Shonagh Koea

(8.5)

I thought this is possibly the best collection of short stories by an individual author i have ever read. Shonagh Koea presents a variety of social interactions, often set around food and/or garden settings. I found each character in the collection well-defined. I would finish one story and immediately want to see where the next would take me. Usually in any collection there would be one or two that failed to impress. Not in this collection.

This is one of the treasures I picked up from a recent library sale. It has set me on the path to try and find some of her previous books because she does capture a quieter New Zealand and often what happens behind closed doors.
Coincidentally she is one of the writers appearing at this months Auckland Writers Festival with her new book [Landscape with Solitary Figure]. This will be a must session and purchase for me.

Having read this author's memoir, I found a strong overlap in this fictional account, I felt I had read it before.
The book is beautifully packaged and has a lyrical, contemplative style. (7.5)