Books
Sex, a Pagoda and a new NZ novel
"Taking Pagoda Mountain (by strategy) romps through sex in a pagoda, people-smuggling in a Buddha statue, disguises, Led Zeppelin, Denis Glover’s grandson, a racist talent show, corrupt Shanghai…
Coming up
200 years of John Keats
Robert Kelly celebrates the legacy of romantic poet John Keats who passed on this day 200 years ago in the teeth of another pandemic. Audio
Reo Pēpi
Two NgÄi Tahu cousins from Otago are behind the Reo Pēpi bilingual board books - writing and illustrating them. Kitty Brown talks to Kathryn about how she and her whanaunga Kirsten Parkinson came up… Audio
Book review - A Sky Full Of Stars by Dani Atkins
David Hill reviews A Sky Full Of Stars by Dani Atkins, published by Head of Zeus. Audio
Book review - Women of a Certain Rage edited by Liz Byrski
Laura Caygill reviews Women of a Certain Rage edited by Liz Byrski, published by Fremantle Press. Audio
Time to remember two traumatic Christchurch events
A frantic rewrite was required during the lockdown last year by novellist Janna Ruth, who'd set her novel Time to remember in Christchurch throughout 2020. The book's characters are mainly preoccupied… Audio
Novelist Susanna Gendall and the "Disinvent Movement"
Imagine if you could disinvent things that really annoy you, things that also harm the planet. The central character in Susanna Gendall's debut novel The Disinvent Movement endeavours to do just that… Audio
Book review - The Narrow Land by Christine Dwyer Hickey
Jane Westaway reviews The Narrow Land by Christine Dwyer Hickey, published by Allen & Unwin. Audio
Wellington City Council considering selling part of central library
The Wellington City Council's library saga has taken an unexpected turn - councillors are considering selling part of its ownership of the quake-prone library to private investors.
On top of that… Audio
Selling part of Wellington's library to solve financial woes
Dave Armstrong talks to Jesse about an idea that's been floated to sell off half of Wellington's beleaguered Central Library in order to raise money to quake strengthen the remainder of the building.
…Book review - The Warm Sun on My Face
Matthew Roche reviews The Warm Sun on My Face: The Story of Women's Cricket in New Zealand by Trevor Auger, with Adrienne Simpson. Published by Upstart Press. Audio
Book review - The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S.
Louise O'Brien reviews The Mysterious Disappearance of Aidan S. by David Levithan, published by Text. Audio
Book Critic - Catherine Ross
Today's reviewer is sticking to a New Zealand theme, librarian Catherine Ross looks at great local reads for young adults. Audio
Book review - Wars Without End by Danny Keenan
Paul Diamond reviews Wars Without End: New Zealand’s Land Wars â€" A MÄori Perspective by Danny Keenan, published by Penguin Random House. Audio
Book review - Cook, Eat, Repeat by Nigella Lawson
Gail Pittaway reviews Cook, Eat, Repeat by Nigella Lawson, published by Penguin Random House. Audio
Book review - Best of 2020 - Arihia Latham
Arihia Latham with her three top picks from 2020 reading: Funkhaus by Hinemoana Baker (Victoria University Press), Tōkū Pāpā by Ruby Solly (Victoria University Press), Te Whē ki Tukorehe - new… Audio
New magazine to support young people with mental health issues
Nadine Hickman's own struggles with mental health gave her the drive to do 'more than just lament' when she heard New Zealand's mental health statistics. So she's started a magazine called PEPTALK… Audio
Book review - Best of 2020
John Duke of Unity Books selects three of his top recent reads: The Yellow House by Sarah M Broom (Corsair) Breasts and Eggs by Mieko Kawakami (Pan Macmillan) Recollections of my Non-Existence by… Audio
Book review - Best of 2020 - Children's books
Louise Ward of Wardini Books with her top picks from last year's books for children: Voyage of the Sparrow Hawk by Natasha Farrant (Allen & Unwin) We Are Wolves by Katrina Nannestad (Harper Collins)… Audio
Book Critic - Catherine Robertson
Today Catherine reviews Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy - with extra illustrations. Audio