The local books we’ve been buying this week. Images / Supplied
1. (2) Home Again by Jon Toogood (Hachette)
Memoir of the former Shihad frontman.
From the publisher: “Toogood looks back on a 37-year career that helped define New Zealand rock music, and the personal cost that came with it. From a music-obsessed childhood in Wellington to the deafening roar of
international stages, this is the story of a relentless quest for musical greatness. Beginning with his childhood and the formation of a band that would go on to become a cultural force, Jon Toogood takes us inside the chaos and camaraderie of life on the road – the rock’n’roll antics, touring with icons, chasing global success, and the pressure to perform across the ages.
“Digging into his past and sharing never-before-told stories, Jon Toogood opens the doors to the recording studio and the artistic process of songwriting, while reflecting on his long-term struggle with anxiety, the breakdown of relationships, and the moments that forced him to confront who he was beyond the stage. There’s also a deeply personal story of redemption found through love. In the coming together of two different worlds, Toogood discovered a renewed sense of purpose, and the beginning of a new adventure shaped by family, connection and an unexpected, hard-won peace. At its heart, this is a book about why we create, how music becomes survival, and what is possible when the noise finally stops.”
The Listener’s interview with Jon Toogood is here.
Home Again by Jon Toogood. Image / Supplied
2. (3) A Bushman’s Book of Yarns by Sam Gibson (Allen & Unwin)
Stories from the bush and a guide to edible native plants from the Gisborne-based bushman, hunter, trapper, conservationist, and Instagram star.
From the Listener’s review: “Gibson offers us the creamed rice tree (mamaku), bush asparagus (kareao), jewelled fruit (mingimingi) and bush noodles (hakeke). From hors d’oeuvre to dessert, the New Zealand bush features something for every taste. Should you suffer from digestive upsets otherwise known as Bush Belly, Gibson suggests a handful of koromiko leaves brewed in a tea is highly efficacious. No fern roots here but he offers the new shoots of mouku (hen and chickens) ferns. Harvest the manehau, the new shoots, sustainably and responsibly, fry in butter and garlic or serve in a salad. Manehau are also a balm for skin ailments … What separates this book from many others is that it fuses Gibson’s own work and experiences with how the plants and trees inhabiting the forest must provide food and medicine on a sustainable basis. New Zealand’s bush has always occupied a special place in the collective heart of Māori and Pākehā. But it is also an environment which demands respect and understanding … We can enjoy New Zealand’s bush for its own merits, but it also demands respect and understanding to ensure its survival. ‘This is a book which can help us transition from thinking ‘that is a tree’, ‘that is a fern’ or ‘that fluffy stuff on the ground is a moss’ to understanding a little more of who a plant is and what our relationship with that plant could be,’ he writes. ‘We need to understand the context of what a plant is and the actions we need to take to ensure that they remain abundant.’”
A Bushman’s Book of Yarns by Sam Gibson. Image / Supplied
3. (1) Lucky You’re Tough by Mark Law & Ron Crosby (A&U)
The memoir of an unassuming true-life hero.
From the publisher: “Lucky You’re Tough chronicles the life of helicopter pilot and NZSAS soldier Mark Law, from growing up in the rural wilds of Whangamōmona through to surviving a series of life-threatening events that would shape his life and career.
“After a career as a badged soldier in the NZSAS that led to an intriguing stint with the British SAS and then working as private security in active war zones, Mark returned to New Zealand to start his own helicopter business, Kāhu NZ. While on a sunny day off on 9 December 2019, he got the call that Whakaari/White Island was erupting. All those years of service and expertly trained instincts led to a split-second decision: Mark and his Kāhu NZ colleagues would fly to the erupting volcano to rescue any survivors they could find.
“This daring rescue mission would ensure that Mark and the other pilots were able to comfort the injured, as well as to fly those 12 stranded survivors off the island, after they were left there when authorities announced that no official rescue would be coming. Mark’s decision led to himself and his fellow heroic pilots being awarded medals for bravery by the New Zealand government.
“Within 12 months of the Governor General presenting his medal, however, his one-man company was hit with a six-figure penalty based on charges brought by WorkSafe related to Kāhu’s past tours on Whakaari. The decision to lay those charges made a year after the eruption outraged New Zealanders and led more than 140,000 Kiwis to sign an online petition asking the government to drop the charges. They didn’t.
“From Whangamōmona to Whakaari, Lucky You’re Tough is a story of service, adventure, humour and resilience, and surviving when the odds are against you.”
Lucky You’re Tough by Mark Law and Ron Crosby. Image / Supplied
4. (4) One Last Question, Prime Minister by Barry Soper (HarperCollins)
Barry Soper’s memoir-through-Parliament is like its author: feisty, honest, no-nonsense. Soper signed up for the police aged 17, but within six months realised its hierarchy and requirement to bend to authority weren’t for him. Back in Gore, he ran into a writer for the Southland Times and the rest is history. It’s a very readable account, Soper’s views are refreshingly independent-minded, and his memory of people and events is elephantine. After a brisk personal account of his life, he jumps into what he thinks of 12 PMs from Muldoon to Luxon. Helen Clark he rates the highest; John Key comes not far behind. Jacinda Ardern he rates the weakest, judging her government largely ineffective despite a huge majority. As for Hipkins and Luxon, for him the jury is still out.
One Last Question, Prime Minister: From Muldoon to Luxon, untold stories from the House of Parliament by Barry Soper. Image / Supplied
5. (NEW) Give by Allyson Gofton (David Bateman)
Book of seasonal recipes for making that perfect gift.
From the publisher: “When people you love are battling cancer, or facing another major life change, often the best thing you can do for them is to offer your love, support … and a delicious homemade treat, beautifully packaged and delivered to their door. Along with a little help from some well-known Breast Cancer Cure Ambassadors, beloved foodie Allyson Gofton has put together a delightful collection of recipes that are straightforward to make and perfect for gifting. Nothing tastes as good as homemade. A jar of preserves, a jar of relish, a cake or a family meal for the freezer – all the recipes in this collection are seasonal and cost-effective, and all capture the vibrant splendour of the garden’s harvest at its peak. Rekindle the Kiwi spirit of giving and discover just how simple it can be to bring a little sunshine into the life of someone who needs a pick-me-up.”
Give by Allyson Gofton. Image / Supplied
For recipes from Give, go here.
6. (5) Become Unstoppable by Gilbert Enoka (Penguin)
If there’s one thing Kiwis love as much as a biography from a veteran All Blacks player or coach, it’s a guide to how the ABs perform as well as they do, as consistently as they do – with the idea that the “winning mindset” lessons might just rub off on the reader.
From the publisher: “In a career spanning almost three decades, visionary psychological coach Gilbert Enoka changed the way the All Blacks played their game. With a 77% winning record in test match rugby, the highest of any professional sports team, they are the only international team to have a winning record against every opponent. That is only possible because they leave no part of their preparation to chance. Their winning mindset and resilience are as important as the physical training and Gilbert Enoka was their secret weapon.
“For the first time, Gilbert distils his essential lessons to building unshakeable staying power – particularly at times of high pressure where others would crumble – creating a winning team mentality – and leaving things better than how you found them so that we can all learn the All Blacks way. Discover how to build a winning culture, hone your leadership to inspire your team in times of need and establish iconic rules for performance that will become your competitive advantage for years to come.”
Become Unstoppable by Gilbert Enoka. Image / Supplied
7. (NEW) Dad needs a New Bum! by Dawn McMillan & Ross Kinnaird (Oratia)
Latest in the series about people and creatures who are in need of fresh new posteriors.
From the publisher: “There’s trouble at home – Dad is stinking up the house! Red Pants Boy jumps into action and enlists the whole family to help with a Father’s Day gift for Dad. They combat the smell with roses, perfume and even a cleverly constructed contraption: Hey presto! Hurray! We’ve made an exhaust pipe to take Dad’s farts away. Now the air should be fresh … clean, crisp and clear. But … it’s NOT! They’ve tried everything – but is it really Dad who’s to blame? Dawn McMillan’s playful rhymes and Ross Kinnaird’s vibrant drawings bring another fun adventure to New Bum! fans around the world, continuing the success of this globally bestselling series.”
Dad needs a New Bum! by Dawn McMillan & Ross Kinnaird. Image / Supplied
8. (NEW) Mauritau by Jessica Gerbic (HarperCollins)
Clinical psychologist Jessica Gerbic offers a journal that explores the 12 states of mauri, the concept of a universal life force in Māori thinking, and how to apply them in the pursuit of health and wellbeing.
Mauritau by Dr Jessica Gerbic. Image / Supplied
9. (RETURN) The Hollows Boys by Peta Carey (Potton & Burton)
Frequent Listener contributor Peta Carey tells the story of Gary, Mark and Kim, three siblings who grew up on Kawau Island, who all went to Fiordland to hunt venison. It’s a lively, intimate tale, of helicopters, planes and jet boats, of characters and derring-do, of success and joy and risk and loss, full of the voices of the family, of catching deer, fish, crays, with plenty of photos.
The Hollows Boys: A story of three brothers & the Fiordland deer recovery era by Peta Carey. Image / Supplied
10. (RETURN) The Valley by Asher Emanuel (BWB)
From the Listener’s review: “Set in the District Courts of Hutt Valley and Wellington, The Valley offers an unflinching portrait of the criminal justice system at its most pressured and unglamorous. Asher Emanuel’s book follows three protagonists: two recidivist offenders, Rikihana Wallace and Nathan Morley, and their lawyer Lewis Skerrett, a member of the Public Defence Service whose efforts to keep his clients out of prison – and on some kind of constructive path – form the spine of the narrative.
“… Emanuel captures the way the District Court – overworked, under-resourced and carrying the bulk of the criminal justice system’s caseload – struggles to respond meaningfully to individuals who seem unable to stay out of trouble. There are flickers of hope: specialist courts such as the Special Circumstances Court can offer individualised, therapeutic approaches to exactly this kind of chronic reoffending. But as the book makes clear, such options remain the exception rather than the rule.
“The narrative raises questions it does not always choose to answer, such as what drew Lewis Skerret to public defence work in the first place and what lies behind Wallace and Morley’s persistent offending? The prose style is spare and reportorial, and the structure episodic. More troubling are the ethical questions the book raises. His access to the Public Defence Service – both in Wellington and the Hutt Valley, including office access and what amounted to an embedded relationship with PDS lawyers – was extraordinary. This raises serious questions about confidentiality … Compounding this is the matter of identification. Although names have been changed, the disguise is often tissue-thin … There is a further conspicuous absence at the centre of the book. The victims of Wallace and Morley’s crimes are almost entirely missing. Their experiences, their losses, their place within the justice system’s stated purpose of repairing harm – all of this goes largely unexamined … A work of this kind, if its purpose is genuinely reformist, might reasonably be expected to gesture toward solutions. None are offered.”
The Valley, Crime and Punishment in a New Zealand City by Asher Emanuel. Image / Supplied
Data courtesy NielsenIQ BookScan: Week ending September 5.
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