Translated from Italian, Claudia Durastanti’s novel Strangers I Know explores the mythology of family, language, form and fiction. An incredibly smart read and highly recommended.
Listen to Jenna and Rachel discuss below.
Jenna
95bFM's Loose Reads: Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka /
Danya Kukafka’s Notes on an Execution is crime fiction fit for true crime lovers. Set in the twelve hours before he is to be executed, Ansel Packer’s story is told by three women who have been affected by his crimes. A pacy and thought provoking read.
Listen to Jenna, Rachel and Zoe discuss below.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention by Johann Hari /
The growth of tech, social media and personal devices has evolved the way our society interacts with the world today. Stolen Focus is an investigation into how this has happened, what it means and offers tools in how to get our focus back. A hot topic told in an engaging and thorough way, this a great non fiction read to start off the new year.
Read this excerpt from The Guardian and listen to Jenna, Rachel and Zoe discuss below.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Matrix by Lauren Groff /
Jenna is Rachel and Zoe’s first guest in the studio since August! Today, she reviews Lauren Groff’s Matrix. An imagining of the life medieval poet, Marie de France, who is sent away from the royal court to live as a nun. Never has a story set in the twelfth century felt so contemporary!
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Orwell's Roses by Rebecca Solnit /
Jenna reviews Orwell’s Roses, the brand new book by prolific non-fiction writer, Rebecca Solnit. Starting amongst George Orwell’s (still living) roses, Solnit weaves together connections of war and beauty. Highly recommended!
Listen to Jenna’s review with Kathryn below.
95bFM's Loose Reads: A Carnival of Snackery: Diaries 2003 - 2020 by David Sedaris /
The prolific David Sedaris is back with his second volume of diaries, A Carnival of Snackery (2003-2020.)
With the usual ingredients of travels stories, languages, bad jokes, the Sea Section, taxidermy, rubbish, Hugh & the infamous Sedaris family, this is a must read for Sedaris fans. It’s the type of book that can sit over the coffee table over Christmas and have multiple readers at once.
Listen to Jenna’s lockdown review with Rachel and Zoe below:
95bFM's Loose Reads: The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Nastuko Imamura /
This little book follows The Woman in the Yellow Cardigan and she follows, like a friendly(ish) ghost, The Woman in the Purple Skirt.
This is a portrait of single women in Japan, women who work in service and the hierarchy within those industries. It’s also a portrait of loneliness.
This is perfect Christmas present for fans of Sayaka Murata and also Korean authors such as Han Kang and Bae Suah. It’s completely bonkers but funny, creepy but innocent, compelling and mysterious.
Listen to Jenna’s lockdown review with Rachel and Zoe below:
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Three Summers by Margarita Liberaki /
Today, Jenna reviews the Greek classic, Three Summers by Margareita Liberaki. An escapist coming of age that is filled with the joys of nature and the pains of adolescence.
Listen to Jenna’s review with Kathryn below, with a little extra mention of The Promise by Damon Galgut, the 2021 winner of the Booker Prize.
95bFM's Loose Reads: She's a Killer by Kirsten McDougall /
Alice is ‘the person nobody cares about in the movie if they die’. She’s in her late thirties and lives with her mother (whom she only communicates with by morse code), she has an extraordinary IQ and low empathy for others.
Aotearoa is in a state of political and social change. A chance encounter with one of Aotearoa’s new weathugees,Pablo, leaves Alice living with his 15 year old daughter, Erika - who also happens to be a genius.
Set in a bleak future that we can almost touch with our fingertips, She’s a Killer has a perfectly formed plot, funny & considered dialogue and a thrilling twist. Not a single character is wasted.
Listen to Jenna’s lockdown review with Rachel and Zoe below:
95bFM's Loose Reads: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr /
An epic tale that spans the past, present and future from the author of All the Light We Cannot See. Jenna reviews this highly anticipated read from the shop floor, which was delivered by the courier during the review.
95bFM's Loose Reads: I Laugh Me Broken by Bridget Van der Zijpp /
A gentle and funny love story, great for a lockdown read.
Listen to Jenna’s review with Rachel and Zoe below.
RNZ's Nine to Noon: People Like Them by Samira Sedira /
Set in a French Village, People Like Them is an immersive and compelling thriller inspired by the murder of five members of a family, by their neighbour.
Narrated by the murderer’s wife, we watch how this tragedy unfolds. Does race play a factor in this murder? Where does humiliation take a human?
Listen to Jenna chat about People Like Them to Kathryn Ryan below. You can buy the book here for delivery in Auckland’s Level 3.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Things I Learned at Art School by Megan Dunn /
From the home office, Jenna reviews Megan Dunn’s essay collection, Things I Learned at Art School.
An eighties childhood, a nineties art school education and a stint as a brothel barmaid on Karangahape Road. This is a collection of bite-sized, infectious essays where Dunn displays her trademark deadpan humour and observation.
Listen to Jenna’s review with Rachel and Zoë & pre-order below.
95bFM's Loose Reads: The Ghost of Frédéric Chopin by Éric Faye /
Jenna presents some Level 4 cosy crime goodness for you in today’s Loose Reads review. The Ghost of Frédéric Chopin is the newest title in the Pushkin Press’ Walter Presents imprint.
Prague, 1995: Vera Foltynova claims that the ghost of Chopin is visiting her with new compositions and journalist Ludvík Slany is sent to expose the truth.
This book is inspired by and dedicated to Rosemary Brown.
Listen to Jenna, Rachel and Zoë chatting below!
95bFM's Loose Reads: Going West and The Commercial Hotel by John Summers /
Today Jenna chats about the upcoming Going West Festival and then gives a quick review of The Commercial Hotel - a thoughtful and curious collection of essays about small town New Zealand.
95bFM's Loose Reads: A Swim in the Pond in the Rain by George Saunders /
A Swim in the Pond in the Rain is one of Jenna’s favourite books for 2021. Saunders presents seven short stories from four Russian masters and in doing so, teaches the us about trusting one’s creative voice.
This is a book that you can give any one and is a must have for one’s home library. Listen to Jenna and Rachel’s chat below!
95bFM's Loose Reads: Uprising by Nic Low /
Kāi Tahu author Nic Low traverses and immerses himself across Ka Tiritiri-o-te-Moana (Southern Alps) and Te Wai Pounamu (South Island) following the footsteps of his tīpuna.
Low has created a vital document that explores whakapapa, pūrākau, tikanga, navigation and adventure, whilst being an engaging and lively read.
Listen to Jenna & Rachel chat below, then take a listen to Marlon Williams’ Arahua.
95bFM's Loose Reads: My Rock 'n' Roll Friend by Tracey Thorn /
Tracey Thorn (Everything But the Girl) writes a love letter to her rock ‘n’ roll friend, Lindy Morrison (The Go-Betweens) in this music memoir.
Capturing the “imprint one person leaves on another”, but also to female friendship and a record of the blatant sexism of the music industry, how women musicians are interviewed, reviewed and talked about.
This is a book to read and then pass on to your own rock ‘n’ roll friend.
Listen to Jenna’s review with Rachel and Zoe below.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner /
‘Sobbing near the dry goods, asking myself, Am I even Korean anymore if there’s no one left to call and ask what brand of seaweed we used to buy?’
Jenna reviews Michelle Zauner’s beautiful autobiography Crying in H Mart, documenting a period that inspired the first album of her band, Japanese Breakfast.
When Zauner was 25, she dropped everything to care for her terminally ill mother in rural Oregon. This forces her to confront her identity as a Korean American, the cultural divide between herself and her mother, their difficult relationship when she was a teenager and the food that brought them together.
This beautiful book will make you feel sad and hungry - and leave you wanting more.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly /
Jenna fully endorses Greta & Valdin - a queer/Māori/Russian/Auckland rom-com debut by Rebecca K Reilly. With loveable ensemble cast and incredibly funny dialogue - this is truly a feel good story. Listen to Jenna’s review below:
