Book: Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Total Recall"

Best Read of the Year..... achievement on so many levels, and despite the scandal of recent years, you have to take your hat off to the man.
From a country on a losing side of the war, to the corridors of politics in one of the world's greatest nations, Arnie illustrates the power of having a dream to chase, and the tenacity to do the hard yards to get there.
A bit of a "how-to" book really, how to do good at body building, how to go to America, and succeed there. How to succeed in business, build an asset portfolio, not just get into movies but make it big time, and finally get to be Governator, with a lot of derring-do, learn as you go, and insight into all the paths of life he strode.

Books: Couple of good reads here

Couple good reads Ken lent me:

Peter James "Dead Tomorrow", another Detective Roy Grace novel, starts off with a bod being dredged off the bottom of the English Channel and turns into a slickly written rush from several different perspectives to the central denouement involving human trafficking and organ harvesting.
The subject matter's a little on the gruesome side for me, but James paces this mystery extremely well with the approach from the different characters, so you can get through the 650 odd pages in nightly instalments with each segment neatly partitioned, and another thread resumed the next.
He also provides a good insight into what it'd be like to be a parent of an organ transplant candidate.
9 out of 10, and only missing the perfect score on account of the macabreness not being my cuppa.

CJ Box "Winterkill"
I've read a couple of Box's Joe Pickett yarns before, and for a long while into this book I had a sense of having already read it, but no, it turned out new read territory.
Ken passed this book on because we'd been through the Twelve Sleep County, Wyoming, on the US rides he organised for us Kiwi motorcyle tourers. We've done the trip in the summer, so its interesting to imagine the winter-scape that Box mostly writes about in his novels.
In this one, aside from severe snow-outs and mysterious killings, Joe deals with rampant bureaucracy, sovereign nationalists, and threat of losing an adopted daughter.
Joe's no super hero, just a capable ranger dealing with extraordinary circumstance, which makes the this particular genre an agreeable read.
8 out 10, good descriptive prose, storytelling a bit ragged round the edges in places.

Book: Never Go Back; Lee Child

I'm so hooked on Lee Child and Jack Reacher, he has to be my all time favorite read.
This one I started at 10.30pm to go to sleep on, only I roared through it to the end without the sleep.
11 out of 10!

Book: Leighton Smith; Beyond the Microphone

LOL...
Leighton says something like, with the growth of social media, people make a heap of sharp comment that isn't worth reading, none more so than book reviews, so what can I say?
Well, for starters I did enjoy this book. You couldn't say it was high literature, but given his lengthy career in radio, it was a nostalgic commentary of our times, and although I've only been a sporadic listener to his morning talk-back only recent years, its the only talk-back I can be bothered listening to.
Why?
I think I get educated by listening, the others are just a load of petty proletariat gripings and platforms for talk-show hosts to mouth their own less educated and formed, and sometimes nasty, opinions. You can chuck sports-talk into this category as well. No search for a solution, most times I'm made to feel better off than any caller, so the ills of the world are all my fault.
In his book Leighton details what amounts to a good life.
He's earned it.
A 5 out of 5 read for me.

Book: Gavin Menzies "Who Discovered America"

Interesting read, maintaining Chinese colonised America by sea, plenty of evidence, DNA and archaeology, they were there about the right time.
Major plank being the land bridge from Asia theory is shot full of holes, who'd want to tramp 1000's of miles across snow and ice, no local food source to sustain the journey.
But my question from the outset was, no reason why planet Earth might'nt have been a lot warmer at odd times past, permitting shorter sea crossings and more land based migration.
And neither is there much evidence today of the supposed Chinese shipping armada, although I had a cousin researched building himself an ocean-going steel boat, and after pretty thorough research came up with the chinese junk being the most sea-worthy, easiest built and rigged, one-man sailed model.
So who knows. The ancients were no less clever than we are today.
Who can say what civilisations were swept away by natural catastrophe.

Book: Faster Than Lightning - Usain Bolt

Good read, well constructed, starting with his life-pivoting car crash in 2009, then dipping back into his childhood to start the life path to track glory, which for all champions, whatever the endeavour, is pretty much all practice, practice, train, train, blood, sweat and tears, till more perfect than the opposition.
Even at my pathetic level of achievement in athletics I could relate exactly to the slo-mo recount of the sprint race experience Bolt does so well.
Then there's all the rest of it, ability to cope with expectation, both own and others, motivation, and the all important mentors, plus family environment shaping the individual.
Good book, narrated in nice easy yo bro style.
Well done Usain, you my Hero!

Book: Richie McCaw's The Open Side

Lot of talk around about this book, it'll be one of the more widely read, not just by rugby officianados, but by the life/business strategists on the 'how to succeed' pathway as well.
It becomes evident pretty early in the read he's as well-endowed intellectually as he is physically, and his game by game analysis and non-denigratory, matter of fact inclusion of characters is totally absorbing to us students of the game, adding dimensions some of us wouldnt have thought of.
I liked the recurring reference to his gliding passion. Along with the rugby I learned some about that sport as well, it fitted as a foil with the book's unfolding, as much as he averred it does with his rugby life.
In fact its a very well constructed work. I did think it unusual for a prominent sports personality to be doing an autobiography before their career's over, but this story is really about the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and his life-road to it, neatly both opening and closing with the RWC scenario. Some kudos due for writer Greg McGee on this front. Make a great TV doco one day, far better than the one aired recently.
A fascinating, absorbing read, easy relational level style too.
For this arm-chair fan, who like a lot of others of similar years, 'if only professional rugby was around in my day', its all probably more intimidating than inspirational.
Against the likes of Richie, I'll confess being far better suited to my choice of career dagging sheep in a declining job-market, than trying to compete with the likes of him for a place in a professional rugby team.
Good read, 5 out of 5.

Book: Dark Matter by Michelle Paver

I cant say I enjoyed this book, but it was so damn well written it deserves mention.
Its a ghost story set in the encroaching 24 hours darkness in a land above the Arctic Circle.
The author brilliantly captures the encroaching mental claustrophobia of aloneness in a hut, in the dark, the sole companionship of a dog, and this, going to get worse.
I'll be honest, I do most of my reading in the dead hours of night, and I couldnt bring myself to do it with this book, right off from the first few chapters, things were going easily enough, but you just knew it wasnt going to stay that way.
A stand-out book because it was set so unusually. Wont let on how it ends.
Well done Michelle Paver, 5 out of 5.

Book: Ian Wishart's "Vitamin D"

Technically not a vitamin, but a secosteroid, Vitamin D has receptors mapped to more than 3000 human genes, and is instrumental in resistance to pretty near the whole gamut of human bodily disorder, ranging from alzheimers, asthma, allergies, a lot of cancers, heart disease, bones, to mental health.
Fortunately, the greatest source of it is generated by the body itself through exposure to the sun, simple as that, converting a form of cholesterol to the vital calci-compounds.
I bet the reason why rural kids have a lot less problem with allergies and asthma is that theyre outdoors more.
And Maori need to get outdoors more than anyone here, darker skin inhibits the process so we need more exposure.
Ian Wishart's done a service by bringing all this stuff together.

Book: Graham Henry Final Word

I've always been a loyal fan of Ted, Shag, and Smithy, now I understand much more why.
I enjoy rugby as much as this team have tried to make it enjoyable to watch, fast, creative, demanding of the highest level of fitness.
The inappropriate open-cast groanings of Deaker and Lose after the 2007 World Cup failure only made me more loyal to the game, and appreciative of the judgement of the NZRFU Board in the coaching team's reappointment.
There's been a lot of criticism levelled at Henry for alleging match fixing over the 2007 RWC semi, but it only shows up those who havent actually read the book, he dosent. Mainly the chapter is an analysis of why the AB's failed, at the time it looked to me like the AB's couldnt adapt a game plan quick enough to cope with the 2nd-half French attack, we were even left wondering if Richie was up to the captain's task for not being able to do so. But the high misdemeanour count Henry points out the French were allowed to get away with would account for the AB's apparent stalling the way they did.
I searched the internet for full video of the game, to see for myself, and while pretty near any game you search for can be found, this particular game was pulled from view by the RWC Board on 'copyright' grounds.
Funny that.
The way the AB's game has evolved since is indicative of how the lesson learned has been applied, when you watch the 2nd half highlights the most remarkable thing is the exhilaration of the French game, and in some ways you couldnt hold it against referee Barnes for letting the game flow, even for the forward pass.
But not the rucking errors left un-penalised. More recent commentators have called it "brain freeze" on the part of referees not quite competent for games of this speed, Bryce Lawrence with the last RWC Wallabies v Springboks clash another case in point.
All the world loves a conspiracy, but in 99% of cases its more down to incompetence than conspiracy.
As with most high achiever's bios, the recurring theme is about a lifetime of application, dedication, and being as excellent as you can.
Salute Sir Graham. He knows more about the game than 99% of his critics.

Book: Riding the World by Gregory Frazier

An interesting read for anyone into epic motorcycle journeys, with heaps of tips on bike and gear selection, and the trials and tribulations encountered biking different continents.
The slant is more to the independent, economy minded, sleep anywhere traveller, and how to load a bike with everything bar the kitchen sink.
I found the chapters on selection and preparation of the bike interesting, apparently not too many of them can survive an epic journey, which surprised me as a farmer who's used bikes on hills on an all-day everyday basis, several of which I think would have done the touring job admirably, although I would have travelled a lot lighter. We do share the common sentiment that for weather protection while on tour, its hard to beat a motel room.
Having enjoyed biking across Montana and learned much of the plight of the North American Indian, it was special to note and salute the author's Crow heritage.
The book is well illustrated with good pics, some even of NZ, and others somewhat recognisable of similar paths across USA.
A not too taxing read with lots that a touring biker can relate to, and pick up useful stuff from.

Book: Piri : Straight Up

A good read worth a mention, despite following a trend for those who've done well to release a bio before their careers are done, Piri's one of those guys a lot of us enjoy seeing run onto the paddock, and I hope we keep seeing more of for some time yet.
Heather Kidd's done a great job of maintaining the conversational style easy to associate with Piri as he lays out his beginnings, and progress through life and rugby, the familiar path from a family and community steeped in sport so often associated with those who reach the highest level, and a youth marked by leadership and excelling at many stages.
The coaching detail explained was most interesting, almost you'd wonder at a revelation of trade secrets in the AB's instance, but I guess all international level teams operate on a basically similar strategy these days. Certainly very interesting if you were involved in school grade level as a parent or coach.
As a Wellington Lions and Hurricanes follower I enjoyed the book, a good easy read too.
Following Piri and Ma'a to the Blues wasnt without its hitches this season, and not without due acknowledgement to Pat Lam for his efforts over the last few years, we'll look forward to next year to see what difference Kirwan, and the technical assistance from Henry and Byrne, makes.
For a good easy interesting read, 10 out of 10.

Book: A Walk in the Woods

This the first Bill Bryson I've read, should have been on to him years ago.
This book describing his assault on the Appalachian Trail is an hilarious read, particularly if you've done some bush-whacking and have sampled the delights of getting on with others on the quest.
Similarly, I liked the backgrounder detail, again having sampled a little of the Great Continent and its people.
My simple farmer observation was that the bush there wasnt very old, the trunks weren't big enough to be of much greater age than 40 or 50 years, and indeed he explains the countryside was once all cleared but its agriculture lost competitiveness when the Mid-West eventually opened up.
He cites the large combine harvesters couldnt handle the small dales of the mountain country.
Its much simpler than that mate.......
Farming's a mugs game in any environment, but hell on earth in a place where winters are 9 months of the year, and summer's only 3 months.

Book: Now You See Her

Now she vanishes. A crime yarn set in Florida.
Heard a lot about James Patterson, this is the first one I've read, and he's great.
The short chapters are odd to get to grips with, but actually make for an easy read.
The pace is a real ride, and all credit to this author, is faultless. The plots swirl, then come together neatly.
With the short takes, this'd make a fantastic movie.
Oddly enough, came across another Patterson in the same week, "Lifeguard". Same setting, a lesser version of the above, but another worthwhile read

Book: 11.22.63

What can you say?
I thought Green Mile was a crowning glory for favorite author Stephen King, but this one really does it for me, playing on his portals into a different time and place, supreme intelligence building and holding the plot, and suspense throughout, more a sort that has you wishing and hoping, rather than the frightener one.
The word-smithery and craftsmanship are all there, some of the dialogue streams had me laughing, well done American dialogue can be such a delight.
For those of us Americanophiles, and who grew through those times, the read's a nostalgic treat.
And, inside the back cover, advance notice of another novel in the Dark Tower, gunslinger series!!

Frizzell Comes to Town

Other highlight of the week in Wangas was the visit of artist Dick Frizzell, promoting his new book, "Its All About the Image", with a lecture at Alexander Library.
Was fortunate a year or two back, to be invited to make up numbers for an art weekend at Pukeora Estate, Waipukurau, where 10, mainly rural gents, completely unschooled in the finer points of painting, were delivered to the care and tutelage of Dick, to have us create an art work before the weekend was through. This, all part of the Arts Channel series, "Artland NZ", where several artists were commissioned to "do their thing" for an episode each.
Self dubbed the "Pukeora Picasso's", it was rather fortuitous that Pukeora Estate is now a winery, and all being rural blokes with a dab hand at knocking up a feed, we each contributed to the food basket, to round out a great weekend, and learn a new hobby.
While we'd all freely admit the non-likelihood of any of our works getting into the National Gallery, we were all immensely surprised at what we achieved with a bit of solid tuition, and simple pointers on how colour might be mixed and moved around a canvas.
What I learned was never to be intimidated by any work of art just because one might not feel in the same class, it is really, all about the image, and what the individual perceives as important, as, after all, all art, whether painting, verse, prose, or movie, is a political statement.
Dick has quite an irrepressable mischief, albeit good mannered, about his journey along his road of appreciation and learning, and I was fortunate to have been levered into it his way.
This is a great read if you want to know how to appreciate art, as a racehorse breeder, there are similarities.

My first go at painting a picture