Books & Authors

Red Roulette is a gripping personal account of power and greed among China's "red aristocracy".

Melanie O'Loughlin from Lamplight Books in Auckland reviews A Luminous Republic by Andrés Barba, published by Granta. Audio

At just eight years old, an aggressive bone cancer threatened Jess Quinn's life. When endless rounds of chemotherapy failed to shrink the tumour, she was put forward for rotationplasty, a pioneering… Audio

For almost a decade writer Whiti Hereaka has been fleshing out the mythical story of a monster bird woman. The novel is called Kurangaituku - a name and story Whiti's known since childhood. But that… Audio

What happens when there are questions that only your father can answer, and you have no idea who he is? That's Tom's predicament in The Other Side of the World, a novel by Jenni Francis, whose family… Audio

The enduring appeal of crime novels that offer their readers genuine thrills and curveballs, compelling characters, just enough clues and not too many red herrings, is celebrated in the annual Ngaio… Audio

Author and historian Hampton Sides' latest book, The Exotic: Intrigue and Cultural Ruin in the Age of Imperialism, tells the remarkable story of Mai, a central figure in the story of Captain James… Audio

Foxton-born author Meg Mason would be forgiven for feeling like the last 12 or so months have passed in a blur. Although it was her second novel (and third book overall), the release of Sorrow and… Audio

Travel writer Colin Thubron travels down the Amur River, which separates China and Russia, and finds growing distrust despite official messages of friendship.

Catriona Ferguson reviews Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down published by Text Publishing. Audio

Announcing the winners of the first ever Nine to Noon Short Story Competition! Judges Tina Makareti and Harry Ricketts have selected five stand-outs among almost 1,500 stories entered into the… Audio

Hannah August reviews The Magician by Colm Toibin, published by Macmillan. Audio

Multi-award winning American writer Jonathan Franzen is back with an epic novel about family, religion and culture. Crossroads is set in the 1970s and focuses on the Hildebrandt family - father Russ… Audio

Today's Bookmarks guest is Distinguished Professor of English Brian Boyd, who is widely recognised as the world's leading scholar on the Russian-American writer Vladimir Nabokov.  Audio

Rebel Wilson is an Australian actor, writer and producer who's fulfilled a long time ambition to write a children's book.  Audio

Catherine Ross is sticking with the Halloween theme this week, with a few recommendations for Spooky and Supernatural books. Audio

A new book is celebrating Maoritanga and the true stories of Maori who have achieved incredible things. The book Kia Kaha, by Stacey Morrison and Jeremy Sherlock, documents 49 Maori people and groups… Audio

David Hill reviews Silverview by John le Carré, published by Penguin Random House. Audio

The lockdown in August and the lockdown dragging on in Auckland has seen people turn to books for an escape This despite bookshops unable to sell books during level 4, and only post them to online… Audio

In compiling the latest edition of the book 250 Years of New Zealand Painting, art critic and writer Edward Hanfling believes it has been three decades since painting's place as the pre-eminent… Audio, Gallery