ODT books editor Helen Speirs reviews a selection of the latest New Zealand non-fiction with local links.
THE NEW TORCHLIGHT LIST:
In Search of the Best Modern Authors
Jim Flynn
Awa Press
Dunedin Emeritus Professor of Politics Jim Flynn is back with another "torchlight list''. His first incarnation spotlighted his chosen classics and this time he looks at contemporary fiction authors and their books.
Those wanting some starting texts will be informed, and avid readers will enjoy agreeing or disagreeing with his selections, as I did.
I was fascinated to learn some of his "very best'' author picks (John Banville, E.L. Doctorow, Elena Ferrante and Kazuo Ishiguro), agreed heartily with his choice of Birdsong (Sebastian Faulks) and A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry) as two of his "best books'', was somewhat puzzled at his rating of Eleanor Catton and Jonathan Franzen as "promising'' authors, and outraged at his inclusion of Janet Frame, Russell Hoban, Khaled Hosseini and Lionel Shriver in the "not quite good enough'' section!
A great read, and conversation starter.
SKIPPERS: Triumph and Tragedy
Danny Knudson
Lakes District Museum & Queenstown and District Historical Society
Retired Dunedin teacher Danny Knudson has written an impressive book about the history of Skippers Canyon, near Queenstown, reached along the spectacular, but narrow, winding and hair-raising road, past the turnoff to the Coronet Peak skifield road.
Knudson looks at the goldrush history of the area, and the contributions of the farmers and women of the Shotover, which he says are groups ``largely neglected in history''.
The book is comprehensive, well presented, and complemented by an excellent assortment of colour and black-and-white photographs from a range of sources. Knudson has included a list of walks in the area and a range of supplementary material.
This is an impressive publication, and a valuable local resource.
EXTRAORDINARY ANYWHERE:
Essays on Place from Aotearoa New Zealand
Ingrid Horrocks and Cherie Lacey
Victoria University Press
This collection of personal essays about place includes one by Dunedin historian Professor Tony Ballantyne, who writes about his attachment to Caversham.
Other contributors include Martin Edmond, Tina Makareti, Harry Ricketts and Ian Wedde.
Helen Speirs is ODT books editor.
