Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Rachel Fry Random House $36.99

I read this book in one sitting and loved it. Gentle characters a whimsical story thread but an underlying complex mix of emotions, of things left unsaid or misunderstood by Harold and his wife. It's a story about people Harold meets on his journey to see his old friend and why he decides to make the journey longer than it need be.

Click Here To Buy This Book

Shadow Girls Henning Mankell Random House $36.99

Famous for his Wallander books which feature the dour detective of the same name, Swedish writer Henning Mankell also writes stand alone novels.
Shadow Girls takes three women from diverse backgrounds who want to make new lives for themselves in Sweden.

We are so excited that Doris will be reviewing books with April & Josh on Brunch (Freeview 12/Sky 78). The Brunch Book club will be featuring a wide range of books (something for everyone!).

Here's what Doris reviewed on Monday 24th September...

Gold by Chris Cleave

Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwan

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

It was a well deserved win for John Dawson and Rob Lucas for their wonderful book 'New Zealand Native Trees' at the 2012 New Zealand Post Book awards. Beautifully presented, this book took a total of 7 years to complete and contains 2,300 photographs. It truly is a book to treasure.

For more on the other winners click here

COULD YOU SURVIVE ON YOUR OWN, IN THE WILD, WITH EVERYONE FIGHTING AGAINST YOU?

Twenty-four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives.

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see.

Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

It is a launch more reminiscent of a Harry Potter book than a lengthy, difficult novel by a Japanese author, but bookshops in the US are planning to stay open until midnight to cope with the demand for the translation of Haruki Murakami's 1,000-page trilogy, 1Q84.

There is a video trailer on YouTube and Spotify song lists of music associated with the jazz-loving author. Others have put up their own sections of translation on the internet for fans unwilling to wait the two years it has taken since the book was first published in Japan, selling an extraordinary 1m copies in two months.

This book presents a selection of 40 recipes adapted from The Silver Spoon, the best-selling bible of Italian cooking. The recipes have been chosen for their simple instructions, fresh and healthy ingredients and delicious flavour, and are guaranteed to appeal to the fussiest of children. Each recipe has clear step-by-step instructions, fascinating facts about the ingredients, and basic cooking techniques.

A specialist in the field of children's food and nutrition has selected the recipes to ensure they are well balanced, safe and perfect for children to use.
The book is fully illustrated throughout, using specially commissioned illustrations to add a lively and charming feel, and there are photographs of the finished dish.

Most people love eating Italian food, and this book presents simple, authentic and delicious recipes for children to cook.

This year’s New Zealand Post Book Awards finalists provide a feast of Kiwi experience, reflecting a growing and confident awareness of our unique place in the world, says Judging panel convenor and Te Reo Māori Advisor for the New Zealand Post Book Awards, Paul Diamond.

The New Zealand Post Book Awards are the highlight of the literary calendar, eagerly awaited by writers, publishers, booksellers and the media, and recognised by the New Zealand public as the gold standard; honouring the cream of this country’s literary talent.

Diamond, a past judge of the New Zealand Post Book Awards, broadcaster, writer and historian, said that all four categories were strong this year.

‘The Māori World was also significant in the work of many finalists, reflecting the reality of life in 21st century New Zealand.’

One of the nice things about winter is getting cosy and settling down with a good book. We've got some great reads instore at the moment that are well worth snuggling down with!

The Reading Promise - Alice Ozma

The Independent newspaper in the UK recently published an article listing 'The 50 Books Every Child Should Read' which makes for interesting reading. How many of them have you read? Any books that are missing? We loved 'The Owl Service' by Alan Garner and had forgotten what a great read it was, time to re-read it I think.

Click here to read the full article.

The highly anticipated sixth book of Jean Auel’s Earth’s Children® series, The Land of Painted Caves, is the culmination fans have been waiting for. Continuing the story of Ayla and Jondalar, Auel combines her brilliant narrative skills and appealing characters with a remarkable re-creation of the way life was lived more than 25,000 years ago.

Three decades in the telling. The epic journey that began with The Clan of The Cave Bear continues as Ayla becomes the woman she was meant to be.