There is a second strand to the story, of a pregnant wild dingo struggling to survive in the face of drought and man's determination to cull her. Daisley has worked on sheep and cattle stations and his love of the land, as well as his deep affection for those who work it, is palpable. Powerful masculine prose, brutal truths and unflinching truthfulness make this a novel that is as unsettling as it is evocative. It's hardly a pleasant read but one that is difficult to look away from.
At Home in the Wholefood Kitchen
By Amy Chaplin (Jacqui Small)
Every second cookbook seems to be about wholefoods at the moment. This is one of the more attractive and practical. Amy Chaplin is an Australian chef based in New York who has cooked for stars who include Liv Tyler and Natalie Portman. Her commitment is to seasonal, local and largely vegan eating. She begins with long and detailed sections on vital ingredients and equipment, how to soak and prepare grains for maximum nutrition, and how to make nut-milks. Then she shares some of her everyday recipes - breakfasts laden with superfoods, simple soups and nourishing salads, as well as on-trend fermented foods sauerkraut and kimchi. And finally there is an inspiring section of recipes to feed and satisfy even the most exacting health food aficionado. From tropical black rice breakfast pudding with coconut and banana to Japanese-style pressed salad, turmeric lemonade, and squash tartlets with cashew ginger crust for dessert, this book is an ideal choice for vegans, the dairy-free, gluten-free, or anyone who wants an informed guide to eating a more unprocessed and meatless diet without sacrificing deliciousness.
Leap
By Myfanwy Jones (Allen & Unwin)
A young woman has died and three years later, those left behind are still struggling with their grief. Joe is flatting in Melbourne working at various bar jobs and logging on to Facebook to relive his happier past. He seems to be kept sane by his flatmates, a chef at the bar where he works, his mysterious lover and his passion for the fitness discipline Parkour. Elise and her husband are hardly talking. Her only comfort comes from her weekly visits to commune with the tigers at the Melbourne Zoo. Connected by their love of the dead woman but living seemingly separate lives, both Joe and Elise eventually take the leap out of the past and start thinking about a possible future. Myfanwy Jones has created totally believable characters whose grief can truly be felt. The novel is sad and funny, quirky and original and, most of all, filled with hope.
• Review by Mary and Helen Wadsworth of Auckland's Pt Chev Bookshop and Resource Room.
Credit In The Straight World
By Brannavan Gnanalingam (Lawrence & Gibson)
The global financial crisis and many of the stories that came out of it are ripe for satire and that's exactly what author Brannavan Gnanalingam and Wellington anarchic publishers Lawrence & Gibson have given us. Credit In The Straight World is the story of Frank Tolland, as told by his brother George. Frank is a South Canterbury stalwart from humble beginnings who builds a financial empire that collapses after the crisis, taking with it $1 billion of investors' money. Obviously the author has used the bones of the South Canterbury Finance story to tell a tale of surreal humour and genuine insight. George's wry chronological account of the lives of his brother and fellow citizens of the fictional town of Manchester carefully elucidates how shifts in ethics and values can happen in such small increments that no one notices until suddenly you are light years away from where you thought you were going to be.
• Review by Ngaire Atmore Pattison, who blogs about books at bookiemonster.co.nz
Don't Think About Purple Elephants
By Susan Whelan, illustrated by Gwynneth Jones (EK Books)
Sophie is happily going about her primary-school day painting and playing with friends. At night, though, she starts to worry about running out of milk, forgetting her lunch and what her mother might make for dinner - her fears keep her awake. Her parents tell her not to think about purple elephants, which makes her think only of them, with no room for worries.
If you have an anxious child who worries about the little things then Don't Think About Purple Elephants is a picturebook that can open up discussions about how to push those fears to one side. It might even remind anxious parents to do the same.
• Review by journalist and author Danielle Wright.
