95bFM's Loose Reads: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

This new novel from Colson Whitehead (The Underground Railroad) is Jenna’s favourite book of 2019.*
*so far

The Nickel Boys follows Elwood Curtis, a young, idealistic African American teenager in 1962. Motivated by the words of Martin Luther King, he joins Civil Rights marches and is working hard to get into college.

However, after being in the wrong vehicle at the wrong time, Elwood’s path dramatically changes when he is sent to Nickel Academy, a segregated reform school for boys.

Based on Arthur G Dozier School for Boys in Florida, which only closed down 10 years ago,  

This book is an example of masterful storytelling and is bound to be read for years to come. Listen to Jenna’s review with Rachel and Tess below:

Read more about Arthur G Dozier School & The White House Boys.
Spoiler free review from Roxane Gay’s Book Club.
Great interview with Colson Whitehead on NPR’S Fresh Air.

95bFM's Loose Reads: A Dream About Lightning Bugs by Ben Folds

A throwback to the 90’s and a new title for our Music Bio section, Ben Folds’ A Dream about Lightning Bugs is a compelling memoir of his piano rock band, Ben Folds Five, as well as his solo career.

While it’s not a sex & drugs tell all, Folds delves into the realities of touring with a baby grand, his often obnoxious behavior and the evolution of the music industry over the 2000’s. A great read for any music fan.

Listen to Jenna, Rachel & Tess’ review and if you’re really keen, give Brick a listen for old times sake.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Drive your Plow over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk

Shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, Drive your Plow has been a great favourite of the Time Out staff in 2019.

Translated from Polish by Antonia Lloyd-Jones, this book is smart, funny & feminist literary crime novel, with an unforgettable protagonist.

RNZ's Nine to Noon: Furious Hours by Casey Cep

Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud and the Last Trial of Harper Lee is a meaty investigative true crime novel that is well worth a read. Listen to Jenna’s review below:

95bFM's Loose Reads: Bunny by Mona Awad

Bunny is one of the weirdest books that Jenna has ever read. In a good way!

Listen to Jenna, Rachel & Tess chat about this black comedy, set at a narrative arts college is worth picking up.

95bFM's Loose Reads: The Farm by Joanne Ramos

The Farm is Joanne Ramos’ first book. Jane arrives to the luxury resort Golden Oaks to become a ‘host’ - a surrogate for a wealthy client. Jane sees this well paid gig as a opportunity for her and her young daughter to get a step up in life, but the strict conditions of Golden Oaks, leads her to question a choice she can’t reverse.

Narrated by a cast of characters on all sides, The Farm is an educated insight into ethics, class and privilege & service culture.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Then It Fell Apart by Moby

Jenna was a HUGE fan of Moby’s first autobiography Porcelain, but the follow up has been bathed in controversy. Listen to Jenna, Rachel & Tess discuss Then It Fell Apart, which Jenna can only describe as ‘feral.’

Don’t forget, your bCard qualifies you for a 10% discount at Time Out.

RNZ's Nine to Noon: Memories of the Future by Siri Hustvedt

Memories of the Future explores themes of time and memory in Hustvedt’s new novel.

Tying together three threads of narrative, S.H from the past and S.H. from the present project towards each other, questioning philosophy, literature, art and feminism along the way.

Listen to Jenna’s review with Kathryn Ryan below:

95bFM's Loose Reads: Attraction by Ruby Porter

Jenna had a big weekend at the Auckland Writers Festival, so on tofay’s Loose Reads she chats to Rachel and Tess about this incredible book event which included the Ockham Book Awards.

Books that we have spoke about before on Loose Reads came away with gongs. The Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize was awarded to This Mortal Boy by Fiona Kidman. Tayi Tibble’s Poukahangatus won best first poetry book and Chessie Henry’s We Can Make a Life won best first non-fiction book. Check out the rest of the winners here.

Then, Jenna reviews Ruby Porter’s Attraction. Winner of the inaugaral Michael Gifkins Prize. You can also listen to Ruby’s interview from last week here.

Don’t forget, your bCard qualifies you for a 10% discount at Time Out.

RNZ's Nine to Noon: The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

The Island of Sea Woman is a gripping historical saga that follows the lives of two haenyeo  (women divers) from Jeju Island, Korea. Impeccably researched and set alongside the political turmoil of Korea in the twentieth century, this is a fascinating tale about the women who undertake one of the world's most difficult careers in a unique matrifocal society. 

Listen to Jenna’s review with Kathryn Ryan below:

95bFM's Loose Reads: Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

A new week and a new breakfast host for 95bFM! This morning, Jenna chatted with Rachel and producer Tess about Daisy Jones & the Six. This is a tale of a 1970’s fictional rock ‘n’ roll band, who are vividly imagined in through the novel’s structure as an oral history - think VH1’s Behind the Music meets Almost Famous.

Don your hoop earrings, imagine yourself in the California sun and step inside this digestable & fun read.

Don’t forget, your bCard qualifies you for a 10% discount at Time Out.

RNZ's Nine to Noon: Spring by Ali Smith

Ali Smith is back with the third book in her Seasonal Quartet, Spring.

We are introduced to three characters that are soon to meet - Richard, an elderly film & TV director who is mourning the death of his friend, Brittany, a young, educated, security officer at a UK Immigration Removal Centre and 12 year old Florence, who is traveling on her own from London to Scotland.

Smith’s ability to form this intricate web of connections between fictional characters and current events is masterful and self aware. She’s constantly pushing the boundaries of fiction, as well as publishing. This is a modern classic that is a true joy to read. Listen to Jenna’s review with Kathryn Ryan below:

95bFM's Loose Reads: Auckland Writers Festival with Anne O'Brien

We were so lucky Auckland Writers Festival director, Anne O’Brien, join us to talk about what we need to see this coming May 13-19.

Some of Anne’s picks for bFM listeners are Shayne Carter, Jeff Tweedy, Akala and Kate Raworth.

We also give some tips about how to tackle the free events line.

95bFM's Loose Reads: The Library Book by Susan Orlean

Today on 95bFM’s Loose Reads, Jenna reviewed a new favourite, The Library Book by Susan Orlean.

This memoir starts with a mystery - who set fire to the Los Angeles Central Library in 1986? On our way to find an answer, we look at the incredible role that libraries have in our communty and how that came to be all the while meeting the weird and wonderful people who helped make it happen.

This is a warm & joyful read full of facts and stories that you will share for years to come.

Susan Orlean is coming to the Auckland Writers Festival! Book tickets here.

95bFM's Loose Reads: Kamila Shamsie, Zoya Patel & Sabrina Mahfouz

Whether you’re reading a reflection of your own community, or stepping inside the stories from another culture, the joy of reading has no boundaries.

On the latest 95bFM Loose Reads, Jenna suggests some wonderful Muslim writers to delve in to.

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie - see her in May at the Auckland Writers Festival.
No Country Woman by Zoya Patel
The Things I Would Tell You - British Muslim Women Write ed. by Sabrina Mahfouz

95bFM's Loose Reads: You Know You Want This by Kristen Roupenian

Today we talk short stories and how GREAT they are!

Before today’s review, Jenna gave Tess some homework: To read the viral, December 2017 short story, Cat Person, from The New Yorker.

This collection of twelve stories (including Cat Person) was published off the back of this success. Dark, twisted and humourous (sometimes), You Know You Want This explores the power dynamics of sex, relationships and gender.

If this sounds good to you, you may also like the following short story collections: Things to Do When You’re Goth in the Country & Her Body and Other Parties. You can also buy Cat Person on its own!

95bFM's Loose Reads: Bad Blood: Secrets & Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou

On today’s Loose Reads, Jenna and Tess chat about one of the latest fraud cases to be in the midst of a media frenzy.

With two upcoming documentaries, a podcast and a movie due, the case of Elizabeth Holmes and her now failed, fraudulant medical company Theranos is being dissected by all angles.

However, Bad Blood is the book that started it all. John Carreyrou’s thorough reporting is transfixing, culminating in a truly compelling tale of corporate crime.

For fans of the Fyre Festival documentaries and the latest scoop on Dan Mallory AKA A.J.Finn, this is an another intriguing tale of millenials gone bad. The new b-format edition is due back in stock very soon, so pre-order now.

RNZ's Nine to Noon: The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

Jenna popped into the RNZ studio in Wellington to review National Book Award-winning novel The Friend by Sigrid Nunez. It’s a wry and moving story of companionship based around the unlikely friendship between a woman and a Great Dane.

95bFM's Loose Reads: The Ockhams’ 2019 Longlist

It’s an exciting time of year for NZ literature as the Ockhams’ 2019 Longlist has just been announced. Jenna talks to Mikey and Tess about the award categories, some titles to look out for on the longlist and points out what books we’ve reviewed previously on Loose Reads!

They also ponder, how long should you keep reading a book that you’re not enjoying…?

Listen to previous reviews of longlisted titles here:

This Mortal Boy by Fiona Kidman
The Ice Shelf by Anne Kennedy
Poukahangatus by Tayi Tibble
We Can Make a Life by Chessie Henry

95bFM's Loose Reads: My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen

It’s a powerful thing to be able to tell your own story in your own words and Lily Allen does it well in My Thoughts Exactly. This autobiography is straight up honest, gossy and super compelling. Listen to Jenna’s review from this morning with Mikey & Tess.