The Warrior Queen by Barbara Else

The Warrior Queen Reviews

• 
  Caroline Barron

  Five stars because it is such a hilarious romp through Auckland's late 1980s/early 1990s dysfunctional high society. And five stars because it lead me down a rabbit warren of memories...and then research...by Else's mention of the giant singing vegetables at that surreal Mt Wellington supermarket that once existed, Big Fresh.
  
  If you didn't experience it, here's a good article from The Spinoff: Remembering Big Fresh:
  https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/07-0...
  
  But - NEWSFLASH - those giant singing veggies haven't gone to the junk yard. I knew I'd seen them on the way up to north to Baylys Beach, and I was right. The lovely lady at Kaipara Kumara reception confirmed this for me: the giant fruit and veges may no longer sing, but they are alive and well, gracing the factory's Ruawai roofline. What do you know?!
  
  Aside from that, Else's dialogue is priceless, and she allows her characters to parody themselves and others, making it a great read of a particular era.
• 
  Erika

  2.5 stars.... an easy read with a few laughs, thanks to our Warrior Queen.
• 
  lara

  loved this!
  
  hilarious, totally dysfunctional, some completely unlikable characters, and all based in a city i know very well which i'm definitely not used to.
• 
  Janet Hills

  So I read this book after reading Barbara Else's memoir Laughing in the dark.
  I was somewhat disappointed as basically it was just her memoir again (or previous as it was written prior to Laughing in the dark)
  It was poorly written - naive and childish.
  The editing was appalling given that Barbara promotes herself as a literary giant and professional editor. There were so many editorial errors it must be embarrassing to her. Spelling, grammar, character errors etc - At one point the main characters 15yr old daughter is credited with advising her mother to have an affair with a gynecologist - when in fact the actual character who should be credited with this statement would have been the sister....
  it would appear that much of the novel was verbalized on a Dictaphone and then translated into print - but never re read and edited! appalling !!
  the story line was shallow and self serving.
  I will certainly never read Barbara Else again - What a joke and a slight on good NZ literature!!
• 
  Susan Wilson

  I remember first reading this when it came out but not having had a significant relationship (or children myself) I think much of it floated past me. Now, I wanted it to keep going. I suspect many might call her a woman of her time but surely Kate was more than that….smart, funny, great (normally dysfunctional) kids, talented, articulate. I just don’t get why she would stay with revolting Richard. I loved the games she played, and that they never had an actual conversation about it (felt very real) and I even loved farty Satan. Was so easy to read again. Can’t wait to hear which aspects Else took from her own life when I hear her speak at the Auckland Writers festival next month.
• 
  Ineka

  My first time reading this NZ author, perhaps better known for her books for children. Wronged wife goes on the offensive - set in Auckland's wealthier suburbs, this was a very funny, fast-paced read with great characters. Reminded me of a Barbara Trapido novel with more humour and less pretension. Will definitely hunt out more from Barbara Else!
• 
  Amy

  So so, not that great, more a novel than anything, mediocre. Nothing to write home about.
• 
  Kerry

  Didn't like the characters in this book.