Books
Colson Whitehead’s novel about slavery “had to be really brutal just to be realistic.”
Two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Colson Whitehead has written The Underground Railroad, The Nickel Boys, and Harlem Shuffle. He talks to Kim Hill at the 2023 Auckland Writers Festival. Audio
Prof John Plotz: finding new meaning in old books
Among his varied interests, leading Victorian literature scholar and prison educator Professor John Plotz revisits forgotten novels, giving them a second life, and explores the redeeming value of… Audio
Jared Davidson: how prison labour built New Zealand
Some of New Zealand's most important roads, buildings, botanic gardens and great walks were constructed by forced labour, in an era where idleness and waste was deemed more criminal then crime… Audio
The personal artistic agony of Gabriel Krauze
Gabriel Krauze's extra curricular activities were a little different from the average English literature student. While completing his degree at London's Queen Mary College, he was involved in gangs… Audio
Book review - So Distant From My Life
Melanie O'Loughlin reviews So Distant From My Life by Monique Ilboudo; translated Yarri Kamara published by Titled Axis Press. Audio
Bilingual work takes top prize at book awards
A bilingual work has taken out the top prize at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
Te Wehenga: The Separation of Ranginui and Papatūānuku by Mat Tait was last night presented… Audio
Bilingual book takes top honours at Children's Book Awards
A bilingual book about the Māori creation story has won the highest accolade in children's literature.
Hiwa: Contemporary Māori Short Stories released
An exciting new book is out today from one of Afternoon's favourite guests and incredible author, Paula Morris. Hiwa: Contemporary Maori Short Stories is a unique anthology. Audio
Book review: Porn: An Oral History
Kiran Dass reviews Porn: An Oral History by Polly Barton Audio
Book review: We Need to Talk about Norman by Denis Welch
Sonja de Friez reviews We Need to Talk about Norman by Denis Welch published by Quentin Wilson Publishing
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Book Critic: Dominic Hoey
Today Dominic talks to Jesse about Ill Will by Dan Chaon. Audio
Mardo El-Noor's Dogs with Stories
Our four-legged best friends are the subject of a new photography book; Dogs with Stories. The work of Mardo El-Noor, the book showcases one hundred adorable dogs and their owners, elaborately staged… Audio
Book review: Penance by Eliza Clark
Laura Caygill reviews Penance by Eliza Clark published by Allen and Unwin Audio
Book review: Old Boy: My Dad's Story of Addiction, Resurrection, Dumb Luck and Love by Georgia Tree
Cynthia Morahan reviews Old Boy: My Dads Story of Addiction, Resurrection, Dumb Luck and Love by Georgia Tree published by Fremantle Press Audio
Book review: Safiyyah's War by Hiba Noor Khan
Roger Christensen of Unity Books Auckland reviews Safiyyah's War by Hiba Noor Khan published by Walker Books. Audio
Jury researcher pens gripping courtroom drama
Claire Baylis is a fiction writer and legal researcher based in Rotorua. After 12 years as a law lecturer at Victoria University, Claire Baylis joined a trans-Tasman Jury Research project, and was… Audio
Book review: Why is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me
Dean Bedford reviews Why is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me?: Searching for the Truth on Political TV by Rob Burley published by HarperCollins Audio
Book review: The Trackers by Charles Frazier
Quentin Johnson reviews The Trackers by Charles Frazier published by HarperCollins Audio
Book Critic: Catherine Robertson
Today Catherine talks to Jesse about non-fiction book Shadowlands: A Journey Through Lost Britain by Matthew Green, Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld and The Artist by Ruby Solly. Audio
Book review: Dice by Claire Baylis
Carole Beu from the Women's Bookshop reviews Dice by Claire Baylis published by Allen and Unwin Audio