As New Zealand Book Month comes to an end and I read of the death of Barbara Anderson I have realised that I used to read a lot of New Zealand fiction with Barbara Anderson being one of my favourites, alongside Fiona Kidman, Barbara Else, Marilyn Duckworth, and Patricia Grace, and Shonagh Koea. They were all women writers and they were all writing about things that were meaningful for me at the time: home, family, relationships and children. Every now and then I branched out into the male domain and enjoyed the likes of Witi Ihimaera, Owen Marshall and Jack Lasenby but would then scuttle back to my old favourites.
Over the years I have read and enjoyed Charlotte Grimshaw and Charlotte Randall but some of my early experiences with newer writers have not been so enjoyable. I have found them almost too clever and self-conscious, and sadly I have gradually given up.
So, here is the challenge! Help me get back into reading New Zealand writers, get my literary juices flowing again and let me know who I just have to read.
Christchurch City Libraries Blog 
” … almost too clever and self-conscious.” Hmm. Is that a nice way of expressing my own opinion (which is basically that I find most New Zealand writers for adults downright pretentious)?
Probably not Laraine – I think I have just chosen a few duds over time and am really keen to regain my mojo regarding NZ fiction. I beleive there are some fantastic authors out there and for some reason I have just missed them lately.
I have loved books by Emily Perkins http://christchurch.bibliocommons.com/search?t=author&search_category=author&q=perkins+emily&commit=Search , Rachael King http://christchurch.bibliocommons.com/search?t=author&search_category=author&q=rachael+king&commit=Search , Kirsty McDougall http://christchurch.bibliocommons.com/search?t=smart&search_category=author&q=mcdougall%20kirsten Plus I am loving local poets like Ashleigh Young and Helen Lehndorf.
Thanks Donna, have enjoyed some of Emily Perkins although gave up on The Forrests.
Here’s books I’ve read and that aren’t pretentious – another vote for Rachael King (I vote Magpie Hall), another vote for Kirsten McDougall, which I’m just almost finished reading. This would be a great one to start with because it’s short episodes so really super easy to get into and the writing’s great and at times unexpected, which makes it wonderful.
Laurence Fearnley – you’re a South Islander so read The Hut Builder at once then take a drive out to Mount Cook. That will be glorious. Also, Ediwn + Matilda (same author) will break your heart.
Janet Frame’s autobiography series and Owls Do Cry – especially the later if you love vintage houses.
Coming Up Roses by Sarah Laing – the book I judge all other short story collections by.
I tried Owls Do Cry, tomandemma. Couldn’t get on with it. I did, however, manage to force myself to finish it. The same went for the bone people.
I think I’ll stick with Margaret Mahy et al. 🙂
I like writing that is both beautiful but plain (that is, doesn’t draw attention to itself). Think Geraldine McCaughrean.
I loved the bone peaple.We are all different thank god it would be boring if we all liked the same kind of book.I think the older writers are the best,i am not into these new young ones.
I really liked The Bone people too, although most people I talked to didn’t. Reading can so often be about how you are feeling at the time, where you are in your life, stress levels etc. I loved Janet Frames autobiography too. It looks like the vote is going out for Kirsten McDougall! Not too sure about Laurence Fearney – is she heavily into description as I struggle a bit with that – prefer plenty of dialogue.
I agree with you jane,it is about how you are feeling at the time.I have wasted so much money reserving books i want to read, then when i wait ages to get them,i no longer have that desire to read them.
Very frustrating, I feel your pain Linda.
Carl Shuker’s books, The Lazy Boys and The Method Actors, are full-on and fantastic. And I’m looking forward to reading Anti-Lebanon, just out. http://carlshuker.com/
Never even considered him before! How dreadful. My reserve list is growing….
I second the notion of Carl Shuker’s books being fantastic (except for The Method Actors, unless you really, really, really like post-modernism), although you can’t give up on New Zealand literature until you read Nigel Cox’s Tarzan Presley, which is noteworthy for it’s cover alone:
http://christchurch.bibliocommons.com/item/show/362656037_tarzan_presley
Hmmmm. Does anyone really really like post modernism? (I’m not even sure I know what this would mean in a novel?) Perhaps you can enlighten me!
It’s very post-modern in its structure, with the novel swiftly changing time, location and character, making the narrative hard to follow for this reader. I could forgive this if the structure suited some kind of purpose, but as far as I can tell, Shuker’s merely flexing his literary chops by messing about with form, a gimmick which caused me to give up in frustration halfway through. The Lazy Boys, on the other hand, is among my favourite NZ novels, so clearly he is an author of formidable range.
might not be the one for me then, however it is interesting that he has such a range of style. I’m not sure if that is a good or bad thing….perhaps a writer who doesn’t quite know what ‘type’of writer he actually is and therefore – untrustworthy…or someone who is willing to give different things a go and risk losing his readership?
I love Laurence Fearnley’s writing – Butler’s Ringlet, Edwin and Matilda and The Hut Builder are all great books.
Another one for my list Roberta.
Second that Laurence Fearnley recommendation Roberta and how about Maurice Gee. I think his Plumb (now out in its own orange Penguin cover http://christchurch.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1222037_plumb) is my favourite and he has consistently delivered great writing for adults and children.
yep, really enjoyed Mr Gee, especially the children’s material. And – the votes for Laurence Fearnley continue to grow!