Books
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@nonpartizan You're welcome.
Here's Lovelock winning gold in 1936 - the commentary by Harold Abrahams (of "Chariots of Fire" fame and which was actually the radio commentary) is brilliant.
I haven't read it for years, but "Kiwis can fly"by Ivan Agnew - written probably in the 1970s - covers the 2nd generation of NZ middle distance runners - Walker, Dixon, Quax, Taylor and a guy named Dave McKenzie. I enjoyed it at the time.
It's really hard to think of an outstanding NZ rugby biography. Terry "TP" McLean wrote tour books for pretty much every All Black tour (home and away) from about 1950 to 1980, so he was hugely influential as the public's eye on the rugby in the days before saturation TV coverage. His tour books are very interesting, but heavy going these days with descriptions of every provincial match. Paul Lewis wrote a biography of him called TP, which is probably at least as good as anything else.
TP Life and Times of Sir Terry Mclean - Paul Lewis - Paperback
Sir Terry McLean, New Zealand's best-known journalist and sports writer, packed a lot of living into his 90 years. The never before published story of TP Mcl...
Bugger - I knew @Nepia would find that other recommendation!
n.b. I don't think you'll find many of my recommendations anywhere but second hand shops - or regional book fairs, which are a great option. There''s a good one in Nelson in May, where you can pick up most books for $1 or $2.
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@nonpartizan said in Books:
Smith's Dream by C.K. Stead is worth a read, and captures an era of NZ well. Bonus points for setting the secret police's torture chamber in the basement of Auckland University's (horrendous) Chemistry Building.
Thank you.
I am going to establish a NZ bibliography of must read works.......
In addition to novels, at the least I will need to get a Edmund Hillary bio & some ABs bios. I've only read Dan Carter's book but I would like to get some more.....
Other subjects that seem important - James Cook bio, also works on NZ farming and the Americas Cup.
Tbh I think I'm going to devote the next year or so to thoroughly educate myself on NZ.
If you want a few suggestions:
No better death: the Great War diaries and letters of William G. Malone - a fabulous read, but no happy endings!
Literature - Some other country: NZ's best short stories (Manhire and McLeod) - good cross section of major NZ writers.
Man Alone - John Mulgan - depression era NZ.
Farming - these are all old books and some you probably won't find:
Station life in NZ - Lady Barker
Many a Glorious Morning - David McLeod
The keeper of the sheep - Mary Goulter
A river rules my life - Mona Anderson
Open country - Jim HendersonA few others:
Just where do you think you've been/ Men Aspiring - Paul Powell - NZ mountaineering
My father's Shadow: A portrait of Justice Mahon - Sam Mahon
A good keen man - Barry Crump.Sport
The playing mantis - Jeremy Coney - Cricket - old of course, but proably the best NZ cricket biography I've read.
Rugby bios are mainly pretty poor. Reading something by TP McLean is something for your list though - so maybe, "I George Nepia".That and Rhythm and Swing by Paddles for me. Great stuff.
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@nonpartizan said in Books:
sportsmanship was important and not overly commercialized and commodified.
Suspect that cynicism was just better hidden. Yes, I'm old and cynical with the world.
Just look at cricket. Filthy dirty cheaters forever, but an 'aspiration' to be pure ... and the media followed for a long time.
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This certainly isnt something I would normally read, but was recommended by a colleague.
Well told story of a pretty harrowing real life ordeal and how she grew up and thenchallenges after her upbringing.
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@mariner4life said in Books:
For sheer gob-smacking "truth is stranger than fiction" Mike Tyson's "The undisputed truth" is the best sports biography I've read. Page after page of WTAF!
you read it and wonder how he ever won a fight
Other fighters being scared of him was a massive factor. The ones that weren’t did much better.
What a fascinating fellow he is.
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