{"title":"Classic Reads","description":"\u003cp\u003eThere are many views on what makes a book a 'classic' and honestly, the jury is out on it.  These are just really good reads that have stood the test of time and lots of people have read. You might enjoy some of them, so don't be put off by the 'classic' word. \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"pied-piper","title":"Pied Piper","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy Nevil Shute\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHardback, no dust jacket. In very good condition apart from very small mark on spine. Published 1963\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSet during WWII, this tells the story of an elderly man who is holidaying in France finds himself making a daring return to England as he attempts to rescue some children. 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A great read. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51135881806124,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/20250518_195654_1.jpg?v=1748335083"},{"product_id":"heart-of-coal","title":"Heart of Coal","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Jenny Pattrick. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaperback in very good condition. Published 2004. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sequel to the classic novel The Denniston Rose continues to follow the life of the remote community in the West Coast mining settlement of Denniston. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51193948307756,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/coal.jpg?v=1749547248"},{"product_id":"life-of-pi","title":"Life of Pi","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Yann Martel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003epaperback in very good condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFantastic reviews, a huge bestseller and winner of the 2002 Booker Prize.  After a cargo ship sinks, a boy and a tiger survive and share a lifeboat. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51249278484780,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/pi.jpg?v=1750150707"},{"product_id":"middlesex","title":"Middlesex","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Jeffrey Eugenides\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaperback in good, used condition. A 2003 Pulitzer Prize winner and frequently top of those Books you must read type lists. \u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51253008335148,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/middlesex.jpg?v=1750237955"},{"product_id":"the-diary-of-anne-frank","title":"The Diary of Anne Frank","description":"\u003cp\u003eA timeless classic. The diary of 13-year-old Anne Frank, who spent two years in hiding with her family before being discovered and taken off to a concentration camp, where she died. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis diary was found and first published in 1947. This version is a Pan paperback, published in 1982. In good, readable condition. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51255346430252,"sku":"","price":5.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/annefrank.jpg?v=1750281912"},{"product_id":"the-luminaries","title":"The Luminaries","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Eleanor Catton\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaperback published 2013, in good secondhand condition. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is 1866 and Walter Moody has come to make his fortune on the West Coast gold fields. On the night of his arrival he comes upon 12 local men who have met in secret to discuss some local crimes. Moody is soon drawn into the multiple mysteries. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBooker prize winner 2013. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51256463032620,"sku":"","price":10.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/20250619_181415.jpg?v=1750314401"},{"product_id":"beyond-the-black-stump","title":"Beyond The Black Stump","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Nevil Shute\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ehardback with dustjacket in very good condition. Published 1956. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSet in the outback of Western Australia, this follows the story of a young American sent to Australia to drill for oil. It is described as a 'study of contrasts in character, both personal and racial, a comparison of two vastly different ways of life'. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeautiful old dust jacket on this. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51374855553324,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/BlackStump.jpg?v=1752719071"},{"product_id":"new-zealand-short-stories","title":"New Zealand Short Stories","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished by Oxford University Press. Hardback with dust jacket in very good condition. First published 1953, this edition published in 1957. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA collection of 33 stories by NZ writers - including Alfred A Grace, Katherine Mansfield, Frank Sargeson, Janet Frame. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51458902688044,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/shortstories.jpg?v=1752999522"},{"product_id":"doctor-zhivago","title":"Doctor Zhivago","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Boris Pasternak\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHardback, with dust jacket in good condition. This edition published 1959.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book was banned in 1950s Russia for its unflattering portrayal of communism. It was published in 1957 in Italy and Pasternak was offered the Nobel Prize in 1958 - but had to reject it because of the angry response of the Russian government. The CIA, however, set about promoting the book far and wide in response to the Russian ban. The story around this book has been well documented, but you have to start with the book itself. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51520407896364,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/drz.jpg?v=1753258031"},{"product_id":"the-ghost-road","title":"The Ghost Road","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Pat Barker\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaperback, In good condition. Winner of the 1995 Booker Prize. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe third book in the Regeneration trilogy focusing on World War I through an army psychologist. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51542546153772,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/ghostroad.jpg?v=1753348862"},{"product_id":"the-english-patient","title":"The English Patient","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Michael Ondaatje\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003epaperback in good condition. published 1992. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWinner of the Booker Prize 1992. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51615033000236,"sku":null,"price":5.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/englishp.jpg?v=1753577001"},{"product_id":"paradise","title":"Paradise","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Toni Morrison\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003epaperback in good condition. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51666889441580,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/tonimbook.jpg?v=1753696639"},{"product_id":"three-men-in-a-boat","title":"Three Men In A Boat","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Jerome K Jerome\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHardback, no dust jacket, published 1889. In reasonable condition. Some foxing on pages. Some fraying around spine and front cover but intact and readable. Great black and white sketches throughout by H Frederics. Note this is an early edition but it is not a first edition. Previous owner's name written on first page. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a lovely book, telling the tale of a boating holiday - three men messing about in a boat on the River Thames. And, of course, there's a dog, Montmorency (what a fabulous dog name). Originally published in 1889, it's been a phenomenally successful novel, with countless editions. It's light, funny and pleasant to read. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51769491456300,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/threemeninaboat.jpg?v=1754471060"},{"product_id":"a-river-rules-my-life-signed-copy","title":"A River Rules My Life - Signed Copy","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Mona Anderson\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ehardback with dust jacket. published 1963.  Previous owner's name on first page. Some very light fraying around edges of dust jacket but overall in excellent condition and signed by author on title page. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The River was my Rubicon. I had stories about the terrible Wilberforce: so many people had drowned in it.\"  A great opener to a beautiful book about the author's life at the wild and remote Mount Algidus Station, with lots of black and white photos. Anderson is a warm, engaging and never pretentious writer - she tells a great story of rural life in the 1950s. This is an NZ classic - one to read and keep. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51779698098476,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/riverrulesmylife1.jpg?v=1780537480"},{"product_id":"a-river-rules-my-life","title":"A River Rules My Life","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Mona Anderson\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ehardback with dust jacket. published 1963. Small tear at top of spine on dust jacket, could be repaired,  Previous owner's name on second page. In good overall condition for a book of this age. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"The River was my Rubicon. I had heard stories about the terrible Wilberforce: so many people had drowned in it.\"  A great opener to a beautiful book about the author's life at the wild and remote Mount Algidus Station, with lots of black and white photos. Anderson is a warm, engaging and never pretentious writer - she tells a great story of rural life in the 1950s. This is an NZ classic - one to read and keep. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51849243722028,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/riverrulesmylife.jpg?v=1756262420"},{"product_id":"collected-stories-maurice-gee","title":"Collected Stories - Maurice Gee","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy Maurice Gee\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePenguin paperback in very good condition. Published 1986. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wonderful collection of 13 short stories. Maurice Gee was one of NZ's most distinguished writers and these stories are a great introduction to his work. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51874134262060,"sku":null,"price":10.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/mauricegee.jpg?v=1756804842"},{"product_id":"a-thousand-acres","title":"A Thousand Acres","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Jane Smiley\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003epaperback in very good condition. published 1992.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn old farmer decides to give his three daughters, and their partners, the family farm. What ensues is a fantastic study in family dynamics, sibling relationships and human nature - beautifully written and utterly gripping. There are definite overtones of King Lear here, three daughters and a powerful father. 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This edition published 1973. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis story was first published in the USA in 1920 and was well reviewed. It has now become considered a bit of a New Zealand 'classic'. It tells the tale of Alice who has a marriage of convenience with a bushman, but falls in love with the local doctor. It's a tale of settler life, puritanism and emotional struggle. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51879090716972,"sku":null,"price":15.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/river.jpg?v=1756891419"},{"product_id":"menagerie-manor","title":"Menagerie Manor","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy Gerald Durrell\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ehardback, with dust jacket, in very good condition. published 1964. With pen illustrations by Ralph Thompson - well known for his sketches of animals -  who also designed the dust jacket. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA lovely recounting of how Durrell came to start his own zoo in Jersey. Told with humour and warmth - it's easy to see why his books have always been so popular. Lovely to read. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Retro Reads","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51902886576428,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/2677\/3548\/files\/menageriemanor.jpg?v=1757228570"},{"product_id":"a-good-keen-girl","title":"A Good Keen Girl","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Barry Crump\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003epaperback in good condition. published 1970, this edition 1997. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA classic novel from prolific NZ writer, Barry Crump. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKersey Hooper could handle dogs; he could handle stock; the could handle Blackrange. 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