Review of Father Christmas’s Fake Beard – Terry Pratchett

Have you ever wanted Christmas to be different?

Turkey and carols, presents and crackers – they all start to feel a bit . . . samey.

How about a huge exploding mince pie, a pet abominable snowman, or a very helpful partridge in a pear tree? What if Father Christmas went to work at a zoo, or caused chaos in a toy store or, was even, arrested for burglary!?

tt, for a festive treat like no other. These ten stories will have you laughing, gasping and crying (with laughter) – you’ll never see Christmas in the same way again.

Father Christmas’s Fake Beard

Terry Pratchett

Doubleday

Supplied by Penguin Random House New Zealand

Reviewed by Stephen Litten

What do you do when the ideal replacement Father Christmas brings his own elves to the store grotto? Will Blackbury be terrorised by abominable snowmen? Will Amos Strong’I’t’arm win the love of Miss Fancy Ramble? These and other important questions are answered in this volume of collected stories by Terry Pratchett.

The stories in Father Christmas’s Fake Beard are a varied bunch. There are eleven of them, and the title story is first up.

It is told by office memo, introducing the current store Father Christmas and his little foibles. The best memo reads: “What’s gone wrong with the heating in the Toy Department? It’s like the North Pole up here!” I’ll leave you to guess where it goes to from there.

       Several are set in the northern town of Blackbury, which has none of that twee softness southerners display.

They span 25 years of Sir Terry’s career (1967-92), and while all had been previously published (by various publishers) sometimes titles have been added or changed to reflect need (Father Christmas instead of Santa Claus).

There is a definite growth in Sir Terry’s style in this collection. Hardly surprising as the first was published when the author was 19 and the last 44. But they are all humorous, if not downright funny. The stories are quite short, but they are leavened with illustrations. Speaking of these, Mark

Bench has done a good job and his style suits Sir Terry’s.

A great little collection to giggle over.

Review of Burning Questions – Margaret Atwood

From cultural icon Margaret Atwood comes a brilliant collection of essays — funny, erudite, endlessly curious, uncannily prescient — which seek answers to Burning Questions such as:

Why do people everywhere, in all cultures, tell stories?
How much of yourself can you give away without evaporating?
How can we live on our planet?
Is it true? And is it fair?
What do zombies have to do with authoritarianism?

In over fifty pieces Atwood aims her prodigious intellect and impish humour at our world, and reports back to us on what she finds. The roller-coaster period covered in the collection brought an end to the end of history, a financial crash, the rise of Trump and a pandemic. From debt to tech, the climate crisis to freedom; from when to dispense advice to the young (answer: only when asked) to how to define granola, we have no better questioner of the many and varied mysteries of our human universe.

Burning Questions

Margaret Atwood

Chatto & Windus

Supplied by Penguin Random House New Zealand

Reviewed by Stephen Litten

What do you do when you’ve had a long career as a writer and are now considered a national treasure? You could do worse than bundle together collections of short non-fiction you’ve generated over the years. In Atwood’s case, this is her third collection of musings, reviews and the like. This volume covers the period 2004-2021. The previous two are Second Words (1960-1982) and Moving Targets (1983-2004).

Burning Questions is divided into five sections, each approximately three years, with the material being a selection of reviews, obituaries (which are called for when you start to outlive other writers), and general musings on all manner of things. Thus, we have musings on Anne of Green Gables and the life of the author, Lucy Maud Montgomery, Alice Munro (a Canadian staple), Scrooge, writing clinics for Canadian first Nations and much else besides.

I found myself dipping into these writings more frequently than I imagined. Atwood has been a paid writer since 1960, and obviously has learned a lot about the craft. She has also lived through a period of massive social change, as well as the usual personal changes that go with living for over 80 years. And as someone who has experienced three quarters of her lifespan, there’s been a lot of change that is grist to the writer’s mill.

I enjoyed this collection. Atwood is a good writer, and much of this collection has snippets of humour reaching out to the reader. These short works make me want to read the books reviewed, visit the places mentioned, dig up the social research discussed. In short, Margaret makes me want to read more. Which is exactly what an author should make you want to do.

Get a copy of Burning Questions. And the other two. Now!

I thank Jerome Buckleigh at Penguin Random House for the review copy.

Review of Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories – Jeff Kinney

Grab a flashlight, crawl under the covers, and dive into the twisted, unexpectedly hilarious world of Rowley Jefferson’s imagination. You’ll meet zombies, vampires, ghosts, and much more in these comically terrifying tales. Rowley’s spooky stories might leave you laughing, but beware—you could end up sleeping with the lights on!

And don’t miss Rowley Jefferson’s first two awesome friendly books, the instant #1 bestsellers Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid: Rowley Jefferson’s Journal and Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Adventure!

Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories

Jeff Kinney

Puffin

Supplied by Penguin Random House New Zealand

Reviewed by Dylan Howell

Jeff Kinney still reigns as one of the current kings of children’s literature. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series is one of the most successful in non-fiction. With every book from the collection making it onto the New York Times bestseller list. His departure from Greg Heffley however doesn’t quite match up to the charm of the mainline series.

Rowley Jefferson is a great foil to Greg, they’re arguably equally naive however Rowley has an opposingly optimistic outlook, living a sheltered life with overprotective parents. This makes their interactions together dynamic and fun to read. But in his new book “Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories” Kinney ditches the cringe comedy that comes from a recognizable despicable protagonist. His other book in this spin-off series “Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid” was similar in narrative to the main series, aimed at a younger audience, and provided a little more depth to the beloved character, but this new Halloween themed release comes off as a little shallower than its predecessors.

The book contains a series of short horror themed tales, no more than 20 pages each, each providing a challenge and then a lesson from the perspective of the youthful and innocent Rowley Jefferson with very little spook to them at all. Including allegories of puberty in the form of werewolves, stories of teething with vampires, the danger of becoming addicted to technology, ignoring your grandparents, and of telling little white lies. Each has a little twist that makes them fun in bite sized chunks. But a slog when diving through all 202 pages at once.

I can appreciate the change in pace from Greg Heffley’s near sociopathic actions to Rowley’s gentle outlook. Especially as it can provide 10 minutes of entertainment for children starting to read longer form books as they work their way through the individual stories. They’d also be an excellent source of bedtime stories for children aged 5-8 who are just beginning their reading journeys and need a little incentive to get off YouTube.

While Rowley Jefferson’s Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories are a fun way to spend 10 minutes settling a young child for bed, I can highly recommend Kinney’s other Friendly Kid books for children that are reading longer form stories, especially as an introduction to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series that targets children aged 9 and up.

Review of Stories For 7 Year Olds – Linsay Knight (editor)

This collection of 25 short stories is written by some of New Zealand’s most loved children’s writers. There is a great selection of stories that are specifically targeted at 7 year olds and are perfect to be read loud or independently. Lulu Bell and an injured penguin, a school play spectacular, holidays at Pop’s farm, scary fairies, a lost goblin princess, a shark for a best friend, a homework disaster, Draggle the bedraggled dragon, two queen dolls, ducks and dogs, a strawberry thief and Clementine Rose’s first day of school are some of the stories you’ll find inside.

The stories are a bit more adventurous than the 6 year olds collection and are about exploring and things – kapa haka, monsters, best friends, snorkelling, and wetas are covered! My tester enjoyed the stories immensely and looked forward to bedtime when she’d get to read one to her little sister! She also really liked the cute illustrations that had both of them in giggles.

Random House New Zealand

Supplied by Random House New Zealand

Reviewed by Jan

Review of Stories For 6 Year Olds – Linsay Knight (editor)

This is a collection of 25 short stories that have been specifically chosen to appeal to 6 year olds. A very old ghost, an accident-prone cousin, a pirate in search of a ship, fish fingers for breakfast, a dog who loves football, hairy armadillos, aliens in pyjamas, a boy in trouble, a big brother who can fix anything, secret creatures in the playground and an unexpected escape for Gibblewort the Goblinare some of the stories you’ll find inside. The authors are a mix of well-known and unfamiliar names that include Margaret Mahy, Patricia Grace, and David Hill.

This will be enjoyed by those who like to be read to or can read themselves. My tester is a slow reader and not very confident but she enjoyed reading these out loud to her little sister every night. She liked the shortness of the stories and though ‘they were all cool’. The perfect gift for 6 year olds!

Random House New Zealand

Supplied by Random House New Zealand

Reviewed by Jan

Review of Christmas Cracker – Jacqueline Wilson

A Merry Christmas gift from Jacqueline Wilson, this book has a variety of short stories featuring much loved characters from her various book series. There’s a brand-new tale as well as the classic favourite Starring Tracey Beaker, in which everyone’s favourite heroine lands the lead role in her Christmas play.

After each story is a festive puzzle, tasty recipe, perfect present tips, or piece of Christmas trivia that relates to the story. After Ruby and Garnet’s Christmas story there is a recipe for making gingerbread twins and after Hetty Feather’s story fun facts about Victorian Christmases are listed.

A fun, cheerful read that let us revisit favourite characters, as well as introducing them to new readers. One to buy any tween girl for a stocking stuffer!

Corgi

Supplied by Random House New Zealand

Reviewed by Jan

The Best of Twisty Christmas Tales – Get your copy now and support The Muscular Dystrophy Association of NZ

 

31 short stories by 27 authors, including Joy Cowley, David Hill, Lyn McConchie & Dave Freer.

What will Santa put under your tree this Christmas? A present that growls? Or one that smiles? The Best of Twisty Christmas Tales – crazy Christmas adventures for the whole family! Christmas in outer space or at the beach, havoc in Santa’s workshop, monsters running amok, and mad scientists who turn Christmas into chaos.

Come along for the sleigh ride of your life, as these Twisty Tales weave their festive magic, whipping across New Zealand pastures, scattering fairy dust on the way to a Christmas BBQ!

YouTube Book Trailer: http://goo.gl/HqA2Sv

Anthology Editors: Peter Friend, Eileen Mueller, A.J. Ponder

Illustrator: Geoff Popham

Authors:  Shelley Chappell, Michelle Child, William Cook, Debbie Cowens, Joy Cowley, Denise Cush, Marion Day, Simon Fogarty, Dave Freer, Peter Friend, Jan Goldie, David Hill, Tim Jones, Charlotte Kieft, Lyn McConchie, Eileen Mueller, Jeena Murphy, Lee Murray, Robyn P, Murray, Lorraine Orman, A.J. Ponder, D.M. Potter, Dan Rabarts, Darian Smith, Kerrie Anne Spicer, Anne Wilkins, Sophie Yorkston.

Publisher: Phantom Feather Press

ISBN Paperback :   978-0-9941155-0-8
ISBN Mobi:   978-0-9941155-1-5
ISBN Epub:  978-0-9941155-2-2
ISBN Pdf:  978-0-9941155-3-9

Publication Date etc: 1/11/2014. Paperback 224 pages. 10% of all profits from The Best of Twisty Christmas Tales will be donated to The Muscular Dystrophy Association of NZ.

Available: Good New Zealand book stores and on Amazon (ebook.) Wholesalers, retailers and booksellers, please order from Phantom Feather Press. Contact us here.

Pleasant reading this festive season!

Review of War Girls – Various

This is a collection of short stories that explore how WWI changed and shaped the lives of women forever. From a courageous nurse risking her life at the Front; a young woman discovering intrigue in London; to a grief-stricken widow defending her homeland from foreign invaders, these stories show how the war affected all, no matter their nationality or class. The stories are from various authors, some quite recognisable names and show loss and grief, and hope overcoming terrible times.

I really enjoyed the different perspectives – some from those caught up in the fighting; those volunteering to help; those left behind; and from the people the Allies were fighting against. Very interesting as you don’t often get a glimpse into the life of ‘the enemy’. I really liked old lady in the 70’s recalling life after the war. I knew there was a shortage of men causing many women to never marry but she made it seem real, not just an abstract knowledge. I’d love to read more about her life too – becoming a journalist and being in the thick of WWII, she sounds a hell of a woman!

A very good book, well worth reading for another slant to WWI. It was nice to remember that women had guts and made sacrifices too, not just the courageous soldiers.

Andersen Press Ltd

Supplied by Random House New Zealand

Reviewed by Jan