As prize-winning journalist Steve Braunias stands on an apartmentbalcony on a sultry summer evening, a black-backed gull flies so close he isinstantaneously bowled over with happiness: 'I thought: Birds, everywhere. Iwanted to know more about them.'
'A great book, original and captivating - compelling to the end'
LLOYD JONES
Howto Catch a Cricket Match by Harry Ricketts
Finalist, Spectrum Print Book Design Awards
Rudyard Kipling called cricketers flannelled fools. Groucho Marx asked halfway through acricket match when it would begin. Alfred Hitchcock put two cricket fans in athriller as comic relief. Yet despite its famously odd practices, slow pace,strange language, eccentric umpires and frequent scandals - or perhaps becauseof them - cricket is today one of the world's most passionately followed andplayed sports.
Check out Awa's own interview with Harry here.
In New Zealand, watching a cricket match is the quintessence of summer. So whencricket-obsessed writer Harry Ricketts and his Australian friend Tony takethemselves to the second day of a test against the West Indies, things arebound to start happening...
Howto Read a Book by Kelly Ana Morey
Kelly Ana Morey, award-winning novelist and winner of the inaugural Janet Frameliterary award, tells of the books which have captivated her, and the influencethey and their authors have had on her life and her stellar writing career. Howto Read a Book is a personal love story of the transforming power of theimagination and the written word.
Howto Look at a Painting by Justin Paton
Acclaimed art writer Justin Paton takes us on a journey of exploration through thecenturies and across the painted world. Whether you're a keen art collector, aserious student or just visit a gallery occasionally, this brilliant expositionof painting in all its forms will open your eyes to things you've never seenbefore.
How to Look at a Painting by acclaimed art writer Justin Paton has attracted rave reviews:
Photographer MARTI FRIEDLANDER calls the book 'a masterpiece that will set yourimagination alight'
BILL MANHIRE, head of the International Institute ofModern Letters, says, 'Justin Paton is perfect company. Wonderfullyintelligent and well-informed, he makes baffling stuff accessible, and shows ushow great paintings can make the familiar world astonishing and new'
Artist MICHAEL SMITHER says, 'In this absorbing book,painting is revealed as food for the soul, a harbour of memories that sustainus'
How to Drink a Glass of Wine by John Saker
New Zealand has become one of the world's great wine-drinking and producingcountries. After six years as a top wine writer, John Saker has blended athousand impressions, delicious experiences and startled taste buds into anengrossing guide to the world's most loved - and debated - beverage.
'If you read only one book about wine, make it this one'
SIMON WILSON, Cuisine
Check out our interview with John here.
How to Catch a Fish by Kevin Ireland
For award-winning writer and poet Kevin Ireland,fishing - especially for the elusive trout - is not an idle pastime but apassionate love affair with the natural world.
This fine, funny, beautiful bookshould be on the shelf of every fisherman - and woman - and theirlong-suffering friends and family.
'Ireland demystifies fishing. Howwelcome that is. He's informative but never omniscient, and often very cleverand amusing. It's brilliant and I loved it'
BRIAN TURNER
How to Listen to Pop Music by Nick Bollinger
It's the music that shook the world.'I don't sound like nobody,' Elvis Presley said in 1954. True. The truck driverfrom Memphis was about to set off the biggest musical cataclysm since Mozart.
'Good book! Like an Antipodean version of Nick Hornby's 31 Songs but more expansive and generous ... Thisother Nick experiences the primeval wonder at first exposure to pure pop, thewild enthusiasm for songs and records that leave others bemused and cold, theinsane need to track this music to its roots'
CHRIS KNOX
Howto Gaze at the Southern Stars by Richard Hall
There is no more beautiful or intriguing sight than the night sky. From the beginningof human civilisation people have wondered about the twinkling lights, and thestrange objects that occasionally fall to Earth. Come along with astronomerextraordinaire Richard Hall on a tour of the heavens as seen from the SouthernHemisphere.
'A legend brings the night sky to life.'
STEPHEN JAMES O'MEARA
Howto Pick a Winner by Mary Mountier
An astute, irreverent, insider's view of the so-called sport of kings - thebetting systems, personalities, scandals, oddities, joys of ownership, socialdivisions, how it all began (blame King Charles II!) and advice to newcomers.
'No one knows racing better than Mary Mountier. Even ifyou've never been near a racecourse you'll find this book hugely entertaining'
KEITH QUINN
Howto Watch a Game of Rugby by Spiro Zavos
How to Watch a Game of Rugby will delight both fans and those keen to learn more about New Zealand's national passion. Spiro Zavos shares his love of the sport with wit and humour -and passes on some illuminating pointers.
'Thoughtful, passionate & entertaining'
GREG McGEE
'One for all rugby lovers ... Spiro Zavos's best book yet'
BRYCE COURTENAY
First eBook edition published in 2012 by
Awa Press, Level 1, 85 Victoria Street
Wellington, New Zealand
eISBN: 978-1-877551-04-8
First edition published in 2007.
Reprinted 2008
© Steve Braunias, 2007
The right of Steve Braunias to be identified as the author of this work in terms of Section 96 of the Copyright Act 1994 is hereby asserted.
Copyright in this book is held by the author. You have been granted the right to read this e-book on screen but no part may be copied, transmitted, reproduced, downloaded or stored or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system in any form and by any means now known or subsequently invented without the written consent of Awa Press Limited, acting as the author's authorised agent.
Cataloguing-in-Publication Data for this book is available from the National Library of New Zealand.
The publisher and author gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Auckland Museum in providing photographs from the Buddle Collection.
www.awapress.com
