I am looking for some gripping impossible- to- put- down New Zealand based novels to take me through the long flight from Italy. Any suggestions? I would also be interested in travel books and history but have already read A Land of Two Halves as well as Cook's journals.
Thank-you!

Books by the distinguished NZ historian Anne Salmond -

http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/salmondanne.html

including <i>The Trial of the Cannibal Dog: the Remarkable Story of Captain Cook's Encounters in the South Seas</i>

If you are an accomplished reader I would dip into Janet Frame, her autobiography is probably the most accessible (and available). Or rent "An Angel at My Table" (Netflix should have it).

Another vote for Janet Frame, also The Bone People by Keri Hulme, Once were Warriors by Alan Duff.

Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera was really good. Since you've read Cook's journals, you might enjoy Blue Latitudes by Tony Horwitz for a more modern take on Cook's travels.

Lee Ann

Thank-you for these suggestions. Unfortunately I have checked Ann Salmond and all her books are expensive and take too long to reach Italy. I will have to buy them in NZ. I have ordered Jamet Frame and have already read Whale Ridere Keri Hulme and Alan Duff. These were just the sort of books that are good for the flight - so any more along the same lines would be great. Thanks!

I was trying to find the account of the return of Colin McCahon's Urewera Mural. I think someone has written a book about it, I remember reading a newspaper article about it, but can't seem to track it down, maybe a Kiwi will have better info. Here's a link to a conference paper about it:

http://christchurchcitylibraries.com.../McCahonColin/