THE GROOVE BOOK REPORT

Today: Karori library on February the 28th between 6 – 7:30 p.m. How is writing informed by the place in which we live? Where does the boundary lie between non-fiction and fiction, and how do writers tread that fine line between who they are, and what they write? If you’re interested at all in the inner life of the writer, come along to Karori library on February the 28th between 6 – 7:30 p.m. and listen to three of Wellington finest writers — Sarah Laing, Rajorshi Chakraborti and Leah McFall — discuss their celebrated written works, inspirations and writing process. Food and drink will be provided, and Marsden Books will be selling books on the night. Leah McFall is an award-winning columnist for Sunday magazine and published her first collection, Karori Confidential, last year. Rajorshi Chakraborti is an Indian-born novelist and short story writer whose latest novel, The Man Who Would Not See, takes...

Come along and hear from Randell Cottage's latest Resident Writer, Karin Serres. With a background in scenography, Karin has worked as a set and costume designer, writer and translator. She has written more than 80 plays, often staged, published and translated, for both young audiences and adults, and radio plays and novels. She enjoys sharing artistic experiences throughout the world.       When: Wednesday, 27 March, 2019 at 5:30pm (to 7:30pm)   Cost: Koha.    (No bookings required)  Location: Te Ahumairangi (ground floor), National Library,  corner Molesworth and Aitken Streets, Thorndon   This is the latest in the series of events with writers in residence at the Randell Cottage in Thorndon. These free public events at the National Library are held under the aegis of the Randell Cottage Writers Trust and organised in association with the Friends of the Randell Cottage. Come along...

A mixture of well-known writers and new authors feature in the inaugural NZ Booklovers Awards shortlist was announced yesterday.                The latest works by Fiona Kidman, Nicky Pellegrino, Jo Seagar, Wendyl Nissen, David Hill and Fleur Beale are among the diverse range of books nominated for the NZ Booklovers Awards, along with exciting new authors.                Six books are shortlisted in each of the three award categories: adult fiction, lifestyle books and children’s books.                NZ Booklovers Director Karen McMillan says the inaugural awards received a large number of entries and the standard was extremely high.                ‘The judges were excited to see the variety of books that our talented New Zealan...

Local author Catherine Robertson will be launching the second installment of her Gabriel's Bay series, What You Wish For at Vic Books, Ground Floor, Rutherford House, 23 Lambton Quay, today (5.30 PM). Find the interview with Coffeebar Kid here: http://groovebookreport.blogspot.com/2019/02/interview-catherine-robertson-author-of.html Read Couchdiva's review here:  http://groovebookreport.blogspot.com/2019/02/what-you-wish-for-catherine-robertson.html

" In her exploration of the Kiwi male psyche," wrote in her review of What You Wish For , Couchdiva, "Robertson shows that it’s not always the strong, silent types that fare the best." To understand more about the underlying currents of masculinity and identity The CoffeeBar Kid sits down with best selling author, Catherine Robertson to pick up the conversation left hanging by playwrite Greg McGee (Foreskin's Lament) when he asked Kiwi blokes "What Are Ya?" and where are you going?  "Sometimes, it’s about ordering a glass of red instead of a beer in front of your mates, and being ok with it, to quietly – but firmly – show exactly who you are."  Dr Ashwin Ghadavi, the newly imported GP, is trying hard to fit into Gabriel’s Bay. His challenges include the immoveable force of his office manager, Mac, the ambiguities of the Kiwi idiom, and his unrequited attraction to Mac’s daughter, Emma. Having returned home, Emma is determined to h...

An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States In her new best selling her new memoir, Becoming,  former First Lady   Michelle Obama states that “I’ve never been a fan of politics and my experience over the last 10 years has done little to change that.”  So, no chance she'll do a 'Hilary' and stand for office, then?  No, 10 years in politics has been quite enough for her, thank you very much. A month after President Obama began his first term (2009), Michelle Obama sat in the balcony during a joint session of Congress watching a group of Republican Senators scowling while her husband gave his his address. “They would fight everything Barack did, I realized, whether it was good for the country or not. It seemed they just wanted Barack to fail.” Just 'because'. And that shows how petty minded politics in USA had become. This might sound like some kind of acuity of hindsight if it weren’t consistent with the woman she...

Many of New Zealand’s literary heavyweights feature in the 40-strong Ockham New Zealand Book Awards long-list announced today. The latest works of Maurice Gee, Fiona Kidman, Lloyd Jones and Vincent O’Sullivan are among the rich and varied range nominated for the country’s premier book awards, now in their 51st year. They sit alongside debutantes and rising stars whose books traverse sweeping contemporary, cultural, historic, artistic and social landscapes. Ten books are long-listed in each of the four awards categories – fiction, general non-fiction, illustrated non-fiction and poetry. The shortlist will be announced on 6 March and winners awarded on 14 May at the Auckland Writers Festival. Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize : The Man Who Would Not See by Rajorshi Chakraborti (Penguin Random House) The Life of De’Ath by Majella Cullinane (Steele Roberts Aotearoa Ltd) The New Ships by Kate Duignan (Victoria University Press) Mazarine by Charlotte Grimshaw (Penguin Random...

Full disclaimer: I’m a BIG fan of Catherine Robertson’s novels. The Wellington-based author has an effortless writing style; at turns clever and quirky, but with layers of insight and musings that leave you thinking about the characters, long after you’ve finished the book. Robertson doesn’t disappoint with her latest novel, What you wish for . We return to Gabriel’s Bay (Robertson’s setting for her novel of the same name), with many of the key characters making an appearance in this novel. However, there’s a new raft of characters to get to know, all bringing much needed life and energy to the quiet Gabriel’s Bay. Robertson turns her spotlight onto the male characters in this novel, probing the typical Kiwi male psyche and questioning what place it has in today’s modern digital society, where life is lived online and viewed through an Insta’ filter: everyone living their ‘best life’, seemingly all sorted and winning at this game called life. Newcomer, Dr Ashwin Ghad...