The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending July 11
AUCKLAND
1 A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin Random House, $60)
Still going strong.
2 Abundance: How We Build a Better Future by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson (Profile, $40)
If books could rule the world.
3 There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak (Penguin Random House, $26)
A moving, generous intergenerational novel that shows how water connects us.
4 Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Vintage, $26)
The kind of novel you can read in one day and then think about for months.
5 Butter by Asako Yuzuki (Fourth Estate, $35)
Could make some comparisons to a certain mushroom trial over the ditch but it might be too soon.
6 No Words for This by Ali Mau (HarperCollins, $40)
The Spinoff's Alex Casey and Claire Mabey had a lot of thoughts and feelings about this memoir.
7 Eurotrash by Christian Kracht (Serpent's Tail, $30)
The road trip novel that's really about intergenerational trauma.
8 On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong (Vintage, $24)
The predecessor to number nine on the Wellington list.
9 The Safe Keep by Yael van der Wouden (Penguin, $26)
One of life's perfect novels.
10 The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb (Simon & Schuster, $40)
A new father, freshly addicted, struggles with his relationships.
WELLINGTON
1 A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin, $60)
2 Orbital by Samantha Harvey (Vintage, $26)
3 James by Percival Everett (Picador, $38)
Terrific novel that Taika Waititi just might be getting his fingers into for the film adaptation.
4 Delirious by Damien Wilkins (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $38)
Another terrific novel that would make a beautiful film, also.
5 The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $38)
6 Pūkeko Who-Keko by Toby Morris (Puffin, $21)
Dad jokes for the win! A terrific and terrifically fun new picture book by beloved Toby Morris who has taken the humble Pūkeko and given him a witty, adventurous book that will delight all ages. The genius is that the question and answer format makes a read aloud experience interactive and funny while also helping children (and adults) stretch their vocabulary and think inventively about language. Bravo!
7 A Voice for the Silenced by Harry Walker ($35)
Harry Walker gave a fascinating interview over on RNZ's Saturday morning show about this book which gives voice to people in prisons.
8 M ātauranga Māori by Hirini Moko Mead (Huia, $45)
If you're unaware of Professor Mead's work, here's a bit about him: Distinguished Professor Tā Hirini Moko Mead Mead (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Manawa and Tūhourangi) is the author of over seventy books, papers and articles. He was foundation professor of Māori Studies at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington and was an inspired founder of Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi in Whakatāne. A scholar of Māori language and culture, Tā Hirini was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006 and received a knighthood in 2009 for his services to Māori and to education.
9 The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (Jonathan Cape, $38)
In the Times Literary Supplement, Claire Lowdon writes: 'The Emperor of Gladness shares much with its predecessor [On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous]. The protagonist, Hai, is the gay Vietnamese American son of a refugee mother who works in a nail salon. He has fond memories of a schizophrenic grandmother. Once again, he is a teenager – just. 'He was nineteen, in the midnight of his childhood and a lifetime from first light.' In both books, the opioid crisis haunts the narrative and claims the life of a young man beloved of the protagonist. Above all, the two novels have a common poetic telos: to discover beauty in lives lived on the margins of society. 'My dream was to write a novel that held everything I loved', says Hai, 'including unlovable things. Like a little cabinet.''
A post-apocalyptic tale of women and friendship.
The Spinoff Books section is proudly brought to you by Unity Books and Creative New Zealand. Visit Unity Books online today.
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5 days ago
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The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending August 1
The top 10 sales lists recorded every week at Unity Books' stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND Highly educated Professor Ings hated school. He was always put in the problem class and was eventually kicked out of high school. His latest book looks at the problematic ways in which we define intelligence and how that leads to kids being labelled 'dumb' when they're not. 2 Butter by Asako Yuzuki (Fourth Estate, $35) Books are better value for money than butter. 3 Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton (Canongate, $28) A beautiful, and bestselling memoir about Dalton's relationship with a rescue baby hare and how the long-eared creature changed her life. 4 A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin, $60) New Zealand's most successful political memoir? At least in terms of sales? 5 When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Rizden (Doubleday, $38) Fresh fiction! Here's the blurb: 'Bo is running out of time. Yet time is one of the few things he's got left; his body is failing him and his quiet existence is only broken up by the daily visits from his home care team. His hands soon too weak to open the precious jar housing the scarf of his Alzheimer-stricken wife Frederika, which still bears her scent. Fortunately he still has his beloved elkhound Sixten for company, only now his son insists upon taking the dog away. The very same son that Bo is wanting to mend his relationship with before his time is up. The threat of losing Sixten stirs up a whirlwind of emotions that make him look back at his life, his fatherhood and the way he expresses his love.' 6 The Safe Keep by Yael van der Wouden (Penguin, $26) Exquisitely wrought historical fiction that brings the past to life. 7 The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (Arrow Books, $26) A killer classic. 8 Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn (Viking Penguin, $26) A collection of conversations with people named Candice and Dolly and Alain and Esther on the various states of love. 9 James by Percival Everett (Picador, $27) The Huck Finn retelling that's taken over the world. 10 A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan (Allen & Unwin, $37) The kind of novel you need on a long haul flight: absorbing. Read a review on The Spinoff, right here. WELLINGTON 1 M ātauranga Māori by Hirini Moko Mead (Huia Publishers, $45) Mead's earlier book, Tikanga Māori, was a bestseller and now, too, is this latest one. 2 Invisible Intelligence: Why Your Child Might Not Be Failing by Welby Ings (Otago University Press, $45) 3 Secret Art Powers by Jo Randerson (Barbarian Productions, $35) One of Aotearoa's most interesting and acclaimed theatre makers and writers, Jo Randerson, has created an absolute asset for anyone interested in creative thinking. Secret Art Powers draws on Randerson's extensive experience in art for social change to reveal what creative thinking really does and how it really can be used to respond to problems both big and small. Art powers include Lies, Multiplicity, Fluidity and Imagination. The production is exquisite, too: with brilliant illustrations and superb design by Sarah Maxey. 4 No, I Don't Get Danger Money by Lisette Reymer (Allen & Unwin, $38) A superbly entertaining memoir from journalist Lisette Reymer who recently starred in The Spinoff's My Life in TV column. 'Terrifically compelling,' says The Spinoff's review, here. 6 A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin, $60) True crime. 8 James by Percival Everett (Picador, $27) 9 Men in Love by Irvine Welsh (Jonathan Cape, $38) The sequel to Trainspotting. A beautifully produced book for the family to learn from and share. Learn more about Farnham and his bookish life over on The Spinoff's Books Confessional.
Newsroom
5 days ago
- Newsroom
This week's bestselling books, Aug 1
NONFICTION 1 A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin Random House, $59.99) Number of reviews commissioned by ReadingRoom to cover the publication of Jacinda Ardern's memoir: three. Number of reviews commissioned by ReadingRoom to cover the upcoming publication of Jacinda Ardern's childrens book: hmm probably zero. 2 Polkinghorne: Inside the trial of the century by Steve Braunias (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) My book, holding fast to the Number 2 position for the second consecutive week; a free copy of the book everybody is talking was up for grabs in last week's giveaway contest, but I wasn't entirely satisfied that the very many entries included a deserving winner, so it's up for grabs again this week. Readers were asked to share a story or an opinion about Dr Philip Polkinghorne. The opinions were kind of generic. The stories, though, were fascinating, from people who knew him at school, as neighbours, and as a patient of his during his long career as an eye surgeon. And so part 2 of the giveaway contest is directed only at readers who have some kind of personal story to tell about the man found not guilty in the most sensational murder trial in modern New Zealand history. A meeting, an encounter, an observation … Anonymity granted on request. Send the entries to stephen11@ with the subject line in screaming caps HIS NAME WAS POLKINGHORNE by midnight on Sunday, August 3. 3 Leading Under Pressure by Ian Foster & Gregor Paul (HarperCollins, $39.99) 4 The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour & Jude Dobson (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) 5 No, I Don't Get Danger Money by Lissette Reymer (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) 6 Everyday Comfort Food by Vanya Insull (Allen & Unwin, $39.99) 7 Whānau by Donovan Farnham & Rehua Wilson (Hachette, $29.99) 8 Sam the Trap Man by Sam Gibson (Allen & Unwin, $45) Guy on Insta makes book. 9 Easy Weeknight Meals (10th Anniv. Ed.) by My Food Bag & Nadia Lim (Allen & Unwin, $39.99) Includes her Malaysian roti chicken pie. Curry filling 600g boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2cm cubes 2 carrots, cut into 2cm cubes 400g potatoes, cut into 2cm cubes 2 shallots, thinly sliced ½ bunch curry leaves 1 tsp salt 1 Tbsp minced garlic 1 Tbsp minced ginger 20g mild curry powder 2 Tbsp cornflour pinch of chilli flakes 1 cup chicken stock 1 cup water 1 tsp fish sauce 200ml coconut milk 100g baby spinach Pie topping: 2 packs (480g) flaky roti ½ bunch curry leaves olive oil, to drizzle Method: Preheat oven to 220°C. Pat chicken dry and season cubes with salt and pepper. Set aside. Heat a drizzle of oil in an ovenproof skillet (or fry pan) on medium to high heat. Add carrots, potatoes, shallots, first measure of curry leaves and salt measure. Cook for about 5 minutes, until shallot is softened. Add garlic and ginger, mild curry powder, cornflour and chilli flakes and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute, until fragrant. Add chicken, stock, water, fish sauce and coconut milk and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 20 minutes, until vegetables are almost tender. Stir through spinach until just wilted, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Place curry filling in pie dish, if using. Scrunch roti roughly and place on top of curry filling. Sprinkle over second measure of curry leaves and drizzle with olive oil. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until roti are golden. 10 Coach by Mike Cron (HarperCollins, $39.99) FICTION 1 The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $38) Huzzah to Catherine Chidgey as she chalks up week 12 of her latest novel holding fast to the Number 1 bestseller position. 2 Dead Girl Gone (The Bookshop Detectives 1) by Gareth and Louise Ward (Penguin Random House, $26) 3 Delirious by Damien Wilkins (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $38) Sales continue to give a second lease of life to the Wellington writer's beautiful novel which was published last year and kind of quickly sank, but was revived when it won the Acorn prize for fiction at the Ockham book awards in May. It's on its way to being considered a modern New Zealand classic. Huzzah, Damien! 4 Tea and Cake and Death (The Bookshop Detectives 2) by Gareth and Louise Ward (Penguin Random House, $38) 5 The Stars Are a Million Glittering Worlds by Gina Butson (Allen & Unwin, $37.99) 6 For Such a Time as This (Kāwai 1) by Monty Soutar (David Bateman, $39.99) 7 1985 by Dominic Hoey (Penguin Random House, $38) 8 Tree of Nourishment (Kāwai 2) by Monty Soutar (David Bateman, $39.99) 9 See How They Fall by Rachel Paris (Hachette, $37.99) The 2025 Whitcoulls Top 100 Books List was announced on Monday – and included Auckland writer Rachel Paris's debut novel at number 17, ranked higher than To Kill a Mockingbird, Lord of the Rings, Normal People, Edmonds Cookery Book, Jane Ayre, Little Women, The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and The Bible. Huzzah, Rachel! 10 Black Silk and Buried Secrets (Tatty Crowe 2) by Deborah Challinor (HarperCollins, $37.99)
