From the Theatre Royal booksale.

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A tale of life at the bottom of the heap in Hamilton during the Depression, and in Auckland during WWII. There's not a lot I can say about the book without giving away massive spoilers, but I will say that the ending is very satisfying (though it was close to making me cry!)

I was a bit irritated though, that Kidman misquoted the lyrics of a couple of war-era songs (which my Granny used to sing with us, so I know them very well). In particular, she seriously mangled 'Mairzy Doats' - the correct version is:

Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you

If the words sound queer and funny to your ear
A little bit jumbled and jivey
Sing, "Mares eat oats and does eat oats
And little lambs eat ivy"

Oh, Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you
A kid'll eat ivy too, wouldn't you

Of course, it's possible that there was a different version sung in Auckland, but it still irritated me that she got it wrong!

To be released at the NZBC Convention.

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This book is going in a goody bag for the NZBC Convention - hope whoever gets it has a fantastic convention!

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Having a fantastic convention!

It's a puzzle to work out where to let this one go. I may leave it at the wharves down the hill, where so many US combat troops left for the war, seeing as how the book deals with a US troop in New Zealand.

RELEASE NOTES:

And that's pretty much what I did, leaving it on the historical marker.

I was SO thrilled to find a book crossing book!! I was on holidays and found it on the historical marker where Skyring left it. I've just started reading it, and plan to release it when I'm through.