New Zealand’s Most Sexy Book Cover and Desert island Kiwi reads

New Zealand’s sexiest book cover?
When it comes to fleshy delights, I do recommend this cover for A Breed of women Dame Fiona Kidman. A perfect breast, a curlicued font and a glimpse of New Zealand heritage-esque landscape gets a Phwwoar! from me.

But I do have a major hankering for old illustrated covers like these two beauties:

It is easy to get revved up about book covers. I’ve documented my 2012 favourites. The PANZ Book Design Awards is a great resource for checking out the best in Kiwi book design.

See also Coverup: the art of the book cover in New Zealand.

What’s your desert island Kiwi classic read, and why?
Dang it, how do you ever decide? We have compiled a list of favourite NZ books. It has a good range of kids, fiction and non-fiction. Emma of BooksellersNZ has done a post on great NZ books.

The Edmonds cookbook might be annoyingly teasing in a desert environment, so I am plumping for Secrets and Treasures: Our Stories Told through the Objects at Archives New Zealand by Ray Waru. I could happily dip in and out of this beautifully illustrated tome for years.

More NZ Book Month Q&As

• New Zealand Book Month events and information
• In 2012 I  lavished my NZ Book Month love on New Zealand poets, bloggers, and comics/graphic novels.
• Back in 2009 it was all about Bookman Beattie, New Zealand art and some awesome comments from blog readers.

What do you reckon is NZ’s sexiest book cover?
And what book would you take on your desert island jaunt?
Do tell!

Confessions of a reluctant runner

I’m still finding it hard to believe, but a month ago I took part in the relay in the Buller Marathon, running 10.55k. 10.55 kilometres!

It was about a year ago I started this running caper. At the time a neighbour asked if I would like to run the 6k in the City to Surf with her. ‘Like’ wasn’t quite the word I’d have chosen but it was time to try and shift some post preggy weight and get out and do some exercise.

But running? Not really my thing. Or so I thought. At the start different parts of my body certainly took turns in telling me how much it disliked this new activity I was subjecting it to. Initially, running with friends helped a lot as it was good motivation to A) show up in the first place and B) keep going when you really want to lie down and gasp. The secret saving grace of a beginner runner is the fact that no one can tell by your sweaty red faced state, how far (or little) you have actually run…

After awhile, going for a run every two or three days became a pattern or dare I say it, a habit. As with a lot of things, it’s all about your attitude and managing trick your brain into going along with this exercise nonsense.

In the process I’ve run in all sorts of weather, up hills, taken part in a duathlon and now, been part of a successful relay team. I won’t ever be in the league of “Running with the Kenyans” but running is a free form of exercise that’s strangely habit forming and even at times enjoyable! So, if you’ve got one of those new year’s resolutions that’s yet to be started, or you’ve thought about running but never got around to putting on the appropriate footwear, there’s lots of help out there if you need it. The library has loads of resources and links to community groups to get you started.

In the words of that huge multinational “just do it!”

Blood men – New Zealand e-book month

A week out from Christmas, Eddie’s world is turned upside-down. Suddenly he’s going to need the help of his father, a man he hasn’t seen since he was a boy. Is Edward destined to be just like his father, to become a man of blood? Edward Hunter is a family man with a beautiful wife and daughter, a great job, a bright future, and a very dark past. Edward’s father is a man of blood.

He’s been in jail for twenty years and he’s never coming out.

Edward has struggled his entire life to put that all behind him, but it’s hard when everybody knows you’re the son of a serial killer. Then, a week out from Christmas, Eddie’s world is turned upside-down. Suddenly he’s going to need the help of his father, a man he hasn’t seen since he was a boy. Is Edward destined to be just like his father, to become a man of blood?

You can read Blood men as an e-book from our Overdrive collection.

Blood men is also available as a paper book.

Picture Books: picks from our latest newsletter

Some picks from our February Picture Books newsletter:

 
 
 

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Have you read any of these books? If so, we’d love your feedback!