Picks of the Week 27 February 2009

:JR
Nicky Hager’s The Hollow Men inspired both a stage play and a documentary but up until now his first, and in journalistic terms far more impressive work, Secret and Lies has failed to inspire a fictionalised account. The Echelon Conspiracy starring, among others Martin Sheen and Shane West, if not strictly based on Nicky’s book at least cites his work on the Echelon spy network on its official website.

If the trailer’s anything to go by The Echelon Conspiracy is run-of-the-mill Hollywood crap – but if it sparks interest in Secret and Lies and the Echelon spy network Nicky played a key role in exposing it can’t be all bad.

The filmmakers may link to this article by Nicky, but the first he heard of the film was when the Scoop Review of Books sent him a link to the trailer.

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Epeli Hau’ofa 1939 – 2009

The Pacific writer Epeli Hau’ofa died last month – and somehow, I seem to have missed the obits in our newspapers.

I once mentioned to a Tongan friend how much I had enjoyed Hau’ofa’s Tales of the Tikongs and he replied, “Well of course Epeli can be funny because he doesn’t have an elder sister.”

He must have noticed the look of total confusion on my face because he went onto explain that in Tongan culture causing your older sister shame is an absolutely no, no. Read more »

Press Release

Governor General launches Whitireia Creative Writing tutors new book.

Adrienne Jansen has completed a commission by the Asia New Zealand Foundation to work alongside photographer Ans Westra, on a book recording the experiences of Asian Muslim immigrants in New Zealand. The Crescent Moon – The Asian Face of Islam in New Zealand, was launched by the Governor General last Thursday at Pātaka Museum and Gallery.

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Time and Materials by Robert Hass,

Harper Collins. Reviewed by L M WALLACE

Thirty-five years after the publication of his first poetry collection, comes Robert Hass’ fifth, Time and Materials. It is a volume of poems collected from 1997 to 2005, the span indicative of Hass’ craftsmanship, his shaping of his work. It seems it is the age of the poet – Hass now nearing seventy – that has allowed these deep reflections on limitations, politics, and moments passed. There is a feeling that they were not possible before.

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New Local Writer Shortlisted for Major Prize

Bridget van der Zijpp’s novel Misconduct has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Writers’ Best First Book Prize, South East Asia and the Pacific region.

Victoria University Press publisher Fergus Barrowman says, “I’m delighted that Misconduct is getting the recognition it deserves, way to go Bridget.” Read more »

Limited Edition Kapa Haka Book For Te Matatini 2009

A limited edition publication ‘Nga Tatangi a Te Whare Karioi’ captures the diverse realities of iwi represented by kapa haka groups performing at Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival 2009.

Released today, Festival chairman Selwyn Parata described the
120-page book featuring selected groups and their performance compositions – as a ‘must-have’ for aspiring composers and those dedicated to te reo Maori and the Maori performing arts. Read more »

Who Speaks for Islam: What A Billion Muslims Really Think

Gallup Press by John Espositio and Dalia Mogahed

The Crescent Moon: The Asian Face of Islam in New Zealand

Asia NZ Foundation Text: Adrienne Jansen Photos: Ans Westra

Reviewed By JEREMY ROSE

What do Christians really believe? I mean is it the inspiring brotherhood of man preached by the likes of Martin Luther King or the hate-filled, fire and brimstone of Dr Ian Paisley. What do Christians think of George Bush’s war on Iraq or the carpet bombing of Laos and Cambodia by previous self-professed Christian presidents of the United States of America? I know, I know they’re stupid questions, stupid almost to the point of meaningless idiocy. So why did I buy a book asking basically the very same questions about Islam?

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It’s 25 years tomorrow sinceThe Bone People – almost certainly the best selling New Zealand novel ever written – was published.

Keri Hulme recalls the events of quarter of a century ago for the Scoop Review of Books:

Tomorrow – 25 years ago – there we were, stumbling off the ferry, the South Island contingent for the launch of ‘tbp.’ I hadnt seen a copy of the book; my younger brother had never been on a marae in his life (he, and my big cousin, John, much later got lost, gone nightclubbing, and only just made it back to the ferry the next day); Iri’s Auntie Tweet trying to persuade me to wear a skirt (she’d packed several in hope-); the book launched like a waka, with my first wero, being interviewed by Sharon Crosbie…o, it is so long ago, and so many dead in the meantime… Read more »

Martin Bosley Cooks

Random House, $45. Reviewed by JEREMY ROSE

I thought I disliked rice pudding until I visited Istanbul as an 18-year-old. It was my first trip overseas by myself and I found myself in Turkey alone and almost instantly at home. It was the restaurants and a culture that brings a whole new meaning to hospitality that did it. The stuffed peppers reminded me of my mum and grandmum’s cooking but it was the rice pudding that made me think I might just have discovered paradise (no doubt the beauty of the architecture played its part too.) Read more »

Picks of the Week 13 Feb

By Scott Hamilton

At this time of year, my social life is dictated by a desire to spend as much time as possible in air-conditioned rooms. It’s fair to say, then, that my plan to attend the poetry reading at Grey Lynn Library on Thursday February the 19th isn’t motivated by exclusively literary considerations. But with Jack Ross, Therese Lloyd, Michael Steven, and Lee Posna on the bill, I’ll be enjoying some excellent poetry that evening, as well as the cool hum of air conditioning. Read more »