19 December 2024
If you're anything like me, you might have found yourself getting a little behind on your reading during the year (according to Goodreads, I'm 25 books behind my goal for 2024). But with the holidays ahead, it's the perfect time to catch up on all those fabulous reads you may have missed.
To help me figure out what I should be taking to the beach with me this summer, I reached out to our friends at Unity Books, one of the Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts' longstanding partners, and asked them what they would recommend. Now I have to decide how many I might be able to fit into my suitcase! I'm away for 10 days, so that means I need... 11 books?
The Mermaid Chronicles: A Midlife Mer-moir by Megan Dunn
Even if mermaids aren’t your thing, Dunn’s new memoir will have you laughing, gasping, and thinking deeply about what it means to be a woman, a daughter, and a mother.
The Chthonic Cycle by Una Cruickshank
An exceptional collection of essays about nature and our interactions with it. From bizarre historical tales to deeply personal stories, all written with glorious detail. You’ll find yourself reflecting on your connection to the world.
When I open the shop by romesh dissanayake
A deeply moving debut novel about a young chef opening a noodle shop in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Lyrical, tender, and utterly poignant.
What I Ate in One Year by Stanley Tucci
It is hard not to enjoy Tucci’s writing. Perfect for summer, this book is as deliciously addictive as any good meal. Recipes, reflections, and ruminations fill its pages, making it divine.
Koe: An Aotearoa ecopoetry anthology Edited by Janet Newman and Robert Sullivan
A gorgeous selection of 100 poems that challenge colonial ideas and showcase many Indigenous poets from Aotearoa’s literary canon. Poems to reflect on, yearn with, and revel in.
Understanding Te Tiriti by Roimata Smail
An incredibly important text for understanding the facts of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. At only 30 pages, this small book is vital reading for every New Zealander.
The Proof of My Innocence by Jonathan Coe
A multi-layered satirical commentary on recent British politics and the dangers of far-right ideologies. A rollicking read, with a page-turning murder mystery binding the story until the very last page.
Gliff by Ali Smith
The first of two interconnected novels by a masterful storyteller. Set in a dystopian future, it follows two children searching for meaning and understanding in a world of scarcity.
The Playbook: A Story of Theatre, Democracy and the Making of a Culture War by James Shapiro
Shapiro sheds light on a terrifying moment in 20th-century American cultural history, exploring the current implications of political malice on the arts.
James by Percival Everett
A wonderfully wicked retelling of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, laced with irony, Everett’s sharp wit, and compelling revelations. Already acquired for film, with Taika Waititi and Steven Spielberg rumored to direct.
