Books
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@nonpartizan said in Books:
Smith's Dream by C.K. Stead is worth a read, and captures an era of NZ well. Bonus points for setting the secret police's torture chamber in the basement of Auckland University's (horrendous) Chemistry Building.
Thank you.
I am going to establish a NZ bibliography of must read works.......
In addition to novels, at the least I will need to get a Edmund Hillary bio & some ABs bios. I've only read Dan Carter's book but I would like to get some more.....
Other subjects that seem important - James Cook bio, also works on NZ farming and the Americas Cup.
Tbh I think I'm going to devote the next year or so to thoroughly educate myself on NZ.
If you want a few suggestions:
No better death: the Great War diaries and letters of William G. Malone - a fabulous read, but no happy endings!
Literature - Some other country: NZ's best short stories (Manhire and McLeod) - good cross section of major NZ writers.
Man Alone - John Mulgan - depression era NZ.
Farming - these are all old books and some you probably won't find:
Station life in NZ - Lady Barker
Many a Glorious Morning - David McLeod
The keeper of the sheep - Mary Goulter
A river rules my life - Mona Anderson
Open country - Jim HendersonA few others:
Just where do you think you've been/ Men Aspiring - Paul Powell - NZ mountaineering
My father's Shadow: A portrait of Justice Mahon - Sam Mahon
A good keen man - Barry Crump.Sport
The playing mantis - Jeremy Coney - Cricket - old of course, but proably the best NZ cricket biography I've read.
Rugby bios are mainly pretty poor. Reading something by TP McLean is something for your list though - so maybe, "I George Nepia".That and Rhythm and Swing by Paddles for me. Great stuff.
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@nonpartizan said in Books:
sportsmanship was important and not overly commercialized and commodified.
Suspect that cynicism was just better hidden. Yes, I'm old and cynical with the world.
Just look at cricket. Filthy dirty cheaters forever, but an 'aspiration' to be pure ... and the media followed for a long time.
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This certainly isnt something I would normally read, but was recommended by a colleague.
Well told story of a pretty harrowing real life ordeal and how she grew up and thenchallenges after her upbringing.
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@mariner4life said in Books:
For sheer gob-smacking "truth is stranger than fiction" Mike Tyson's "The undisputed truth" is the best sports biography I've read. Page after page of WTAF!
you read it and wonder how he ever won a fight
Other fighters being scared of him was a massive factor. The ones that weren’t did much better.
What a fascinating fellow he is.
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