Jenna
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This morning, Jenna reviewed the first novel to be translated into English, by Argentine author, Mariana Enriquez. This is a horror, but as a non-horror fan, Jenna thinks okay for those who are squeamish (mostly!)
Filled with the dark arts, magic and politics, this is the perfect summer saga at 700 pages.
Listen to much more about this book in Jenna’s review with Rachel and Zoe below.
Kevin Wilson seems to be an undiscovered gem in the Southern Hemisphere, Jenna was very excited to read Now is Not the Time to Panic after loving Nothing to See Here and Tunneling to the Center of the Earth.
A Tennessee based coming-of-age story, that involves an art mystery. An excellent read!
Listen to Jenna’s review with Kathryn below.
Poet and storyteller, Dominic Hoey, brings us a tale of Avondale ratbags in Poor People with Money. Monday has a ‘face like a broken dinner plate’ and can barely hold together her minimum wage job but dreams of being a champion kickboxer. When she gets an opportunity to fight in a tournament in Thailand, she needs to get some money quick.
Narrative threads from both Monday’s mysterious past and adventurous present are weaved together in a compelling read, where you find yourself rooting for the underdogs.
Listen to Jenna’s review with Rachel and Zoe below.
The Axeman’s Carnival is narrated by a magpie called Tama, which is short for Tamagotchi. He lives in the yolk-yellow house of Marnie and Rob, which sits on a struggling High Country sheep farm in Central Otago.
Tama is quite clever and much to the delight of Marnie and the horror of Rob, starts parroting back what he hears around him. Marnie casually starts a Twitter account for him and this soon brings fame to this small town family.
This story is not all comedy. Marnie recently had a miscarriage and there’s a leering, nasty side to Rob that Marnie bears the brunt of. Marnie needs to leave, however her ties to Tama keep her home.
Chidgey is a master of voice. She’s a funny writer, but this humour cuts to a darkness beneath the surface. As with her previous works, the research and descriptions of place are impeccable. An excellent read from one of the best writers in Aotearoa right now.
Listen to Jenna’s review with Rachel and Zoe below.
The first novel in 15 years from Australian author Sophie Cunningham. Alice, a writer, has spent 15 years researching Leonard Woolf, husband of Virginia.
This is a novel for deep readers and for writers. Exploring colonialism, health, ideas, ghosts, viruses, war, sexuality and research, This Devastating Fever shows us that since early twentieth century, perhaps not much has changed at all.
‘My family should never be out in the world.’
9 year old Shiv has been suspended from school (for fighting) and is under the supervision of Grandma - a vivacious and hilarious woman (to the reader) but incredibly embarrassing (to Shiv.)
Miriam Toews’ Fight Night is the feel good book of this summer.
Listen below for for more as Jenna phones in to Rachel from the bookshop.
Jenna was back in the Auckland RNZ studio today to review Bobby Palmer’s Isaac and the Egg. We know this sad/happy tale is going to be a word-of-mouth favourite. For fans of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, The Midnight Library and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine.
Listen to Jenna’s review with Kathryn below.
Today’s Loose Reads is a memoir by Ali Millar, who grew up on the Scottish Borders as a Jehovah’ s Witness. Detailing fear, isolation and conflicting worlds, Millar provides an ultra personal insight into finding freedom.
For fans of Educated.
Listen below to Jenna’s chat with Rachel and Zoe.
Colleen Maria Lenihan’s new book, Kōhine, is an excellent collection of linked short stories that move between Japan and Aotearoa. An atmospheric and weighty account of living with grief, women working hard and a sense of place. This is a highly recommended read from Huia Publishers.
Listen to Jenna’s review with Rachel as she calls in from the shop, below:
Laurence Fearnley’s Winter Time is a South Island based character study filled with mystery and atmosphere. A perfect read for the season!
Jenna phoned in to the bFM studio this morning, listen to her full review with Rachel below.
Jenna speaks with guest host Guy Montgomery today about Jarvis Cocker’s delightful memoir, Good Pop, Bad Pop. This book is an inventory of ‘psychic lint’ from Cocker’s loft - items he’s accumulated without even realising - and in this, gives us the origins of his iconic band, Pulp.
Brightly designed with fantastic images, Good Pop, Bad Pop is very self deprecating, nostalgic and funny. Capturing schoolboys moving through a grimy music scene in 1980’s Sheffield, this is a grand read and we hope there is a sequel planned.
Listen to the full review below!
The Escape Artist is the true tale of a man’s miraculous escape from Auschwitz. Written by journalist and thriller writer Jonathan Freedland, it makes for a pacy and compelling read.
Despite being an incredibly grim topic, Jenna still recommends you pick it up. This story lends incredible insight into how difficult it was to get the news of this horrifying mass murder into the right hands.
Listen below!
Jenna reviews one of her favourite books of 2022 so far - it’s just a little difficult to explain what it’s about.
Canadian author Sheila Heti questions creation, love, grief, art, philosophy, nature & more in this quietly profound novel.
Listen to Jenna, Rachel and Zoe chat as they are reunited in the studio. Click the link below!
