NONFICTION
1 The Winner’s Formula by Kerry Spackman (HarperCollins, $39.99)
Oh God. Yet another motivational self-help pamphlet, this time featuring the yap of a cognitive neuroscientist who toils in the peak performance mines: “He uses his experience with F1 drivers to illustrate how the brain works in competitive, stressful, and fast-paced situations, and how this applies to whatever skills we are learning in our own lives”, etc. Oh just RELAX for God’s sake.
2 One Last Question, Prime Minister by Barry Soper (HarperCollins, $39.99)
A not especially favourable review by a Labour insider, somewhat critical of the author’s apparent pro-National stance in his political memoir, appeared in ReadingRoom on Monday.
3 The Valley by Asher Emanuel (Bridget Williams Books, $39.99)
The Wellington author of the year’s most stunning book—a kind of nonfiction novel about two petty crims in the Hutt Valley—makes two appearances in Auckland next week. He is chaired by Labour candidate Max Harris for the Auckland launch of The Valley, on Wednesday, July 1, at the Ellen Melville Centre on Freyberg Place, doors open 5.30 for 6pm start. The following day he will sign copies of The Valley at Time Out Bookstore in Mt Eden on Thursday, July 2, from 12.30-1pm.
4 A Place to Stand by Clare Ward (Allen & Unwin, $37.99)
A free copy of an outstanding memoir by a country doctor is up for grabs in this week’s giveaway contest.
From an excellent korero with her, at e-tangata: “For the past 30 years, she’s been a general practitioner with Hauora Health, a community-owned kaupapa Māori service that runs Rawene Hospital and nine outlying clinics. More than 7000 people are on its books, and 74 percent of them are Māori. The vast majority face significant health issues … The book is a love letter to Hokianga and its people. It’s full of atmospheric black-and-white portraits of people and landscapes, mostly by Clare, whakataukī (sayings in te reo Māori), and philosophical musings.”
To enter, share a story about rural doctoring or nursing in the provinces—good, bad, profound, amusing, harrowing, political, personal; anything, really—and send to stephen11@xtra.co.nz with the subject line in screaming caps GOOD OLD DR CLARE by midnight on Sunday, June 28.
5 He Told Us by Chris Wilson & Michal Dziwulski (Allen & Unwin, $37.99)
A free copy of the authors’ hard-hitting inquiry into the Christchurch terrorist was up for grabs in last week’s giveaway contest. “If we do not properly seek to understand why and how someone might commit such horrors, then we have no hope of preventing similar events from occurring in the future,” they wrote, in an excerpt at ReadingRoom.
Readers were simply asked to say why they wished to read it. There were fewer than a dozen replies. There was an interesting entry from Stuart, who wrote, “I want to better understand what we must do to prevent it happening again. At the time, I was a Brit married to a Kiwi, living in the UK and now I’m a Briwi (born British, now a Kiwi) living here in Aotearoa, so it feels even more important.”
Merania wrote about working on March 15 as editor of community newspaper Manawatū Guardian. A live video appeared on her screen. “I watched, unsure of what I was looking at. That vile short bald-headed murderer got out of his car and shot a woman on the street, then moved toward the mosque. I remember little now. Kotahitanga. We are one.”
The winner is Leeann, who also remembered March 15. “I remember that day so well. I followed the unfolding situation on RNZ and could tell it was extremely serious. I had small children at the time however, so delayed getting on my laptop for an in-depth update until they were tucked up in bed. I knew there were multiple fatalities, and thought it could be as high as seven or eight. When I heard the actual number I ran downstairs in tears, yelling to my husband, ‘It’s 50 dead! Fifty!’ A number as inconceivable now as it was then.
“I was in favour of a Royal Commission, given the gravity of the event. However, as time went on, it seemed the court-like proceedings and public nature of the inquiry were putting the first responders on trial. The person who caused all the horrific pain and terror escaped scrutiny completely.
“Police, dispatchers, paramedics, firefighters – all were forced to make decisions that day with limited knowledge and under intense pressure. Now, with the benefit of hindsight and in the public spotlight, many of these decisions were dissected and criticised. I cried again, this time along with the tearful testimonies of some of the front line staff. I felt it was unfair that these good people were being re-traumatised for simply doing their best in what was an impossible situation.
“I would love to read this book, not only to further understand the motivations of the perpetrator, but also to see if the author thinks a more private, less combative process of enquiry could have achieved the same results with less pain.”
Leeann is the deserving winner of He Told Us by Chris Wilson & Michal Dziwulski.
6 Lessons on Living by Nigel Latta (HarperCollins, $39.99)
7 Ara by Hinemoa Elder (Penguin Random House, $30)
8 Stakes by Noelle McCarthy (Penguin Random House, $40)
9 Built for This by Brad Poulter (Allen & Unwin, $37.99)
A powerful excerpt about dealing with a sexual predator in the Navy, taken from a naval officer’s new memoir, appeared in ReadingRoom on Tuesday.
10 A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin Random House, $40)
FICTION
1 All Her Lives by Ingrid Horrocks (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $35)
2 The Storm Weaver by Ivy Cliffwater (Hachette, $37.99)
Fantasy, obviously.
3 Slash by Gavin Strawhan (Allen & Unwin, $37.99)
4 The Other Catherine by Lauren Keenan (Penguin Random House, $38)
5 Malachite (Valmora Academy) by Ashley Andersen (Hachette, $37.99)
Fantasy, obviously.
6 Tea and Cake and Death (The Bookshop Detectives 2) by Gareth and Louise Ward (Penguin Random House, $28.00)
7 Black Velvet and Vengeance (Tatty Crowe 3) by Deborah Challinor (HarperCollins, $37.99)
8 The Black Monk by Charlotte Grimshaw (Penguin Random House, $38)
9 Julia Eichardt by Lauren Roche (Flying Books Publishing, $36.99)
10 Dead Girl Gone (The Bookshop Detectives 1) by Gareth and Louise Ward (Penguin Random House, $28)
