A spunky and glamorous figure of the 1960s and 70s LA counter culture, Eve Babitz was an alluring ‘It Girl’ who wrote startlingly sharp essays, memoir and fiction. Kiran reviewed the reissued edition of Babitz’s 1979 novel Sex & Rage: Advice for Young Ladies Eager for a Good Time on RNZ’s Nine to Noon.
RNZ
Nine to Noon: Never Anyone but You by Rupert Thomson /
Never Anyone But You is a straight-up, no nonsense, excellent read. Through the eyes of two inspiring women, we see the glitz of the roaring 20's in Paris to the horrors of the German occupation on Jersey, we are reminded of the value of true love and companionship, whatever form that may take.
This is one of Wendy's favourite books of the year! Listen to Jenna's review below:
RNZ's Nine to Noon: There, There by Tommy Orange /
Today, Jenna reviewed the excellent There, There by Tommy Orange on RNZ's Nine to Noon.
Louise Erdrich describes Tommy Orange as a new writer with an old heart - which is very true. He weaves in tradition with pop culture, humour with sadness and gives readers an insight into the complexities of living as an urban Native American in this time.
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Crudo by Olivia Laing /
Kiran reviews Crudo, which she has announced is already her novel of 2018. With elements of auto-fiction, Laing poses herself as Kathy Acker writing over 7 weeks of a 2017 British summer.
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Motherhood by Sheila Heti /
Jenna reviewed the highly anticipated, Motherhood by Sheila Heti today. This book, which is officially fiction, is about writer Sheila's struggle to decide whether to have children. She consults friends, family & I Ching in a bid to discover if she doesn't have children, will her books be a justafiable replacement.
Jenna also mentions The Resurrection of Joan Ashby by Cherise Wolas and And Now We Have Everything by Meaghan O'Connell in this review.
RNZ's Nine to Noon: To Throw Away Unopened by Viv Albertine /
Watch out! This may be Kiran's favourite memoir of 2018. From the author of Clothes, Music, Boys, To Throw Away Unopened is an amazing story of family conflict, motherhood and dysfunction. Listen below:
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Circe by Madeline Miller /
Circe, well known from The Odyssey, was the first recorded witch in Western literature. Madeline Miller (winner of the 2012 Orange Prize for Song of Achilles) has captured her story in Circe, which will be a joy for classicists. Listen to Jenna chat about the book with Nine to Noon's Katherine Ryan below.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Sodden Downstream by Brannavan Gnanalingam /
Kiran reviewed one of the 2018 Ockham shortlisted titles, Sodden Downstream on 95bFM this morning. A story about marginalised voices, refugees, class & zero hour contracts. You can listen here:
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Too Much and Not the Mood: Essays by Durga Chew-Bose /
This week, we've been so lucky to have Kiran Dass joining the Time Out team. Here's her review of Too Much and Not the Mood, from today's Nine to Noon. Also, don't forget that Durga Chew-Bose is here for the Auckland Writers Festival in May.
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Peach by Emma Glass /
This morning on Nine to Noon, Jenna reviewed Peach, a 98 paged novella that hits you straight in the gut. Listen to Jenna's review below.
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Jenna's Summer Reads /
Things to do when you're Goth in the Country
Chavisa Woods
Woods has given us eight tales of American small town grime. A major highlight was the story, A New Mohawk, where the protagonist wakes up one day to have a miniature version of the Gaza strip living in his mohawk.
This is Roxane Gay's favourite read of 2017. An epic 500 page saga which follows four generations of a Korean family living in Japan over the 20th century. A fantastic read for those who love to learn about different cultures.
Hera Lindsay Bird's favourite read of 2017. This could be seen as just another university coming of age story, but it's so much more. We following Turkish American Selin in her first year of Harvard as she navigates classes, friends and this new fandangled thing called email. A very funny, crisp observation of language and what's lost in translation.
RNZ Nine to Noon: The Stolen Bicycle by Wu Ming-Yi /
Jenna conveniently cycled to RNZ to review The Stolen Bicycle. A beautiful insight into Taiwanese history and culture.
RNZ Nine to Noon: Sing, Unburied, Sing /
Jenna reviewed Jesmyn Ward's Sing, Unburied, Sing this morning on RNZ's Nine to Noon.
RNZ Nine to Noon: Sour Heart by Jenny Zhang /
Jenna reviews the excellent short story collection Sour Heart by Jenny Zhang. Listen here!
RNZ Nine to Noon: BABY by Annaleese Jochems /
Jenna talks to Kathryn Ryan about a wonderful new literary talent from VUP. Click the image to listen to the review.
