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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 9, Issue 9 (December 1, 1934)

Reviews

Reviews.

“Tales of the Maori Bush,” by James Cowan (A. H. and A. W. Reed, Dunedin), is another excellent collection of short stories by the veteran New Zealand writer. These stories have been classed by one or two of the reviewers as fiction, but nearly all are built on fact. James Cowan, with the wealth of experiences he had among the Maoris in the early days, has drawn from the storehouse of memory, and has given us a wonderful and accurate series of pictures of those exciting days. Here, therefore, is a book that has all the engrossing appeal of fiction with the red blood of fact running through it all. I understand that the “Patokatoka” sketch is a memory of one of the boyhood rovings of the author, his brother, and a Maori mate, nearly half a century ago. I have good reason, also, for believing that the comedy of the reception of the goats by the Urewera, in “The Illustrious Goats of Ruatoki” is fact. As a faithful series of pictures of the early days, related in that facinating, irresistible style of the author, this book should be on the shelves of every worth while library in New Zealand. The frontispiece is by Mr. A. H. Messenger.

“Broken Wings,” by Frederick J. Thwaites (Jackson and O'Sullivan Ltd., Sydney), is a blood and thunder story of the great outbacks of Australia. It is the real bellowdrama stuff that goes down so easily with such a big body of readers. Thwaites has written several books, which I believe have achieved a large measure of popularity.

“Iron in the Fire,” by Edgar Morrow (Angus and Robertson, Sydney), is the first among the many war autobiographies that I have read that I consider is really sincere. As you read it you cannot but help feeling a trifle guilty, as though you were peering over the shoulder of a man writing an intimate diary. Because of its sincerity, therefore, it can be wholeheartedly recommended as something different. Naturally it must be a terrible indictment against war—a cry from the heart from one of thousands of unsophisticated young men plunged into that horrible bog of slaughter.

“Bird Wonders of Australia,” by A. H. Chisholm (Angus and Robertson), is not only a book for the ornithologist but must be of great interest to all Nature lovers. The author has completely broken away from the dry, cold style common to writers of such books. He has a charming gossipy manner of telling of the bird marvels of the great continent. Mr. Chisholm appears to have a very thorough knowledge of Australia's strange fauna. Many interesting plates illustrate the book. A very suitable Xmas present.

“Skippety Songs,” by Karna Birmingham (Endeavour Press, Sydney), is a delightful collection of kiddy verse. Just because the authoress has not the name of an A. A. Milne, this book may be passed by. My advice is to pick up the book at your bookseller's and run through just one set of verses at random. You won't go away without buying a copy. And it sells at only 2/-.

A pleasant surprise among the Xmas annuals this year is the Radio Record Annual,” which, in literary contents, photography and format, is of an unusually high standard. There is quite a slick modern touch about the magazine. The contributors include Lady Statham, Mona Tracy, Margaret Macpherson, Robin Hyde, and Professor Von Zedlitz. No highly technical stuff, just vital stories and articles of great interest to everybody. Congratulations to its editor, Mr. Trevor Lane, who might, however, improve on some of his illustrated headings when he publishes his next issue.

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