Award-Winning Books

Literary Prizes & Book Awards
From Christchurch City Libraries

Book Discussion Group

Do you enjoy reading...and talking to friends about books?

Why not join our Book Discussion Group? Meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 10.30am at the Central Library.

Click here for more information and for book reviews.

Book Resources

Books & Authors
Explore the latest genre fiction, essential non-fiction and the authors behind the titles.

Fantastic Fiction
Excellent site for information about authors and fiction books. Especially useful for keeping up with series.

Flashlight Worthy
Handpicked book recommendations on hundreds of topics.

Google Books
Google's project to put every book online - lots of book information available.

goodreads
Share book recommendations with your friends, join book clubs, answer trivia.

If you like...
Reading suggestions from Christchurch City Libraries.

LibraryThing
Catalogue your books online and connect with people who read what you do.

Literature Resource Center
Biographies, bibliographies, and critical analyses of more than 120,000 authors from every age and literary discipline.

New Titles
New titles in the Library, updated each Wednesday.

Shelfari
Create a virtual bookshelf, see what your friends are reading and discover new books.

Who else writes like?
A reader's guide to fiction authors.

Fiction Genres

Award Winners Award Winners include the following: Montana, Man Booker, Pulitzer, Costa/Whitbread, Commonwealth
Chick Lit Stories concerning the lives and loves of a young woman and her friends, often with a humorous aspect. For example: Marian Keyes, Freya North
Christian Fiction Stories with strongly Christian themes. For example: Karen Kingsbury, Tim F. LaHaye
Fantasy Adventure stories involving imaginary worlds, creatures or heroes. For example: David Eddings, J.R.R. Tolkien
Historical Fiction Stories set before the twentieth century. For example: Christian Jacq, Edward Rutherfurd
Horror Scary stories that often involve the supernatural or beings such as vampires, werewolves or ghosts. For example: Stephen King, Richard Laymon
Humorous Fiction Funny stories involving comical characters or situations. For example: Tom Holt, Tom Sharpe
Legal Stories Stories involving lawyers and the trial they contest. For example: John Grisham, Brad Meltzer
New Zealand Fiction Stories by a New Zealand author or set in New Zealand. For example: Maurice Gee, Witi Ihimaera
Romance Modern or historical love stories always with a happy ending. For example: Marion Chesney, Mills & Boon writers
Saga Stories about people (generally women) overcoming adversity, often with a romantic theme, usually set during the war years or in the nineteenth century. For example: Catherine Cookson, Mary Jane Staples
Science Fiction Stories based on scientific notions, theories or discoveries.  Often take place in the future or in outer space. For example: Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert
Sea Stories Historical or contemporary stories about marine adventures or naval battles. For example: Alexander Fullerton, Alexander Kent
Short Stories Collections of stories that range from a few pages to a chapter in length. For example: Owen Marshall, John Updike
Supernatural Contemporary novels with supernatural themes, often including vampires or demons.  They usually include romance, but with an element of danger - light fighting the dark. For example: Charlaine Harris, Sherrilyn Kenyon
Suspense Stories of espionage or intrigue, often political with complex plots and fast moving action. For example: Tom Clancy, Jack Higgins
Thrillers Stories about crimes and their detection, criminals and their motives, ranging from the traditional 'whodunnit' to contemporary 'forensic' thrillers. For example: Agatha Christie, Patricia Cornwell
War Novels Stories set during wartime that detail battles fought and the actions of the participants. For example: W.E.B. Griffin, Leo Kessler
Westerns Stories et in the American West in the late 19th Century, featuring outlaws, settlers, lawmen and Native Americans. For example: Zane Grey, Louis L'Amour

Staff Faves

I love you, Miss Huddleston by Philip Gulley
The namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
An arsonist's guide to writer's homes in New England by Brock Clarke
Faves of Wendy

The secret river by Kate Grenville
Fave of Liz

Tales from outer suburbia by Shaun Tan
Fun home: a family tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
Secrets & lies
Born standing up: a comic's life by Steve Martin
Me talk pretty one day by David Sedaris
The boy in the dress by David Walliams
The story of the little mole who knew it was none of his business by Werner Holzwarth
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney
Faves of Robin

Lars and the real girl
The book thief by Markus Zusak
The princess bitchface syndrome: surviving adolescent girls by Michael Carr-Gregg
Faves of Sarina

The bronze horseman by Paullina Simons
Fave of Tennille

Peter Maxwell mysteries by M.J. Trow
Fave of Diana

Garden spells by Sarah Addison Allen
Along the enchanted way: a Romanian story by William Blacker
The last of the honky-tonk angels by Marsha Moyer
Holy Cow: an Indian adventure by Sarah Macdonald
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Thunder road by Ted Dawe
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
The madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean
The thirteenth tale by Diane Setterfield
Faves of Fran

The ruby in her navel by Barry Unsworth
Land of marvels: a novel by Barry Unsworth
The shadow of the wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
The angel's game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Souls of angels by Thomas Eidson
Faves of Airdre

Jennifer Crusie
Eloisa James
Janet Evanovich
David Gemmell
Raymond E. Feist
Simon Scarrow
Pride and prejudice
Dirty dancing
Faves of Jolene

Thanks for the memories by Cecilia Ahern
Fave of Robyn

Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind
Fave of Sara

Genesis of Shannara Series by Terry Brooks
Angels and demons by Dan Brown
The defector by Daniel Silva
Faves of Alex

The time traveller's wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon
The blind assassin by Margaret Atwood
The house of Peine by Sarah-Kate Lynch
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult
Diary of a wombat by Jackie French
Faves of Kathy

The spoilt generation by Aric Sigman
Fave of Jessie

Izzy Spellman Mysteries by Lisa Lutz
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series by Jeff Kinney
Faves of Vila