Louise O’Brien - Columnists

Charting a fresh course

By Louise O'Brien in Books

Issue 3810 9th May 2013

Louise O'Brien reviews Two Girls in a Boat, a collection of short stories by Emma Martin.

Past imperfect

By Louise O'Brien in Books

Issue 3809 2nd May 2013

There are skeletons aplenty in this novel propelled by genealogy.

Betrayed by the New Jerusalem

By Louise O'Brien in Culture

Issue 3805 4th Apr 2013

Twentieth-century American racial history is at the heart of these impressive first novels.

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki - review

By Louise O'Brien in Books

Issue 3804 28th Mar 2013

Characters become overshadowed by ideas in Ruth Ozeki’s new novel.

Flight Behaviour by Barbara Kingsolver - review

By Louise O'Brien in Books

Issue 3789 13th Dec 2012

Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behaviour is heavy-handed on all fronts as it lectures readers about climate change.

The Invisible Rider by Kirsten McDougall – review

By Louise O'Brien in Books

Issue 3784 17th Nov 2012

The Invisible Rider, the first book by Wellington poet and short-story writer Kirsten McDougall, is both distinctive and arresting, says Louise O'Brien.

The Girl Below by Bianca Zander review

By Louise O'Brien in Books

Issue 3771 18th Aug 2012

A young woman’s past haunts her in Bianca Zander’s debut novel.

The Fine Colour of Rust by Paddy O’Reilly and Mateship with Birds by Carrie Tiffany review

By Louise O'Brien in Books

Issue 3769 4th Aug 2012

Paddy O'Reilly's The Fine Colour of Rust is heart-warming, life-affirming and just the right kind of cheesy, says Louise O'Brien.

The White Shadow by Andrea Eames review

By Louise O'Brien in Books

Issue 3767 21st Jul 2012

The White Shadow begins with verve and never pauses to draw breath as its narrator tells the story of how he came to be hiding inside the cavernous ribcage of a rotting elephant, says Louise O'Brien.

Skylark by Jenny Pattrick review

By Louise O'Brien in Books

Issue 3766 14th Jul 2012

Jenny Pattrick – her name always accompanied by the tag “best-selling author of The Denniston Rose“– has written another crowd pleaser for those many loyal fans, says Louise O'Brien.