95bFM's Loose Reads: And How are things with you by mia Farlane

The latest novel from Makoro Press, And How Are Things With You isn't shy of facing up to difficult topics; it's main character is in a spiralling mental space for much of the book, and becomes obsessed with research into suicide and euthanasia. Despite this, when reading this novel you never feel bogged down, the narrative lifted with wicked dark humour and a plot that generates its own momentum. Oddly, it's the focus on parliament that has really stuck with me after reading this novel- I don't know if any book has used the (often bizarre) mechanics of government and policy to such great effect in a fictional book.