Books
"Developing a project can feel like being lost in the middle of the ocean" Duncan Sarkies on the joy of discovery
Two years ago this month RNZ National's Culture 101 was launched. And a guest on our very first show, introducing comedy radio drama series The Mysterious Secrets of Uncle Bertie's Botanarium was… Audio
Telling Tales: Sue Vice
The controversy over the authenticity of Raynor Winn's The Salt Path has given rise to a broader discussion about the nature and prevalence of literary hoaxes. Audio
How Alan Niven was 'sucked in' to managing Guns N' Roses
While he's on record saying he hates rock 'n' roll books, Alan Niven has nonetheless written his own.
Book review: Hum by Helen Phillips
Stella Chrisostomou reviews Hum by Helen Phillips, published by Allen & Unwin Audio
Book review: The Ghost Walk by Karen Herbert
Sally Wenley reviews The Ghost Walk by Karen Herbert, published by Fremantle Press. Audio
Long running Auckland book shop on brink of closure
One of Auckland's best loved and long-running bookshops is on the brink of closure now its landlord, the Catholic Church, wants to sell up the historic central city property. Hard to Find books moved… Audio
Bookmarks with actor Stacey Leilua
Time for bookmarks, that time of the week when we get one interesting person to delve into some of their favourite things. Actor and creative producer Stacey Leilua joins Jesse today. Stacey has been… Audio
How Hastings Library is turning up the heat this winter
It's still winter for a couple more weeks and it's still pretty cold but if you're in Hastings you can Turn Up the Heat at your local library. Now in its ninth year, this adult only reading challenge… Audio
Greg Broadmore: The wonderful world of graphic novels
Wellington artist Greg Boardmore helped establish the Wētā Game Studio, but says nothing compares to the power and purity of making comics. He joins Mark Leishman. Audio
Book Critic: Julia Alvarez & Josephine Baker
Book critic Bill Hastings gives his latest recommendations; Julia Alvarez, The Cemetery of Untold Stories (Little Brown, 2025) and Josephine Baker, Fearless and Free - A Memoir (Penguin Random House… Audio
Book review: Yilkari: A desert suite
David Hill reviews Yilkari: A desert suite by Nicolas Rothwell and Alison Nampitjinpa Anderson. Audio
Jade May: Intimacy is a 'human right', no matter what your body looks like
Hospitalised with Crohn's disease throughout her teens and 20s, Jade May found escapism, self-discovery and sexual liberation in romantic novels and erotica. Now the 39-year-old writes her own.
What’s My Book About: Lauren Roche
Lauren Roche's latest novel Julia Eichardt - A Life of Grit and Grace brings to life the untold story of one of Queenstown's resilient settlers. Audio
Jane Austen Wrecked My Life
This year marks the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, with celebratory events in England and now a French rom-com. Audio
Jack Fairweather - The Prosecutor
The Prosecutor is the remarkable true story of Fritz Bauer, a gay German Jew who survived the Nazis and sought to hold his countrymen to account. Audio
Book review: In the Hollow of a Wave by Nina Mingya Powles
Melissa Oliver from Unity Books Wellington reviews In the Hollow of a Wave by Nina Mingya Powles, published by Auckland University Press. Audio
Author Kerri Andrews on the desire to walk
Kerri Andrews, author of Pathfinding, talks about what it means to rediscover oneself through the land we walk on. Audio
The Reread with Elizabeth Knox
Esteemed Aotearoa author Elizabeth Knox shares her thoughts on her reread of The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. Audio
Book review: Sleep by Honor Jones
Lucy Black reviews Sleep by Honor Jones, published by Fourth Estate. Audio
Books: Author Catherine Robertson with her latest picks
We're going to talk about books, specifically what our critic Catherine Robertson calls her "to be read pile of shame" books, also known as those books you've bought and haven't yet got around to… Audio
