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The Spinoff
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
‘It's about a man who turns into a shark': Georgia Lines on the book that made her cry
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Aotearoa musician, Georgia Lines, headline act at the Auckland Live Cabaret Festival. The book I wish I'd written The books that have moved me the most have often come from places I'd never want to have been. I find it's the same with music. I've wished I'd written certain songs, but the circumstances that led to them aren't ones I'd want to have lived through. That said, one of my favourite books is The Choice by Dr Edith Eger. It's her story of surviving the Holocaust and her journey to becoming a psychologist. I don't wish I'd written that book because that would mean having to walk in her shoes. But I do hope to live my life in a way that carries the essence of it: recognising that no matter what, we always have a choice. And more than that, I hope I can live a life that carries meaning and that the hard things I walk through can become some kind of offering to those who choose to listen to what I create. Everyone should read This might be a slightly unconventional answer, but Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara is one of those books I started recommending to every second person just a few chapters in. It reminded me that hospitality and care can be an art form and that small, thoughtful gestures can become moments people carry with them for years. It shifted how I think about running a business, leading a team, and ultimately, how I create. It's a beautiful invitation to be more generous, more present, and more human in the spaces we shape. The book I want to be buried with This is probably the hardest question to answer. To be honest, I'm not sure what book I'd want to be buried with. It reminds me of the panic I felt at the start of high school when I had to create a career pathway plan for Year 9 Social Studies. The pressure of making a 'final' decision and mapping out every move for my career felt so huge and overwhelming that I lost sleep and clearly created a core panic-filled memory for me. Maybe it's the same with this question – the idea of choosing just one book feels way too big, and maybe a little impossible. If I ever decide on one book, I'll let you know. The book that made me cry Earlier this year, I was up north for a week with some friends when I read Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. One of them had insisted I read it, but when she described the plot – a man slowly turning into a great white shark – I wasn't convinced it was my kind of book. But I've never cried reading a book like I did with this one. And I don't mean a tear or two, I mean full-on ugly crying. I had to put the book down just to catch my breath and debrief with friends over a glass of wine and a very large handful of cheese and crackers. I've been raving about it to anyone who'll listen ever since. The premise might sound strange on paper, but once you embrace the world it builds, it's absolutely devastating in the most beautiful, tender way. The first book I remember reading by myself I'm not sure if it was the very first book I read on my own, but I vividly remember winning a reading prize pack from What Now, filled with Jacqueline Wilson novels. I spent the entire day hiding away in my wardrobe, which I'd turned into a secret hut/journaling spot/reading nook, completely absorbed in Tracy Beaker. (Side note: how impossible was it to get through to the Telly Ops on a Sunday morning? IYKYK.) The book I wish I'd never read I vividly remember reading Ripley's Believe It or Not in primary school and becoming both fascinated and completely terrified by a section about ghosts and it stuck with me in the worst and weirdest way. My friends and I somehow decided the library was the only safe haven from these ghosts, and it turned into this odd little game. We'd rush back there at break times, hunting for more 'ammunition' to defeat them. Looking back, I kind of wish I'd never read it – it probably would've saved me a few night terrors, but then again, those irrational fears sparked some of the most bizarre, and oddly brilliant memories. The book that haunts me Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad has stayed with me in a way few books do. It's not just about her journey with cancer, it's about what it means to live when everything you thought defined you has been stripped away. The book I pretend I've read Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown. It's one of those books that's lived on my bedside table forever, and I keep meaning to actually read it. I've flicked through it enough to fake my way through a conversation, but I haven't properly read it cover to cover. I think I feel a bit behind for not having read it yet. If I could only have three books to read for the rest of my life they would be Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren, The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, and The Choice by Edith Eger (even though I've already mentioned it, it's still a favourite). What I'm reading right now I'm one of those people who always has a few books on the go at once which definitely makes it harder to actually finish them. It's usually a mix of fiction, nonfiction, a self-help book I've read three chapters of, and a laryngeal biomechanics textbook I keep telling myself I'll get through. But there's usually one novel that trumps all the others and currently that's Prima Facie by Suzie Miller. I'm down to the final few pages and haven't been able to put it down. It's confronting and heavy, and dives into themes of power, justice and consent in a way that feels deeply important.
The Spinoff
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
‘Like swimming in a sea of legendary writers': Tina Makereti's books confessional
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Tina Makereti, author of This Compulsion In Us. The book I wish I'd written This changes depending on what I'm reading at the time, if it's good! Like now I'm reading Gliff by Ali Smith, and I wish I could write something like that. It's set sometime in the near future, and somehow post-apocalyptic, which also seems to be post-this-exact-moment, and tightly narrated so that you are inside this paranoid, limited world of a young person living in a high control society. But there's also a lot of beauty, particularly around words. Everyone should read Everyone should read whatever they want because all that matters is that they read. I'm avoiding naming a single book because I can't see how it's possible to name a single book. I saw someone else online saying this exact thing recently and even though it might seem glib and obvious, it's still profound. How about not judging what anyone reads? How about reading whatever gives you joy, or calm, or relaxation, or fuel? The book I want to be buried with No don't bury books! Someone else can read them when I'm gone! The first book I remember reading by myself I don't remember a specific book but I was obsessed with fairy tales, and Cinderella was my favourite for ages. Those stories are just so archetypal — I don't think anything can replace them, alongside folktales, legends, mythological stories, creation stories. I'm still fuelled quite strongly by those kinds of stories and I still enjoy reading or watching versions of them. Dystopia or utopia The only utopian works I think I've read or watched tended to be dystopia in disguise. I find it hard to imagine a story that is truly utopian. And dystopia comes so naturally. Dystopia is kind of the air we breathe, quite literally. Which makes me very curious about utopia… The book that made me laugh Michelle Duff's Surplus Women. It's laugh out loud funny, and that's not easy to pull off, especially when the subject matter can be confronting. The laughs come from Michelle's sensibility behind the stories, and also her willingness to just say the thing. Funny writers seem so unafraid. Encounter with an author Going to the Calabash Festival in Jamaica was wild — like swimming in a sea of absolutely legendary writers. I had encounters with a many incredible writers that week. A few embarrassing encounters too. Marlon James was there having freshly won the Booker, and I was reading The Book of Night Women, which is an extremely moving book, so I was having a massive fangirl moment. Marlon was quite distant though, which wasn't surprising. I don't think it can be easy to deal with all the attention that comes from winning the Booker. Eleanor Catton was there too and she seemed more relaxed than the year before when she had won! But the most impressive moment might have been at the end of the festival, when there was a big meal and drinks put on for us. I met poet Raymond Antrobus in line for kai, before he had won so many prizes, and later emailed him to ask if I could use his surname for a character in the book I was writing. I don't know what I was thinking. After I filled my plate I found a seat at a big table, full of friendly faces. A very distinguished looking gentleman came to sit across the other side. He seemed to know everyone else at the table, but when he clocked me, he stood again and extended his hand. He said, 'Hello, I'm Linton.' I shook, hopefully I introduced myself, I can't remember, but I do remember my face registering my dawning recognition and surprise. The women at the table nodded and laughed. 'Yes it is!' someone said. Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jamaican-British dub poet, activist, musician. Absolute legend of legends. Inventor of form. I don't know if he's so well known here, or that I know his work well enough, but he sure had a presence. Best food memory from a book Got to be all the kai in The Bone People! And the booze. The big, hearty, straight-off-the-land meals in that book provide a much needed comfort: a counterpoint to the violence. Best thing about reading The feeling you get when you're so taken by a story that you absolutely have to get back to the book, and you kind of carry the story around with you when you're not reading – you might even think about the characters the way you think about friends or family. There are lots of great things about reading, but being so transported by a book, so in love with it, must be one of the most pleasant experiences you can have. I don't get that often anymore, so when I do have it, I really notice. Because reading for work is always my first commitment, I need something really enthralling if I'm going to read for fun. I reckon it must be a slightly different formula for everyone, and that's the nice thing. I often find what other people rave about just doesn't do it for me. Everyone has a slightly different alchemy in terms of what they need from a book. All of this applies to the process of writing too. Best place to read If I'm travelling alone, it's always good to read in cafes, restaurants, pubs even, certainly on public transport, in parks. Reading outside is always nice. This Compulsion In Us by Tina Makereti ($40, Te Herenga Waka University Press) is available to purchase through Unity Books. This Compulsion In Us launches at Unity Books Wellington, 6pm, Wednesday 28 May. All welcome.
The Spinoff
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
‘There's no book I wish I'd written': Matariki Bennett's favourite poems
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Matariki Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Hinerangi), author of new poetry collection, e kō, nō hea koe; and guest curator at Auckland Writers Festival 2025. The book I wish I'd written There's no book I wish I'd written! Instead, here are some of my favourite poems: Still life of the wind that carries me home to home (as it is today) by Liam Jacobson; The White Swans Are Dancing With Their Eyes Closed, In the Flurry by Joanna Cho; te henga by Isla Huia; Lightning by Khadro Mohamed. Everyone should read We're All Made of Lightning by Khadro Mohamed. This has been my favourite book for the past two or three years. I don't enjoy rereading books but I have read and reread We're All Made of Lightning and each time there is something new that swirls in my brain for the next few days. Kei runga noa atu. The book I want to be buried with Eulogy (not published) by Jane Holland, and Better The Blood by Michael Bennett. These are books written by my parents; I'd want to be buried with these because my writing isn't just mine, it is an echo of everything that has come before. The first book I remember reading by myself Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney. Dad used to read this to my siblings and I most nights, it is forever a comfort book. One of the earliest novels I recall reading was Owls Do Cry by Janet Frame. I think I read this far too young, and it has really stuck with me. Fiction or nonfiction Recently I have been reaching for nonfiction. Two books I've read that have had a huge impact on me have been Hine Toa by Ngāhuia Te Awekōtuku; and Colonising Myths – Māori Realities: He Rukuruku Whakaaro by Ani Mikaere. Above all else though, I love to read collections of poetry. My favourite collections at the moment are Talia by Isla Huia and People Person by Joanna Cho. If I could only read three books for the rest of my life they would be We're All Made of Lightning by Khadro Mohamed; Colonising Myths – Māori Realities: He Rukuruku Whakaaro by Ani Mikaere; and any collection of New Zealand poetry! Greatest New Zealand book Small Holes in the Silence by Hone Tuwhare. Best thing about reading I love being swallowed into someone else's universe and being able to exist there for a bit. Best place to read Before I moved to the seaside, I loved to drive down to the South Coast of Wellington – usually Red Rocks – and I would read and write there, listening to the waves roar and letting the wind rock the car. Now I am lucky to be able to sit by the window in my lounge, and have that same feeling. What are you reading right now I have a habit of starting multiple books at once, which makes finishing them very difficult! I am currently reading: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro; The Woven Universe by Māori Marsden; and Time of the Child by Niall Williams. e kō, nō hea koe by Matariki Bennett ($35, Dead Bird Books) is available to purchase through Unity Books. Matariki Bennett is also a guest-curator at the Auckland Writers Festival which begins this week. The Spinoff Books section is proudly brought to you by Unity Books and Creative New Zealand. Visit Unity Books online today.
The Spinoff
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
‘A medieval Russian fever-dream': Rachael Craw's favourite books
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Rachael Craw, author of The Lost Saint. The book I wish I'd written The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. I want to stuff the pages in my mouth until the words melt around my teeth. Exquisite, lyrical, deeply embedded in a landscape so exotic to me I could not get enough. It's a medieval Russian fever-dream. Everyone should read Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen because then you can enjoy the memes. The book I want to be buried with The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien. The first book I remember reading by myself The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. (At an age where half the words in each sentence were too difficult for me and I just slogged my way through it by inference because I knew there was magic waiting for me in those pages. I was also the kid who checked the back of her wardrobe – just in case.) The book I pretend I've read Michael King's The Penguin History of Aotearoa New Zealand because Rachael King is a dear friend and I don't want her to be mad with me. Fiction or Nonfiction Fiction, obviously, because reality is blergh. The book that made me cry The Lord of the Rings, at every re-read: when (spoiler alert) Gandalf dies. The book that made me laugh Jaclyn Moriarty's The Slightly Alarming Tale of the Whispering Wars (I was reading it aloud to my daughter and had to put it down because I was laughing so hard it brought tears to my eyes.) Greatest New Zealand book Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd. Greatest New Zealand writer Elizabeth Knox. Best food memory from a book I know we've cancelled Neil Gaiman, and rightly so, but to this day I still think about the little slab of honey drizzled in jam in The Ocean At the End of the Lane that the little boy eats at the good witch's house after his demonic battle. I don't even think it would taste that nice but there's something about that description that's lodged itself in my synaptic highway. Best place to read Bed. What are you reading right now Physical Book: All Shall Mourn by Ellie Marney. Audio book: The Stand by Stephen King. The Lost Saint by Rachael Craw ($30, Allen & Unwin) is available to purchase through Unity Books. The Spinoff Books section is proudly brought to you by Unity Books and Creative New Zealand. Visit Unity Books online today.
The Spinoff
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
‘I am not giving up on my American readers': Graci Kim's books confessional
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Graci Kim, author of new middle grade novel, Dreamslinger. On 7 April Graci Kim announced on her social media channels that she wasn't going to be touring the US to launch her latest novel, Dreamslinger (published in America by Rick Riordan Presents). We've added an extra question to address this. What it's like to be an Aotearoa author of Korean heritage with strong ties to the US market There have been some unexpected challenges trying to release a new book into the US recently. I had originally planned to do a two-week book tour for the launch of Dreamslinger, visiting schools across the country. It was something I was very excited about, since I've always received nothing but warmth and welcome from my American readership. But unfortunately, I wasn't able to secure a tour this time around for a few reasons – one of which was that some schools are worried about the repercussions of having an author like me (ie. of Korean heritage) who writes books inspired by Korean culture and mythology. The teachers who reached out to me explained that my visit could be seen as a DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) initiative, which could attract scrutiny from their schools and authorities. It's disappointing of course, to say the least, but I mostly just feel for the teachers and librarians who are having to navigate these strange waters. As for me, I am trying to keep my chin up, because I'm not going to stop writing, nor am I giving up on my American readers. Lucky for me, my Korean heritage has gifted me grit and perseverance, while my Kiwi upbringing has gifted me optimism and a can-do attitude. This is but a blip in my journey, and I'm excited to continue sharing Dreamslinger with my wonderful readers in Aotearoa, in the US, and in all other corners of the world! The book I wish I'd written There are so many books I wish I'd written, but in terms of books I've read in recent years that I haven't been able to stop thinking about – it would have to be the Scythe series by Neal Shusterman. The concept is that humanity has conquered death, and only Scythes can end life. It explores morality and control, and what could possibly go wrong in a world where everyone can live forever. I am convinced Neal Shusterman can't be human, or at least, full human. I don't condone theft, but with all transparency, if I could steal his brain, you bet I would. Everyone should read A book I read recently that was just the perfect mix of hilarious, feel-good, and heart-wobbly goodness was The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood. You think it's just going to be this fun rom-com romp, and then it wipes you off your feet with its hefty emotional slap. The characters are so delicious and sticky, they stay with you long after the last page is turned. I recommended it to my sister, and my claim to fame is that she got so engrossed in it she almost forgot she had a baby she had to feed (sorry, niece!), and then we both separately slid into Kirsty's DMs to confess our love for her brain. The book I want to be buried with I want to be buried with the gazillion 'books' that my kid 'wrote' as a pre-schooler. I say 'books' in inverted commas because they range from 5–10 pages in length, and I say 'wrote' in inverted commas because she made a grown-up write the words while she dictated them. One of my favourites is about a mysterious unicorn who laid apples, whose dream was to open a supermarket. Oh, and another about a land called Mysteria, where seven good queens and seven bad queens live. On one day a year, it rains, and special magical powers are bestowed upon those who get wet. Unfortunately, that's when the seven bad queens turn everyone into chickens. Womp womp. She used to watch me struggle through my drafts and ask me, in a quizzical tone, 'Mummy, how come it takes you sooo long to write a book? It only takes me one Bluey to write one! But that's OK, you're still learning.' The first book I remember reading by myself This was not the first book I read by myself, per se, but I distinctly remember discovering The Babysitter's Club series and feeling like my brain had been lit on fire. It was the first time I felt inspired to apply something from a book into my real life. Of course, in a wholly unoriginal plot twist, I also set up a babysitting club with my friends — although ours had a Spice Girls flavour to it, where we each had a special alias (I was 'Midnight Black'), and we performed pop concerts when we weren't busy babysitting… The book that made me cry I absolutely love it when a book can make me cry, and the first time it ever happened, I was in primary school and I had just read The Day After Forever by Erin Skiffington. Despite not being able to tell you much about the plot or characters, I will tell you I bawled like a baby as I closed that book, and felt like I'd entered some kind of new world. I remember being stunned into silence at the power of words — and how reading about imaginary characters could make me feel such an intense torrent of emotion. I was hooked. Then I found out the author (also a Kiwi) was only 14 when she wrote the book. It absolutely blew my mind! The book I never admit I've read So I read this question wrong, and thought it was asking about a book I admit I have never read. I now realise the question is the opposite of that, but since I've already thought of an answer, I will pretend my first reading of the question was correct. The book I admit I've never read is the Harry Potter series, which my husband thinks is wild since I write children's fantasy novels. The thing is, I loved reading for pleasure as a kid, but then I went through a whole chapter of life from high school until my late 20s where I lost touch with books. I read textbooks (against my will) and the occasional self-help book (to further my will), but there seemed no time for reading for the sake of enjoyment and escape. School, and then work, took too much of my time for such indulgence. But then when I temporarily went blind (that's a story for another day), I suddenly remembered about the existence of stories again. And I've never looked back — well, except for Harry Potter. Does it count if I watched (most of) the movies? Greatest New Zealand book This is a terribly unfair question (how can you whittle so many greats into one favourite?!), but right at this moment, I am reflecting on how much I adored Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox. For a theatre arts kid who is obsessed with dreams (there's a reason my new upcoming book is called Dreamslinger), this book grabbed me and never quite let me go. Imagine having the special gift of catching larger-than-life dreams, then relaying them for audiences in a magnificent dream palace called the Rainbow Opera. I want to go to a live dream performance! Add a heaping of politics, danger, and intrigue, and you have yourself a great New Zealand book. Greatest New Zealand writer This is also a terribly unfair question to ask, because it's too difficult to choose just one. Can I say it depends on the weather and my mood? You know what, I'll just go rogue and tell you some of the writers I've recently read and adored (but know this is far from an exhaustive list): the aforementioned Elizabeth Knox, Sherryl Jordan, Nalini Singh, Rose Carlyle, Claire Mabey, Rachael King, Rose Lu, Joanna Cho, Allegra Hall, Shilo Kino, Kyle Mewburn, Leonie Agnew, and so so so many more… More Reading Best place to read So recently, I've been dreaming about a retreat in a beautiful location, with like-minded bookish folks, cute huggable dogs and/or cats, where they cook delicious meals for you, and all you do is relax, read, hug animals, and then talk about books. Can someone create this so I can go?? What are you reading right now I haven't gotten into it yet, but I just picked up The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley, set in the near future, where a disaffected civil servant is offered a lucrative job in a mysterious new government ministry gathering 'expats' from across history to test the limits of time-travel. The Sunday Times called it 'the most talked-about debut of 2024' and it was even a Barack Obama reading pick, so I'm curious to see what I discover within its pages. Dreamslinger by Graci Kim ($24, Penguin NZ) is available to purchase through Unity Books. The Spinoff Books section is proudly brought to you by Unity Books and Creative New Zealand. Visit Unity Books online today.
