FOR MORE REGULAR UPDATES LINK HERE TO MY MAIN BLOG MADE FOR WEATHERI have read little this year. Busy-ness has barged into a lot of my reading time. However I was lucky enough to go to three book launches this latter part of the year and receive some books to read.
Richard Reeve launched his poem, ‘The Among’ in September. It is a very long poem contained in a beautiful, hand-bound book (by Tara McLeod at the Pear Tree Press, Auckland) published by an independent publisher, Maungatua Press. (Maungatua I have recently been informed, is Maori for ‘Giant Wave’ and is the name of a range of hills west of Dunedin.) It also contains art work by Nigel Bunn.
As poems go, this is about a quiet, yet powerful, inlet where Richard describes the mighty among the miniscule; what is happening in the unhappening; the biology and chemistry of a mud flat, not unlike the edges of life itself, where life is ebbing and flowing; where there are things living and dying - as is eternally being exhibited and executed in the world of nature. So much is going on in this poem, heavily layered with images and movement. Richard has the ability to call up freshly-turned language from some mysterious source. The book sells for one hundred dollars with the proceeds going to the fight against the wind-farm project proposed for land in the Maniatoto.
Go here to read more about that.
Then recently Jeanne Bernhardt launched her book, ‘Fast Down Turk’. (
Tim Jones has posted an interview with Jeanne on his blog ‘Books in the Trees’.) Her launch was in the quaint, small, back-street publisher’s workshop of Kilmog Press; the publisher of 'Fast Down Turk'. As it is in an alley somewhere in the wandering depths of a small artists’ quarters behind Princes Street, it took Robert and I a while to find it on the wild, rainy Friday night of the launch.
Jeanne Bernhardt
The only one I know in this photo is myself ... just to the left of the head!
Bill Direen and Peter Olds
‘Fast Down Turk’ is a hard-backed book; handsome and a pleasure to hold in your hands. Seeing as it is a story that deals with the life of hard drug users and dealers; the street underbelly if you like; of an American city, it isn’t an easy read. However, as it is extremely well written, it draws you in and I found myself fascinated and absorbed. Jeanne handles the untantalising subject with the plain style of a writer of noir. It is writing that is hard-paced, direct, brave, clear and clever, with edgy, intense descriptions of a life examined with the unstinting eye of a very, very, very, very good writer.
The most recent launch was at the library where three writers launched their books: Martha Morseth’s ‘Edge - a cut of unreal’, Kath Beattie’s, ‘Poor Man’s Gold’ and Paddy Richardson’s ‘A Year To Learn A Woman’. I have started to read Martha’s book; one story each night before I go to sleep - sometimes I treat myself to two! I adore Martha’s dry style. It is writing that likes to play with the sardonic. This book contains short stories and is designed to be used by teachers of creative writing in high schools. I would say that any teacher with this book on hand as a teaching aid will be well-served. The kids will love the humour and the twists, as well as the added bonus of the writer at the end of the story informing the readers what first triggered the idea off in her mind. (I wish every writer did that in their books! It’s almost my favourite part.) Amusing, entertaining and clever, they are written in a natural, accessible style. I look forward to my bedside read every night. I don’t want the book to end.
Although, it does need to come to an end so that I can read the other two books - one; Kath Beatties’,
designed to inform me and take me back into the history of New Zealand,
and the other designed to scare the living daylights out of me (“Don’t read it if you are by yourself,” I was warned!)
Recently I have finished a book I never imagined I would ever read (or ever imagine I would find at all interesting.) However, I did read it and at times, couldn’t put it down.
“The War Nerd’ by Gary Brecher is entertaining and informative. I now know a heck of a lot more of what is behind the paltry, slanted, glib news bulletins we receive about wars in our newspapers and on our TVs. I am also more informed on the history of other wars I have only previously read about, or heard about, in sketchy terms; if at all. It’s no surprise to be told by Brecher that what’s really behind war is tribal pride. What this man doesn't know about war isn't worth knowing. Surely he must be the world's expert on war. I think he would be qualified to set himself up in a paying job as a universal war consultant!
I did sometimes get a little grumpy at Brecher’s put-downs of himself, because I figured that anyone who can write as effortlessly, humourously and cleverly about war as this, and who can write about it in a way that interests even me - about the most opposite of a war nerd as you could find - can’t be as much of a loser as he likes to make himself out to be.
Brutally truthful; be warned, this is not a book for a PC-er; Brecher tells it like it is from the p.o.v. of someone who looks at war and its history with a passionate, yet coldly honest, critical, analytical eye; no-one gets let off the hook. I tell you, this book takes not suffering fools gladly to a whole new level. No namby-pamby, hearts-on-sleeves, peacenik type need apply. If you are tempted to read this book, be prepared to have your viewpoint of war forcibly changed. It is a book that should be required reading for every politician. And some film-makers should probably read it too. Dammit. It should be required reading for everyone - we earthlings are all far too ignorant about our wars.
