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TOP 5 BOOKS
KID'S BOOKS
Thanks to all of our book-loving members that came to our inaugural Lit Reads Book Club meeting!
For a long time, we’ve had customers longing to join fellow book-lovers in literary discussion, but struggling to find book clubs to call home. It felt like we had the perfect solution: a cozy upstairs space with brick walls and plush leather couches, a Village Winery across the road (for the essentials), well-read and enthusiastic customers and of course, lots of books!
It was great to see a mixture of new and familiar faces come together to discuss the irreverent Man-Booker International shortlisted title, Frankenstein in Baghdad. Gory, layered and exhaustive in its cast of characters, Frankenstein in Baghdad explores the impact of war on different intersections of Iraqi society, and sews together a political parable packed with nods to local and literary myths.
Starting the discussion with the title; its military green letters stitched into a beige background, our book club members dug into the relationship between Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and our contemporary monster, similarities between this and other political satires, the realities of daily life during war, and whether or not humour becomes lost in translation.
Our members all brought interesting ideas and new ways of thinking about the book to our discussion. Some had gone so far as to researching the Jewish architecture discussed in the book; others providing political and historical context to the post-War Iraq the book is set in.
The best part of any book club is watching the ice crack and hearing all of the thoughtful, intelligent and engaging conversation that takes part both during and after the session. Watching people who are connected by Time Out and their love for books engaging in discussion and sharing emails and phone numbers was an encouraging start for our book club.
Our mission with Lit Reads is to connect communities of readers and hear new and varied perspectives on fresh, contemporary titles. If this sounds like you, please email Suri at books@timeout.co.nz for more information.
Kiran's brought in a rock-infused number this week. Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art: The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue is exactly what the title suggests: a full feature of design collective Hipgnosis, showcasing groundbreaking cover art created for iconic rock 'n' roll giants including Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd to name a few.
Young adult expert Shania Kumar sent us three great reviews this week. Here's her feedback on Flawed by Cecelia Ahern, The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward, and The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. We're looking forward to seeing what Shania reviews next!
“A heart-wrenching story of a young lady, Celestine North, standing up to society and challenging societal rules and expectations. I loved how this book talked about injustice in a unique way and showed injustice through there being ‘perfect’ human beings and then flawed human beings who were inferior to the ‘perfect’ human beings. Flawed also portrayed the idea that there is no such thing as being ‘perfect’ and that part of being a human is to be flawed. This allows us to learn from mistakes we make and become a wiser person because of it.”
Perfect, the sequel to Flawed is out now.
Our recommended reading age for this book is 10-14 years.
“Join Samantha Kemi, an extraordinary alchemist on a nationwide hunt to find the cure for a love potion which the Princess of Nova accidentally drank. During Samantha’s deadly quest to find the scarcest ingredients in the universe like Eluvian ivy and Abominable hair, she realises that all is not as it seems to be and her families’ rival family, the Aster family, might be up to something. This book is an easy and interesting book to read and is about embracing yourself and reaching your full potential.”
You can also read the sequel, The Royal Tour.
Our recommended reading age for this book is 10 years and up.
“Enter a world where all the creatures from your darkest nightmares are alive! Meghan Chase thought she was an ordinary teenage girl but all this dramatically changes when the fae steal her little brother and replace him with a changeling. On a mission to find her brother, Meghan enters the Never Never, a paranormal world in which faeries, monsters, trolls and nymphs are all alive and she is a Princess of the summer fae. Experience Meghan’s quest to find her brother and along the way develop lifelong friendships with Prince Ash and Puck. This book will attract anyone who is into fantasy and mythological creatures and is a thrilling tale which you won’t be able to put down!”
Our recommended reading age is 12 years and up.
This morning Jenna reviewed the riveting memoir, Educated. Westover grew up in a radical survivalist Morman family in rural Idaho. She didn't attend high school, but studied on her own to gain University entrance. Listen to what else happens here and why you should read it!
Kiran reviewed one of the 2018 Ockham shortlisted titles, Sodden Downstream on 95bFM this morning. A story about marginalised voices, refugees, class & zero hour contracts. You can listen here:
This week, we've been so lucky to have Kiran Dass joining the Time Out team. Here's her review of Too Much and Not the Mood, from today's Nine to Noon. Also, don't forget that Durga Chew-Bose is here for the Auckland Writers Festival in May.
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TOP 5 BOOKS
KID'S BOOKS
Ian speaks with Mikey in his last book review before he ditched Time Out for the mean streets of Dublin. Penguin's new series of Mini Modern Classics is packed full of incredible titles for only $3 each.
Suri spoke with Jogai about the recently translated Frankenstein in Baghdad, which was the International Prize for Arabic fiction winner in 2014.
This is also our first Time Out Lit Reads Book Club title! You can read more information about the Lit Reads book club here and buy tickets here.
Jenna chatted to Mikey about Down with Childhood, a slim book on a rather specific topic: children's voices in pop music.
This morning on Nine to Noon, Jenna reviewed Peach, a 98 paged novella that hits you straight in the gut. Listen to Jenna's review below.
Ian chats to Mikey Havoc about daughters! and the economy!
You can buy it here & you can listen here:
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TOP 5 BOOKS
KID'S BOOKS
Jenna reviewed one of the best short story collections today on bFM's Loose Reads. Things to do when you're Goth in the Country is a collection eight short stories - American small town grime full of imagination, politics & black humour. Jenna's highlights are Zombie and A New Mohawk.
Things to do when you're Goth in the Country
Chavisa Woods
Woods has given us eight tales of American small town grime. A major highlight was the story, A New Mohawk, where the protagonist wakes up one day to have a miniature version of the Gaza strip living in his mohawk.
This is Roxane Gay's favourite read of 2017. An epic 500 page saga which follows four generations of a Korean family living in Japan over the 20th century. A fantastic read for those who love to learn about different cultures.
Hera Lindsay Bird's favourite read of 2017. This could be seen as just another university coming of age story, but it's so much more. We following Turkish American Selin in her first year of Harvard as she navigates classes, friends and this new fandangled thing called email. A very funny, crisp observation of language and what's lost in translation.
Click on the covers to shop!
TOP 5 BOOKS
KID'S BOOKS
A Rock N Roll memoir unlike any other. Listen to Ian, Mikey, and Sarah discuss the various talents of Bruce Dickinson. Although he's most well known as the lead singer of English metal icons, Iron Maiden, he's also a world class fencer, airplane pilot, and even novelist. What can't this man do?
Young reader Jessica Shuttleworth dropped off not one, but TWO book reviews last week! She gives us her feedback on Dork Diaries: Pop Star by Rachel Renee Russel, as well as Grandpa's Great Escape by David Walliams. Thanks for your awesome input, Jessica!
We recommend Dork Diaries: Pop Star for ages 8 - 12.
We recommend Grandpa's Great Escape for ages 8 - 12.
THE "Ph.D (PARTICULARLY HIGH BROW)" READ
Similar to Einstein, this floof has a killer 'do, and eyebrows to boot. It's quite possible this doggo stays up all night contemplating the universe - wearing a puppy-sized tinfoil hat - watching old episodes of Cosmos, and/or brushing up on some of the most up-to-date science reads. Join them on their quest for knowledge and dig into our picks below!
NATURE - SCIENCE - PSYCHOLOGY
NON-FICTION
THE "REALITY-IS EXHAUSTING-BUT-I'M-THIRSTY-FOR-MORE" READ
This pup looks beat - aren't we all? The holidays have come and gone, and it seems that the general consensus is a need for rest and relaxation this summer. Well, what better way to relax than to hit the beach, and inform yourself on the current state-of-things and political turmoil? Rosé optional.
POLITICS - CURRENT AFFAIRS - HISTORY
NON-FICTION
THE "CAN'T-STOP-GRINNING-EAR-TO-EAR" READ
Had a RUFF day or feeling melan-collie? If you need a laugh, we've got you covered.
HUMOUR - QUIRKY
FICTION & NON-FICTION
THE "SO-STRANGE-IT'S-WONDERFUL" READ
Meet Clarice, our new intern. Clarice suggests checking out some of the strangest & quirkiest books in our inventory. Fall down the rabbit hole this summer and pick up a WILD CARD!
FICTION & NON-FICTION
THE "ONCE-YOU'RE-IN-MY HANDS-I'M NEVER-GOING-TO-PUT-YOU-DOWN" READ
We're falling pretty hard for this puppy and their soulful, dark brown eyes. If only there were a book that could match the amount of emotion we feel from gazing at this angelic dog . . .
Below are some worthy contenders (that may make you cry, just a little).
EMOTIVE
FICTION
THE "DON'T-GO-DOWN-TO-THE-BASEMENT-OR-TURN-OFF-THE-LIGHTS" READ
"What a sweet looking doggo!" you think. "Look at that cute little tail!" you say. But there may be some darkness behind that sweet face, something shadowed or mysterious we can't quite put our finger on. This list is for those who are ready to dive into a something darker: a new release crime, thriller, or dystopian novel. Just don't turn off the lights . . .
CRIME - THRILLER - DARK
FICTION
THE "TAKE-ME-TO-YOUR-PLANET" READ
There are no words for this fantastical creature and we're quite keen on traveling with them to an alternate reality inhabited by similar mystical doggos. Everyone at the shop would shed more than a few tears if this creature were to go the route à la Poochy.
SCI FI - FANTASY - DYSTOPIAN
FICTION
THE "POLYJUICE" READ
So you want to take a walk in someone else's shoes . . . Sadly, it might take us at least a month to brew up some polyjuice potion (sorry). While our book wizards are whipping that up in the holds cave, take a glug of a new bio or memoir.
BIOGRAPHY - MEMOIR
NON-FICTION
