Bushline: a memoir

by Robbie Burton

257 pages, Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent memoir by tramper and publisher Robbie Burton, whose publishing company, Potton & Burton (formerly Craig Potton Publishing) is a mainstay of what (for a small country like New Zealand) is a very impressive publishing industry. People producing high-quality books because they believe in it. In many ways, his company pioneered the feel of what makes our scene unique, and which seems to be flourishing today.

For Burton, this belief is anchored and inspired by a sense of place, which leads him into mountain landscapes and contributes meaning and awe to his life and creative process.

All this is lovingly communicated in the memoir, which is absorbing and evocative. I think my favourite scene of all is of him as a young child lying in bed beside a large window (in a room that was intended to be his mother's sewing room before the late addition of he and his brother to the family) looking out between the curtains at the mountains as they colour in the dawn light.

From the beginning of my own career in publishing, I've always thought I'd like to work for Potton & Burton. Still wouldn't mind. A sense of place, high quality work, summed up rather nicely by this book.

[Jill Mccaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Robbie Burton has a great way with words, and as a tramper myself I just loved his tales of himself and others in the bac country. As a writer I enjoyed the insights of the New Zealand publishing industry, although there wasn't nearly as much about that a I was expecting in the autobiography of a publisher.
It was all about the back country and tramping and I loved it.
Recommended for any lover of the New Zealand outdoors.

[Timmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable slice-of-life autobiography of a self-made publisher who is responsible for some of New Zealand's best landscape photography books making it off the press.

As someone who also grew up in the Nelson region, hearing his stories from the past and adventures in mountains familiar and dear to me made this book a delight to read.

[Monica Bean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful heavy paged book with landscape photo scattered throughout, you would expect that of a notable nz publisher. I always enjoy being able to picture the mountains and tracks I’ve been on too! Enjoyed it but kinda rushed through the end with no real finish. Otherwise fab easy read about our backcountry.

[Kirsty McMurtrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read. Details Robbie’s tramping and ski-ing adventures and his contributions towards protecting the wilds of NZ, as well as details of some of the books he was involved in publishing over the last few decades - no small feat in a country with a relatively small population, very remote to the rest of the world.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written memoir of a Nelson outdoor and publishing life well-lived (and still going) by a thoughtful and interesting fella. Beautiful book too, as you might expect from Potton and Burton publishing.

[Kairangi Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely book - both the physical copy (beautiful hardback with high quality photos) and the story itself. Especially the love story later in life! It was interesting to read about the life story of a publisher of whose published books I have read many.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book, the NZ environment, his honesty, his love for the outdoors, his fallibility, his strong positive connection with his family, his friends, his home town. NZ

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable memoir of an outdoor enthusiast and publisher. I had no idea who the author was when I picked up the book, but we have interests in common, so it was largely entertaining.