The Star Book Review

By Brenda Channer

In 2020, during lockdown, did you drag a chair to the end of your driveway with a coffee or glass of wine in hand to commune with your neighbours from a “safe” distance of an evening?

“Fourteen Days,” edited by Douglas Preston and Margaret Attwood, gives us a distinctly New York take on that notion. 

Residents of a small Manhattan apartment building gather on the roof, keeping their distance and reluctantly wearing masks. Initially they gather to applaud emergency workers at 7:00 p.m. each night but ultimately remain for the company – the price of which is to tell a story.

36 different authors contribute these stories as the initially prickly characters gradually become vulnerable to one another. Anchored by the narration of the building superintendent they share stories of love and loss, of ghosts and adventure, of travel and mystery.

Who is the author of which story is unknown until you flip to the back of the book – you can check the list as you go or decide to keep it a mystery until the end!

I was intrigued by the concept of the novel’s construction and attracted by the quality of the 36 contributing writers – John Grisham, Celest Ng, Diana Gabaldon, R.L. Stine, Emma Donaghue, Margaret Attwood and 30 more! It did not disappoint, and I found myself drawn into their little community, wondering who would tell a story next.

Unsurprisingly there are many different styles to the storytelling as befits the different personalities of the characters, including poetry and song.

There is a twist in the tale too which firmly reminded me that this is a pandemic novel. 

It made me pause and reflect on that time in the not too distant past and how it has changed us all.

Available at your local bookshop.

Curiosly good books publisher speaks

Publisher Julia Marshall (Credit: Rebecca McMillan)

Puiblishing pioneer Julia Marshall who founded Gecko Press, the curiously successful publisher and translator of books for young people by some of the world’s best writers and illustrators, speaks in Carterton early May.

Wairarapa Word and Wairarapa Library Service present “Julia Marshall – Curiously Good Children’s Books – A Publishing Story” on Sunday, May 5, 2:00 p.m., at the Community Courthouse, 60 Holloway Street (beside the library), Carterton.

Julia will tell about how the warm, funny, serious, and curious young peoples’ books have travelled well around the world.

The second part of the programme is a workshop for adults: ‘What makes a good picture book,” from 3:30 p.m.

Julia’s workshop will look at the components of publishing an illustrated book for children, using a variety of her favourite books. Spaces are limited so registration is required through: events.waiword@gmail.com

News from First Church

If you should find yourself driving semi-aimlessly up the east coast on the Ponatahi or equivalent charming back road, you will be struck by the sheer number of small parish churches which are mouldering into obscurity – usually because the congregations that used to bolster them have evaporated or the earthquake code has rendered them uninhabitable. 

Gone are the days when a fledgling community armed with mattocks and horse drawn farm equipment, built their first homes, closely followed by the mandatory place of worship.

Until superceded by the rugby clubs, these small churches of the late nineteenth century were the vibrant centre of gravity of these communities both for serious worship and social activity.

First Church was no exception. Pews were full and people got down on their knees. 

A rough (but not comprehensive) litany of local churches that have bitten the dust in the rush to secularisation includes St. Anthony’s, Gospel Hall, Burnside, Mauriceville, Hinekura, Morrisons Bush, Kahutara, Kaiwaiwai, etc. 

First Church is not under immediate threat _ but serious decisions relating to the building’s integrity are just around the corner. … Continue Reading

Heartland Community Hub adds fresh heft

Courses on smart phone use, helping people connect with government agencies, joining under-5s with old codgers, visiting outer settlements, providing blood donation and financial support services, interfacing with Age Concern and hosting Digital Seniors _ part of a long list already stacked up by a new service in Martinborough.

Heartland Community Hub duo Hana Makin and Pip Maynard are pleased with progress in helping the community make connections across the board in their first four months of operation.

Hana: “It’s been very well received and people coming in have been pleased to have somewhere and someone local to talk to.

“Obviously we’re still getting to meet people, we’re still new so there are still plenty of people who still don’t know that we’re here – and some people who do know we’re here don’t (yet) need our help.

We’ve got a few services that are available weekly now so that helps people knowing what we can do. So we’ve got Digital Seniors in here once a week, the building and financial capabilities team here once a week, doing free budgeting advice and education so they work with people to help them get on top of their finances. 

We’ve got Youth to Work once a week and they help people into sustainable employment – so they work with young people and with businesses to help them employ young people as well.

Pip: “We have Te Hauora Runanga o Wairarapa, they’ve actually held two 8-week courses here since we opened (in January). 

“They’ve been rongoa (Maori health) courses and really well received as it’s been more traditional harvesting and things like that, some sometimes here and sometimes (fieldwork) out in the district. … Continue Reading