95bFM's Loose Reads: Tangi by Witi Ihimaera /  by Time Out Bookstore

Tama leaves behind his life in Wellington, of Te Ao Pākeha to head home to Waituhi after the sudden death of his father. As the oldest son, it’s expected that he will return to take over the family farm.

Tangi was the winner of the 1973 New Zealand Book Awards and for its 50 year anniversary, this new edition
has been re-edited to celebrate. This piece by Emma Hislop (Kāi Tahu) explains more about Witi’s process of rewriting.

This incredibly moving novel has more than stood the test of time and is the perfect read for Matariki.

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Tangi

95bFM's Loose Reads: The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor /  by Time Out Bookstore

Suri reviews the new novel from Brandon Taylor, who was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize for his novel Real Life.

A fun take on a campus novel, that explores class, sex, race and the moralities of fiction.

Want to know more? Listen to Suri’s review with Rachel below.

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The Late Americans

95bFM's Loose Reads: Big Swiss by Jen Beagin /  by Time Out Bookstore

Big Swiss has quickly become a staff favourite at Time Out, nicely fitting alongside titles such as My Year of Rest and Relaxation and The First Bad Man.

Greta transcribes the therapy sessions of sex coach, Om, and becomes enamoured with a patient whom she calls Big Swiss. When she hears Big Swiss’ voice in the dog park, she introduces herself as Rebekah - leading to a very intense infatuation between the two.

Told with the darkest of humour - Big Swiss explores moral boundaries, trauma relationships.

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Big Swiss

95bFM's Loose Reads: Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang /  by Time Out Bookstore

A camp, satirical page-tuner that is the perfect post-exam read. Yellowface is a book about lies and identity, capturing the conversation of own voices and the sometimes brutal publishing machine.

Listen to Suri’s review with Rachel below.

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Yellowface

95bFM's Loose Reads: Pet by Catherine Chidgey /  by Time Out Bookstore

Catherine Chidgey is back (already!) with her new novel, Pet. Brimming with 80’s nostalgia, questionable characters and an unpredictable ending, Chidgey has stayed on track after her recent win at the Ockham NZ Book Awards.

Listen to Jenna’s review with Rachel and Stella, with some bonus knitted jersey chat.

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Pet

95bFM's Loose Reads: Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts by Josie Shapiro /  by Time Out Bookstore

This week, Jenna reviews Josie Shapiro’s Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts, which is the inaugural winner of the Allen & Unwin Commercial Fiction Prize.

Mickey Bloom is an underdog - small, dyslexic and bullied, she finds solace in running. However, this also comes at a cost. Set in Auckland, Everything is Beautiful explores big dreams and what happens if they’re not realised. Highly recommended.

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Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts

95bFM's Loose Reads: The Artist by Ruby Solly /  by Time Out Bookstore

Ruby Solly’s The Artist is already Suri’s favourite poetry book of the year. A kōrero between iwi, whānau & whenua, this collection’s whakaaro is that artist is ever and has always been present.

Listen to Suri’s fantastic review with Rachel below.

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The Artist

95bFM's Loose Reads: The Strangers by Katherena Vermette /  by Time Out Bookstore

This week, Jenna previews the session she’s chairing at the Auckland Writer’s Festival this week.

Katherena Vermette is an award winning Red River Métis author, from Manitoba, Winnipeg. Her second novel The Strangers, follows Phoenix Stranger, a character from her first novel The Break, to continue her story alongside the story of her family and how she got to where she is now.

You can listen to Jenna, Rachel & Stella’s chat about the book below!

Katherena Vermette: It’s in the Bones is at 2.30pm on Friday.

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The Strangers

95bFM's Loose Reads: The Big Con by Mariana Mazzucato & Rosie Collington /  by Time Out Bookstore

Suri thinks there’s something that would interest everyone in The Big Con. Looking at the interconnection of private and public sections in the consulting industry, Mazzucato & Collington have put together a well researched and fascinating read.

Listen to Suri and Rachel’s chat below.

LISTEN HERE
The BIG CON

95bFM's Loose Reads: There's a Cure for This by Dr. Emma Espiner /  by Time Out Bookstore

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!

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THERE'S A CURE FOR THIS

95bFM's Loose Reads: Heart Sutra by Yan Lianke /  by Time Out Bookstore

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

LISTEN HERE
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95bFM's Loose Reads: I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai /  by Time Out Bookstore

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!

LISTEN HERE
I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU

95bFM's Loose Reads: Victory City by Salman Rushdie /  by Time Out Bookstore

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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RNZ's Nine to Noon: Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent /  by Time Out Bookstore

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.

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95bFM's Loose Reads: Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh /  by Time Out Bookstore

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.

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CURSED BREAD

95bFM's Loose Reads: Object Coach by Tom Lee /  by Time Out Bookstore

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.

LISTEN HERE
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