Jenna
95bFM's Loose Reads: Kataraina by Becky Manawatu /
Jenna was back in the bFM studio this morning after being overseas. First, she delves a little into her booky trip to the UK. Then, talks about the highly anticipated sequel to Auē, Kataraina.
Listen to the spoiler free chat with Jonny below, you can also read her spoiler-filled review on The Spinoff here.
Finally, Jenna also chats about Aotearoa NZ Bookshop Day, which is this Saturday 12th October.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Alphabetical Diaries by Sheila Heti /
Suri talks to Jonny about Sheila Heti’s latest memoir which is an exploration of form and a radical experiment in diary writing.
Each chapter includes diary entries out of chronological order and in a system of alphabetisation- every sentence within a chapter begins with the same letter. From reading Faulkner to kissing in the supermarket, Alphabetical Diaries offers an intimate insight into the minutiae of Heti’s daily life and habits with a playful, poetic flair.
Listen below!
95bFM's Loose Reads: The Mermaid Chronicles by Megan Dunn /
Jenna talks to Molly about The Mermaid Chronicles, the new, swimmingly good mer-moir from Megan Dunn.
The true tale of how one woman's lifelong obsession became a midlife mermaid odyssey, from the irrepressibly witty author of Tinderbox and Things I Learned at Art School.
Listen below!
RNZ's Nine to Noon: The Friday Afternoon Club by Griffin Dunne /
Jenna phoned into the Nine to Noon studio today to talk about the fantastic memoir, The Friday Afternoon Club. Following the famous Dunne family, through celebrity, hilarity and then deep tragedy, this book has something for everyone.
A masterclass in storytelling! Listen below.
RNZ's Nine to Noon: The Hypocrite by Jo Hamya /
A cleverly told story which thoughtfully captures the uncomfortable space between the generational and gender divide of a daughter and a father.
Sophia’s father sits in a theatre to watch the debut of his young daughter’s play. But he soon realises the play is about him and a holiday they took together in Sicily.
For fans of Deborah Levy, Ian McEwan and Rachel Cusk!
Listen to Jenna chat with guest Nine to Noon host, Paddy Gower below.
95bFM's Loose Reads: The Survivors by Steve Braunias /
Jenna has Father’s Day on her mind, with a recommendation that would be great for your Dad, or quite frankly, just yourself!
Auckland based journalist Steve Braunias has declared The Survivors is his last book of true crime. Some cases you will know, others Steve was the only media in the room. This series of essays that depicts the human condition, with insight, investigation and humour.
Listen to Jenna & Jonny chat about it below.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Behind You is the Sea by Susan Muaddi Darraj /
Behind You is the Sea is a collection of linked stories based around a community of Palestinians in Baltimore. Richly developed and compelling, this book is a new favourite at the shop!
Listen to Jenna & Jonny chat about it below.
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Mongrel by Hanako Footman /
Mongrel, a Time Out staff favourite for 2024, follows three women’s explorations of cultural identity. Moving between England and Japan, the threads that connect these characters are revealed.
This is a coming of age debut that features an expert hand of character development and an articulate and compelling exploration of cultural identity.
Listen to Jenna chat with Kathryn below.
95bFM's Loose Reads: All That We Know by Shilo Kino /
All That We Know is a Tāmaki Makaurau based, coming of age novel about Māreikura Pohe and her journey in rumaki reo whilst navigating viral fame, whānau, activism and relationships.
This book is funny, nuanced and asks hard questions - of its characters and the reader.
This has become a fast Time Out staff favourite, it’s for fans of Rebecca K. Reilly’s Greta & Valdin and Coco Solid’s How to Loiter in a Turf War.
Listen below!
95bFM's Loose Reads: Caledonian Road by Andrew O'Hagan /
Today we welcome Jonny as bFM’s new breakfast host with the heifty 650-paged Caledonian Road by writer and journalist, Andrew O’Hagan.
A huge cast weaves together fully realised characters from all walks of life - an art writer, a Robin Hood style hacker plus Lords, politicians, Russian oligarchs and migrants. This is a Dickensian epic that tells a tale of modern London. It is also readable! and funny!
Jenna is tipping this for a Booker nod - the longlist is announced on July 31st.
Listen below!
95bFM's Loose Reads: Hard by the Cloud House by Peter Walker /
Jenna phoned into the 95bFM studio fresh from the BookPeople Australian Booksellers Conference.
Hard by the Cloud House, written by Peter Walker and published by Massey University Press, weaves together the threads of memoir, history, pūrākau and nature writing to tell the tale of the mysterious extinct bird, Pouakai (Haast’s Eagle).
Listen below!
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Take What You Need by Idra Novey /
Take What You Need follows an estranged stepmother and stepdaughter whilst commenting on the rural and urban divide, class, poverty and racism in America and the lives of artists.
It’s a fantastic read - compelling, nuanced and contemporary. Listen to Jenna chat with Kathryn below.
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Night Swimmers by Roisin Maguire /
Set on the coast of Northern Ireland, Maguire’s debut novel Night Swimmers is another to add to the pile of great Irish writing. Local woman Grace, is known as a bit a grouch, who lives an independent life. However, after a meeting between two new village arrivals - Evan and his young son Luca - the three are drawn together, which may bring healing for them all.
The warmth of community and connections between strangers are highlighted in this novel about loneliness, with both humour and profound sorrow.
Listen to Jenna chat with Kathryn below.
95bFM's Loose Reads: All Fours by Miranda July /
Miranda July’s work crosses many mediums, however Jenna has been anticipating her first novel since 2013’s The First Bad Man.
Our unnamed protagonist is an artist and mother and she is ready for freedom. Whilst experiencing symptoms of perimenopause as well as flashbacks to the traumatic birth of her child, she sets on a cross country road trip, which soon takes a detour. Boundaries and ethics are no barrier to her as she attempts to balance her desires and her family life.
The connection between strangers is what intrinsically links all of July’s work and All Fours is no exception. A laugh out loud, bonkers and provocative ride, it’s wonderful to be back in the hands of July’s storytelling.
Listen to Jenna, Rachel & Stella chat below!
95bFM's Loose Reads: The 2024 Ockham Fiction Finalists /
Abby, one of our two Ockham Fiction Champions, popped into the bFM studio to chat the fiction shortlist.
Listen below and you can watch the Ockhams this Wednesday 15th March here.
You can also come in person! Purchase tickets here.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Amma by Saraid de Silva /
This week, Jenna reviewed Saraid de Silva’s Amma, a moving family story that follows three generations of Sri Lankan women. From Singapore, to Invercargill, to London, Saraid’s visceral storytelling is immersive with great plotting.
Listen to Jenna and Rachel chat below!
RNZ's Nine to Noon: The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen /
The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions tells the tale of a lifelong friendship and a schizophrenia diagnosis which leads to murder.
Told through a historical, political and scientifc context, mental health and American healthcare are explored.
Listen to Jenna chat with Kathryn below.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Vladivostok Circus by Elisa Shua Dusapin /
French author Eilsa Shua Dusapin (Winter in Sokcho) is back with another atomospheric novel.
Nathalie arrives in Vladivostok to work on costumes for the Russian bar trio who are preparing their dangerous routine for the winter circus season.
This book captures a snapshot of a creative and physical undertaking by a small team of people. Punchy sentences, a sense of danger and a strong sense of place enrich Dusapin’s prose.
Translated by Aneesa Abbas Higgins.
Listen to Jenna, Rachel and Stella’s conversation below.
RNZ's Nine to Noon: My Brilliant Sister by Amy Brown /
Jenna called into the RNZ studio to review My Brilliant Sister, a Trans-Tasman novel linking three women who observe balancing creativity and domesticity - all with a connection to Australian author and feminist, Stella Miles Franklin.
Listen to Jenna chat with Kathryn below.
