This week's bestselling books, Aug 1

Newsroom

3 days ago

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 [e-mail] 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)