95bFM: Loose Reads

Alright, it's the end of the year and wowee, Jenna has a full list of reckons for the last Loose Reads of 2019. Starting with The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead, and onto The Burning River by Lawrence Patchett, Ducks Newburyport by Lucy Ellman, The Adventures of Tupaia by Courtney Sina Meredith, My First Words In Māori by Stacey Morrison, Private Gardens of Aotearoa by Suzanne Turley, Fifteen MIllion Years in Antarctica by Rebecca Priestley and Tales from a Hot Financial Mess by Frances Cook. All you need.

Kiran's here for her last book review of the year (where has the time gone?!) and lucky for us, she's hand picked her favourite music books of the festive season. Special mentions go to Face It by Debbie Harry, Acid for the Children by Flea and Bowie's Books by John O'Connell. Something for all your music loving friends and family. Aww.

Jenna brings in yet another amazing music autobiography, Me by Elton John. From tales of Andy Warhol, to Live Aid, Jenna reckons this one is a bloody good read. 

Kiran is especially excited about this weeks book review of It Gets Me Home This Curving Track - Objects and Essays, 2012-2018 by Ian Penman. Out on one of her favourite publishers, Fitzcarraldo Editions, Kiran highly recommends this, even if the artists featured in this book aren't your favourites, it's still a really great read.

Jenna brings in one of the winners of this years Manbooker Prize, Bernardine Evaristo's Girl, Woman, Other. This novel follows the stories of different women, black and British, chapter by chapter, encompassing history, and telling the stories of their families, friends and lovers, across the country and through the year. Definitely pick this one up, it's a must-read.

Today we've got a review of one of Kiran's personal top picks, Country: The Twisted Roots Of Rock 'n' Roll by Nick Tosches. A book with all sorts of stories of honky-tonk hell and rockabilly heaven; medieval myth and musical miscegenation; sex, drugs, and even murder. If this sounds like a bit of you, then grab yourself a copy and get stuck in.

Jenna returns after a lovely holiday with a book she's sure the bFM listeners will be super excited about. A Sharp Left Turn by Mike Chunn. The novel that tells tales of the early days of Split Enz, as well as a powerful story of how Mike Chunn dealt with mental health issues and went on to become one of our most influential music identities. Definitely a good Christmas pick (yes, we are there already).

Kiran talks the Man Booker Prize this morning, firstly reviewing her choice of the week, and shortlisted for the Man Booker, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak. Based in Turkey, the stories are told by Tequila Leila during in her final moments before her death, recalling friendships, hardships, and history. Kiran also chats to Rachel about the controversial dual win of the Man Booker Prize. 

Suri found herself in the midst of a trilogy by Tove Ditlevsen, Youth. A story about adolescence during World War II, diving into exploitative bosses, uninspiring boyfriends and a Nazi landlady, Tove is looking for real love and life to begin. Suri might've picked this one up just because of the pretty cover, but she was not disappointed.

Kiran reckons Rachel and Tess will be a big fan of this book, Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia Tolentino. A collection of essays by breakout writer from The New Yorker, Jia Tolentino, on contemporary culture with brutal honesty. From Trump being elected in 2016, to growing up with the internet and reality TV shows. A very timely collection.