On 95bFM’s Loose Reads Kiran reviewed our July Book of the Month and Lit Reads title Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi which has won the Man Booker International Prize. It’s a powerful saga about three sisters living in al-Awafi, an Omani village on the brink of change. Exploring themes of slavery, urbanisation, women’s wisdom, patriarchy and masculinity, it’s a beautiful read.
Bestsellers for June 2019 /
Click on the covers to shop!
TOP 5 BOOKS
Bestsellers Gallery Archive (Pre 2022)
KID'S BOOKS
Kids' Bestsellers Archive (Pre 2022)
95bFM's Loose Reads: The Farm by Joanne Ramos /
The Farm is Joanne Ramos’ first book. Jane arrives to the luxury resort Golden Oaks to become a ‘host’ - a surrogate for a wealthy client. Jane sees this well paid gig as a opportunity for her and her young daughter to get a step up in life, but the strict conditions of Golden Oaks, leads her to question a choice she can’t reverse.
Narrated by a cast of characters on all sides, The Farm is an educated insight into ethics, class and privilege & service culture.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Being Various: New Irish Short Stories Edited by Lucy Caldwell /
The short story is enjoying a resurgence and this new anthology which Kiran reviewed on 95bFM’s Loose Reads Being Various: New Irish Short Stories edited by Lucy Caldwell brings together 24 vibrant and fresh pieces by Irish authors including Sally Rooney, Sinead Gleeson, Wendy Erskine, Nicole Flattery, Lisa McInerney and Eimear McBride. The short story is in fine form!
RNZ's Nine to Noon: The Years by Annie Ernaux /
On RNZ’s Nine to Noon, Kiran reviewed Annie Ernaux’s collective history The Years, which was shortlisted for this year’s Man Booker International Prize. A generous and attentive book, it is where autofiction, biography and sociology intersect. A radical approach to the memoir, Kiran says The Years is extraordinary, a treasure and a tonic.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Then It Fell Apart by Moby /
Jenna was a HUGE fan of Moby’s first autobiography Porcelain, but the follow up has been bathed in controversy. Listen to Jenna, Rachel & Tess discuss Then It Fell Apart, which Jenna can only describe as ‘feral.’
Don’t forget, your bCard qualifies you for a 10% discount at Time Out.
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Memories of the Future by Siri Hustvedt /
Memories of the Future explores themes of time and memory in Hustvedt’s new novel.
Tying together three threads of narrative, S.H from the past and S.H. from the present project towards each other, questioning philosophy, literature, art and feminism along the way.
Listen to Jenna’s review with Kathryn Ryan below:
BOOK OF THE MONTH: June 2019 /
Saltwater
Jessica Andrews
We are thrilled to introduce you to our June Book of the Month! Saltwater by Jessica Andrews is a stunning work of working class autofiction about fragility, place, class, the mother/daughter relationship and the body. It's a firecracker. Velvety, sensuous, and wonderfully allusive, it's a sublime evocation of a young woman's inner world as she moves between London and a small village on the coast of Ireland. Saltwater crackles with raw energy and real feeling, and Jessica Andrews' writing is intensely beautiful. Click here to listen to Kiran’s review on RNZ’s Nine to Noon.
Bestsellers for May 2019 /
Click on the covers to shop!
TOP 5 BOOKS
Bestsellers Gallery Archive (Pre 2022)
KID'S BOOKS
Kids' Bestsellers Archive (Pre 2022)
95bFM's Loose Reads: Merchants of Truth by Jill Abramson /
On 95bFM’s Loose Reads Kiran reviewed Merchants of Truth by Jill Abramson who was just here for the Auckland Writers Festival. It’s a great book for anyone interested in the changing landscape of journalism, and scrutinises four news outlets - the old guard of the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, and the “disruptive mavericks” Vice and Buzzfeed.
95bFM's Loose Reads: Attraction by Ruby Porter /
Jenna had a big weekend at the Auckland Writers Festival, so on tofay’s Loose Reads she chats to Rachel and Tess about this incredible book event which included the Ockham Book Awards.
Books that we have spoke about before on Loose Reads came away with gongs. The Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize was awarded to This Mortal Boy by Fiona Kidman. Tayi Tibble’s Poukahangatus won best first poetry book and Chessie Henry’s We Can Make a Life won best first non-fiction book. Check out the rest of the winners here.
Then, Jenna reviews Ruby Porter’s Attraction. Winner of the inaugaral Michael Gifkins Prize. You can also listen to Ruby’s interview from last week here.
Don’t forget, your bCard qualifies you for a 10% discount at Time Out.
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Saltwater by Jessica Andrews /
On RNZ’s Nine to Noon Kiran reviewed Saltwater by Jessica Andrews. A superb work of autofiction about fragility, place, the mother/daughter relationship and the body.. Kiran says, “It’s intoxicating. It absolutely knocked me for six!”
95bFM's Loose Reads: Dead People I Have Known by Shayne Carter /
On 95bFM’s Loose Reads Kiran talked about our Book of the Month - the hotly anticipated Dead People I Have Known by Shayne Carter. It’s a ripper of a yarn, packed with insight, dry humour, girls, guitars and juicy bon mots.
BOOK OF THE MONTH: May 2019 /
Dead People I Have Known
Shayne Carter
We are pleased to announce that our May Book of the Month is the highly anticipated memoir Dead People I Have Known by Shayne Carter, published by Victoria University Press.
From Kiran Dass’ NZ Herald review:
“Dead People I Have Known is sharp, moving and tender. Carter has backbone. He writes with a staunch self-awareness and alongside the successful moments doesn't shy away from revealing the awkward, embarrassing and low points. It's compelling, smart and immersive and I couldn't put it down. “
RNZ's Nine to Noon: The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See /
The Island of Sea Woman is a gripping historical saga that follows the lives of two haenyeo (women divers) from Jeju Island, Korea. Impeccably researched and set alongside the political turmoil of Korea in the twentieth century, this is a fascinating tale about the women who undertake one of the world's most difficult careers in a unique matrifocal society.
Listen to Jenna’s review with Kathryn Ryan below:
95bFM's Loose Reads: Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid /
A new week and a new breakfast host for 95bFM! This morning, Jenna chatted with Rachel and producer Tess about Daisy Jones & the Six. This is a tale of a 1970’s fictional rock ‘n’ roll band, who are vividly imagined in through the novel’s structure as an oral history - think VH1’s Behind the Music meets Almost Famous.
Don your hoop earrings, imagine yourself in the California sun and step inside this digestable & fun read.
Don’t forget, your bCard qualifies you for a 10% discount at Time Out.
Bestsellers for April 2019 /
Click on the covers to shop!
TOP 5 BOOKS
Bestsellers Gallery Archive (Pre 2022)
KID'S BOOKS
Kids' Bestsellers Archive (Pre 2022)
95bFM's Loose Reads: America is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo /
It was a bittersweet Loose Reads today as it was our last slot with dear Mikey Havoc who is leaving this week. Kiran spoke about America is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo who will be appearing in conversation with Kiran at the Auckland Writers Festival. It’s an extraordinary novel about three generations of Filipina women in San Francisco’s Bay Area.
RNZ's Nine to Noon: Spring by Ali Smith /
Ali Smith is back with the third book in her Seasonal Quartet, Spring.
We are introduced to three characters that are soon to meet - Richard, an elderly film & TV director who is mourning the death of his friend, Brittany, a young, educated, security officer at a UK Immigration Removal Centre and 12 year old Florence, who is traveling on her own from London to Scotland.
Smith’s ability to form this intricate web of connections between fictional characters and current events is masterful and self aware. She’s constantly pushing the boundaries of fiction, as well as publishing. This is a modern classic that is a true joy to read. Listen to Jenna’s review with Kathryn Ryan below:
95bFM's Loose Reads: Auckland Writers Festival with Anne O'Brien /
We were so lucky Auckland Writers Festival director, Anne O’Brien, join us to talk about what we need to see this coming May 13-19.
Some of Anne’s picks for bFM listeners are Shayne Carter, Jeff Tweedy, Akala and Kate Raworth.
We also give some tips about how to tackle the free events line.