95bFM's Loose Reads: If, Then by Jill Lepore

'If Then' explores the origin story of the first data company in existence, The Simulatics Corporation. Started in the 50s at the height of the Cold War and housed in a sci-fi-esque geodome, this group of scientists, engineers, academics and ad-men pioneered the blueprint for today's data giants.

Revealing the political and philosophical underpinnings behind today's data economy and the growing power of trading human futures, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jill Lepore sounds a warning bell about the future of our privacy and the quiet ways to resist its dissolution.

The perfect Christmas present for fans of strange history!

95bFM's Loose Reads: The Haunting of Alma Fielding: A True Ghost Story by Kate Summerscale

A spooky book for a spooky week. Jenna reviews this true ghost story by Kate Summerscale, which explores the period of ghost hunting between the two world wars.

This has a little bit for every reader - for fans of true crime, ghosts, history, psychology and ethics. Kate Summerscale’s impeccable research makes for fascinating reading. This is also shortlisted for the UK’s top nonfiction award - the Baillie GIfford, announced late November.

95bFM's Loose Reads: What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez

Jenna makes a case for everyone to discover the brilliance of Sigrid Nunez’s writing in this 95bFM breakfast show review.

Her brand new novel, What Are You Going Through, is a conveniently topical read for a New Zealand audience. The narrator is asked to accompany her terminally ill friend on a trip where she plans to end her life on her own terms. “I promise to make it as fun as possible.”

Of course, because it’s Sigrid Nunez, this book is not just about euthanasia. It’s about women, ageing, companionship, writing, teaching and philosophy. A warm and smart read by an incredible writer.

Don’t forget to check out her previous novels: National Book Award winning The Friend, The Last of her Kind and Salvation City.

95bFM's Loose Reads: This Pākehā Life by Alison Jones & Tree of Strangers by Barbara Sumner

Today, Jenna reviewed two wonderful memoirs that have both recently been published, are by New Zealand women and are about identity and memory.

First, Alison Jones’ This Pākehā Life: An Unsettled Memoir. Alison tackles the task of reflecting on her upbringing and life as a Pākehā in Aotearoa. What is a Pākehā? How do Pākehā live and respect Te Ao Māori? A frank, yet respectful memoir.

Then, we have Tree of Strangers by Barbara Sumner. This memoir tells of Barbara’s experience as an adoptee child, however story is quite unbelievable. Personal history alongside research and insights into the often tragic circumstances that adoption can lead too. A wonderful read.

Listen to Jenna, Rachel and Tess chat below.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Real Life by Brandon Taylor

95bFM's Loose Reads: Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones

Set in the summer of 1975, Box Hill is a glorious queer love-story with biting wit and gentle humanity.

Told through the eyes of a young man exploring his new-found sexuality, Box Hill explores a submissive relationship in an England on the brink of change; a burgeoning gay rights movement and the genesis of Thatcher's new conservatism.

Bold, playful and keenly observant, Box Hill is a satirical love-story full of moments of genius.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi

Shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize, Burnt Sugar tells the story of Antara, an artist who has never had a good relationship with her mother. But when her mother’s memory starts declining, Antara is the only person who knows how to help.

Set in India, this is an intense, blazing narrative that takes us between past, present and explores the great tension of a mother/daughter relationship. Rich in prose, contemporary in style.

Listen to Jenna, Tess and Mary Margaret chat below:

95bFM's Loose Reads: Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

Exploring familial relationships, native myths and gendered violence, Betty is a tender elegy to a mother and a cutting examination of race and class. Living with her family of ten in a white, working class town, Betty and her siblings escape inside swirling oral histories and the gentle comforts of familial myths. As Betty gets older and the smooth veneer of her childhood begins to crack, she uncovers the racist and sexist violence of her family and town's past. 

Based on her own mother's life, Tiffany McDaniels latest novel is a stunning look at generational trauma and the unreckoned, uncomfortable truths of a nation.

For fans of Aue and Sing, Unburied, Sing.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Spring by Ali Smith

On 95bfm’s Loose Reads, Kiran reviewed the dazzling new Ali Smith novel Summer. In this satisfying conclusion to her much-loved radical and piercingly contemporary seasonal quartet, Smith tracks current events in real time: COVID-19, lockdown, Black Lives Matter… breathtakingly, it’s all here.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Sprigs by Brannavan Gnanalingam

TW: Sexual assault.

On Monday’s 95bFM’s Loose Reads, Jenna reviewed Brannavan Gnanalingam’s Sprigs. Set in Wellington, we open with an end of season rugby game between two rival schools, St Luke’s and Grammar which leads to a horrific sexual assault at the after party.

A cast of 100 characters are managed with ease as we move through four distinct scenes - The Game, The Party, The Meeting & The Trial.

This is a novel that Jenna lost herself in for an entire weekend, barely coming up for breath. Filmic, powerful, emotional and intense, Sprigs an incredibly immersive and compelling novel that explores masculinity, power and reputation.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Utopia Avenue by David Mitchell

On 95bFM’s Loose Reads, Kiran reviewed the eagerly anticipated new novel by David Mitchell Utopia Avenue. Set in 1967 right on the cusp of the Summer of Love, it follows the rise of a fictitious British psych/folk/rock/blues group called Utopia Avenue. The novel charts the group coming together, playing gigs, recording albums, falling apart, and sex, drugs and rock and roll scandals as well as the mundane vicissitudes of being in a rock group. Music lovers will have fun spotting the many cameos from famous musicians and bands as well as characters from previous Mitchell novels.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Not That I'd Kiss a Girl by Lil O'Brien

Today on 95bFM’s Loose Reads, Jenna reviewed Lil O’Brien’s Not That I’d Kiss a Girl. This astonishingly compelling memoir captures Lil’s experience of coming out in at the turn of the 21st century in Aotearoa. Funny, brutally honest and capturing the complexities of family relationships - this is an important story that’s well worth a read.

95bFM's Loose Reads: A Burning by Megha Majumdar

Suri reviewed Megha Majumdar’s A Burning on this week’s Loose Reads. This book is a searing portrait of social mobility, class and racism in modern India. Told through the eyes of three central characters looking for fame and greatness, A Burning explores the Indian Dream with biting satire and political urgency. 

A Burning was also our Lit Reads title for July! Listen to the review below:

95bFM's Loose Reads: Three South Korean Novels - Frances Cha, Elisa Shua Dusapin, Bae Suan

Today, Jenna highlights some kick ass novels that are set in her old home of South Korea. With the rise of K-Pop, K-Beauty, films and of course, Han Kang’s The Vegetarian becoming popularised in the West, there’s no time like the present to delve into this spectacular pile of writing by Korean women.

If I had your Face by Frances Cha - a compelling, fast paced novel that follows a group of four women navigating urban society in Seoul.

Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin - Translated from French by Aneesa Abbas Higgins. A moody novel set in a tourist seaside town in the freezing winter. Atmospheric, sparse and

Untold Night and Day by Bae Suah - Translated from Korean by Deborah Smith. Jenna’s favourite of the pile. Filmic, sensory and surprising.

Listen to Jenna chat with Rachel and Mary Margaret below:

95bFM's Loose Reads: Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor

On 95bFM’s Loose Reads Kiran reviewed the incendiary novel Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor which is on the Booker International Prize shortlist. Set in a small Mexican village, this intoxicating novel has the feel of a Southern Gothic modern classic and looks at small town folklore and mythology, inequality, violence and superstition.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman

In what’s been an incredibly strange and unsettling 2020, it can be good to read some non fiction with an optimistic outlook. Looking into well known psychological, economical and historical research within a new context, Bregman proves to us that humans are…really not that bad.

For fans of Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens. You can buy Humankind here.

Listen to Jenna. Rachel and Tess chat about this book on 95bFM’s Loose Reads below:

95bFM's Loose Reads: Nothing to See by Pip Adam

Kiran was happy to be back in the 95bFM studio with Rachel and Sarah to talk about Pip Adam’s thrilling new novel Nothing to See. Kiran reckons Adam is one of the most interesting and exciting writers currently working in New Zealand fiction.

95bFM's Loose Reads: A Terrible Country by Keith Gessen

One of the hardest requests booksellers get is for funny books! On 95bFM’s Loose Reads, Kiran reviewed A Terrible Country by Keith Gessen. It’s a hilarious novel about a failing academic named Andrei. He’s just split up with his girlfriend and moves from New York to Moscow to look after his ageing grandmother Seva, who is about to turn 90 and has accelerating dementia. This book is also packed with Russian history and politics and is super entertaining.
If you loved Olga Tokarczk’s Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead you’ll love this!

95bFM's Loose Reads: Fake Baby by Amy McDaid

We’re reunited in Level 1!

Jenna’s in the studio to chat to Rachel and Tess about the new New Zealand novel, Fake Baby by Amy McDaid. Set over nine days in Auckland city, this novel is full of wry, dry humour as we follow a three down and out, yet charming characters as they navigate society, family and their mental health.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami

Meiko Kawakami is a literary star in Japan (also a blogger, poet and former J-Pop star) and this is her first book published in English (translated by Sam Bet and David Boyd. )

Breasts and Eggs won Japan’s most prestigious writing award, the Akutagawa Prize, in 2007. Since then, it has expanded into two books within a book. In Book One, Natsuko is hosting her sister and niece over a sweltering summer in Tokyo from Osaka. Makiko is obsessed with getting breast implants while Midoriko is incredibly anxious about her impending body changes. In Book Two, it’s ten years later and Natsuko is exploring having a child using a sperm donor.

Throughout this novel, Natsuko is surrounded by solo, independent women and this book explores and makes a stand against Japanese patriarchal society. Grimy small apartments, bodily functions, ramen noodles and hostess bars are the background to an intriguing and fleshed out character study.

Also, highly recommended is Kawakami interviewing Murakami where she deeply takes him to task for his writing of female characters.

Listen to Jenna’s review with Rachel and Sarah below: