New Zealand Fashion
Coincidentally, the museum also houses a huge display of whisky decanters (Jim Beam to be precise) and in many ways that was even more fascinating than the dresses.
But that is all by the by. Remembering that trip caused me to glance through a book on New Zealand fashion that has recently arrived in the shop.
The Dress Circle: New Zealand Fashion Design since 1940
By Lucy Hammonds, Douglas Lloyd Jenkins & Claire Regnault
It covers 70 years of fashion and design in New Zealand. It is beautifully illustrated and the photographs pull you in even if you are a fashion Philistine like me. And even I recognised some of the great names in fashion history. If I found the museum fascinating, then it occurred to me that there must be lots of people who would find this book irresistable.
Final recommendation - go and visit the museum.
Welcome to mid-summer in Dunedin
Just to give you an idea of what it's like in Dunedin today, we have howling gale force southerly winds gusting up to 120 kph, heavy downpours of rain, a hail storm or two, a flurry of snow, looming black storm clouds, and snow actually falling down to 800metres. And we like Dunedin!
Of course, our normal summer weather is gorgeous with clear blue skies, blazing sunshine, light breezes, not a cloud to be seen, and lovely warm balmy days. That describes Dunedin perfectly so don't be put off by today's weather report. Go on, stick to your plans and move down here to join us in this (normally) tropical paradise that we call Dunedin.
Wearing the tartan
So You're Going to Wear the Kilt
by J Charles Thompson
Maybe you are going to be someone's best man. Maybe you are getting married. Maybe you are attending a graduation. Perhaps you have a special occasion to celebrate. Possibly you are just trying out your tartan for the first time.
Be aware that everyone loves a man in a kilt and everyone notices a man in a kilt so you want to be sure that you are doing everything correctly. This little book will steer you clear of all the usual faux pas and set you on the right path to looking good (and being correctly attired) in your kilt.
Whether it's the footwear, the socks, the shirt, the belt, the waistcoat, the jewelry, the medals, the garters or the sash (or what to do in very cold weather), you will find the answers clearly explained in this essential guide. Make sure you aren't the one singled out for having messed up standard Scottish practice!!
Enjoy your special day. Get a copy of this book and stride out with confidence.
New Year's Resolution
Happy New Year to everyone from all of us here at Hard to Find Books. We are wondering what resolutions people have made for 2017. You may have decided on weight loss or healthier eating or more exercise or learning a new sport or embarking on an adventure. On the other hand. . .
Read more good literature!
If you have chosen self-improvement for your New Year's resolution then we can help. We have a huge selection of really great books which will make your resolution a real pleasure to stick to. You won't find that your resolve has fallen by the wayside after a week or so. We have enough books to keep you occupied for years, never mind just for 2017!
(Of course, we can also help with books on exercise, weight loss, diet, travel, sport or whatever else you have opted for because we have books on nearly every subject under the sun). But you'll be in seventh heaven if it's good books you are after. Come on in and see us or order a few from our website.
Cane Curiosa: From Gun to Gadget
From guns and swords to cigarette holders and fans, it seems you can make a cane into almost anything. There are canes with fishing rods, cameras, microscopes, lights, even firecrackers and air balloons. Feel you need a tune for your morning stroll? There are flutes and trumpets, guitars and violins.
If you quite like the idea of a walking stick but don't actually like walking, there's a cane for that too - try a fold-out chair, a scooter, or even a bicycle.
Where you might buy one of these fabulous canes we aren't sure, but reading this book will certainly inspire you to find out - or maybe even invent one of your own.
New Zealand from a different perspective
If you're not familiar with the above words, you need to know that they are good kiwi words for the toilet or the WC or the lavatory (or whatever you call it where you come from) when it is rough and ready and mainly outside.
And if it isn't odd enough that we have such a plethora of words for what is effectively a hole in the ground, then odder still must be the fact that people have actually written books on the subject. I'm including just two here but there are more!
The Dunny Door ... and some more: A Celebration of Kiwi Loos, Longdrops and Little Houses
By Kevyn Male
North Island Back Country Dunnies: A Guide to Comfort Stops in the Bush
by Hans Willems
These are an affectionate but informative and amusing look at what is an essential facility. They come in all shapes and sizes and are made from all sorts of materials. They can be sited in the most unexpected, unusual or unlikely places and they can sometimes enhance and other times disgrace our great New Zealand outdoors.
Get a different perspective on tourism in New Zealand and entertain yourself into the bargain. Great photography and quite amusing.
A bit of ancient history
Raphael Patai
The Children of Noah: Jewish Seafaring in Ancient Times
This is a recreation of Jewish seafaring from Noah's voyage through to the Diaspora of late antiquity. Patai's book covers Biblical stories, Talmudic lore, and Midrash literature to shine a light on the world of these ancient mariners.
It is probably the most in depth book on this subject and it demonstrates the importance of the sea in early Jewish history. Patai begins with the flood in Genesis and profiles Noah, the earliest shipbuilder & seafarer. He also highlights the difficulty of adherence to Judaism and rabbinical laws which must have faced all those early Jews who set sail on the high seas.
This is a very careful study of a long neglected area of Jewish history and culture. It will also send you off in myriad other directions for further study.
Tractors Galore
by John Carroll
In this book the author charts the history & development of the tractor and its manufacturers starting with the early days of the J.I Case Threshing Machine Company and its experimental gasoline tractor of 1892. He brings his history right up to date with the many state-of-the art machines now on the market.
Every piece of machinery is illustrated with either full colour photographs or with archive material for the older machines.
The text is informative and includes technical specifications and detailed mechanical profiles for machinery from all around the world.
This would be a great gift for any vintage vehicle enthusiast and for that tractor-mad enthusiast you surely know. If you are lucky enough to know someone who fits both descriptions, come on in to the shop and pick up a copy.
