatist organisations ruling the underworld.


POEMS FROM OTHER CENTURIES: AN ANTHOLOGY,OF PRE-TWENTIETH CENTURY POETRY
Tissier, Adrian (editor)
Longman; Auckland, 1996 ISBN/Code: 058222585X NZ$14.95 181pp softcover
This is an anthology of poems by new and well-known authors arranged thematically. Some of the themes covered include love, war and conflict, experiences of nature, and heroes and heroines.


FLOATERS
Wambaugh, Joseph
Bantam; USA, 1996 ISBN/Code: 0553103512 NZ$45.00 304pp hardcover
This thriller centres around a plot to sabotage New Zealand's entry into the America's Cup regatta. It features the authors usual "rough- and-tumble prose as well as an intriguing examination of both aquatic police work and the world of competitive yachting".


BEST MATES: GAY WRITING IN AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND
Wells, Peter (editor); Pilgrim, Rex (editor)
Reed Publishing (NZ) Ltd; Auckland, 1997 ISBN/Code: 0790005271 NZ$34.95 240pp softcover
This is a unique collection of gay writing in New Zealand over the last one hundred years concentrating on the most prolific period since the early 1980s. Contributors include Stevan Eldred-Grigg, John MacDonald, James Allen, Sir Toss Woolaston, Witi Ihimaera, Samuel Butler and Frank Sargeson.


HERETIC, THE: PLAYSCRIPT
Williamson, David
Penguin Books NZ Limited; Australia, 1996 ISBN/Code: 0140261834 NZ$24.95 97pp softcover
This is the script of the controversial play that tells the story of the exposure of anthropologist Margaret Mead's theories on the utopian nature of Samoan society, free of the restrictive social conventions of western societies. The play "explores the lifetime obsessions of two remarkable, headstrong protagonists", Mead herself and Derek Freeman, the "iconoclast who was prepared to risk his marriage and shatter his career in the pursuit of truth."


© Books Pasifika Ltd 1996