{"title":"Mary Garden","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the collection of works by the talented author, Mary Garden. Known for her compelling narratives, Mary Garden masterfully intertwines personal experience and historical context to bring her stories to life. Her books are a treasure trove of insights into fascinating lives and remarkable journeys.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong her celebrated works is \u003cem\u003eMy Father's Suitcase\u003c\/em\u003e, a poignant memoir that delicately explores the complexities of familial relationships, legacy, and the interplay between personal history and the wider world. Dive into the narrative and discover a touching tribute to heritage and personal discovery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnother captivating title in her collection is \u003cem\u003eSundowner of the Skies\u003c\/em\u003e. This biography offers an enthralling glimpse into the life of a pioneering aviator, delivering an inspiring story of courage, adventure, and the relentless pursuit of dreams. Through careful research and her narrative acumen, Mary Garden paints a vivid picture of this extraordinary individual’s journey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are an avid fan of biography and memoir or new to the genre, Mary Garden's books promise a rewarding reading experience. Each book is a gateway to understanding the human condition through unique perspectives and powerful storytelling.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"sundowner-of-the-skies-by-mary-garden-9781764139403","title":"Sundowner of the Skies","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the early morning of 16 October 1930, Oscar Garden taxied his tiny Gipsy Moth across London's Croydon aerodrome. His plan was to fly to Australia, which was sheer madness as he only had a mere 39 flying hours under his belt. When he landed at Wyndham 18 days later, no one was expecting him. His flight—the third fastest after veteran aviators Bert Hinkler and Charles Kingsford—captured the world's imagination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe press dubbed him 'Sundowner of the Skies'. Unlike most of his contemporaries who died in crashes, Oscar survived and went on to a career in commercial aviation. In April 1940, he delivered the flying boat, \u003ci\u003eAwarua\u003c\/i\u003e, to Auckland for Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL), the forerunner of Air New Zealand. In 1943, he became TEAL's Chief Pilot and Operations Manager and steered it through its formative years. He left suddenly in 1947 and never flew a plane again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSundowner of the Skies\u003c\/i\u003e is a fascinating and compelling biography of Oscar Garden, an unsung hero of aviation, written by his daughter. He was also a very flawed and troubled man. This deeply personal story reveals Garden's failings as a father and the cascade of trauma and violence that has shunted down the family line. Remarkably, the author's compassion for her father shines through.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46757769937132,"sku":"9781764139403","price":59.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/2609393482816.jpg?v=1756111306"},{"product_id":"my-fathers-suitcase-by-mary-garden-9780646890050","title":"My Father's Suitcase","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA gripping tale of resilience and survival that offers hope to others who have experienced family violence and suffered at the hands of a sibling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA deeply personal and heartbreaking memoir, \u003cem\u003eMy Father's Suitcase\u003c\/em\u003e explores the troubled relationship between Mary Garden and her younger sister, Anna, who died in 2023 after a short illness. Mary unpacks her life of growing up in New Zealand in the 1950s and '60s, before making Australia home. She reveals complex layers of intergenerational trauma, including the baggage of her eccentric, deeply flawed father and the secret her mother kept from all of them, revealed only after her death.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMary deals movingly with her sister's long battle with mental illness and how she once saved Anna's life. As she unravels these narratives, Mary touches on the guilt and shame familiar to anyone who has had to deal with secrets, violence, and 'madness' in their family. She shines a light on sibling abuse, the most common form of abuse in the context of family violence - occurring up to five times as frequently as spousal or parental child abuse - although it is often dismissed as 'sibling rivalry'. It causes far-reaching, long-lasting harm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mary Garden was born in New Zealand and has a PhD from the University of the Sunshine Coast. Working as a freelance journalist, her writing has appeared in a range of publications, including Newsroom, New Zealand Geographic, Meanjin, The Weekend Australian, Australian Financial Review, and The Humanist (US).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHer first book, \u003cem\u003eThe Serpent Rising\u003c\/em\u003e (1988, 2003), a memoir of her years entangled with various gurus in India in the 1970s, won the High Country Indie Book Award 2021. \u003cem\u003eSundowner of the Skies\u003c\/em\u003e, a biography of her father Oscar Garden, was short-listed for the NSW Premier's History Award 2020. She now lives in Castlemaine, Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Unknown","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853831557356,"sku":"9780646890050","price":57.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/8260283482418.jpg?v=1759221012"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/mary-garden.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}