Provocateur, icon, enigma... who was Michael Jackson, really? Suri reviewed Margo Jefferson's insightful biography On Michael Jackson on Loose Reads this morning.
Reviews
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.
95bFM's Loose Reads: How to Be Famous by Caitlin Moran /
On 95bFM's Loose Reads, Kiran reviewed Caitlin Moran's new novel How to Be Famous - it's like Pippi Longstocking with whisky, a comic novel about music, music writing, ambition and confidence set when the upswell of Britpop was gathering speed...
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.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Priestdaddy by Patricia Lockwood /
Jenna reviews the highly acclaimed 2017 memoir Priestdaddy, which has recently come out in paperback! This is a hilarious family tale - the premise of which Mikey does not believe to be possible. Listen here to find out more.
95bFM's Loose Reads: The Story of The Face: The Magazine That Changed Culture by Paul Gorman /
On 95bFM's Loose Reads, Kiran reviewed The Story of The Face: The Magazine That Changed Culture by Paul Gorman. It's a lavish, beautifully produced book which celebrates the history of the iconic British magazine The Face. Essential reading for lovers of magazines, fashion, culture, design and photography.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Listen to This by Alex Ross /
On 95bFM's Loose Reads, Kiran reviewed the new updated edition of Listen to This by Alex Ross, who appeared at the Auckland Writers Festival last week. A wonderfully engaging book about musical culture which explores essential figures in classical music alongside alternative views on pop music.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Hellholes of the World: A Love Story by David G. Brown /
This morning Jenna reviewed Hellholes of the World: A Love Story by David G. Brown. This is a pure, rough and tumble travel memoir. Published posthumously, David tells of travelling to places that are no usually on your bucket list: Israel, Syria, the Congo, Banglasdesh, Sierra Leone and more. This is a classic travel memoir with excellent storytelling and political insight.
Jenna also chats with Jogai about Auckland Writers Festival highlights.
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:
95bFM's Loose Reads: Afterglow by Eileen Myles /
Today, Kiran reviewed Afterglow, Eileen Myles' memoir of their dog. Sadly, Myles has been a late cancellation for the Auckland Writers Festival but we recommend checking our their work as well as listening to this interview with RNZ's Kim Hill.
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: Ponti by Sharlene Teo /
On Monday, Jenna, Jogai and Mikey spoke about the excellent read, Ponti. With sweaty Singapore as its backdrop, this story interweaves the lives of three women. It's smart, captures the subtly of complex female relationships, has great pop culture references. Listen to the review below.
Sharlene Teo will be in town for the Auckland Writer's Festival in just a few weeks. Check out her sessions here.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art: The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue /
Kiran's brought in a rock-infused number this week. Vinyl. Album. Cover. Art: The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue is exactly what the title suggests: a full feature of design collective Hipgnosis, showcasing groundbreaking cover art created for iconic rock 'n' roll giants including Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd to name a few.
Customer Review: 3 Young Adults Novels with Shania Kumar /
Young adult expert Shania Kumar sent us three great reviews this week. Here's her feedback on Flawed by Cecelia Ahern, The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward, and The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. We're looking forward to seeing what Shania reviews next!
Flawed by Cecelia Ahern
“A heart-wrenching story of a young lady, Celestine North, standing up to society and challenging societal rules and expectations. I loved how this book talked about injustice in a unique way and showed injustice through there being ‘perfect’ human beings and then flawed human beings who were inferior to the ‘perfect’ human beings. Flawed also portrayed the idea that there is no such thing as being ‘perfect’ and that part of being a human is to be flawed. This allows us to learn from mistakes we make and become a wiser person because of it.”
Perfect, the sequel to Flawed is out now.
Our recommended reading age for this book is 10-14 years.
The Potion Diaries by Amy Alward
“Join Samantha Kemi, an extraordinary alchemist on a nationwide hunt to find the cure for a love potion which the Princess of Nova accidentally drank. During Samantha’s deadly quest to find the scarcest ingredients in the universe like Eluvian ivy and Abominable hair, she realises that all is not as it seems to be and her families’ rival family, the Aster family, might be up to something. This book is an easy and interesting book to read and is about embracing yourself and reaching your full potential.”
You can also read the sequel, The Royal Tour.
Our recommended reading age for this book is 10 years and up.
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
“Enter a world where all the creatures from your darkest nightmares are alive! Meghan Chase thought she was an ordinary teenage girl but all this dramatically changes when the fae steal her little brother and replace him with a changeling. On a mission to find her brother, Meghan enters the Never Never, a paranormal world in which faeries, monsters, trolls and nymphs are all alive and she is a Princess of the summer fae. Experience Meghan’s quest to find her brother and along the way develop lifelong friendships with Prince Ash and Puck. This book will attract anyone who is into fantasy and mythological creatures and is a thrilling tale which you won’t be able to put down!”
Our recommended reading age is 12 years and up.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Educated by Tara Westover /
This morning Jenna reviewed the riveting memoir, Educated. Westover grew up in a radical survivalist Morman family in rural Idaho. She didn't attend high school, but studied on her own to gain University entrance. Listen to what else happens here and why you should read it!
95bFM's Loose Reads: Penguin Mini Modern Classics /
Ian speaks with Mikey in his last book review before he ditched Time Out for the mean streets of Dublin. Penguin's new series of Mini Modern Classics is packed full of incredible titles for only $3 each.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi /
Suri spoke with Jogai about the recently translated Frankenstein in Baghdad, which was the International Prize for Arabic fiction winner in 2014.
This is also our first Time Out Lit Reads Book Club title! You can read more information about the Lit Reads book club here and buy tickets here.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Down with Childhood by Paul Rekret /
Jenna chatted to Mikey about Down with Childhood, a slim book on a rather specific topic: children's voices in pop music.
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.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Talking to my Daughter about the Economy by Yanis Varoufakis /
Ian chats to Mikey Havoc about daughters! and the economy!
You can buy it here & you can listen here: