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Hear Our Voices We Entreat, Max Cryer

Exisle
Reviewed by John Whelan (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

Hands up those of you who can sing all five verses of God Defend New Zealand? Hands up who knew there were five verses of God Defend New Zealand? What about singing it in Maori?

As well as giving you this information, this is one of those books that supplies the reader with lots of "Did you knows". For example, did you know God Save the Queen is still one of New Zealand's national anthems? Did you know it wasn't until the rowing eight won gold at the 1972 Olympics that God Defend New Zealand was played for the first time at an international event, even though it wasn't our national anthem? Did you know it took another five years for it to be officially recognised as such?

Full review here

Heartsongs – Readings for Weddings, Pinky Agnew

Random House
Reviewed by Jan Treliving-Brown (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

You know Pinky Agnew – she's the woman who does Jenny Shipley impersonations on McPhail and Gadsby. She's also a woman who's fallen in love with being a marriage celebrant. So from this one-time comedian, actor and radio columnist comes a stylish wee taupe-coloured glossy complete with satin ribbon: Heartsongs – Readings for Weddings.

Full review here

Hell Hole of the Pacific, Richard Wolfe

Penguin
Reviewed by Lindsay Wright (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

Kororareka, now Russell, has become something of a backwater, but Wolfe's book recalls the town's rollicking colonial past.

Full review here

Himalaya, Michael Palin

Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Reviewed by Lisa Hoult (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

I've always been envious of people who present travel programmes – it seems like such an ideal way to see the world. You know, travel plans arranged and paid for by somebody else. All you have to do is turn up with your film crew, smile for the camera and, hey presto – another fantastic holiday!

But after reading the book that accompanies Michael Palin's Himalaya TV series, I've changed my mind. Sitting in a 4WD for 15 hours on the ominously-named "road that eats jeep" is NOT my idea of fun. With that and other hair-raising and uncomfortable moments, I'm glad it was Palin and not me on this adventure.

Full review here

Hobsons' Chance, Jenny Haworth

Hazard Press
Reviewed by Heather Ramsay (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

Hobsons' Chance is fiction, but the story is based around real events and people from a controversial period of New Zealand history – the arrival of Captain William Hobson and the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Full review here

How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered The World, Francis Wheen

Harper Perennial
Reviewed by John Whelan (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

I get the distinct impression Francis Wheen wants to show us all he's the clever boy who's worked out the Emperor's wearing no clothes. Instead, he comes across as a cynical, pompous twit poking holes in anything that doesn't meet his perception of truth and "enlightenment".

Full review here

Human, Robert Winston (Editor)

Dorling Kindersley
Reviewed by Chris Lonsdale (Courtesy of Taranaki Daily News)

Life for our distant ancestors was a camping trip that never ended – and without any of the accessories and freeze-dried foods considered essential today. 

The upright ape species into which we evolved, Homo sapiens, was scratching around for survival, hunting and gathering and forever moving camp, about 150,000 years ago.

Full review here