Books
The MacLeods epic overland journey
In 1962, Dunedin farmer Alan MacLeod said to his wife Joan and six kids, 'how about going for a drive'?' Audio
Book review: An Eccentric History in Batik by Dinah Priestley
Elisabeth Easther reviews An Eccentric History in Batik by Dinah Priestley, published by Mary Egan Publishing. Audio
Book Critic: Christmas present suggestions
Catherine Ross, the Director of Library at Auckland Grammar School and creator of the blog 'The School Book Wizard' joins me with some recommendations that would make good Christmas presents. For Ages… Audio
Top writers ruled out of NZ book awards due to AI covers
For the first time AI regulations have been applied to the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, including every detail from cover to cover.
Book ruled out of awards contention due to AI cover
Stephanie Johnson's collection of short fiction stories "Obligate Carnivore" have been ruled out of contention for next year's Ockham Book Awards. She spoke to Corin Dann. Audio
Could this be this country’s finest map?
There is much joy to be had poring over a great map. And this particular map may be the finest in New Zealand to pore over of them all. It's a map of Wellington city first made in 1891 by surveyor… Audio
Poet Tusiata Avia on "the most challenging book I've written"
A year ago, on Culture 101 we played a recording of Tusiata Avia reading a commissioned poem for the 2024 Arts Foundation's Laureate Awards. It was entitled 'I'm writing you a poem about art'. In it… Audio
Lit mag pulled from Whitcoulls shelves
Founder and editor-in-chief of Folly, Emily Makere Broadmore, joins Emile Donovan. Audio
Book review: Dead and Alive by Zadie Smith
Holly Walker reviews Dead and Alive by Zadie Smith, published by Penguin Random House. Audio
Shower Thoughts: What does a ghostwriter actually do?
Margie Thomson discusses how she became a ghostwriter for musician Stan Walker, and mental health advocate Sir John Kirwan and what it all entails. Audio
Booker Prize's 2025 winner's 'bare bones' prose
RNZ's executive editor of specialist news Jeremy Rees has read the shortlist. Is Flesh a worthy winner? Audio
Book Critic: Book things related to 'Hoods Landing'
A few weeks ago Pip Adam was lucky enough to be part of the launch of Laura Vincent's new novel Hoods Landing. Today she chats to Jesse about three book things related to Hood's Landing. Overseas… Audio
Review: Booker Prize winner, Flesh, 'baffling in its blankness'
It claimed one of the biggest literary prizes in the world but readers are split.
Israeli hostage on his near 500-day ordeal: 'Every morning I choose life'
Eli Sharabi spent 14 months mostly in tunnels under Gaza - with often cruel, but occasionally kind captors, little food, no sunlight - and most importantly no knowledge that his British wife and…
'Dark book, but joy to read': Booker Prize winner announced
David Szalay has won the pirze for his novel Flesh, after missing out in 2016 to Paul Beatty's The Sellout.
Book review: Ancient Myths and Legends Without Men by Mara Gold
Quentin Johnson reviews Ancient Myths and Legends Without Men by Mara Gold, published by Penguin Random House. Audio
Students help move last books into Wellington's redeveloped library
A group of Wellington students have turned a page on history today, moving some of the last books into the capital's redeveloped central Library. Te Matapihi was forced to close its doors in 2019 when… Audio
Wellington teens do the heavy lifting to help fill the new library's shelves
Dozens of Rongotai College students formed a human train this morning to help move some of the last books into the capital's redeveloped central library.
Booker Prize 2025: Six shortlisted books, reviewed by experts
Ben Markovits's gently melancholic The Rest of Our Lives and Kiran Desai's culturally insightful The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny are among the finalists.
Book review: The Eleventh Hour by Salman Rushdie
Lisa Adler of Unity Books Wellington reviews The Eleventh Hour by Salman Rushdie, published by Penguin Random House. Audio
