BOOK REVIEW

 

REVIEWER: Elizabeth Attwood

Ross Kemp on Afghanistan

Ross Kemp
Published Penguin Books United Kingdom [2009]

Actor, author and journalist, Ross Kemp, gained international recognition as an investigative journalist for his award winning documentary series titled ‘Ross Kemp on Gangs’. In 2008 the first of a five part series, ‘Ross Kemp in Afghanistan’, was broadcast on television followed by a second series early this year.
His book documents these tours, embedded first with the First Battalion Royal Anglians [his father’s old regiment] then with Delta Company of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and beginning with his first taste of army life, training in sub-zero temperatures on the Salisbury Plain through to the intense heat and sandstorms of Helmand Province [the Taliban stronghold] where the Anglians served.
He dedicates the book to ‘everyone in the armed forces and their families’ and makes it clear that his purpose in writing it is to raise awareness of what life is like “for young soldiers fighting today on the front line of Britain’s war on terror”
During Kemp’s tour he was ambushed, shot at and saw death first hand. A sobering and thought provoking read on the horrors of modern day warfare.

 

Who Sings For Lu?

Alan Duff
Published Random House New Zealand [2009]

Another brutal yet honest story from the author of the acclaimed ‘Once Were Warriors’, this is a portrayal of the pressures and hardships that face a group of young people living a harsh lifestyle in an urban setting.
The lives of the two main characters are juxtaposed. There is Lu who lives a hand to mouth existence on the streets with her thuggish but loyal and caring mates.She holds deep bitterness towards herself and the opposite sex due to her troubled past and is sadly resigned to the inappropriate attention she receives from men who should know better. Lu’s sole ambition in life is to survive.
Anna is everything Lu is not. She strides through life with the self assuredness and confidence that comes from growing up in an environment where she is loved and protected. Her family are part of the wealthy horseracing scene. Despite this however, she does have worries of a different kind.
A chance encounter between the two women occurs after which both their lives are changed for ever.
Alan Duff was born in Rotorua in 1960. He has written six previous novels, several children’s books and three non fiction works. This book, like his other adult fiction almost needs a ‘language may offend some readers’ tag though it is appropriate in its first person context and should not detract from this ‘could not put down’ novel.

Toughen Up -
What I’ve learned about surviving tough times.

Michael Hill
Published Random House New Zealand [2009]

Michael Hill Jewellery has more than 250 successful outlets across New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States of America so if Michael Hill believes that the present economic environment can be a good thing for business [which he does] then surely we have to believe him! He has a very strong business philosophy from which he rarely wavers and this philosophy, which is really a collection of solid ‘tried and tested’ ideas, is presented very clearly. He believes strongly in staff development and there are many success stories written by staff members who have reached top positions within the Michael Hill organisation, giving the book an almost evangelical ring - those stories - along with the ‘post it’ style goals which he visualises daily give some insight into the man behind the establishment.
While the story of the rise and rise of his business makes fascinating reading and there is no doubt a wealth of ideas for people in business to embrace, this reviewer found the personal stories of more interest.
Michael Hill did not branch out on his own until in his 40’s and until that time was far from being entrepreneurial, in fact it was an incident which he could have allowed to ruin his life which challenged him to live differently, develop his ideas and turn his dreams into reality. Read and learn. ‘It has worked for Michael. He believes it could work for you’.

 

 

Ascend the Nile

Garth MacIntyre, Neil McGrigor and Cam McLeay
Published Random House New Zealand [2009]

It took New Zealanders Garth MacIntyre and Cam McLeay and Brit. Neil McGrigor two months to travel approximately 5000 kilometres up the River Nile.Their expedition to find the source of the world’s largest river was on schedule and going remarkably well, but then disaster struck.Whilst attempting to navigate extemely difficult rapids in the Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda they wrecked their boat and a support aircraft, this accident leaving Neil with a badly burned and fractured leg.
The men managed to contact Steve Willis, a friend of Neil’s who was in the area and who attempted to rescue them in his Landrover, the intention being to get Neil to medical care. The group had been made aware of a notorious rebel group, the RLA, who were active in the area and who ambushed them, leading to a tragedy which so devastated the group that they decided to abandon the adventure and return home.
However like all good adventurers, six months later they returned to successfully complete the journey.
The book is in diary form, is written by John McCrystal and illustrated with wonderful photos taken on the journey by Garth MacIntyre and Neil McGrigor. A good adventure and travel read.