Non-fiction

''It looks just like Tibet,'' was Tenzing Norgay's first-hand impression of Treble Cone in 1971.

Victory is a masterly overview and detailed account about the exploits and fates of New Zealanders in the RAF in 1944-45, the last two years of World War 2 and the fall of Germany. 

You know you are getting old if you remember taking any of the over-the-counter potions featured in this entertaining and informative book.

John, Paul, George and Ringo. Larry, Curly and Moe. Huey, Dewey and Louie. Kim, Laila and Hone.

Australian scribe Peter Grose, the author of two previous acclaimed World War 2 books with publishers (An Awkward Truth: the bombing of Darwin 1942 and A Very Rude Awakening: The night the Japanese midget subs came to Sydney Harbour) has penned another piece of intriguing World War 2 history, this one of French resistance and Oscar Schindler-like deception.

Nearly 100 years ago on July 1, 1916, Captain Charlie May, 22nd Manchester (Pals) Regiment, was killed by shellfire as he led B Company into battle. Also killed in action on that same fateful day in World War 1 were 19,240 British and Commonwealth troops.

I'm more of a saltwater fisherman these days and as a result this book sat gathering dust for a while before I picked it up to read. Prettyafter that I was disappointed; disappointed I had finished it that is.

It is easy to see the cartoonist training in Daryl Crimp's writing; he has the ability to describe an event with a minimum of words, making for an often hilarious read.

This book should come with a warning: ''The contents may cause hardship and danger.''

In troubled times, fresh new voices can emerge to point the way forward. In this case, the voice belongs to a 91-year-old former carpet salesman.

In Lorde: Your Heroine, published by Crows Nest, American celebrity biographer Marc Shapiro casts his eyes to New Zealand shores to chart the rise to fame of Ella Yelich-O'Connor, known to the world as Lorde.

This is one of the most fascinating reads in recent times; a more-than-50-year-old celebrity cold case revisited in the 21st century.

Devils on Horses is an inside look at the role the New Zealand Mounted Rifles played in the Middle East during WW1.

For lovers of a good wreck, Full Astern offers tales of loss and hardship set in New Zealand waters.

This year marks the centenary of the outbreak of World War 1. This has been the start of many commemorations across the world, not the least of which will be next year's centenary of the Gallipoli landing.

''The Pope - No News.'' So trumpeted placards for the London Star evening newspaper in a flat patch many moons ago (it worked).  

This is a memoir spanning the first year of employment for an English graduate who had no great expectations of obtaining a job until a random encounter at a party led her to an agent and a surprise offer of work from one of the most prestigious literary agencies in America.