Books

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Unity Books + Creative New Zealand

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A love letter to my five friends

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'For its purposes we were not people, just dollar amounts representing the salary that might be returned to the university’s coffers once we no longer worked there.'

Wasteland: A response to a university restructure

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The Friday Poem: ‘Cash register ding’ by Eliana Gray

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New short stories from Owen Marshall, and the finale to a sci-fi series that fans have been hanging out for. 

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending December 13

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In which we judge this year's New Zealand books by their covers, and pick the top 10.

The Spinoff’s best NZ book covers of 2024

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The writer and professor shares some of his favourite books – and the one he'd purge from his memory if he could.

‘A sick wish fulfilment fantasy, so badly written’: Harry Ricketts’ biggest book regret

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This year's best local fiction, nonfiction and poetry for adults and children, as chosen by our panel of readers. 

The Spinoff’s best NZ books of 2024

Hera Lindsay Bird

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The suspect was arrested today. His Goodreads page sheds much light on his views of the world.

A close reading of the United Healthcare CEO suspect Luigi Mangione’s Goodreads account

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From picture books to bell hooks, some reading inspiration for every age.

A book for every year of your life: Part one, ages 0-30

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Whatever the practice, the end goal is the same: to provide connection to Māori and indigenous women in a post-colonial world.

Review: A decolonial trip through femininity in Ngahuia Murphy’s Intuitive Ritual

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The Friday Poem: ‘Lamium purpureum’ by Joel LeBlanc

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The week’s bestselling books as we hurtle towards Christmas.

The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending December 6

Gabi Lardies

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A conversation about Damien Wilkins' latest novel.

What we thought about: Delirious by Damien Wilkins

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The talented siblings and authors of More Salad talk summer holidays with Ottolenghi, the life lessons of Garmus and more.

‘Her energy is as delicious as her recipes’: Two Raw Sisters on their favourite books

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Some additions and alternatives to this year's NZIER recommendations.

An alternative summer reading list for the prime minister

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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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What’s left on the parliament agenda for 2024?

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Bulletins and beloved current affairs programmes fell like flies in an agonising year for screen journalism.

To all the TV news we lost in 2024

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As the ocean is transformed by global heating, pollution and trawling, could blue carbon be a reason to protect more of it?

Carbon credits, fish poo and the push to discover the secrets of the sea floor

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Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was.

The Weekend: The phrase of the year is ‘gingle malt’

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The struggle to find a decent pair of togs is real.

I see hundreds of ads for togs so why is it so hard to find a decent pair?

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New Zealand's 'Godfather of Christmas' looks back on his life in TV and music.

‘I’m very happy about that’: Frankie Stevens on being the voice of Christmas

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'This is one of those songs that I will cry to in the car. I don’t even know why.'

‘A great song is one you can dance and cry to’: Elliott Dawson’s perfect weekend playlist

Poetry-Shelf

New verse by Oturehua writer Brian Turner.

The Spinoff

BooksNovember 20, 2015

Books: The Friday Poem – Chum, by Brian Turner

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BooksNovember 20, 2015

Books: The Friday Poem – Chum, by Brian Turner

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