A sincere appreciation of The Hunger Games

Summer reissue: Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was released internationally in May. Books editor Catherine Woulfe went all in.  First published 19 May 2020.  Independent journalism depends on you. Help us stay curious in 2021. The Spinoff’s journalism is funded by its members – click here to learn more about how … Read more

The Real Pod returns from the crypt for a Twilight special

After more than a year of social distancing, Alex, Jane and Duncan are back in the same room for an emotional reunion and to talk about a cinematic masterpiece. Approximately a thousand years ago, the idea of The Real Pod maybe, possibly, perhaps one day recapping the Twilight movie was floated. The people heard the … Read more

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the strange week ending August 21

The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND First, a word from the team at Unity Auckland: This second week of Lockdown 2.0 has seen us readjust nicely into … Read more

I spent far too much time thinking about Midnight Sun

Books editor Catherine Woulfe emerges from her Twilight reverie just long enough to write a review.  Twilight has me in a lasting swoon. It is a cup of sweet tea, to be dispensed in times of shock and sadness. Big stuff, like miscarriages, and terminal diagnoses, and on the eve of level four. I resent … Read more

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the strange week ending August 14

Before we get to the top 10s, a note from the good folk at Unity Auckland:  Wednesday, first thing, we found people knocking on the shop door before we had a chance to flick the lights on. This time around folk were not going to be without their reading materials. There was lovely Judith, who … Read more

‘Writing as Edward stressed me out’: Stephenie Meyer on returning to Twilight

A new Twilight book launches today. Its author told Catherine Woulfe about gender politics, anxiety, and the challenges of writing the Twilight story from Edward Cullen’s perspective. Midnight Sun is the original Twilight story, except instead of Bella Swan narrating it’s her vampire love, Edward Cullen. It’s a book that I and the rest of … Read more

A sincere appreciation of The Hunger Games

Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is released internationally today. Books editor Catherine Woulfe is all in.  The Hunger Games is 12 years old. Much of the hype and silliness that originally surrounded the series has faded, leaving a story that feels more grown-up, more permanent. It reads so much better now. … Read more

The teacher stories

I had planned to write an unabashed rave review, and then another book landed in my letterbox – and I just couldn’t read those stories in isolation from my own experience, writes Spinoff books editor Catherine Woulfe. I want to write about two books that I’ve just read, and then I want to tell you … Read more