On 95bFM’s Loose Reads, Kiran reviewed New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino’s piercing collection of essays Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self Delusion. It dives deep into the evolution of the internet, the effects of late capitalism, the definitive scams of the millennial era, and the diminishing gap between personal and political delusion. These perfectly pitched essays also come with an endorsement from Rebecca Solnit so what more could you ask for?
95bFM's Loose Reads
95bFM's Loose Reads: On Fire: The Burning Case for a Green New Deal by Naomi Klein /
On 95bFM’s Loose Reads Suri spoke about On Fire by Naomi Klein where we find essays on varying stages of ecological crisis to current calls for policy reform, in hope of saving our planet. A necessary read.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith /
Jenna is a huge Patti Smith fan and was very happy to step back into her comforting words with Year of the Monkey. Set in the year of 2016 - this is a poetic musing on grief, solitude, dreams & travel. Year of the Monkey is Smith’s third memoir after Just Kids (2010) & M Train (2015).
Today we played The Go-Go’s We Got the Beat after the chapter, Why Belinda Carlisle Matters.
Listen below:
95bFM's Loose Reads: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood /
The most highly anticipated release of 2019 is finally here! Jenna reviewed Margaret Atwood’s The Testaments, the sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale , on this morning’s 95bFM Loose Reads.
Listen to the spoiler free review below!
95bFM's Loose Reads: The Man Who Saw Everything by Deborah Levy /
On 95bFM’s Loose Reads Kiran reviewed our Book of the Month The Man Who Saw Everything by one of her favourite writers Deborah Levy. An intriguing and expertly plotted novel abut politics, history, surveillance, beauty and envy, this book shows Levy is a clever writer of immense control and clarity.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Lanny by Max Porter /
On her latest Loose Reads review and in anticipation of the Booker shortlist being announced, Jenna reviewed the longlisted Lanny by Max Porter. This book is an expertly crafted exploration in narrative form and dialogue.
Another longlist title that Jenna mentions is The Testaments by Margaret Atwood - Booker judges can only say that it’s ‘terrifying and exhilarating’. This is out on September 10th!
The shortlist is announced at 9pm (NZ time) on September 3rd.
Listen to the review below:
95bFM's Loose Reads: The Golden Sword by John Pain /
You all know and love the iconic 95bFM logo (you’re not allowed to change it, bFM!) and today Kiran was lucky enough to be joined on Loose Reads by the man who designed it, John Pain, who listeners will also know from Hallelujah Picassos. They talked about his debut novel The Golden Sword published by local outfit Dunbar Noon who describe it as “Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness via Lee Falk’s The Phantom.”
95bFM's Loose Reads: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead /
This new novel from Colson Whitehead (The Underground Railroad) is Jenna’s favourite book of 2019.*
*so far
The Nickel Boys follows Elwood Curtis, a young, idealistic African American teenager in 1962. Motivated by the words of Martin Luther King, he joins Civil Rights marches and is working hard to get into college.
However, after being in the wrong vehicle at the wrong time, Elwood’s path dramatically changes when he is sent to Nickel Academy, a segregated reform school for boys.
Based on Arthur G Dozier School for Boys in Florida, which only closed down 10 years ago,
This book is an example of masterful storytelling and is bound to be read for years to come. Listen to Jenna’s review with Rachel and Tess below:
Read more about Arthur G Dozier School & The White House Boys.
Spoiler free review from Roxane Gay’s Book Club.
Great interview with Colson Whitehead on NPR’S Fresh Air.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Wild Honey: Reading New Zealand Women's Poetry by Paula Green /
Just in time for National Poetry Day, Kiran spoke about Wild Honey: Reading New Zealand Women’s Poetry by Paula Green. Compiled with an attentive care, it’s a beautifully structured and presented book which celebrates New Zealand’s women poets, bringing some out of obscurity and into the limelight they deserve.
95bFM's Loose Reads: A Dream About Lightning Bugs by Ben Folds /
A throwback to the 90’s and a new title for our Music Bio section, Ben Folds’ A Dream about Lightning Bugs is a compelling memoir of his piano rock band, Ben Folds Five, as well as his solo career.
While it’s not a sex & drugs tell all, Folds delves into the realities of touring with a baby grand, his often obnoxious behavior and the evolution of the music industry over the 2000’s. A great read for any music fan.
Listen to Jenna, Rachel & Tess’ review and if you’re really keen, give Brick a listen for old times sake.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Tatau: A History of Sāmoan Tattooing by Sean Mallon & Sebastien Galliot /
Tatau: A History of Sāmoan Tattooing by Sean Mallon and Sebastien Galliot published by Te Papa Press cleaned up at the PANZ Book Design Awards last week, picking up awards for Best Illustrated Book, Best Typography, Best Book and the People’s Choice Award. Our Kiran was a judge at the awards and spoke about this triumph of a book on 95bFM’s Loose Reads.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Drive your Plow over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk /
Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, Drive your Plow has been a great favourite of the Time Out staff in 2019.
Translated from Polish by Antonia Lloyd-Jones, this book is smart, funny & feminist literary crime novel, with an unforgettable protagonist.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Sweet Home by Wendy Erskine /
On 95bFM’s Loose Reads Kiran reviewed Sweet Home by Wendy Erskine. It’s a collection of ten quietly powerful, poised and beautifully observed short stories set in East Belfast. If you usually love short stories, read this collection. If you don’t usually read short stories, read this collection!
95bFM's Loose Reads: Bunny by Mona Awad /
Bunny is one of the weirdest books that Jenna has ever read. In a good way!
Listen to Jenna, Rachel & Tess chat about this black comedy, set at a narrative arts college is worth picking up.
BOOK OF THE MONTH: July 2019 /
Our Book of the Month for July is Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi which has won the Man Booker International Prize. It’s a powerful saga about three sisters living in al-Awafi, an Omani village on the brink of change. Exploring themes of slavery, urbanisation, women’s wisdom, patriarchy and masculinity, it’s a beautiful read. Celestial Bodies is also our Lit Reads title for July.
Click here to hear Kiran’s review on 95bFM’s Loose Reads.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi /
On 95bFM’s Loose Reads Kiran reviewed our July Book of the Month and Lit Reads title Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi which has won the Man Booker International Prize. It’s a powerful saga about three sisters living in al-Awafi, an Omani village on the brink of change. Exploring themes of slavery, urbanisation, women’s wisdom, patriarchy and masculinity, it’s a beautiful read.
95bFM's Loose Reads: The Farm by Joanne Ramos /
The Farm is Joanne Ramos’ first book. Jane arrives to the luxury resort Golden Oaks to become a ‘host’ - a surrogate for a wealthy client. Jane sees this well paid gig as a opportunity for her and her young daughter to get a step up in life, but the strict conditions of Golden Oaks, leads her to question a choice she can’t reverse.
Narrated by a cast of characters on all sides, The Farm is an educated insight into ethics, class and privilege & service culture.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Being Various: New Irish Short Stories Edited by Lucy Caldwell /
The short story is enjoying a resurgence and this new anthology which Kiran reviewed on 95bFM’s Loose Reads Being Various: New Irish Short Stories edited by Lucy Caldwell brings together 24 vibrant and fresh pieces by Irish authors including Sally Rooney, Sinead Gleeson, Wendy Erskine, Nicole Flattery, Lisa McInerney and Eimear McBride. The short story is in fine form!
95bFM's Loose Reads: Then It Fell Apart by Moby /
Jenna was a HUGE fan of Moby’s first autobiography Porcelain, but the follow up has been bathed in controversy. Listen to Jenna, Rachel & Tess discuss Then It Fell Apart, which Jenna can only describe as ‘feral.’
Don’t forget, your bCard qualifies you for a 10% discount at Time Out.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Merchants of Truth by Jill Abramson /
On 95bFM’s Loose Reads Kiran reviewed Merchants of Truth by Jill Abramson who was just here for the Auckland Writers Festival. It’s a great book for anyone interested in the changing landscape of journalism, and scrutinises four news outlets - the old guard of the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, and the “disruptive mavericks” Vice and Buzzfeed.
