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Ōtaki Mail – January 2022
ABC – Authors Book Corner Lloyd Chapman: The Barbiers and their Roses BY VIVIENNE BAILEY Roses with a capital R have been rosarian, Lloyd Chapman’s life for more than thirty years, but it was the exquisite form of old roses produced by the Barbier family of Orleans, France that ultimately delighted and captured his heart. His just-released book, The Barbiers and their Roses reveals his love and passion, enthusiasm and immense knowledge of the heritage plants. Detailing the production of more than 60 roses (from 1900 to 1930) by Albert Barbier and his family, The Barbiers and their Roses is not a ‘once over lightly’ coffee table publication but a serious, important reference work for passionate old rose lovers and gardeners. The book is charmingly illustrated, possibly even enticing an amateur to grow Barbier roses (which are outside the common run). It contains still life portraits (photographs) set in context, useful cultivation notes, often drawn from the writer’s own experience and dedication, and clear descriptions of colour and form along with fascinating historical detail (not only derived from comprehensive research but gleaned from Lloyd’s many visits to rose nurseries world-wide, particularly Orleans, the traditional home of heritage roses).
In assessing Barbier’s work Lloyd utilizes the useful star ranking system of rosarian, Jack Harkness (adjacent to each rose). Although Lloyd is known and recognized internationally for his love, exploration and knowledge of Barbier roses (collecting all the plants produced by the Barbier family), he was a late starter in his career as a rose nurseryman, defying convention and successfully growing roses on their own roots in a no-spray regime, primarily at Trinity Farm, the four-acre property he shared with wife, Ann (his many years at the farm are recorded in The Barbiers and their Roses not only in text but in several evocative photographs). Lloyd has combined his obsession with these heritage roses with a meticulously investigated, easy-to-read compilation. The Barbiers and their Roses will be welcomed by the many people who share the writer’s passion and enthusiasm for the qualities (and magic) of the Barbier roses. It joins his earlier publication, In a Strange Garden: The Life and Times of Truby King (2004). Available from Books and Co, State Highway One, Ōtaki www.booksandco.nz and https://annchapmanbooks.co.nz
Lloyd Chapman
Ann and Lloyd Chapman at their collective launch of their latest individual published books.
Ann Chapman: The Push BY VIVIENNE BAILEY Ōtaki author, Ann Chapman introduces readers to Sarah, a headstrong, film making journalist (and crime sleuth) in her latest novel, The Push, sequel to A Kind of Catharsis (2020). The city of Invercargill again provides a suitably bleak and desolate background (reminiscent of how UK mystery/crime writer, Ann Cleeves uses the isolated Shetland Islands) as we follow Sarah, later joined and befriended by policewoman, Barbara, into the city’s evil underbelly of drug smuggling, gangs and organized crime. There are complex layers of plot for the reader to unravel. From the first cocaine smuggling scene in Bluff cemetery, we weave through police corruption and vice (can police officers involved with murder and mayhem use their inside knowledge to
Books & Co Christmas shopping is in full swing and we have plenty of options for your present buying. Garden books are in hot demand. These include local garden guru Kath Irvine’s The Edible Backyard and Lynda Halinan’s,The Joy of Gardening. Cook books are always popular from NZ’s Lucy Corry’s Homecooked, to Christchurch’s Two Raw Sisters latest, Salad. For children, the latest Treehouse book, (143 storeys!), David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny Strikes Again, A Boy called Christmas (Matt Haig), Wolf Girl series (#6 just out), Wings of Fire series, and beautiful hardback gift books. Plus our lovely range of special Christmas books to read with your little people. Space and Dinosaurs are always popular and there’s a big selection of these as well as other books for the young and curious. We helped launch new books by Ann Chapman and Lloyd Chapman at the bookshop in early December. Lloyd’s The Berbiers and their Roses and Ann’s crime novel The Push would make great gifts along with other books by local authors, of which there are many!
get away with a perfect crime?), to canny procedural detail, connections and coincidences, the writer exposing the southern city as a veritable crime capital, in much the same way as Scottish crime author, Ian Rankin portrays the city of Edinburgh in his Inspector John Rebus mysteries. Gang members, sinister thugs, menacing characters, together with the more endearing Ben (but is he what he seems?) reappear from A Kind of Catharsis, but the writer has provided sufficient back story for the novel to be read alone. Thankfully, as in A Kind of Catharsis, plenty of cheese rolls are on the menu, and there’s a glass or two of Bannockburn Riesling, quirky touches anchoring The Push firmly in a New Zealand setting. A tattoo or two, the appearance of a red and
black patched Mongrel Mob member or a flash of blue and black of rival gang, Black Power (both significant players in New Zealand’s illicit drug scene) would have grounded it further. The Push packs plenty of revelation, action and suspense in its plausible plot as we follow the intrepid Sarah and Barbara, the villainous gang (and the infighting to be ‘top dog’) through to a believable conclusion and resolution – although a loose end or two never hurt a good crime yarn (just ask Raymond Chandler). Nonetheless for those who enjoyed A Kind of Catharsis this sequel will not disappoint. Available at www.amazon.com https://annchapmanbooks.co.nz and Books & Co, State Highway One, Ōtaki.
Handing over the first box of books to Abigail from Women’s Refuge, for Kiwi Christmas Books.
We have the latest NZ and international latest releases, so come and browse. We are always very happy to help with gift choosing. And don’t forget our range of 2022 calendars and diaries, notebooks and journals. Thankyou for your wonderful donations to Kiwi Christmas Books, which are going directly to our local Women’s Refuges. We have been delighted with the response – and hope to have upwards of 60 new books for children (and a few for their mums) by Christmas. A huge thank you to all our customers for your wonderful support for our bookshop. We love being part of the Ōtaki community and wish you all a happy and safe Christmas with plenty of holiday reading! Jacqui and team, Books & Co