New Zealand Aetearoa High Book Award Appreciation Zone

With a population of a mere 4 million New Zealand/Aetearoa is perhaps best known by many as the beautiful setting for the Lord of the Rings movies. But, judging by the visitor numbers to Tragic's very new site, Book Awards NZ, the land is home to a well-read population

Tragic maintains a number of national literary award sites all of which receive a gratifying number of 'hits' (to use net parlance), considering the subject matter (as a friend said the other day, "lets face it, all you do really is post lists and details of award winning books" - ah but what books, what lovely books). Eight times out of ten, those darling visitors who chose to support Tragic's obsession by buying a book via the partnership links provided, do not buy award winning books, but something else that takes their fancy. Fair enough.

Not so New Zealanders, and to a lessor extent Australians.

Tragic, who has more than once contemplated living in the land of the Long White Cloud, is impressed with the support that locals show for their award winning authors and those of other lands. Google analytics also shows that New Zealanders, per capita, search for the term 'book awards' more than any other country. NZ's enlightened views on nuclear weapons, genetic engineering etc now make much more sense.

The nation also boasts a number of excellent Book Blogs, including Beattie's Book Blog, penned by a former Managing Director/Publisher of Penguin Books NZ Ltd, and Scholastic NZ Ltd, Graham Beattie. Tragic follows his blog from a discreet distance and never ceases to be impressed by his local knowledge and insights. Recommended.

Now, if only the All Blacks could pick-up their game a bit. Perhaps a few award winning book reads or a few motivational books from the sports category at Best Books NZ might assist? Tragic's money is on the Wallabies in the forthcoming test series. Maybe the next Rugby World Cup in 2011 will be the moment when New Zealand's promise finally reaches fruition on home soil? A gratuitous travel tip. If you are visiting NZ in the next few weeks, whatever you do, don't mention the French.

Yes. Caught. The whole blog was just an excuse to publish the cartoon that Tragic's alter-ego, Kev Parker designed above, plus to squeeze in a comment about the noble game on a book blog. Must be the weekend looming. Watch out for tenuous book awards meets the Tour de France comments in weeks ahead.