What makes a New Zealand novel?

The classic New Zealand novel by Jane Mander, The story of a New Zealand river explores feelings of isolation, remoteness and loneliness but there is a way for Alice to come to terms with her surroundings.

A modern New Zealand novel by poet Elizabeth Smither considers feelings in terms of family rather than landscape but it also includes a growing awareness of self that makes for interesting reading.
This contemporary novel, just like modern life, is wider than New Zealand including sections set in Australia and trips overseas.

Lola is a gentle read, written poetically with wry humour and I enjoyed it very much.