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Best reads of 2014

My top ten books read in 2014.

User from Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi

15 items

  1. 1. Dirty Politics

    How Attack Politics Is Poisoning New Zealand's Political Environment

    Hager, Nicky, 1958-
    This is my book of the year - for its influence, impact, and importance. It is as precise as a scalpel in a world of murk. And as the year ends, again it is to the fore.
    Book, 2014Nelson, New Zealand : Craig Potton Publishing, 2014. — 324.293 HAG
  2. Oh gosh, this is one of those magic books that holds you in its grip and it is at once uncanny and realistic. Michel Faber is that rare author who can jump from genre to genre and make everything gold. This is quite classic sci-fi with lots of…
    Book, 2014London : Hogarth, 2014. — FICTION
  3. 3. Scent & Subversion

    Decoding a Century of Provocative Perfume

    Herman, Barbara
    If only this was a scratch n sniff title. Cue wistful sigh. As a perfume lover, I found this book hit the mark and hopefully it will wend its way to my bookshelf sometime soon.
    Book, 2013Guilford, Connecticut : Lyons Press, an imprint of Globe Pequot Press, c2013. — 391.63 HER
  4. 5. Tell You What

    Great New Zealand Nonfiction, 2015

    An omnium gatherum of great New Zealand writing, mostly from out on the Web. If you wanted to compare it to food - you could say a degustation or tasting plates - but actually the essays are more substantial than that. Each piece is a complete meal…
    Book, 2014Auckland, New Zealand : Auckland University Press, 2014. — 820.80092 TEL
  5. This is brilliant stuff - up there with Stephen King at his best. It has so much New Zealand-ness in it too. It is scary and gory in bits, but also contains some pretty thoughtful stuff on surviving and coping and dealing with the unthinkable.
    Book, 2013Wellington : Victoria University Press, 2013. — FICTION
  6. Vivienne Westwood has always been a culture hero of mine. This book has made me admire, respect, and like her even more. A brilliant mind and sense of history, and a very humane person. The book is told in a distinctive style of 3rd person and…
    Book, 2014London : Picador, 2014. — 746.92 WES
  7. I am no expert at 4AD but I don't think you need to be to enjoy this rather lyrical and involving story. A splendidly absorbing read.
    Book, 2013London : Friday Project, 2013. — 338.4778 AST
  8. Saga is such a ripper of a story. The only problem is it is way too easy to gobble up and then you are left wanting more.
    Graphic Novel, 2014Berkeley, Calif. : Image Comics, c2014. — GRAPHIC NOVEL
  9. 12. Once in a Lifetime

    City-building After Disaster in Christchurch

    There were two essential non-fiction New Zealand books to read this year - and this was one of them. I especially liked that it didn't become an overly academic exercise - it has curiosity, diversity, and a plethora of ideas.
    Book, 2014Christchurch, New Zealand : Freerange Press, 2014. — 711.40993 ONC
  10. Roz's story of her ageing parents is raw and real and told with such honesty that it's impossible to resist. I love this graphic novel memoir genre - this is one of the best I've seen of this type.
    Book, 2014New York : St Martins Press, 2014. — 306.874 CHA
  11. Caitlin Moran is such a character, and in this book she manages to make a fictional heroine who shares her razor wit and fizzing brain. Lots of fun.
    Book, 2014London : Ebury Press, 2014. — FICTION