Books

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How to start reading again this summer

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The Friday Poem: ‘Return Again’ by Lily Holloway

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Featuring the new Ali Smith, and a handbook for making the most of Wellington’s wilds.

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending November 29

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High schools all over Aotearoa will receive an early Christmas gift this year. 

Anonymous donor buys Te Tiriti handbook for every secondary school in New Zealand

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Brannavan Gnanalingam’s new satire obliterates the myth of the good immigrant.

First a farce, then a tragedy: The Life and Opinions of Kartik Popat, reviewed

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The senior tutor at Aotearoa's leading publishing course on her favourite books, both big and very small.

From tiny books to ‘brick lit’: Odessa Owens on the scale of her reading habits

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An excerpt from Diana Wichtel's tremendous new memoir, Unreel.

Diana Wichtel: ‘Virginia Woolf might have made a decent TV reviewer’

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Is there any statistical proof behind the stereotype that poets can't drive? A non-driving poet attempts to find out. 

Can poets drive? A sociocultural investigation

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A close read of three seven-lines poems by Zen teacher Richard von Sturmer.

How to read a poem: selections from Slender Volumes by Richard von Sturmer

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The Friday Poem: ‘Boyhood’ by Art Nahill

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Dolly-mania, new Murakami, and a brilliant local debut. 

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending November 22

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An interview with the acclaimed journalist ahead of his appearance in Aotearoa.

‘Everything is becoming a culture war’: Jon Ronson on conspiracies and cycleways

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The acclaimed crime novelist on the words that make her shudder, having seven books on the go at once and more.  

‘I’ll try any synonym under the sun’: Jacqueline Bublitz’s crimes against language

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What caused a whole French village to hallucinate?

The case of the cursed bread: An excerpt from Una Cruickshank’s The Chthonic Cycle

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The Friday Poem: ‘FREE TRAMPOLINE’ by Sophie van Waardenberg

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Featuring the Booker Prize winner for 2024, and further evidence of the impact of book festivals on sales. 

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending November 15

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Winnie-the-Pooh's little T-shirt represents a moral 'grey area', according to the man in charge of Gloriavale's lengthy banned books list. 'What do we gain from it?'

The case for reading books about animals wearing clothes

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Novelist Carl Shuker on the books he’s loved from childhood to now, and the new release everybody should read.

‘Effortless-seeming genius’: Carl Shuker’s favourite reads and other stories

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Two authors of an extraordinary new book on the history of Māori art discuss how they approached it, and why.

Toi Te Mana: The landmark indigenous history of Māori art has arrived

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The Friday Poem: ‘COLD EROTICA’ by Loretta Riach

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Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was.

The Weekend: A guide to The Spinoff, for readers old and new

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It's time Air New Zealand reassessed its priorities and gave customers what they really want.

Dear Air NZ, stop the flashy safety videos and bring back flights to Kaitāia

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The comedian takes us through his life in television, including the genius of Spongebob and the pitfalls of being 'the Burger King guy'.

‘Blood everywhere’: David Correos on his shocking Give Us a Clue appearance

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In praise of the people who turn up in service of other people's health.

God defend the breast screeners of New Zealand

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From naughty grooves to rock'n'roll that refuses to sink into the swamp – 10 tunes that make Sam Fowles' weekend perfect.

‘It’s so funky here, you can smell it’: Sam Fowles’ perfect weekend playlist

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Here's your chance to catch up on the best local shows you might have missed this year.

Where to watch all the big winners from the NZ TV Awards

Live updates from this year’s awards from books editor Claire Mabey.

Welcome to our annual celebration of Aotearoa’s children’s writers! Stay tuned for all the winning news as well as the inside scoop on the fashion, the catering, and the speeches. If you need a refresh on who’s up for awards tonight, 

check out the finalists on The Spinoff here

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The book awards for children and young adults live from Pipitea Marae in Wellington.

The Spinoff

BooksAugust 14, 2024

Live updates from the 2024 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

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BooksAugust 14, 2024

Live updates from the 2024 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults

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