95bFM's Loose Reads: Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart

For our first day of spring, Jenna brought Gary Shteyngart’s sixth novel, Vera, or Faith into the studio.

A story of an anxious ten year old trying to keep it together as her family, friend and school life are in disarray. Set in a not-too distant future America; recognisable advances in AI and political control also affect Vera’s outer life.

Shteyngart wrote this book in just two months. It’s charmingly funny, sad and is a clear comment on the American Dream.

Listen to the full review below with Milly & Rosetta.

95bFM's Loose Reads: The Benefactors by Wendy Erskine

On this week’s Loose Reads, Jenna delves into Wendy Erskine’s first novel, The Benefactors. An assault rocks four Belfast families, where the class & privilege of the three perpetrators’ mothers collide with the street smarts of the victim’s family.

Richly drawn & nuanced characters with bitingly funny dialogue and a surprising amount of heart, The Benefactors is a book about leveraging the power you have.

Listen to the full review below with Milly & Rosetta.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Objects of Desire by Neil Blackmore

It’s been a week of book news!

First, Jenna delves into the Booker longlist. She then mentions Gareth Shute’s new music book, Songs from the Shaky Isles (including an event this Friday 8th August) and chats an upcoming event with Liz Pelly, author of Mood Machine.

From there, we chat this week’s book. Jenna has brought in Neil Blackmore’s Objects of Desire. An entertaining romp through mid-century literature and literary characters through the eyes of a grifter who is caught between love and reputation. It’s funny, campy, bitchy and features fictional portrayals of well known writers such as James Baldwin, Truman Capote and Gore Vidal.

Listen to Jenna, Rosetta and Milly below!

95bFM's Loose Reads: Flashlight by Susan Choi

Jenna was in the bFM studio with Rosetta & Milly this morning, chatting Susan Choi’s Flashlight.

This is a richly written novel that is an expansive character study following a father, mother and daughter whilst moving between Japan, America and Korea. It’s about identity and secrets - from others and oneself.

This is for fans of Adam Johnson’s The Orphan Master’s Son, Pachinko, Franzen and perhaps even The Bee Sting!

Listen below:

RNZ's Nine to Noon: Endling by Maria Reva

Jenna chatted to Kathryn about Maria Reva’s Endling. This starts as an innocent narrative about snails, Ukraine’s romance tourism industry and a kidnapping. However, the Russian invasion explodes the novel’s structure; asking the question, how can one write and create art in a time of war?

This novel is genuinely funny, it’s adventurous, it’s sad. It’s meta. It asks the big questions. What are art and love in a time of tragedy? How can we have hope? And perhaps Reva gives that in the form of a left swirling snail.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Sunstruck by William Rayfet Hunter

Sunstruck is a searing read that makes you feel like you’re roasting in a European summer. Starting with a Saltburn-esque premise, Hunter’s characters move beyond a French chateau into London.
Exploring themes of masculinity, desire, power, class and sexuality, Sunstruck is great debut to add to the pile.

Sunstruck is the winner of the #Merky prize, which is Stormy’s imprint with Penguin.

Jenna with guest breakfast host Sam in the studio, listen to the full review below!

95bFM's Loose Reads: We Do Not Part by Han Kang

We Do Not Part, is Nobel Prize winner Han Kang’s latest novel. It starts with a curious premise: A woman, Kyungha, sets on a mission from Seoul to Jeju island on behalf of her artist friend, Inseon, who has badly cut her hand in an accident. The task is to feed her bird Ama before it dies. 

A poetic and political novel, We Do Not Part ultimately traverses trauma, loss, reparations and the desperate need not to forget the past.

Jenna buzzed through to breakfast hosts Milly and Tuva'a in the studio to discuss. Listen below.

95bFM's Loose Reads: On the Calculation of Volume I & II by Solvej Balle

On the Calculation of Volume I & II are the first of a seven book series by Danish author Solvej Balle.
Following antiquarian book dealer Tara Selter as her 18th November day is caught in a groundhog time loop. These books are hypnotic, philosophical and we believe it will be a hugely followed series over the next few years.

Jenna joined breakfast hosts Milly and Tuva'a in the studio to discuss. Listen below.

RNZ's Nine to Noon: Gabriele by Anne and Claire Berest

This ‘true novel’ was published in French before Anne Berest's brilliant novel, The Postcard. Here, you can see where it all began. 

Based on the authors' great grandparents, who were the great pioneers of cubism and the Dada movement, Gabriele is atmospheric, lively and captures an incredible time in art and world politics. 

Listen below for the full review with Jenna and Susie Ferguson.

95bFM's Loose Reads: This Compulsion in Us by Tina Makereti

Acclaimed writer, Tina Makereti, has just released her first collection of essays. Spanning 15 years of writing, this collection explores whakapapa, whānau, whenua, whare toanga & connection in the life of a writer.

Published by Te Herenga Waka University Press, This Compulsion in Us is on the shelf now.

Jenna called into the studio this morning, listen below for more.

95bFM's Loose Reads: The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey

Jenna phoned into the studio this morning ahead of the biggest week in books for New Zealand.

The Auckland Writers Festival kicks of this week at the Aotea Centre. There are loads of events for the whole whānau, check out the programme here.

It’s also been a big week due to the hugely anticipated release of Catherine Chidgey’s The Book of Guilt, a compelling speculative novel, set in 1979 England. Perfectly plotted, full of twists and moral questions, this is set to be one of the biggest books of 2025 from one of New Zealand’s best authors.

Listen below!

95bFM's Loose Reads: Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico

We have a book from the International Booker Prize longlist, the big prize for both authors and translators.

Perfection was written in Italian, but is set in Berlin. Following creatives Anna & Tom as they navigate life & search for meaning as Millennials in a changing city.

Other books mentioned on today’s episode:
No Words for This by Ali Mau
A Life Less Punishing by Matt Heath
See How they Fall by Rachel Paris
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams

Listen to Jenna’s review with Jonny, in the bFM studio, below.

95bFM's Loose Reads: The Antidote by Karen Russell

Over a decade since Time Out favourite, Swamplandia!, Karen Russell’s new novel The Antidote is here. Set in 1930’s Nebraska, in the time of The Dust Bowl, Russell weaves together history and magic to tell a tale full of rich characters, stunning writing and gives context to the effects of colonisation and the climate crisis. Highly, highly recommended.

Listen to Jenna’s review with Jonny, in the bFM studio below.

RNZ's Nine to Noon: Perspectives by Laurent Binet

Today on Nine to Noon, Jenna was in the studio to chat to Kathryn about French author, Laurent Binet’s new novel. Perspectives is an epistolary novel that tells a playful tale of murder, art & moral panic in Renaissance Florence. Featuring real life figures such as Michelangelo, Vasari and the Medicis, this is one for the art history buffs.

Listen below for the full review.

95bFM's Loose Reads: March Book News

Jenna has so much book news, that we’ve dedicated this week’s segment to it.

First, the shortlist for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards has been announced. See the list of finalists here. The ceremony will be held on May 14th.
Secondly, a preview of names have been announced for the Auckland Writers Festival, with the full programme being release this Wednesday 12th March. Kaliane Bradley, Gavin Bishop, Yael van der Wouden, Ben Macintyre and Asako Yuzuki are just the start of an amazing programme.
Finally, New Zealand author Saraid de Silva’s Amma has been longlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Listen to all the news & more below.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Old Soul by Susan Barker

Jenna & Jonny are in the studio this morning talking literary horror. Old Soul is a mysterious & unsettling tale traversing many countries on the hunt for a mysterious, dangerous woman.

For fans of David Mitchell, Stephen King and Mariana Enriquez, Susan Barker is the author of Time Out favourite, The Incarnations.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Dear Dickhead by Virginie Despentes

Translated from French, Dear Dickhead is a epistolary tale between cancelled crime author, Oscar and aging actress, Rebecca as they talk about feminism, generational difference and addiction.

Nuanced and very funny, Dear Dickhead is a great next step if you enjoyed All Fours. As Jonny says, ‘it sounds very French!’

RNZ's Nine to Noon: Best of 2024

Today on Nine to Noon, Jenna was in the studio to chat to Kathryn about some of her favourite 2024 reads.

Listen below for the full review.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Some Strange Music Draws Me In by Griffin Hansbury

Named after Patti Smith’s Dancing Barefoot, Some Strange Music Draws Me In is both a visceral 1980’s, small town coming of age story and a modern day exploration of gender, generation differences, family & relationships.
Fun fact: As well as being an author, Griffin Hansbury is a psychoanalyst.

This shot up to being one of Jenna’s favourite books of 2024.

Listen below to Jenna & Jonny reunite in the studio for 2025.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Jenna's Christmas Agony Aunt answers

Jenna called into the studio for Time Out’s last session for the year! Listeners texted in for book advice, including sci-fi for teens, Egyptology for an 8 year old and non-mainstream reads for a dude. Jonny needs a summer read too, plus some advice on 2024 cookbooks.

Time Out is open from 9am-9pm to help with all your Christmas needs. Gift wrapping included.

Listen below!