The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper

So it's Christmas Eve in New Zealand and I'm writing a book review but I wanted to write it now as I've just finished this beautiful book that has taken me too long too read. The reason it has taken so long is because of work, study and Christmas commitments, not because there's anything wrong with the book.

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper is written by Phaedra Patrick. It tells the story of 69-year-old soon to be 70-year-old Arthur Pepper. It's the one-year anniversary of the death of his wife Miriam who he had been married to for more than 40 years. 

Arthur decides it's time to start going through Miriam's wardrobe and he finds a gold charm bracelet. He's never seen it before and he sets out on an adventure to find out where all the charms on the bracelet have come from. He finds out some beautiful things about his wife and some things that may be best left in the past. 

Along the way Arthur meets some interesting characters and finds out a lot about himself as well.

A delightful debut from Phaedra Patrick!

Best Fiction for 2017 - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

Have you ever loved a book so much, you didn't want it to end?  

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman was that book for me. It's the best work of fiction I've read in 2017. 

This is the debut novel for Honeyman and it's easy to see why she has been getting accolades for the best debut novel of 2017.

The book's main character is Eleanor Oliphant. She is a woman who has had a tough life. She lives alone, goes to work each day, talks to her mother once a week and has her set way of doing things. 

As the back of the book says she has learned how to survive - but not how to live. 

That is until she meets the IT guy at work and an elderly man who the IT guy and Eleanor help after he collapses on the street. Friendships develop between the trio leading Eleanor to experience a better life. However, she still has her past to deal with. 

Eleanor has her quirks and by the end of the book you will want to read more about her. It would be great if there was a sequel. 

The book is funny and also does a great job of covering areas like loneliness and friendship. However, I admit there were one or two chapters I found hard to read but they were part of the story.

This is a hard book to review without giving too much of the story away so I will leave it there except to say - Go read this book, you will be glad you did!  

McLeods Booksellers - How do I love thee? Let Me Count the Ways!

So in New Zealand on October 28 we celebrated New Zealand Bookshop Day.

Booksellers NZ ran a campaign asking people to write a love letter to their favourite New Zealand bookshop. I just found out today that my letter was one of 23 finalists chosen from around the country. I was stoked.

Congratulations to Karen Leona Stewart, whose letter to University Bookshop Canterbury was chosen as the winner and she won $500 in book vouchers for her efforts.

Here is my letter to my favourite bookshop McLeods Booksellers which is in Rotorua - the city I live in!

Dearest McLeods Booksellers

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways!

I love the feeling I get as I walk into your store. As a self-described lover of books aka book-mad person, I feel a comfort, an ease and a warmth as soon as I walk through those Pukuatua St doors. I’m in my happy place.

I love your mammoth selection of books. I may frequent your store but each visit leads to something new. Fiction, non-fiction, classics, memoirs, children’s books, adult colouring books, calendars, CDs notebooks, bookmarks, magazines – there’s always something to look at.

I love the thoughtfulness, the kindness and the caring nature of the book lovers aka staff who work there. They’re always so helpful and for any event they’re hosting, they’re quick to send an invite my way.

I love the events held within your walls and your promotion of authors, illustrators, poets and even folk singers locally, nationally and internationally. I’ve loved the book launches and author visits.

I love how you’re not afraid to dress up in funny clothes and share your dress up days on social media. I’ve seen a few hippies and the odd super hero in your store.

I love that you promote Rotorua just by your presence in the community but also online and the help you provide to locals and both domestic and international visitors. Every time my sister, who’s also book-mad, visits from out of town, a trip to your store is something we must do.

I love your easy-to-use website. If I need cheering up aka need another book to buy, I love to scroll through your online catalogue.

I love your regular newsletter for its updates of events, promotion of new books and book reviews. I love the idea of your new book subscription service. I haven’t ordered your book box Cleod Crate yet but one day I will and I can’t wait to see what’s inside.  

I’ve been to many other bookshops, just ask my longsuffering husband. And I still rate McLeods Booksellers as my favourite!

Thanks for your loyalty to Rotorua and to your customers!  You will always have a special place in my heart!

Love

That book-mad customer of yours – aka Abbey Hartevelt

Below is the link to the letters from the other finalists.

https://www.booksellers.co.nz/love-letter-your-bookshop-competition-finalists

And here is a link to a story about the author of the winning letter.
https://www.booksellers.co.nz/news/bibliophiles-escape-love-letter-wins-500-book-token-prize

The Storied Life of A.J.Fikry

What book in your collection is your most valued - either in monetary terms or for sentimental reasons?

There's a book featured in The Storied Life of A.J.Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin which has a six-figure price-tag. I know it's only fiction but it made me wonder if there are books out there that hold that sort of value.

When I first saw this book in the library I was unsure about reading it. I flicked through the chapters and couldn't understand the little pieces at the start of each chapter. However, I thought I'd give the book a go because it had been recommended as a great book if you like books about bookstores. I do!

And I loved this book. Until a few years ago I never used to read much fiction. I thought it was better to read true stories, biographies and memoirs. But reading a book like this makes me want to read more fiction. Gabrielle Zevin is a great writer

A.J.Fikry is a grumpy bookstore owner on an island which is hard to get to and only attracts visitors during the summer. His wife has died and his bookstore is not doing well. Then one day a small package is left in the bookstore for him and his life changes.

There are some great characters in this book and lots of references to various books and some beautiful lines which, if it wasn't a library book, I wouldn't mind underlining. 

Halfway through the book I started to think about how the story would end. The ending was a bit unexpected. After reading the book the reason for the small pieces at the start of each chapter also became clear. A great read! 

Scribbles in the Margins - 50 Eternal Delights of Books

At the weekend I finished a good book. I picked up a few others and read a few chapters but I think I had what you call Reader's Block. I just couldn't get into the books I picked up.

So I picked up this book sure to eliminate Reader's Block - Scribbles in the Margin by Daniel Gray.

It's a small book but it is full of gems about why we love books, reading and anything bookish. I admit I haven't read the whole book. I don't think it's that kind of book to sit and read from cover to cover but I flicked through most of it.

The book contains 50 short chapters, each chapter featuring an essay on why we love books. I could so relate to the first chapter Handwritten dedications in Old Books. I have a Berenstain Bears book that my father who died when I was 11, gave me for my fourth birthday in 1975. In the front he wrote "To Abigail, from Dad". That short piece of handwriting means more to me than the book and I often look at it. 

Some of the other chapters in this bookish book include

• Visiting someone's home and inspecting the bookshelves
• Giving a book as a present
• Libraries
• Reading on public transport
• Smells of books, old and new
• Reading in bed
• Losing an afternoon organising bookshelves
• The calm a room of books brings
• Old Bookshops
• Large Bookshops

That is a just a few of the 50 chapters. This is a beautiful book. If you are book-mad like me, this is definitely worth adding to your collection.

Lost for Words

When I saw this book I knew I wanted to read it. I love books about books, bookshops and libraries.

After reading the praise for the author Stephanie Butland at the start of Lost for Words I wanted to read it even more.

The book tells the story of Loveday Cardew who works in a secondhand bookstore called Lost for Words in York. She prefers books to people. 

The chapters take us from the present day of 2016 and then to an incident in 2013 and to Loveday as a child in 1999. I thought it was going to be confusing. It wasn't. 

This book is very well written. It has strong and raw themes which can be hard to read about at times but I really wanted to read to the end to see how the mystery unfolded and was resolved.

What I liked most about this book is the author's creation of Loveday Cardew and some of the other characters including the bookshop owner Archie, the poet Nathan, the villain Rob and Loveday's parents and her relationship with them. I also liked the book themes woven through the story.

I am not a huge fan of poetry but there are a few wonderful poems which tell their own stories in the book.

• In the photo I've used this ornament of a bookstore, which I bought recently while visiting the Netherlands. I wanted to use the ornament in this photo in memory of my beautiful father-in-law Izak Hartevelt who passed away last week. Izak was born in the Netherlands and moved to New Zealand in the 1950s. I only knew him for 10 years but he was a very special person in my life. 

Must Reads for Dog or Cat Lovers

Nearly six years ago I would never have thought about reading a book about animals but then our  miniature Fox Terrier, we named Dollar, arrived on December 24, 2011. Well he actually arrived three months earlier but we found him at a pet shop on that Christmas Eve and we just knew we had to take him home with us. He has brought joy, fun times and happiness to us!

He has also encouraged me to read more books about animals and I have bought a number, often times when we are on holiday and I'm apart from him. So I thought I'd jot down a list here of a few of my faves.

1. Cleo by Helen Brown

This is the true story of a cat named Cleo and the joy, healing and love he brought to his owner Helen Brown and her family after tragedy struck while they were living in Wellington, New Zealand. Brown is a New Zealand journalist now living in Australia. They say journalists make good authors of books. I'm not sure if that's always true but in this case it definitely is. I remember reading this book on a plane back from Melbourne and just being engrossed in it. Brown went on to write After Cleo: Came Jonah - also a brilliant book. Several years later and she is about to release another cat-related book and I can't wait to read it.

2. Dewey - The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter

This is the true story of a kitten found by Vicki Myron in the night drop box of the library in the town of Spencer, Iowa where she worked. Dewey, who was named by the community, grew into a adorable library cat, and also became quite famous with people travelling long distances to meet him. If you love books about libraries and/or cats, you will definitely love this one. It has been a few years since I've read this but I remember I couldn't put it down. Maybe time to re-read it.

3. A Cat Called Norton - The True Story of an Extraordinary Cat and his Imperfect Human by Peter Gethers

This is taken from the back of this book - "Peter was a confirmed loner and cat hater, until he was given a small, grey (and impeccably handsome) kitten with folded ears by his then girlfriend. The girlfriend went but Norton stayed - in fact, he and Peter became inseparable". I loved this book so much I went on to buy the other two in the series -

• For The Love of Norton - The Cat Who Taught His Human How to Live 
• Forever Norton - The Perfect Cat, his Flawed Human and Life's Greatest Lessons

Stunning books but be aware you may need a box of tissues handy at times.

4. Peggy & Me by Miranda Hart

I love Miranda Hart as a comedian. I love her show on TV. I read her first book and I think I struggled to finish it. A few years later she went on to write Peggy & Me about the relationship between her and her Shih-Tzu Bichon Frise cross puppy named Peggy. The book is hilarious and switches narrators. Sometimes Miranda is narrating and other times the story is told through the eyes of Peggy. This book was "such fun" as Miranda's onscreen mother would say. I did read it while on holiday and ended up not finishing it but that wasn't because I didn't like it. It was more that I just had too big a TBR (To Be Read) pile to get through. I found this book such a comfort and remember trying not  to laugh out loud while reading it in a cafe at the British War Museum in London while waiting for my husband.

5. The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

This is a fictional tale told through the eyes of a dog called Enzo. It's a great book and if you ever wondered what your pet is thinking, take a read of this book and you may just get a better idea.  You may never want to leave you dog at home alone for any length of time again.

Laugh Out Loud

ADORABLE!

Yes I did mean to write the word adorable in capital letters as well as underline it and bold it, because that is what this book is.

If you loved Charlie and The Chocolate Factory then you will love this book. It has all the imagination of the Roald Dahl favourite but the best bit is the book is about books - my favourite kind of book.

Laugh Out Loud tells the story of Jimmy. He's a kid who loves books dreams of starting up a book company for kids run by kids. The book takes us through all the obstacles he faces - the main one being adults initially laughing out loud at his dreams. 

One of the two authors James Patterson, whose books are the most borrowed from UK libraries, has certainly let his imagination run wild with this gem. 

While the 275-page book is for kids, any adult who wants some light reading or loves books about books will love reading Laugh Out Loud as well.

There are so many great characters in this book. My favourites are Jimmy's next door neighbour Maddie, who is the inspiration for his book company, the school librarian Ms Sprenkle, the Yingerlingers affectionately known as the Ys and Jimmy's mate Chris who insists that any book company set up must include a bowling alley. And then there's Jimmy's English teacher Mrs Delvecchio and the extemporaneous speeches based only on facts that she demands of her students without any notice.

The illustrations throughout the book by Jeff Ebbeler are brilliant.

Never giving up on your dreams is the overriding theme of this delightful book. This book has almost made me want to set up my own book company but I can't imagine it would ever be as cool as Jimmy's.

As far as children's books go, this one deserves five out of five stars! 

Sam's Best Shot - a father and son's life-changing journey through autism, adolescence and Africa

Dr James Best and his wife Benison want to do something to help their son Sam, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of three, come out of his shell.

So they sell their family home, take Sam, 14, out of school and James and Sam head to Africa for six months.

James and Sam travel through South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya and Sam is exposed to a life way out of his comfort zone.

They travel a lot by minibus and there is a hilarious list much later in the book about the unspoken set of rules James has learnt about that mode of transport including how long they have to wait as the minibus never leaves until it's full.

They stay in all types of accommodation including hotels, motels and tents. You soon learn that Sam hates tents and James has to find a way to make him stay in them, especially when there is no other option.

Sam is initially reluctant about the trip and continues to be so on occasions through their journey. However, James devises a daily scoring out of 10 for Sam which his son thrives on. James also teaches Sam how to box and play Chess and schoolwork is still a regular feature of their time together in Africa.

Sam goes fishing, rafting, learns to go into a store and buy his own lemonade, interacts with the  people they meet and sees all the wildlife and amazing sights you could expect to see in Africa.

The book also takes us through a lot of what James is feeling throughout the trip. Both Sam and James have their moments as any parent or child would on such a long trip. Part of the book I loved were the pieces Sam wrote about the trip and about the people who are important to him.

It is a long book but well worth reading to the end when you find out how and if the trip has changed  Sam. All is revealed in one sentence by the 14-year-old.

• To read more about the trip buy the book or check out James' blog at http://www.samandjames.life/autism-and-the-adolescent/
• James has also set up a parenting website called www.drjamesbest.com.

Tuesdays with Morrie

If there is any book or movie I can't stop recommending it would be Tuesdays with Morrie.

I actually watched the movie starring Jack Lemmon as Morrie Schwartz and Hank Azaria as Mitch Albom a number of times before in recent years finally buying the book which is unusual for me as I normally like to read the book before seeing the movie.

This is the true story of Mitch, a sports journalist at the time, who meets up with his college professor Morrie 20 years later. Morrie has ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Motor Neurone Disease. Morrie only has months to live and Mitch visits him every Tuesday.

The first paragraph of the book sums it up well.

"The last class of my old professor's life took place once a week in his house, by a window in the study where he could watch a small hibiscus plant shed its pink leaves. The class met on Tuesdays. It began after breakfast. The subject was The Meaning of Life. It was taught from experience".

During every meeting they discuss some strong themes including death, regrets, feeling sorry for yourself, family, emotions, marriage, the fear of aging and forgiveness.

Every time I watch the movie I cry. When I read the book I cried. The book teaches some great life lessons and really makes you think and reflect. It's a book I can re-read and always take something new from.

Highly recommended reading and definitely a 5 out of 5 stars for Tuesdays with Morrie - both the book and the movie!

Childhood Memories

Fifty cent (lolly) mixtures, playing Elastics, Zap chocolate flavoured milk, VHS recorders, cassette players, ham and chicken luncheon sausage sandwiches, covering school exercise books with Duraseal, only getting toys on special occasions, awkward but "tell it how it really is" school reports - they are just some of the features of life growing up in the 1980s in New Zealand.

They are just some of the many features author and New Zealand radio announcer Dom Harvey highlights in his book Childhood of an Idiot. Before reading this book I will admit I wasn't much of a fan of Harvey but I have him to thank for helping me relive some of the good memories of the 1980s.

We are of a similar age so while reading many chapters of this book, I found myself saying "I remember that". This book is a few years old and when I first saw it I thought about buying it but ended up getting it out of my local library a few weeks ago. Harvey has also written two other books Bucketlist of an Idiot and more recently a book about running.

In the book Harvey reflects on many parts of his childhood including his mother wanting to be posh and her obsession with Llardro - a brand of  porcelain figurines, playing Elastics with his older sister, Juicy Fruit chewing gum, Tangy Fruits at the movies and how we used to believe expressions like "If you pull a face and the wind changes, your face will stay like that forever".

There are a lot of delightful stories in this book. I love the story about Harvey playing Trivial Pursuit with his family and how they couldn't work out why his younger brother was so much better at the game than anyone else. The story about his Mum recording her own singing over that of Kenny Rogers on a cassette tape is hilarious.

I skipped a few "too much information" chapters and the language was raw at times. However, this book will appeal particularly to those in their 40s who grew up in New Zealand.  

Footnote: I took the photograph of this book in my local fish and chip shop Mitchell Downs Takeaways. While I was there a young boy was choosing lollies for his own 50 cent (probably $2) mixture.

The Bridge Ladies

For 50 years Roz and her friends Rhoda, Bea, Jackie and Bette have met every Monday afternoon and played Bridge.

In this memoir The Bridge Ladies, Roz's daughter Betsy Lerner, who grew up watching these women play Bridge, tells their stories.

In each chapter Lerner spends time with each woman and tells their stories about their families, upbringings, jobs, triumphs, struggles and what these weekly Bridge meetings have meant to them. In the book you also see the relationship between Lerner and her mother, its strengths and weaknesses.

Lerner joins a Bridge Club and learns how to play the game. Even her description of how to play the game kept me captivated. To be fair I still don't know how to play Bridge but this book was incentive enough for me to join a club, recently joining my local Scrabble Club. 

I tend to agree with author Amy Chua's praise of the book "It's the best book about mothers and daughters I've read in decades, maybe ever''.

I bought this book after its cover jumped out at me in a bookshop. It is beautifully written and I couldn't put it down. It would be in my top five favourite memoirs.

• There is a short video on YouTube featuring an interview with the author Betsy Lerner and the five Bridge Ladies which is well worth a watch. Here's the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=824wuLTP9O4

The Prince George Diaries

Watching Prince George on TV the other day cling on to his father's hand as he arrived for his first day of school, I thought "I wonder what's going through that boy's mind?''.

I guess I thought that more after reading the extremely delightful book The Prince George Diaries by Clare Bennett. This book was published in 2015 and is Prince George in his own words. Of course it's all fiction because who can write when they're just a toddler.

Written in diary format, the book spans a year of Prince George's life from July 22, 2014 - his first birthday - through to his second birthday. It's life seen through his eyes.

His diary deals with how he goes from being an only child to having to deal with having a sister, who he refers to as Ringo until her birth when she's bestowed with the name Charlotte.  He describes how his mother is feeling being pregnant. One of the lines from the book - "Mummy is now almost bright green and she has been wearing the same onesie for three days".

Prince George's family - his great grandfather aka Prince Philip affectionately known as G-Pop, his great grandmother aka Queen Elizabeth II (GG), grandfather Prince Charles (Goonie) and step grandmother Camilla (GaGa) - all have a starring role. It's obvious that Prince George is quite taken with his Uncle Harry who features a lot in the book.

This book is brilliant with laugh out loud moments on almost all of the 287 pages. I hope Bennett is planning a sequel.

Childhood Heroes and Coming Full Circle on Roald Dahl Day

Today is September 13 (in New Zealand) - Roald Dahl Day so I thought it only apt to jot down my thoughts on the day we celebrate the much loved author. 

I love Roald Dahl's books. I remember talking to someone a while back and they said they weren't a fan because all he talked about was food. I couldn't believe that I had found someone who didn't like Roald Dahl.

To celebrate the day Penguin has very kindly made available six of the Roald Dahl heroes as printable bookmarks. There's Charlie, Matilda, George, Billy, Sophie and James. I printed the bookmarks, dashed to the local stationery store and had them laminated. Now I have six bookmarks. 

Talk about coming full circle. As a child I used to make bookmarks as gifts for Christmas and birthdays. (By the way I've included the link below which will take you straight to the page where you can print your own bookmarks.)

But in making these bookmarks, it got me thinking, they'd left out my favourite Roald Dahl hero - Danny from Danny the Champion of the World.
I love that book. I remember re-reading it a few years ago and realising that when I read it as a child I had no idea what the word poaching meant. I loved Danny and I loved reading about his relationship with his father. They live in a caravan and Danny absolutely adores his Dad. One day he finds out his father has been breaking the law - he has been poaching pheasants. The book takes the pair on various pheasant-poaching adventures. If you haven't read it, do so. It's a wonderful book.

• Just an aside there was a fabulous book published last year called Love From Boy - Roald Dahl's Letters to His Mother. The book is a collection of the letters Dahl wrote to his mother throughout his childhood and into adulthood. I may review that one day.
• To print the bookmarks go to https://www.penguin.co.uk/puffin/articles/2017/aug/6-magical-roald-dahl-bookmarks-to-print/

A Place to Go

Over recent months I’ve come to appreciate an asset in our community – the local library.

It’s funny how it has taken being unemployed to understand the role a library plays in its community.

Four years ago I walked away from a 19-year career. I found other work but left there a few months ago as I knew I wanted to do something else with what’s left of my working life.

I have been unemployed for three months and I admit I’m not a fan but I have places like the local library to thank for keeping me sane. It has been a Godsend.  

Ultimately, it has been a place to go. Going to the library has given me a break away from job hunting.

As a self-confessed retail therapy addict, the library has provided a more affordable alternative to the clothes and book stores I normally frequent. I don’t feel so bad paying $1 to reserve a book I really want to read or $3 for a new release or the best thing - getting the book for free.

Ironically, I have a stack of books I bought during a recent trip overseas which I haven’t even touched yet as I’ve been getting books out of the library – a concept my husband and I’m sure others may find difficult to understand.

At the start of this week the first thing I did was drive to the library and look for a book I’d reserved after an email popped up from the library saying it was available for me to pick up. Being unemployed has made me appreciate the small things in life so getting the email was excitement in itself. Getting the book was even better.

During Monday’s visit to the library I also looked at another book on the New Releases shelf which people on Facebook were talking about. Meanwhile, I still had another three TBR (to-be-read) books at home from the library.

Our library, albeit in temporary premises, is a hive of activity.  Every time I go in, there are people in every corner.  The other day two people sat at a desk, one helping the other to read. In another area, there was a line of computers with a person sitting at each one. In the self-service queue a young girl helped her father pull a stack of more than 20 mostly children’s books from a trolley and tap them on the electronic screen. People were sitting reading in other parts of the library or scanning the shelves. Outside a group of young people were milling about and singing.

Libraries have changed. They are not just about the books. They are about providing a place for people to meet, to have community, to get information, to seek comfort whether that be in the form of books or in help from someone else.

Footnote – Maybe one day I would like to work in one!

The Little Shop of Happy Ever After

I went to our local library and got this book out after seeing it flicking through my feed on Facebook one night. 

Although when I saw this book on Facebook, it had a different title. It was called The Bookshop on the Corner.  Having initially been a bit frustrated at the different titles and without giving away any spoilers, it does become clear why the book is also called The Little Shop of Happy Ever After.

When I read the synopsis of the book - a woman starting life over by buying a bus and selling books from it - I was intrigued. I also love books about books.

So the book starts off really well. It's all about books, the main character Nina's love of them and her desire to leave her job at the library she works at and travel in a book bus - a dream that becomes reality for her albeit with a few hiccups along the way. I really liked how Colgan developed Nina's character.

Most of the story kept my interest but it then got a bit too chick lit for me. However, I didn't want to give up on it and did finish it

I would like to read more of Colgan's books and I'd recommend this one to those who love chick lit and books about books.

The Ultimate Journal for the Book Lover

I love lists. I write daily lists, weekly lists, annual goals lists, grocery lists, presents to buy for Christmas lists and the list goes on.

Until now I never thought of writing a Literary List. On the price tag on the back of Literary Listography, it describes it as The Ultimate Fill-In Journal for the Book Lover. That's exactly what it is. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it in Waterstones Picadilly which I frequented while holidaying in London recently.

The book features more than 70 reading lists that you can keep. Each page has a list title at the top and then lines on which to jot down your list. On the other side of each page are gorgeous illustrations.

Some of the more than 70 lists include:

• My Top 20 Most Beloved Books
• My Favourite Authors
• Books I Hope They Make Into Films
• My Literary Heroes
• My Favourite Non Fiction Books
• My Favourite Memoirs and Autobiographies
• My Top Picks for Each Genre
• Cities I Have Travelled To Via Literature
• Books That Taught Me Something
• Special Bookstores
• Favourite Book Beginnings/Endings
• Fictional Characters I Connected With

And many more. It's a beautiful book. If you love books, then this will be a great addition to your collection and may even help keep a handle on that ever increasing TBR (To Be Read) list of books.

The Man Who Ate Lincoln Road

New Zealand journalist Steve Braunias can make a cabbage sound exciting just by looking at it and writing about what he sees. 

The New Zealand Herald journalist turns up at events - not often to cover the hard news angle of the story or the verdict of a court case. He's generally there to watch and write about everything else that's happening around him - eg how many times the lady in row three of the court public gallery sneezed and what she did while sneezing. 

And in his new book The Man Who Ate Lincoln Road he takes a similar approach.

In 2016 Braunias, a West Auckland resident, approached the New Zealand Herald and pitched the idea of going to and eating at all of the then 55 food joints on West Auckland's Lincoln Road and writing about his experiences each week. 

So this book is a collection of the pieces published in the New Zealand Herald but also includes some extra chapters as well as some great gems in the form of footnotes, albeit in tiny font, previously not published.

Braunias talks about the food he orders, the price of it and ranks each food joint.  He talks to other diners, sometimes the owners of the respective food joints and gives a bit of a social commentary on Lincoln Road - a road that most New Zealand cities and towns have.

If you like Braunias' other books, then you will love this book. However, be warned - you may feel like a hamburger and chips or some fried chicken after reading it.

Lucy's Book - A Delightful Book Journey

Beautiful illustrations - check, brilliant story - check, great message - check.
This book has to be at the top of any child's Must Read Book List. They say you can't judge a book by its cover. Well with this book you can.

When I pleaded with my husband to allow me to buy this book, he shook his head as to why a woman in her 40s, who doesn't have offspring, would want this book in her collection. My justification for the purchase was "Just look at that beautiful cover". My husband just shook his head again.

Along with the cover, every page is beautifully illustrated and there's lots to look at.

It is a wonderful story of Lucy and a book she loans from the library. The story follows the adventures of the book and its many readers but ultimately comes back to Lucy's love of this particular book. There is joy, sadness and a message around the importance of libraries and the lengths some will go to, to get their favourite book.

The book is written by author Natalie Jane Prior and illustrated by Cheryl Orsini, both Australians. Prior has a great little website too. Check it out at www.nataliejaneprior.com.

Can You Tolerate This?

When I first saw this book Can You Tolerate This? I will admit the cover didn't inspire me much. To be honest all I kept thinking of was that Friends episode when Joey appears at the door with a turkey on his head. Weird I know but that's all I kept thinking about.

I didn't buy the book but then people started talking about it. The guy in the bookshop talked about it, other book reviewers were writing about it and the author Ashleigh Young won $230,000 for writing it. So I thought it must be good. It is.

The book features a collection of 21 personal essays by the 33-year-old Wellington author and editor at Victoria University Press.

One of the essays/short stories features the unusual-looking jacket on the cover. It's a long piece but gives a great insight into the author's family. I won't give away any more spoilers.

I learnt more about Katherine Mansfield's childhood home in Wellington - a place Young managed for a year. I loved her piece about spending time at an unveiling and her observations while there. I never thought I'd get much out of reading about her visit to the chiropractor but that piece stopped me in my tracks.

Recommended reading and if you want more after reading this, Ashleigh Young has a great blog at www.eyelashroaming.com.

My Fave Fictional Character

I used to hate the question - who is your favourite fictional character from a book? It was probably because I didn't used to read much fiction and the only answer I could come up with was Tigger from Winnie the Pooh fame.

But now I have an answer, I don't mind the question.  My favourite fictional character from a book is Marie Sharp - a character created by Newspaper Agony Aunt aka English writer Virginia Ironside. I stumbled across Virginia Ironside's books while browsing the fiction shelves at our local library in Rotorua where I live.

Virginia Ironside has now written four books starring Marie Sharp - an older version perhaps of Bridget Jones, which on reflection, is actually also another fave fictional character. Virgina Ironside's books include No, I Don't Want to Join a Book Club, No, I Don't Need Reading Glasses, Yes, I Can Manage, Thank You and her latest No Thanks! I'm Quite Happy Standing which was released last year.

I've read all four, the first three courtesy of the library and the fourth I ordered from Amazon almost as soon as it left the printers.

The books take Marie Sharp through her 60s. She lives alone, well she has boarders and an ex-husband and a grandson who visits. Each book is written in diary format and covers a year in Marie Sharp's life. In No Thanks! I'm Quite Happy Standing Marie is 69, has to deal with a new lodger/boarder, her home being burgled, a sick cat and work out how to use her new purchase - an iPhone.

She also learns to cope with her grandson not wanting to stay as often now he's growing up and she takes a trip to India. On every page, there is something to laugh about. I keep checking the Internet, ever hopeful there will be a fifth book of tales from the life of Marie Sharp to read about. Highly recommended reading!

A Room Full of Words

"Hi, is that Ruth? I'm Abbey, I'm just calling up about the Rotorua Scrabble Club. Are you guys meeting tomorrow?"
"Hi Abbey, yes it's on tomorrow. Are you thinking about coming along?"
"Yeah I am. I love Scrabble and I've often thought about heading along but I've always been working."
"When you arrive you will be given a list of 2-letter words and a list of 3-letter words. If you join up we will give you other lists [containing bigger words with 4 letters or more]."
"Okay thanks, I will see you tomorrow"
"See you Abbey, look forward to seeing you there.''
That was my introduction to the Rotorua Scrabble Club. Ruth sounded nice and I thought I may as well go along. I love Scrabble.
So this morning I got up on time and had breakfast. I was thinking I don't want to go. What happens if I lose? I'm nervous. I used to be a journalist and was quite content to rock up anywhere (mostly) and chat to people but for some reason I was nervous. I guess it's that fear of meeting new people. No I'm going to do this. I'd been to an arts gathering the night before where I didn't really know anyone and no one ate me.
I drove to Parksyde, a venue built in Rotorua originally for the older generation but I know for a fact that people of all ages actually meet there. I arrive at 8.55am. Scrabble starts at 9am. There doesn't seem to be anyone around. Maybe I'll leave and no one will notice. I ask a man where the Scrabblers are as he points to a room at the other end of the complex. A lady follows me. "Are you going to Scrabble?''
"Ahh yes I am."
She points in the direction of the other Scrabblers. There are about 18 or so there and Scrabble Boards, each set up on small Lazy Susans - a round table which spins.  I scan the room and recognise one or two faces. A warm and caring looking lady looks at me and smiles. "Are you Abbey?" "Are you Ruth?'' we almost say in unison.
After some pleasantries, they pair me up with Val - she is a relief teacher. I recognise her surname from my years as a journo. We talk briefly but then it's all eyes down and time for play. Yes I lose but this lady is an English teacher who plays Scrabble A LOT! Oh well.
It's 10am - morning tea time and we all wander to another room - the cafe part of Parksyde.
We sit at two long tables. I meet a lady from Paengaroa who comes over every week for Scrabble and she asks me what I do. I give my usual line "I'm in between jobs at the moment". We chat and she is very encouraging. So are the other ladies around her. It's very relaxed and no one's trying to brag about themselves. It's like "this is me, you can take me or leave me but I'm happy with me''.
The lady from Paengaroa looks at her watch. "We better be getting back to Scrabble''. I play two more games - one against a lady whose name I can't remember and a lady called Wendy who congratulates me on pronouncing her surname correctly. As the morning draws closer to the end - midday, Ruth, who I've watched as she played two games simultaneously, sits down next to me.
"What did you think of today?" she asks.
"Yeah it was great. I lost all three games but never mind"
"Do you think you will come back next week?''
"Yeah as long as I don't have a job.''
"Great, see you next week then,'' says Ruth. We all should be thankful for people in our communities like Ruth.
I'm looking forward to seeing her again next Thursday and getting those lists of bigger words.


  

What I learnt from The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen

This has to be my favourite book of 2016. It has to be one of my favourite books of all time to be fair. It's funny, thought provoking and it made me want to be part of the Old But Not Dead Club. Well, it at least made retirement homes more appealing.

If I have the group of friends that Hendrik has when I'm at his age and I get to do some of the fun stuff his club does I think I will be content.

At first glance I thought this was a true story - a memoir of an old man living in a retirement home in Holland. It is not. It is a fictional tale of a year in the life of Hendrik Groen, about the hum drum of life in a retirement home but also about how he goes about making life more exciting for himself and others around him, setting up the Old But Not Dead Club and organising regular outings with other residents.

The book is written in diary format. I laughed. I cried and I reflected on what life could be like as an older person in a retirement home.

I am so looking forward to the second book when Hendrik is 85. I've seen the Dutch version of the book but the English translation is not out for a few months yet.