Fantasy and flowers with some new fantasy releases for 2021 and 2022 I blame the pandemic for the increasing need to escape into other worlds, even ones that are riddled with dragons, demons and evil wizards. Perhaps it’s an ostrich approach to the state of the world, but here are some fantasy realms that I’ve been frequenting recently The Black Witch Chronicles by Laurie Forest It’s not often that I read the start of a series and then go straight onto books two and three, completely disregarding all of the other books that I should actually be reading. The fourth book is due out in March 20 ..read more

A display of colourful books at The Martinborough Bookshop Well, rather like 2020, 2021 was another year where books provided shelter and escapism from the outside world, especially during the rolling lockdowns of the pandemic. I read very little non-fiction and instead fled into the pages of Middle grade and YA fantasy adventures or much loved gentle classics. Whittling down 153 books to a top 10 is never easy, but here are my are current favourites in no particular order (ask me again in a month and you might get an updated answer!) The Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden First published in 19 ..read more

The beautiful Mrs Blackwell’s Village Bookshop in Greytown Head just one hour north of Wellington and you reach the Wairarapa region which is rapidly becoming one of my favourite places to visit. Not only are there multiple independent bookshops spread across the region’s five main towns, but you can do anything from walking to wine tasting and seal spotting in a relatively confined area. Here are my thoughts for things to do on a long, sunny weekend in the Wairarapa Saturday Start off in Greytown. It has New Zealand’s most complete set of historic wooden buildings. Take an early walk around ..read more

Give me all the shiny foiled and curlicue covers! When adulting gets a little too much and concentration is in short supply, I turn to middle grade fantasy. In the last two years alone, I have set sail on The Jolly Bonnet, caught a train beneath the sea, seen a Svart and had my first taste of Flurschen. The removal of reality in these books can create space to explore our slightly tender human spots in a safe way. The magic is tempered by themes of learning to be true to yourself, understanding how to be a better friend and coping with grief and loss. I suspect it’s no accident that a lot of ..read more

Grey St. Kitchen, Hamilton East I can’t believe that I didn’t like coffee until my mid-20’s. I still predominantly have the tastebuds of a toddler, but coffee is one of life’s great pleasures for me and I enjoy both the taste and the social ritual of meeting friends for coffee. Hamilton may not be synonymous with coffee culture in the same way as Wellington, but we have a burgeoning coffee scene here and several brilliant local roasteries, so I thought I’d tell you about four of them that necessitate a stop on a trip to the Tron. Grey Roasting Co Drink their coffee at their flagship cafe Grey ..read more

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid As much as we might pretend it is, winter is not all hot chocolate, knitted mittens and s’mores Sometimes, it’s damp and grey and miserable and you long for a little sun on your face and a single patch of blue in the sky. If you find yourself looking longingly through your holiday snaps, here are three books to transport you to the height of summer at a holiday destination of your choosing. If you fancy surfing in California, read Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid One thing that this author excels at it creating a strong sense of place at a particular t ..read more

Lamplight Books, Parnell, Auckland Parnell is distinctly ecclesiastical in tone if you start out at the top of the hill near The Holy Trinity Cathedral, but I would coax you to the bottom of the hill past the bricked paths of Parnell village and the Chocolate Boutique where apparently Bill Clinton once stopped for in for a Hot Chocolate with Chelsea. (His thank you letter from the White House is framed on the wall.) As you pass the boutiques and cafes, just as the road threatens to turn you’ll spot Lamplight Books on the right-hand side of the road. The entrance is tucked away in the enclosed ..read more

A bookish spot at the restaurant Brac n Bow in Featherston Booktown This took some serious discipline, but I have cheated slightly and given a further six books honourable mention for the period from January to July 2021. As you can probably tell from this list I am entirely unfaithful to any one genre. Typically, I also enjoy everything from middle grade to adult fiction, but so far this year, no middle grade or YA books have risen to the top of my list! I’d love to know if you’ve read any of these or if there’s anything that you think should be on the reading list for the rest of the year ..read more

It’s always struck me as slightly odd that summer reading lists consistently hit the headlines when, for me, winter is my favourite season to hide under the blankets with a good book. As someone who reads according to my mood and the seasons, one of my greatest pleasures is sitting down each quarter to decide on my seasonal reads. Here are some of my picks for winter, a couple of which are on the to-be-read pile for over the next three months. The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner Set in rural Cheshire near the rocky outcrop of Alderley Edge, the final race between the forces of good a ..read more

One for new books and two for old…… The Booklover Bookshop, Milford, Auckland Head over the Harbour Bridge, avoiding rush hour, and make your way to the Northern suburb of Milford. Set on the beach with views over to Rangitoto, Milford is a lovely spot to escape the central city. There’s a grassy park with a play area that’s shaded by Pohutukawa trees, a marina, a costal path to the next bay and a large population of friendly dogs who were very accepting of pats and scruffles (as I age I am becoming more and more like my grandmother who was incapable of passing any dog without saying hello ..read more