New Zealand author Joanne Drayton launches her new book The Queen's Wife TONIGHT as part of Auckland Pride Month's Samesame but Different LGBTQIA+ Writers and Readers Festival. Congratulations, Joanne! I reviewed the book for NZ Booklovers. Here is my review: ‘Life is a game of chess. You should try playing it with two queens.’ So…
Book Review: Mila and the Bone Man
Mila and the Bone Man by Lauren Roche Book reviewing 101: Review a book when you’ve finished it. I thought I would try something different with Lauren Roche’s Mila and the Bone Man. I’m currently reading it, and I propose this: a short meditation on the journey so far. The thoughts and feelings that have…
Book Review: The Doctor’s Wife
The Doctor's Wife by Fiona Sussman I sense it when I talk about murder mysteries and psychological thrillers written by New Zealand authors. I call it the Kiwi cultural cringe: the idea that New Zealand commercial (or genre) fiction is inferior. Perhaps it’s something to do with New Zealand’s literary tradition still being in its…
Theatre review: That Bloody Woman
That Bloody Womanby Luke Di Somma and Gregory CooperAuckland Music Theatre17th July 2021 You had me at Fuck Fuck Fuckity Fuck. That’s not strictly true: you had me from the moment the house lights went down, when the wickedly, gorgeously clad cast strode out and the men sat down, silent, as the women took the…
The Book Exchange
I’ve achieved some rather major literary goals this year, and last night I celebrated with two lovely women. There's me in the middle. (Those holes in my top are a design feature, not a result of drunken undressing in the dark. I wish.) On the right is Joanna, and to the left is Sara: the…
How to Avoid Huge Ships
I want to share with you a marvellous book I was gifted earlier this year. I'm the first to admit I am a little anally retentive. That's one of the reasons being a proofreader is the perfect profession for me - I love finding mistakes and correcting them. (Friends and acquaintances reading this: you may now scrape…
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova
My fab friend Sara and I recently sat down and chatted about one of my favourite books ever: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Check out our conversation (and then check out the other posts on her cool blog). Thanks Sara (and Joanna)!
Hi, Patricia.
– Hi!
Lucky you. You’re our guest reviewer!
– Yay! (laughing, while eating her tenth piece of apple scroll)
I know you love this book and you’ve been itching to review it since you learnt that Joanna and I review books.
– Where is Joanna?
She’s probably taking Claudia to netball.
– Okay. Shall I tell you about the book then? Shall I just talk a bit and you type?
Yep, that’s how Joanna and I do it.
– So first, I love anything about the esoteric, supernatural, gothic; anything to do with mystery and discovery. I also love reading debut novels because I find often that they are vital and raw in a way that sometimes a writer’s later novels are not. Do you know what I mean?
Um, not really. Explain.
– What I mean is that a writer’s first book is the one that’s…
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Great new blog for book lovers
My dear friend Sara has just started a new blog, and it's going to be fantastic. She and her dear friend, Joanna (whom I like very much but don't know very well), interview each other about books they've been reading, then transcribe the interviews. What a fabulous idea! And why didn't I think of it?…
I've recently finished Stephen King's On Writing. I loved it. I originally downloaded it on my Kindle, but after finishing it I immediately ordered it online so I could have a hard copy to scribble over and highlight. I would like to share a few of those highlights with you. Firstly, a reality check: When…
The Luminaries: Art or Heart?
*Don't worry, this review contains no spoilers. Yes, I have actually read it. I ploughed my way through during a two-week break at the beach over Christmas / New Year. For those of you who have been leading a hermit-like existence recently (and the hermit reference, as those of you who have read the book will know,…
Patricia Bell, Author 