Wellington Girls' College

121,350 pages read and 6,148 team points

Team members

MCP

14,154 pts

(8,205 pages read)

Chris Knox Not Given Lightly

By Craig Robertson

4 stars
The History Speech

By Mark Sweet

4 stars

A good read, lots of interesting characters, and everything turns out alright in the end! Set in 1960s Havelock North / Hastings.
Two Little Boys

By Duncan Sarkies

5 stars

I loved this book. Even though it’s totally bonkers. Sarkies must have a very warped mind. I wouldn’t recommend it to many people, but if you grew up in Dunedin and went on school camps in The Catlins, and like black humour, then maybe you’ll love this book too.
The Parihaka Woman

By Witi Ihimaera

4 stars

It’s a work of fiction, but set within a solid historical context, one that I didn’t know very much about. Interestingly, WGC old girl Hazel Riseborough is highly praised in the acknowledgments!
A Toaster on Mars

By Darrell Pitt

3 stars

“For fans or Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams” it proclaims on the cover. I disagree - if you like either of those authors then you’ll probably find this a poor imitation. It’s entertaining, funny and madcap, but I’m not sure it adds anything new to the genre.
The Impossible Fortune

By Richard Osman

4 stars

You know exactly what you’re getting with The Thursday Murder Club!
Air

By John Boyne

4 stars

That’s the last of the quartet, and it’s the least harrowing of them because on the whole it simply refers to events from the other three. I found it quite enjoyable and satisfying. I’m glad I persevered.
Franz Joseph

By Alan Carter

4 stars

Number three in the Nick Chester series, enjoyable police procedural. Not just set in FJ but also Christchurch, Haast, Woodend, Arthur’s Pass…
The Wish Child

By Catherine Chidgey

5 stars

Absolutely fascinating insight into life in Germany during WWII. Not for the faint-hearted.
Fire

By John Boyne

4 stars

Awful. Challenging. But I’m glad I read it. One to go!
Ten Acceptable Acts of Arson, and other very short stories

By Jack Remiel Cottrell

4 stars

They really are very short, mostly less than one page! Ten Acceptable Acts of Arson is the title of one of the stories that is in the form of a list (item 6: zombies). Very funny, very clever, very entertaining – great for dipping in and out of.
Star Gazers

By Duncan Sarkies

4 stars

‘It’s like Succession, but with Alpacas’ – Toby Manhure.
Strays and Waifs

By Mandy Hager

4 stars

I surprised myself by thoroughly enjoying this book. I had to suspend my disbelief in things supernatural, but once I did I was treated to a really good locally-set thriller.
A Different Kind of Power

By Jacinda Ardern

5 stars

Jacinda voices the audiobook, making it extra special!
The Quiet Spectacular

By Laurence Fearnley

4 stars

My third book by LF; I enjoyed the Dunedin setting as that’s where I grew up, and also the occasional school setting. Three characters each have a quarter of the book to themselves, then they come together in the final section. It works well. The author’s style is unusual, not for everyone, but I have grown to appreciate it!
The Gustav Sonata

By Rose Tremain

5 stars

I enjoyed learning about Switzerland, in which the book is set over a span of 65 years. I found the ending particularly satisfying!
Dad Art

By Damien Wilkins

4 stars

Funny, thought-provoking, uplifting. Lots of detail about Wellington circa 2015 - I’d forgotten all about the plane cockpit outside Te Papa!
The Instrumentalist

By Harriet Constable

4 stars

Listened to this on the road. Based on real people (Anna Maria della Pietà and Antonio Vivaldi) and events, so when things seemed implausible I had to remind myself that they were, in fact, quite plausible!
Once Upon a Time in Aotearoa

By Tina Makereti

4 stars

I’m not generally a fan of short stories, but I really enjoyed this collection.
Music Without End: A Book of Listening

By Roger Horrocks

4 stars

An interesting (if a little uneven) read, covering a huge range of music. It’s almost four separate books, as each section is very different in its style and focus.
Winter Time

By Laurence Fearnley

3 stars

Set mostly in and around Tekapo, this novel describes in detail what it’s like to live in this area in the middle of winter. I found it hard to warm to the main character, and not just because of the Mackenzie Country climate!
Mana

By Tāme Iti

5 stars

So fascinating!
The Mires

By Tina Makereti

5 stars

Set on the Kāpiti Coast in the near future - loved it!
Earth

By John Boyne

4 stars

Darker than Water. I hope the trend doesn’t continue…
Water

By John Boyne

5 stars

Starting Earth as soon as a can!
All That We Know

By Shilo Kino

4 stars

I’ve never read anything like this - decolonisation, love, friendship, religion, race and social media are just some of the issues that our protagonist Māreikira is attempting to negotiate as she takes a year out to learn her reo. Very readable, sad, funny, awkward, frustrating, guilt-inducing, uplifting… it’s got everything!
1985: A Novel

By Dominic Hoey

4 stars

Obi is 11, one of only three palagis in his year at school, and he lives for spacies. The story is a bit dark at times, but also funny (reminiscent of The Castle in its narrative style). Now I know what kefe, bolo, sole, and ai valea mean!
Calling Major Tom

By David M. Barnett

4 stars

As you might expect, there are multiple references to David Bowie in this entertaining read.
One Minute Crying Time

By Barbara Ewing

4 stars

Barbara’s memoir, based on her diary entries, growing up in Wellington and working in Auckland in the 1950’s, before heading to London and becoming a famous actor. She learned to speak te reo Māori fairly fluently.
Doom Creek

By Alan Carter

4 stars

Gripping mystery set in Marlborough, the second in a series. With the added bonus of song lyrics to spot!

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Wellington Girls' College

121,350 pages read and 6,148 team points

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