We think Dr. Emma Espiner’s debut memoir, There’s a Cure for This, is going to be a favourite for 2023.
"I don't know why medicine felt like coming home but, for some reason, it fits. I keep thinking about how the tohu, once awarded, can never be taken back. Better not fuck it up."
Through nostalgia, whānau & the grit of medicine this collection of essays explore being a mother, a daughter & a Māori doctor.
You can listen to Jenna, Annabel & Stella’s chat below!
Suri is back with a new review on 95bFM’s Loose Reads.
Prolific Chinese author, Yan Lianke explores secularism, money and faith in his new novel. This is a book to read if you want to take the pulse of what’s happening in China.
Listen to Suri and Rachel’s chat about Heart Sutra below
This week, Jenna visited the studio to talk about a current Time Out staff favourite, Rebecca Makkai’s I Have Some Questions for You.
A cross between The Secret History and Serial Podcast, this is a page-turning read that cleverly captures the zeitgest of the fascination of true crime, the #metoo movement and social justice.
You can listen to Jenna, Rachel & Stella’s chat below!
This morning, Suri reviewed Salman Rushdie’s new novel, Victory City.
Set in fourteenth century southern India, this novel gives context to the nation buidling myths of India.
By giving contemporary facets to his characters, Rushdie installs starting points for those who may want to understand India and its racial divide.
Listen to Suri and Rachel’s chat about Victory City below
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TOP 5 BOOKS
KID'S BOOKS
Sally Diamond’s Father told her that when he died, to put him out with the rubbish, so when he did die, that’s what she did. This act brings a lot of attention on this woman who has spent her life in her Irish Village pretending to be deaf outside the house.
With a good chunk of the novel set in New Zealand, this book alternates between a Rosie Project-esque tale and a compelling psychological thriller.
Listen to Jenna’s review with Kathryn below.
Recently longlisted for the 2023 Women’s Prize, Cursed Bread is already one of Jenna’s favourite books for the year. Small but perfectly formed and fable-like, this feels like an instant classic.
Jenna phoned into the studio, pre-stocktake day! Listen to her chat with Rachel below.
Australian author, Tom Lee, pushes the boundaies of narrative form in his new novella, Object Space. Suri recommends this for philosophers, tech nerds and those interested in AI and ChatGBT.
Listen to Suri and Rachel’s great chat about this book below.
Last week, the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards shortlist was announced. Jenna delves into the fiction finalists today.
Listen to her chat with Rachel below.
Suri believes that Bret Easton Ellis is back to American Psycho form with his new novel, The Shards. Think Gossip Girl meets Scream in this hedonistic horror based in 1980’s LA.
Want to know more? Listen to Suri and Rachel’s chat below.
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TOP 5 BOOKS
KID'S BOOKS
The Trees is a book that is both incredibly grim and incredibly funny. Shortlisted for the 2022 Booker Prize, this was one of Jenna’s favorite reads of the summer.
Listen to her chat with Rachel below.
This morning, Suri reviewed the new novel by the author of the bestselling, Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982.
Cho Nam-Joo’s Saha is a dystopian thriller following various characters living in an abandoned building. The truth of their lives reveals a larger truth of society.
As Suri calls it, ‘a dark book for dark times.’
Listen to Suri and Rachel’s chat below.
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TOP 5 BOOKS
KID'S BOOKS
Epic music producer and all round guru, Rick Rubin, has collated his thoughts on creativity, art and your place in the universe. This is the perfect read to set you up for a 2023 full of ideas.
Listen to Jenna chat with Rachel and Zoe below.
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TOP 5 BOOKS
KID'S BOOKS
Our top 10 bestselling books of the year.
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As seen in Metro Magazine
Wendy
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
The Romantic by William Boyd
All the Broken Places by John Boyne
Cait
Fight Night by Miriam Toews
Everyone Knows Your Mother is a Witch by Rivka Galchen
The Rabbit Hutch by Tess Gunty
Sophie
Kurangaituku by Whiti Hereaka
The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen
Pure Colour by Sheila Heti
Jenna
Pure Colour by Sheila Heti
The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen
He Reo Tuku Iho by Awanui Te Huia
Abby A
Poor People with Money by Dominic Hoey
Arms and Legs by Chloe Lane
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart
Hollie
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
The Candy House by Jennifer Egan
How to Loiter in a Turf War by Jessica Hansell
Suri
The Netanyahus by Joshua Cohen
Treacle Walker by Alan Gardner
The Book of Goose by Yiyun Li
Roman
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au
Towards a Grammar of Race by Anisha Sankar et al
Abby I-J
How to Be a Bad Muslim by Mohamed Hassan
Poor People with Money by Dominic Hoey
Everyone is Everyone Except You by Jordan Hamel
Katie
Life Ceremony by Sayaka Murata
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Venomous Lumpsucker by Ned Beauman
Elijah
Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez
The Passenger by Cormac McCarthy
We Uyghurs Have No Say by Ilham Tohti
Paris
Lapvona by Ottessa Moshfegh
Grand by Noelle McCarthy
Time is a Mother by Ocean Vuong
Poor Suri is sick today, so Jenna dialed for a last minute review. She gave advice on three great music books, which would be great for a Christmas present (or just yourself.)
Surrender by Bono - a life story told in forty songs which contains beautiful images & drawings.
Re-Sisters by Cosey Fanni Tutti - a memoir spanning centuries, Tutti interweaves the amazing lives of three women (including herself) who paved the way in both music, writing and creativity.
A Book of Days by Patti Smith - a diary of of year, told in images. As only Smith can be, this is considered, thoughtful and is an ode to art, thinkers, music, family and politics.
