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Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20509, 29 August 1936, Page 12

Commenting on a report on library reading from Toronto (Canada), “John o’ London’s Weekly” asks can it be that the modern boy is less adventurous than his forbears? An analysis of Canadian children’s reading shows that books on exploration come at the bottom of the list, along with books on art. The types of books most in demand among Canada’s young idea are (1) picture books, (2) fairy tales, (3) natural history, (4) history, (5) poetry, (6) famous lives, (7) geography and description. But all these follow far behind the great class—fiction. America’s Pulitzer literary prizes have a remarkable pulling effect very gratifying to the authors of books successful in winning one. The 1935 fiction award vras made to “Honey in the Horn,” a first novel by the American author Harold L. Davis. The announcement was made over the wireless at 10.30 in the'evening. When Harpers, the publishers of the book, opened their doors the following morning, the staff found themselves submerged under orders for close on 5000 copies in the first half-hour. By 9 o’clock that same morning a new edition of 10,000 copies was on the press. In “Codes and Ciphers,” Louis C. S. Mansfield, described as “an Australian criminal detective expert, meets the vogue in English papers and the 8.8. C. for setting the public problems in codes and ciphers, which they may solve in preference to crossword puzzles. Progressing by easy stages, each illustrated by examples, he takes the reader through the range of methods of ciphering and deciphering. Even lacking the incentive in New Zealand of competitions which would test the skill of the reader, the book offers possibilities of interesting entertainment for those with a head for problems, or an especial interest in its subject. Again in “Dining Out,” by Ambrose Heath, whom his publishers describe as a “culinary journalist,” there is less direct appeal to the New Zealander than the Englishman, simply because this; Dominion offers no variety of restaurants where a knowledge of exotc foods and wines would be essential. But the book contains a great deal of useful information on choosing meals and what wines to drink with the courses, which may prove useful, while cocktails, sherries and other aperitifs are knowledgeably discussed. The dictionary of principal dishes and their English equivalents, with a note | on the ingredients, is worth study by | anyone contemplating a trip abroad.