New verse – he wrote it on Wednesday, actually – by Wellington writer Bill Manhire. Last words It’s nice out there, says the dying man. Yes, says the doctor, not too bad at all. Bill Manhire, 2017 The Spinoff Review of Books is brought to you by Unity Books.
Marion McLeod reviews an ‘icy-cold’ account of a Scottish serial killer by the brilliant Denise Mina. Scottish writer Denise Mina has been dubbed Glasgow’s answer to Edinburgh’s Ian Rankin. Having written a dozen crime novels, several plays and films, a comic (Hellblazer) and three graphic novels (adaptations of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy), she has decided to … Read more
‘Now I’m old and introspective and critical,’ writes Scarlett Cayford, ‘let me tell you why the young adult fiction penned by New Zealand women in the 90s is some of the best in the world.’ When I think back to the first books I read, my first thought falls to Sweet Valley High, and my … Read more
Music memoirs are so hot right now. Philip Matthews reads one of the best new books of the bunch – a hilarious account by Will Carruthers of Spacemen 3, a “drug parakeet” who ended up digging trenches. Do you feel like there is a boom in music memoir writing right now? Long may it run. Locally, Nick Bollinger’s … Read more
A personal essay – and travelogue – by the Auckland poet and rapper about the strange making of his debut novel, Iceland. “But why did you come here?” he asked. I could tell he was a fisherman by his worn rain jacket and scarred hands. We were standing at the edge of the ocean in … Read more
The best-selling books at the two best bookstores in the Commonwealth. WELLINGTON UNITY 1 Ministry Of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy (Hamish Hamilton, $38) We look forward to the forthcoming review by Marion McLeod. 2 Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli & Francesca Cavallo (Particular Books, $40) Portraits of 100 inspirational women … Read more
New verse, taken from the recently published collection of New Zealand political poems, by Dunedin writer Peter Olds. Boxing Day Young people shouldn’t have to work in supermarkets on Boxing Day. No young person under the age of 35 should have to work during summer holidays. The owners of supermarkets, lounging on … Read more
We conclude our week-long series on the new memoir by former Green MP Holly Walker with a review by another ex-MP – Deborah Coddington. Who would have thought Holly Walker, mother and Green MP from 2011 to 2014, was a victim of violent abuse while she was in Parliament? Her face was so badly bruised … Read more
Yet another Spinoff Review of Books exclusive: the longlist for the 2017 Ngaio Marsh award for best New Zealand crime fiction. The dear old Spinoff Review of Books can exclusively reveal the longlist for the 2017 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel. Now in its seventh year, the award recognises the best in New Zealand … Read more
All this week the Spinoff Review of Books looks at the new memoir by former Green MP Holly Walker. Today: we asked author Tessa Duder to respond to the chapter which credits her classic YA novel Alex as a formative influence. During the winter of 1986, I wrote the first book of the Alex quartet. … Read more
All this week the Spinoff Review of Books is covering the new, very candid memoir by former Green MP Holly Walker, and the mental health issues she experienced in parliament. Today: an interview conducted by Green candidate Chlöe Swarbrick. Read an excerpt from Walker’s book, The Whole Intimate Mess, here. Chlöe Swarbrick: What was it like … Read more
All this week the Spinoff Review of Books is devoted to a candid, sometimes shocking new memoir by ex-Green MP Holly Walker about her experience as a working mother in parliament. Today: an excerpt. One Friday morning, about three months after my return to work, I held a drop-in clinic for constituents in Petone. Parliament … Read more
The best-selling books at the two best bookstores in Christendom. AUCKLAND UNITY 1 The Man Who Ate Lincoln Road by Steve Braunias (Luncheon Sausage Books, $25) The author wishes to thank the hordes who bought a lot of copies of his book about food, shops, death and West Auckland life at his talk in the … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer James Brown. Flying Fuck We spend too much time doing things for people who don’t give a flying fuck about us. What is a flying fuck anyway? Is that line earning its place? It could probably be cut. James Brown, 2017 The Spinoff Review of Books … Read more
A new memoir by the great American writer Richard Ford leads Sir Bob Harvey to look back on his friendship with Warwick Roger, the founding editor of Metro magazine, and their shared love of Ford’s books. How does friendship happen? What glue does it take? Does it always finish in death as all stories do, … Read more
Adult literature in New Zealand gets most of the press, but kids’ books is a fresh and exciting field, writes Sarah Forster, co-creator of the brilliant website The Sapling. Have you heard of Ruth Paul? How about Bob Darroch? Or Phillip Webb? Jenny Cooper? Fleur Beale? Des Hunt? I’ll help you: each of these author has written … Read more
Craig Sisterson of the Ngaio Marsh awards for crime fiction announces a brand new literary award – for Kiwi true-crime books. The Ngaio Marsh Awards have been celebrating the best of New Zealand’s crime and thriller fiction on an annual basis since 2010 – but the long-term plan was always to expand the award categories … Read more
New verse by Otago writer Liz Breslin. No one in my poem is on p They’re all on p in Timaru except the student buying camel coat fabric and the fag-waving granny saying what a to do and the Community House security dude arms folded, clipboard primed and plastic. They’re all on p … Read more
The latest best-selling books at the world’s two best bookstores. WELLINGTON UNITY 1 Wish Child by Catherine Chidgey (Victoria University Press $30) Winner of the 2017 Victoria University Press and International Institute of Modern Letters book award (in association with Ockham New Zealand). 2 The New Zealand Project by Max Harris (Bridget Williams Books, … Read more
Louisa Kasza reviews the full-on memoir by former beauty editor and fulltime drug addict Cat Marnell. Charming, strung-out ex-beauty editor Cat Marnell represents many things traditionally despised about that walking thinkpiece, the millennial. Born into privilege, Marnell recognises her own potential as a writer, preferably for Condé Nast magazines, and merrily sets forth into a … Read more
Eat Me, a new study of the history and science of cannibalism, squanders the opportunity to present new insights, writes Paul Moon. Cannibalism is at once disturbing and banal. It’s disturbing because acts of cannibalism historically have generally been preceded by killings. Cannibalism is also often depicted as occurring in episodes of extreme violence, and … Read more
Long-time political insider Tony Simpson has written his 17th book – this time about himself, and the times he lived through. Writing a memoir is almost the only human activity I can think of which is literally and by definition a once in a lifetime experience. Of course you get the occasional smart-arsed maverick. Cyril … Read more
To mark a new edition (new preface and everything!) of the 2014 best-seller The Scene of the Crime by Steve Braunias, we present an extract from the chapter which entwines Rolf Harris and Julian Assange. Unable to think of anywhere I’d rather be during a few days to kill in London, I got the last vacant seat in … Read more
New verse by Kaipara poet Sam Hunt. Pissed by 11 Neither pop-inner or house-guest, I prefer an early-opener, patrons pissed by 11: the rest of the day the blur it always is. . . Some people say “Come and stay” or others, “I thought I’d just pop in” . … Read more
The best-selling books at the two best bookstores in Christendom. WELLINGTON UNITY 1 Balancing Acts: Reflections of a NZ Diplomat by Gerald McGhie (Dunmore Press, $35) Forty years a diplomat! He was New Zealand’s last ambassador to the Soviet Union, and he was also posted to Samoa, Papua New Guinea, and most dangerously of all, Wellington. … Read more
“Horrifying and hopeful at the same time”: Kim Hill reviews Idaho, one of the most acclaimed novels of 2017. A couple of years ago, I was visiting my father’s side of the family in Northern Ireland. As a shy, unhappy English child, I would spend holidays with them. I found them exotic, intimidating, irresistibly attractive. … Read more
“I know it may appear mean-spirited,” says Deborah Hill-Cone, “to write a bad review about anyone who has the courage to speak publicly about their mental illness.” And then she proceeds to write the bad review. Sarah Wilson writes in First We Make the Beast Beautiful, “I’d spent my life agile and I arrogantly traded … Read more
The latest literary funding grants from Creative New Zealand, featuring established novelists, literary festivals, and The Spinoff Review of Books. Where there’s a trough, there’s a snout. 248 applicants competed for the latest Creative New Zealand funding round, and requested a total of $7,486,318. Dream on! CNZ were able to award $2,032,544 in 92 grants. Among them … Read more
New verse by Wellington writer Freya Daly Sadgrove. STIHL power equipment I wanna be a tool for you like I specifically wanna be your STIHL chainsaw I want you dad-aged and swearing by me cos I do such a good job and I last exactly a lifetime— I want you to be careful about … Read more