It's seven sleeps to Christmas! If you're swinging by a bookshop, or even your own bookshelves to find a last minute present for someone, what are they going to want to read? RNZ producer and former bookseller Robert Kelly is here to help (maybe).
Photo: 123rf
Books Discussed today:
- I have a 17-year-old son who is obsessed with sharks and wants a shark book that is not a Childs book but gives him loads of information on all types of sharks around the world and is pitched at an older audience. I can't seem to find one that doesn't pitch to a 10-year-old or younger. Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo and Emperors of the Deep by William McKeever.
- Hi, Jessie, book for a 9yr old girl, who is fascinated with birds. Interests in seaside, rock living creatures. The Magic School Bus books by Bruce Degan and Wildlife and Aotearoa by Gavin Bishop
- Female 44, interests: English literature, classical music. Bell Canto by Ann Patchett
- My husband, aged 71, fit and outdoorsy. He loves Carl Hiassen (read them all at least twice), Barry Crump (also read them all) recently read True Grit and enjoyed (so did I). Nothing dark or heavy going! Riding the Iron Rooster by Paul Theroux
- For my partner, a 38 year old male winemaker who loves cycling and trees, we have a nine month old daughter, a cat, five chickens and live in central Otago. Vintner's Luck by Elizabeth Knox and On me Bike by Lloyd Geering
- My ears perked up when I heard about the book advice- I want to purchase a book for my girlfriend, she is an avid reader generally reads a book a week. She loves animals, interested in all things that's to with sustainability and she's policy analyst for a job. My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell and The Feather Thief by Kirk Johnson
- 80 + cattle farmer male. Loves travel, history, farming, the bush, gin, sarcastic wit. Devours books. John Crow's Devil by Marlon James, Faber and Faber: The Untold Story by Toby Faber
- My book is for A 34 yr old Female. Mother of a 4 yr old lad. Researcher, social anthropologist. Keen gardener of late. takes matters of gender, language, environment, and modern child rearing seriously and participates in workshops, help phone lines, internet surveillance and fund raising activities around these passions. Very fit,a cyclist, tramper, out doors person and ocean swimmer. Quirky sense of humour. A thoroughly modern woman with an independent spirit. Any help with a good read for this great person would be really appreciated!!! The Power by Naomi Alderman
- Hi Jesse Looking for book idea for my 17 year old daughter. I read to her regularly and surrounded her with books when she was little. She has just never been a reader - would rather be outside on the farm ! She will read the occasional health / sport book and she does try to read sometimes but hasn't found anything that really keeps her interested. She constantly listens to podcasts and bloggers daily life stories. I would just love to find her a great book that would really inspire her to read more. Any suggestions gratefully appreciated. The Devil in The White City by Erik Larson
