The Girvan Library Blog

It's All About The Image

2011-11-16T13:48:00.003+13:00

Take a trip through New Zealand art via Dick Frizzell's point of view. He shines a light on some of the works he's always loved - a number of which have seemed to miss muster in the usual round-ups. It's an eclectic bunch of paintings and begins with images he was drawn to (because that's what it was all about.images) back before he was told what he'd be better off looking at. From Peter McIntyre inviting him up onto the scaffolding to watch him painting the WWII mural in the Hastings War Memorial Library, through to discovering modern art at art school, his first sighting of a McCahon, teaching at Elam with talented students like Karl Maughan and discovering the brightest of bring young things today - this is a wonderful journey. Written in Dick's self-proclaimed gonzo style, this is a fascinating discussion of art history through the eyes of our most mainstream populist artist. Examines the stars of NZ painting in a colloquial and revelatory way.

Rafa

2011-11-16T13:42:00.005+13:00

No tennis player since Andre Agassi has captivated the world like Rafael Nadal. He's a rarity in today's sporting arena - a true sportsman who chooses to let his raw talent, dedication and humility define him. This autobiography, written by Nadal with award-winning journalist John Carlin, includes memorable highlights such as winning the Wimbledon 2008 final in what John McEnroe called, the greatest game of tennis ever played and completing a career Grand Slam after winning the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open in 2010.? This book gives Nadal's millions of fans what they've been waiting for - a glimpse behind the racquet to learn what really makes Nadal - an intensely private person who until now has never talked about his personal and family life - tick.

Inheritance

2011-11-16T13:34:00.003+13:00

Not so very long ago, Eragon - Shadeslayer, Dragon Rider - was nothing more than a poor farm boy, and his dragon, Saphira, only a blue stone in the forest. Now, the fate of an entire civilization rests on their shoulders. Long months of training and battle have brought victories and hope, but they have also brought heartbreaking loss. And still, the real battle lies ahead: they must confront Galbatorix. When they do, they will have to be strong enough to defeat him. And if they cannot, no one can. There will be no second chances. The Rider and his dragon have come farther than anyone dared to hope. But can they topple the evil king and restore justice to Alaga sia? And if so, at what cost?

Spiral

2011-11-16T12:17:00.010+13:00

If you thought the Limiters were nasty, think again. They've brought their females with them this time. And all that stands in their way are Will and his friends, and a rag-bag team of retired commandos. It's a smoking spiral of chaos and not everyone is going to survive.

Expert Witness

2011-09-02T12:54:00.006+12:00

David Bain, The Omagh Bombing, The Birmingham Six, And more...

Behind the scenes with a real-life forensic scientist.

Forensic scientists are crime-solving sleuths producing slam-dunk evidence and tidy endings all in a day's work... Because being a forensic scientitst is just like it is on the television, isn't it?

In fact, it's so much more than this.

From examining illigal drugs to collecting pollen samples from corpses, an independent forensic scientist reveals her fascinating world in this book. Using first-hand experience, Dr Anna Sandiford presents a real-life look at the inner workings of forensic science as she recounts her work, as well as that of others, on well-known (and some lesser known) cases that have created so much media and public fascination.

Food, Girls and Other Things I Can't Have

2011-09-02T12:40:00.007+12:00

What's worse than being fat in your freshman year?

Being fat in your sophomore year.

Andrew Zansky's life used to be simple- hang out with the Model UN guys, avoid gym class, and eat and eat and eat. He has never fit in: into his family, his sports-crazed school, or his size 48 pants.

But Andrew's just met April- the new girl at school and the love of his life. But how's a fat guy like him ever going to win over someone so perfect? Then O. Douglas, heartthrob quarterback and high-school legend, saves Andy from getting beat up, and the plan seems so clear. Get in with the football team, get popular, get the girl.

Is it possible to reinvent yourself in the middle of high school? How far should you go to become the person you really want to be? Andrew's about to find out.

Youth Football 101 Coaching Sessions

2011-09-02T12:34:00.002+12:00

The practice bible for youth football coaches.

Designed specifically for younger players, 101 Youth Football Coaching Sessions offers a range of progressive practice sessions to help young players develop. This book is fun, educational and challenging. All sessions are illustrated and cover the essentials to getting the most out of coaching.

War

2011-09-02T12:25:00.005+12:00

For fifteen months Sebastian Junger was embedded with a platoon in a remote outpost in eastern Afghanistan. Subject to fierce attack on a daily basis and to numerous casualties, his relationship with the soldiers grew so close that they considered him one of them.

Junger's ambition was both simple and ambitious- to convey what war actually feels like. What follows is an extraordinary insight into the truths of combat: the intense physical toil, the numbing anticipation of battle, the adrenaline-fuelled confusion of ambush, and the agony of loss.

War is a timeless account of life lived at the extremes: the fear of dying, the trauma of killing and the intense and unique bon between fellow soldiers who would rather die than let each other down.

Operation Black Cobra

2011-09-01T09:34:00.003+12:00

Luke Baron has agreed to buy a fake driving licence from a girl he's met online. He soon realises he's making a big mistake. But when he tries to back out of the deal, he discovers that Gemma Dolan lives in fear of her criminal dad, who is hiding in an abandoned manor house with his gang.

Fighting to protect Gemma, Luke gets caught up in a terrifying plot to attack an armed nuclear convoy. Who's behind it and what do they want? He's starting to like Gemma, but should he trust her? And can he stop the catastrophe that threatens to engulf London, the UK and the world?

Brains, Bodies, Guts and Stuff

2011-09-01T09:26:00.008+12:00

What happens in your head during a headache?

What are toes for?

Why are some farts eggier than others?

These and other brilliant questions are answered in this hilarious and fascinating book about the human body.

This book explores everything from cells to organs, from breathing to blood-flow, from scabs and rashes to broken bones and brainpower.

It's the human body with no boring bits!

The Alchemist and the Angel: A Gothic Tale of Magic and Madness

2011-09-01T09:15:00.004+12:00

Jan is an alchemist's apprentice. His quest for the elixir of life will take him far from the magick of his uncle's Cellar of Science in Vienna, to the plague-ridden streets and hidden houses of Prague. In a city whose towers and spires touch the stars and whose dungeons dig deep into the clay-rich soil, mad Emperor Rudolf's court and Cabinet of Curiosities brim with alchemy and corruption. Here Jan faces treachery and betrayal. He also meets a mysterious girl; Zuzana is known as the angel of the Ghetto, but she has another name and another life...

A Battle Won

2011-09-01T09:02:00.002+12:00

'Fire as she bears. Rake her, lads.'

Winter, 1793. Newly promoted Master and Commander Charles Hayden's orders are to deliver the frigate HMS Themis to Lord Admiral Hood, whose fleet is sheltering in the Mediterranean. Only hours out of port, however, and the Themis is engaging with the French Navy.

Hayden's destination is Toulon, a French port under Lord Hood's protection. But there Hayden's captaincy and seamanship are stretched to their limits. For Toulon holds a deadly surprise for the unwary...

A Battle Won is the brilliant second instalment in the epic maritime adventures of Charles Hayden. A masterpiece in the tradition of Bernard Cornwell and Patrick O'Brian.

The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That Is Connecting the World

2011-08-23T14:17:00.003+12:00

Only recently a dorm-room novelty. Facebook has become a company with more than 500 million users, changing the way we use the Internet. It is one of the fatest-growing companies in history, and its global reach is affecting politics in countries from colombia to Iran.

Veteran technology reporter David Krikpatrick has the cooperation of top Facebook executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in researching this fascinating history of the company and its impact on our lives. This is the Facebook story that can be found nowhere else.

Young Samurai: The Ring of Water

2011-08-23T14:11:00.003+12:00

Bruised and battered, Jack Fletcher wakes up in a roadside inn, wrapped only in a dirty kimono. He has lost everything, including his memory.

Determined to discover the truth, Jack goes on a quest to retrieve his belongings - his precious swords, his friend Akiko's black pearl and , most important of all, his father's prize possession.

Relying on his samurai and ninja training, Jack realizes the ring of water is the key to his survival.

But with only a washed up ronin - a masterless samurai - for help, what wil Jack manage to find? What will he lose? and what will he have to sacrifice?

The Battle of Trafalgar

2011-08-23T14:01:00.002+12:00

The battle of Trafalgar has now passed into national mythology. The expertise, courage, determination and confidence which gave Britain a victory of spectactular finality in October 1805 also provided her with one of her great legendary figures - a naval hero in life but much more like a national, if very secular, saint in death. However, like the noise and smoke of battle, legends have a habit of obscuring facts and, having embodied themselves in popular imagination, are transcribed to the history books.

Captain Bennett was, for many years, a serving officer in the Royal Navy as well as being one of the most highly regarded naval historians of his time. He sets the battle in the context of the world-wide struggle against Napoleon, describes the ships, their crews and the tactics of the action. In his scholarly but immensely readable account of the battle he discusses the preparatory manoeuvres and the mechanics of navel warfare in the age of sail. He illustrates the text with many diagrams.

The Ultimate Student Cookbook - from Chicken to Chili

2011-08-04T12:32:00.002+12:00

More than 100 recipes for terrific food on a student's budget!

Whodunnit?

2011-08-04T12:27:00.003+12:00

Grab your magnifying glass and solve the crime!

Test your wits against the finest sleuths that literature has to offer.
This collection of 16 baffling detective stories by writers such as Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Dorothy L.Sayers is sure to keep mystery lovers tuning the pages. From Sherlock Holmes to Hercule Poirot, the greatest detectives in classic and contemporary fiction can be found in the pages of this captivating anthology.

The Million Dollar Putt

2011-08-04T12:17:00.003+12:00

Blind golfing, anyone?

Edward Bogard - Bogie for short - may be blind, but he can learn just about anything he sets his mind to: riding a bike, parasailing, or playing guitar: Still, when his classmates bring him to a driving range he's stunned to find that he has the swing of a pro. But blind golfing is a team sport, and Bogie needs a coach.

Enter Birdie, the kooky and mysterious girl next door. A bit of a loner, Birdie creates elaborate worlds in miniature in her basement, and has managed to make it to age thirteen without learning how to ride a bike.

Then someone enters Bogie in a golf tournament - with a million dollar prize. If these neighbors team up to conquer the greens of Hawaii, could Birdie be the unlikely key to Bogie's victory.

A short walk in the Hindu Kush

2011-08-03T10:52:00.003+12:00

A classic of travel writing. 'A short walk in the Hindu Kush' is Eric Newby's iconic account of his journey through one of the most remote and beautiful wildernesses on earth.

Miracle in the Andes

2011-08-03T10:43:00.002+12:00

In October 1972, Nando Parrado and his rugby club team mates were on a flight from Uruguay to Chile when their plane crashed into a mountain. Miraculously, many of the passengers survived but Nando's mother and sister died and he was unconscious for three days.

Stranded more than 11,000 feet up in the wilderness of the Andes, the survivors soon heard that the search for them had been called off - and realised the only food for miles around was the bodies of their dead friends...

In a last desperate bid for safety, Nando and a team mate set off in search of help. They climbed 17,000 feet high mountains, facing death at every step, but inspired by his love for his family Nando drove them on until, finally, 72 days after the crash they found rescue.

Denying History: Who Says the Holocaust Never Happened and Why Do They Say It?

2011-08-03T10:16:00.003+12:00

Takes a look at those who say the Holocaust never happened and explores the motivations behind such claims. This work shows how we can be certain that the Holocaust happened and, for that matter, how we can confirm any historical event.

Don Quixote

2011-08-02T14:17:00.002+12:00

Don Quixote has become so entranced by reading romances of chivalry that he determines to become a knight errant and pursue bold adventures, accompanied by his squire, the cuning Sancho Panza. As they roam the world together, the ageing Quixote's fancy leads them wildly astray. At the same time the relationship between the two men grows with fascinating subtlety. Often considered to be the first modern novel, Don Quixote is a wonderful burlesque of the popular literature its disordered protagonist is obsessed with.

New Zealand Film: An Illustrated History

2011-08-02T14:11:00.002+12:00

The first comprehensive New Zealand film history ever published, this book celebrates 115 years of cinema in Aotearoa, from the earliest silent movies of the 1890s to kiwi classics from the 1970s and 1980s to Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning wide-screen epics.

Featuring a foreword by Ian McKellen and contributions from twenty-four top film writers, historians and industry insiders, and illustrated with hundreds of rare and iconic images, New Zealand Film: An illustrated History is a must-have reference and a lively narrative of New Zealand's moving image heritage.

Ali's Utterly Unreliable Guide to the 2011 World Cup

2011-08-02T14:05:00.002+12:00

All the important stuff you need to know about the 2011 World Cup, in one handy book!

* How to host your own Party Central!

* Conversational tips for conversing with rugy fans from many nations!

* How Russia can win the World Cup!

* The shocking truth behind the World Cup ticket ballot system!

* Weather predictions for every World Cup match!

Changing Bodies Changing Lives

2011-07-12T09:28:00.002+12:00

"It seems like everyone else has the script. Everyone else knows what's happening and I look around and say, Duh."

Of course, the truth is that no one has the script because there is no script to follow. Chances are you'd find that almost everyone else has questions and worries a lot like yours, if you could get them to admit it. This brand new, completely updated and revised edition of Changing Bodies, Changing Lives is full of honest, accurate, non judgemental information on everything teenagers need to know about today.