Books & Authors

Musician and author Edward Dusinberre is first violinist in the renowned Takács Quartet - one of the world's greatest string quartets.  Audio

Septuagenarian Ruth Shaw's plans for a quiet retirement were derailed last year when her memoir The Bookseller at the End of the World, became an international bestseller.  Audio

Although Michael Cunningham began writing Day, A Novel​ during the Covid pandemic, his new book is not a "plague novel". "I want to read about people and their relationships and how they survived… Audio

Gail Pittaway reviews Question 7 by Richard Flanagan published by Penguin Random House NZ Audio

Host Jesse Mulligan shares his five favourite interviews from RNZ's weekday afternoon show.

Quentin Johnson reviews The Freedom of Emma Herwegh by Dirk Kurbjuweit (translated from the original German by Imogen Taylor) published by Text Publishing. Audio

Why we sleep is a mystery. But there are scientists who endured ridicule for trying to unlock the secrets of slumber anyway starting 100 years ago. They dared to suggest that sleep is crucial for good… Audio

American writer David Sedaris is famous for his self-deprecating and highly personal essay collections which manage to… Audio

Grace is something hard to define, but we know it when we feel compassion and kindness offered with an open heart. Julia Baird found grace in the nurses who cared for her in the hospital, battling… Audio

Gina Rogers reviews Behind the Seams by Dolly Parton with Holly George-Warren; Curated by Rebecca Seaver published by Penguin Random House Audio

Mal Evans was many things to the Beatles, road manager, bodyguard and keeper of their guitar picks, a little weed and a secrets he kept in meticulous notes and diary entries. Now his book has finally… Audio

Earlier this year, Samoan-NZ writer Tusiata Avia became the target of harassment and death threats after her poem 250th anniversary of James Cook's arrival in New Zealand was labelled 'racist' by the… Audio

Sir Ranulph Fiennes pays tribute to a fellow legend in his new biography Lawrence of Arabia. A former SAS officer, Fiennes says he feels a lot of affinity for archaeologist and adventurer Thomas… Audio

Martene McCaffrey of Unity Books Auckland reviews Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior published by Verso Audio

Paul Diamond reviews Reconnecting Aotearoa: Loneliness and Connection in the Age of Social Distance Edited by Kathy Errington and Holly Walker published by Bridget Williams Books. Audio

For centuries, the experiences of women have been overlooked in history books exclusively written, edited and published by men, says best-selling British writer Phillipa Gregory. “[Recorded… Audio

Rebecca Priestley’s new memoir explores the complications of living in a world under threat across two parallel timelines.

Phil Vine reviews The In-Between by Christos Tsiolkas published by Allen & Unwin Audio