The Secret Life of the Natural History Museum
Richard Fortey was a senior palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum in London. In his book Dry Store Room No. 1 he takes us on a tour of the collection of fascinating specimens held there.
It is filled with stories of the interesting characters who worked in the museum, ground breaking and strange discoveries, and, of course, enough natural history to entertain and educate both science enthusiasts and casual readers.
If your wallet isn't quite up to travelling all the way to London to see the marvellous museum in the flesh (or should I say bone?), then we think this great $10 book is a fantastic compromise!
Imaginary places
Cast your mind back over your reading life and you will find that it is populated by an astonishing diversity of imaginary places: think Atlantis, Middle Earth, Moominland, the Snow Queen's Castle, El Dorado, Erewhon, Earthsea, Lilliput, Narnia, Cyclop's Island or Bluebeard's Castle.
This wonderful resource takes you on a tour of over 1200 imaginary cities, islands, countries & continents invented by writers from Homer's day to the present and illustrated with lovely maps and drawings. Whether you are an avid reader, a fantasy fan, or an inveterate browser, this is a must have: a tour de force of literary imagination.
The Dictionary of Imaginary Places
by Alberto Manguel and Gianni Guadalupi
Andy Warhol
The Philosophy of Andy Warhol
Reading the autobiography of Andy Warhol and finding out more about this world famous artist seemed like a good idea. Someone whose images are so instantly recognisable by a huge percentage of the world, and not just the art world, must merit closer acquaintance, or so I reasoned.
The book was published in 1975 and deals with his fame in the 1960s and 1970s as well as his childhood. Andy Warhol discusses food, beauty, sex, love, fame, work, money, New York and, of course, himself. He seems to honestly describe both good and bad times in his life. Sadly he died in 1987 so we will never know how he would have fared in old age and whether he would have changed as most of us do.
It's quite philosophical and quite unusual as a biography. It's worth a read whether you are interested in his art or not.
Wicked & Son of a Witch
Many people enjoy reading the stories they loved as children again as an adult. But with so many books around and so little time to read them all sometimes it feels as though you should be reading something new rather than rereading old favourites.
Gregory Maguire's series 'The Wicked Years' may be the answer fans of The Wizard of Oz are looking for - his books are a revision of the story for adults, set in the same world but told from a different point of view - discover why the wicked witch of the west is so wicked and what the private lives of the Tinman and other characters are like.
We have just added the first omnibus edition of Wicked & Son of a Witch our catalogue (the first two books in the series). It looks to be a great read for any fantasy fan wanting to relive a bit of their childhood.
Maori tattooing
By Michael King with photography by Marti Friedlander
In 1970, Michael King and Marti Friedlander travelled around New Zealand to find and speak to those who had been tattooed in the traditional manner. They located 71 women who had been given the moko, several whose chisel tattoos dated back to the end of the nineteenth century, and others whose tattoos came from a more recent needle technique.
King & Friedlander interviewed and photographed this unique group of women, all of whom are now long gone. As Michael King wrote, "I salute the kuia moko. I farewell them again with respect as they disappear from our lives, though not from our memories."
This book of photographs illustrates not only the moko itself but also the women who proudly wore it and the environments in which they lived.
Travel
Travel or armchair travel; take your pick. We've got what you need in either case.
Today's book is by the world's best known travel writer Paul Theroux and is called
The Happy Isles of Oceania: Paddling the Pacific.
Maybe you are planning to travel to one of the stunning Pacific Islands and want to get in the mood before you go. Perhaps you just want to read about them from the comfort of your own home. Or possibly you are currently in New Zealand and feeling a bit deprived as the summer degenerates once again into yet more gale force winds, rain, hail, sleet showers, and single-figure temperatures and you need to read about a tropical paradise or five.
Whatever your reason, this book is a great read. It is eloquently written (as you'd expect) and it is informative, packed with adventure, charming, quirky and bound to make you wish you were there, His travels took him to the Solomons, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Tahiti, the Marquesas and Easter Island so he's got most places covered.
Come in and check out our travel section for guidebooks etc or our travel writing section for an interesting selection covering most countries around the world.
Tiny Homes
Tiny Homes: Simple Shelter
Tiny Homes on the Move: Wheels and Water
The idea of scaling back and living somewhere smaller and more affordable is no doubt something many of us dream of. If you've ever entertained such a thought, Lloyd Kahn will inspire you to try.
These books contain a fabulous array of really beautiful tiny homes. You will be astounded by the creativity and ingenious design of many of these houses, often built by their owners, who are not professionals.
Sit back and dream of being mortgage-free or rent-free in your new downsized dwelling as you thumb through these superbly photographed books. Even if you aren't planning to change, you will definitely enjoy the ingenuity and artistry which has inspired this rich array of gorgeous homes. Don't miss out. Come and get a copy today.
Sexist Words and Phrases
The Nonsexist Word Finder: A Dictionary of Gender-free Usage
by Rosalie Maggio
This is an accessible, easy-to-use guide which gives alternatives for over 5000 sexist words and phrases.
If you replace sexist words & phrases with neutral terms then you are treating everyone with respect. It can sometimes be difficult, however, to find a suitable alternative. This will be especially important if you are a writer, a teacher or someone who does a lot of public speaking. Fear not, help is at hand with the Nonsexist Word Finder.
You can use this book to avoid obsolete or offensive words. Just look up the word you want to avoid and select from the 'gender-free' synonyms offered.
For example, instead of saying 'manpower', you could try personnel or staff or workers. Don't make a snowman in winter, try sculpting a snow figure. You may find yourself chuckling over a few of the suggestions (and that will be half the fun) but you won't be stuck for words.
