Niue
Dick Scott's
Would a Good Man Die? Niue Island, New Zealand and the Late Mr Larsen
A fascinating read which does not reflect at all well on New Zealand's presence in Niue. It will appeal to anyone who is interested in Niue, in Polynesia and its history in general, and those who want to know the truth about the Larsen administration.
Hector Larsen ruled Niue as commissioner for 10 years and was killed in 1953 by three young Niueans. The last of these three was not actually set free until 1970. You need to read this book to find out the whys and wherefores (and be horrified and shamed by our colonial past).
What is the common thread here?
What do all these people have in common?
Mary Astor, Bonnie Rait, Ruth Park, Golda Meir, Nadia Comaneci, Patricia Grace, Itsuko Hasegawa, Luce Irigaray, Irene Joliot-Curie, Lotte Lehmann
You may have noticed they are all women - and you would be correct. You may also have noticed that they are gymnasts, scientists, writers, architects, politicians, and actresses and wondered what they could possibly have in common apart from being female. But the other thing they have in common is that they all appear in Chambers Biographical Dictionary of Women.
So get yourself a copy of this fascinating book and dip into it at random for sheer interest or look up particular entries to find out a bit more about a woman whose name you've just heard. Once you've got your own copy, you can find out why Kate Wilhelm, Elisabeth Soderstrom, Camilla Ravera, Rigoberta Menchu, and Ruth Ellis are famous - or maybe infamous. It's not just the famous who are covered here.
Chess Players
We have a great selection of books that you can look through (or order on line) but why not try this one:
639 Essential Endgame Positions: The Key Endgame Positions that Allow You to Mate, Draw, Save Lost Positions, and Win Drawn Ones
by Eric Schiller
Schiller is a chess expert and has written widely on the subject, including being author of the Encyclopaedia of Chess Wisdom. It sounds as if you couldn't go wrong with his books. And maybe you'll turn into a grand master yourself (to the dismay of all your friends and fellow players).
New Zealand books
How about Musterer on Molesworth by Bruce Stronach - a musterer on one of the greatest high-country sheep stations in New Zealand. What about an autobiography Peter Graham Mountain Guide; He was a great name in NZ mountaineering and chief guide at Mount Cook.
Maybe you'd enjoy The West Coast Gold Rushes fby Philip Ross May for a little history of gold and the West Coast (before you read Eleanor Catton's book) and try a bit of travel in FWG Miller's West to the Fiords: The History of Western Southland.
You are spoilt for choice here when it comes to New Zealand non-fiction
Yesterday's answer
This is the quote which was on our Facebook page yesterday:
"It occurred to Jessie, feeling the freshness of the hills and the cicadas singing, that it would be about as good a summer as they'd ever had on the Coast."
It is the last line of a novel called Coal Flat written by New Zealand author Bill Pearson. I highly recommend this book. If you haven't read it, you should. It is beautifully written and is a superb portrait of a small town on the West Coast in 1940s/1950s' New Zealand.
I know we've been featuring a lot of relatively 'old' NZ writers - that's because they are all very good ones - but keep in mind the huge array of current New Zealand writers (ie living and writing now) and bring your mental list into the shop. Think of Fiona Kidman, Emma Neale, Vincent O'Sullivan, Vanda Symon, Laurence Fearnley, Jenny Pattrick, to name but a few. See you at the NZ literature section.
Last of the last lines
I took her hand in mine, and we went out of the ruined place; and, as the morning mists had risen long ago when I first left the forge, so, the evening mists were rising now, and in all the broad expanse of tranquil light they showed to me, I saw no shadow of another parting from her."
There's a bit of a hint in the pictures you can see here.
Don't forget to take the New Zealand literature last line challenge on our Facebook page again today. It's a great way to find out about a few books which are well worth reading if you're not au fait with NZ literature.
Answer:
Charles Dickens / Great Expectations
Answer to yesterday's quote
The last line from yesterday's Facebook page challenge:
"No searchlights shone on me, no megaphone warnings were shouted, no machine-guns sprayed me, no police-dogs growled, no truncheons whacked me. I marked through the blazing city. It was rather good to be alive. In 1965, that is."
It came from a book called A Friend of the Family by a famous New Zealand writer called David Ballantyne.
Good book. Come in and get a copy.
Continuing famous last lines
The little quiz on guessing a book title from its last line is carrying on for one more week so if you haven't been participating before today, you can warm up by having a go at all the items from last week. You can also go on our Facebook page and have a look at the quiz there which is to do with last lines from New Zealand literature only.
1. ...or start upright in bed, with the sharp voice of Captain Flint still ringing in my ears: "Pieces of eight! Pieces of eight!'
2. Oh, father," said Eppie, "what a pretty home ours is. I think nobody could be happier than we are.
3."He turned out the light and went into Jem's room. He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.
The picture shows MK Joseph's book I'll Soldier No More. The last line on our Facebook page quiz on Friday was from that New Zealand novel.
Answers:
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Silas Marner by George Eliot
To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee
