‘It's about a man who turns into a shark': Georgia Lines on the book that made her cry
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Aotearoa musician, Georgia Lines, headline act at the Auckland Live Cabaret Festival.
The book I wish I'd written
The books that have moved me the most have often come from places I'd never want to have been. I find it's the same with music. I've wished I'd written certain songs, but the circumstances that led to them aren't ones I'd want to have lived through.
That said, one of my favourite books is The Choice by Dr Edith Eger. It's her story of surviving the Holocaust and her journey to becoming a psychologist. I don't wish I'd written that book because that would mean having to walk in her shoes. But I do hope to live my life in a way that carries the essence of it: recognising that no matter what, we always have a choice.
And more than that, I hope I can live a life that carries meaning and that the hard things I walk through can become some kind of offering to those who choose to listen to what I create.
Everyone should read
This might be a slightly unconventional answer, but Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara is one of those books I started recommending to every second person just a few chapters in. It reminded me that hospitality and care can be an art form and that small, thoughtful gestures can become moments people carry with them for years. It shifted how I think about running a business, leading a team, and ultimately, how I create. It's a beautiful invitation to be more generous, more present, and more human in the spaces we shape.
The book I want to be buried with
This is probably the hardest question to answer. To be honest, I'm not sure what book I'd want to be buried with. It reminds me of the panic I felt at the start of high school when I had to create a career pathway plan for Year 9 Social Studies. The pressure of making a 'final' decision and mapping out every move for my career felt so huge and overwhelming that I lost sleep and clearly created a core panic-filled memory for me. Maybe it's the same with this question – the idea of choosing just one book feels way too big, and maybe a little impossible. If I ever decide on one book, I'll let you know.
The book that made me cry
Earlier this year, I was up north for a week with some friends when I read Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. One of them had insisted I read it, but when she described the plot – a man slowly turning into a great white shark – I wasn't convinced it was my kind of book. But I've never cried reading a book like I did with this one. And I don't mean a tear or two, I mean full-on ugly crying. I had to put the book down just to catch my breath and debrief with friends over a glass of wine and a very large handful of cheese and crackers. I've been raving about it to anyone who'll listen ever since. The premise might sound strange on paper, but once you embrace the world it builds, it's absolutely devastating in the most beautiful, tender way.
The first book I remember reading by myself
I'm not sure if it was the very first book I read on my own, but I vividly remember winning a reading prize pack from What Now, filled with Jacqueline Wilson novels. I spent the entire day hiding away in my wardrobe, which I'd turned into a secret hut/journaling spot/reading nook, completely absorbed in Tracy Beaker. (Side note: how impossible was it to get through to the Telly Ops on a Sunday morning? IYKYK.)
The book I wish I'd never read
I vividly remember reading Ripley's Believe It or Not in primary school and becoming both fascinated and completely terrified by a section about ghosts and it stuck with me in the worst and weirdest way. My friends and I somehow decided the library was the only safe haven from these ghosts, and it turned into this odd little game. We'd rush back there at break times, hunting for more 'ammunition' to defeat them. Looking back, I kind of wish I'd never read it – it probably would've saved me a few night terrors, but then again, those irrational fears sparked some of the most bizarre, and oddly brilliant memories.
The book that haunts me
Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad has stayed with me in a way few books do. It's not just about her journey with cancer, it's about what it means to live when everything you thought defined you has been stripped away.
The book I pretend I've read
Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown. It's one of those books that's lived on my bedside table forever, and I keep meaning to actually read it. I've flicked through it enough to fake my way through a conversation, but I haven't properly read it cover to cover. I think I feel a bit behind for not having read it yet.
If I could only have three books to read for the rest of my life they would be
Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren, The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, and The Choice by Edith Eger (even though I've already mentioned it, it's still a favourite).
What I'm reading right now
I'm one of those people who always has a few books on the go at once which definitely makes it harder to actually finish them. It's usually a mix of fiction, nonfiction, a self-help book I've read three chapters of, and a laryngeal biomechanics textbook I keep telling myself I'll get through.
But there's usually one novel that trumps all the others and currently that's Prima Facie by Suzie Miller. I'm down to the final few pages and haven't been able to put it down. It's confronting and heavy, and dives into themes of power, justice and consent in a way that feels deeply important.
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The Spinoff
3 days ago
- The Spinoff
‘I'm still searching for Wally': Donovan Te Ahunui Farnham's childhood favourite
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Donovan Te Ahunui Farnham, author of Whānau: Reo Māori phrases to share with the people you love. The book I wish I'd written I'm very fortunate that I get to work alongside highly proficient speakers of te reo Māori and, while my passion lies in normalising te reo and I believe that Whānau has something to offer speakers at any level, I'd love to write a book that clearly and thoroughly explains some of the most common language errors that people make, from pronunciation to semantics to grammar. I could really geek out in a book like that, complete with footnotes, diagrams and a glossary that's almost as big as the book! Unfortunately, two friends of mine, Dr Hona Black and Te Aorangi Murphy-Fell, beat me to it. I'll always harbour a grudge towards them for that. Everyone should read Everyone should read something from the Kotahi Rau Pukapuka range. I'm a licensed translator and interpreter of te reo Māori, and that collection features the best translations out there. No Māori-language book has gotten my oldest son more excited that Hare Pota me te Whatu Manapou, the translation of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The book I want to be buried with Such a morbid question deserves a morbid answer. I'd like to be buried in the most eco-friendly manner possible. I'm not sure which book would breakdown the fastest – maybe a newspaper? The first book I remember reading by myself Where's Wally! I know it should probably be more profound, or something that paints me in a more cultured light, but I didn't find my love of reading until I was an adult. Growing up, we had two main options for entertainment: go outside or watch TV. I wasn't read to as a child, but sometimes going outside led me to the library and the Where's Wally collection was so much fun! I'm still searching for Wally in The Land of Wallies. Fiction or nonfiction I've spent a lot of time with my nose buried in Māori-language grammar books, so I'd have to say I read more nonfiction, but I have a well-used Audible subscription and have absorbed a large amount of fiction since I signed up. Even though I was a late bloomer when it came to reading, we've always tried to fill our house with books and foster a love of reading. Because of this, I've managed to do a lot of catching up alongside my kids and my boys and I loved the Harry Potter series, The Hunger Games series, the Percy Jackson series, just to name a few. It's a crime against language to My pet peeve is macrons in the wrong place, especially if someone has added one where it doesn't belong! There's a world of difference between tara and tāra, but I'll let you look that one up for yourself. The only graffiti I've ever done was adding a macron or an apostrophe to a sign. Luckily, this serial orthographic corrector is still at large. The book that made me cry My wife says that I only have two emotions: 'grumpy' and 'not-grumpy', so I can't claim a book has literally brought me to tears, but my 8-year-old nephew lives with us and he hasn't had an easy life, so far. We love Dog Man by Dav Pilkey and, I won't spoil it too much, but there's a child (or kitten to be more precise) that isn't able to live with his parents. However, he grows up with a loving whānau and is an awesome, well-rounded kid. It's hard to find a book where the child isn't raised by their biological parents, let alone one where the foster parents are portrayed as a positive, stable part of their lives. Dog Man has so many positive messages for children. We're big fans of the series. So no, I didn't cry, but I did sit non-grumpily and stare out the window for a while, which for me is practically sobbing. The book I never admit I've read Apart from my wife, no one knows about my fleeting obsession with The Walking Dead – the popular TV show that started around 15 years ago. Well, I was so into it, that I also read the comic book series and would wait eagerly every month or so for a new one to come out. I read just over 100 of them, before deciding that I needed to give it up cold turkey. Edit: I just Googled it. They only made 193! It might be time for a relapse. If I could only read three books for the read of my life they would be Ladies and gentlemen, strap yourselves in for possibly the most boring answer to this question that you've ever heard. If there were an apocalypse and I could only read three books for the rest of my life, they would be as follows: A Dictionary of the Māori Language by Herbert A Māori Reference Grammar by Ray Harlow Ngā Pēpeha a ngā Tīpuna by Hirini Moko Mead and Neil Grove These three are the staples in my reading diet, but hey, if the apocalypse comes, I'll be prepped to correct anyone's Māori-language! Encounter with an author A disturbingly large number of my friends are authors, and whenever one of them publishes a book, I make a point of asking them to sign a copy for me. Not one of them has accepted graciously. Now, of course, I have my own book, and I can wholeheartedly say that I have not accepted signing my friends' books graciously either. It's so awkward and I wouldn't wish it on anyone … until one of them publishes again. Then it's back ambushing them with pen and book in hand, for the sake of the collection. What are you reading right now Right now, I'm partway through my sister's Master's thesis. She's amazing – she's working on undoing the narrative of 'The Angry Māori Woman', interviewing Māori women in leadership roles. She's done a great job telling their stories, but it is a Master's thesis and it's slow going. Maybe I need to wait for the audiobook version. Whānau: Reo Māori phrases to share with the people you love by Donovan Te Ahunui Farnham and illustrated by Rehua Wilson ($30, Hachette) is available to purchase from Unity Books.
The Spinoff
04-06-2025
- The Spinoff
‘It's about a man who turns into a shark': Georgia Lines on the book that made her cry
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Aotearoa musician, Georgia Lines, headline act at the Auckland Live Cabaret Festival. The book I wish I'd written The books that have moved me the most have often come from places I'd never want to have been. I find it's the same with music. I've wished I'd written certain songs, but the circumstances that led to them aren't ones I'd want to have lived through. That said, one of my favourite books is The Choice by Dr Edith Eger. It's her story of surviving the Holocaust and her journey to becoming a psychologist. I don't wish I'd written that book because that would mean having to walk in her shoes. But I do hope to live my life in a way that carries the essence of it: recognising that no matter what, we always have a choice. And more than that, I hope I can live a life that carries meaning and that the hard things I walk through can become some kind of offering to those who choose to listen to what I create. Everyone should read This might be a slightly unconventional answer, but Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara is one of those books I started recommending to every second person just a few chapters in. It reminded me that hospitality and care can be an art form and that small, thoughtful gestures can become moments people carry with them for years. It shifted how I think about running a business, leading a team, and ultimately, how I create. It's a beautiful invitation to be more generous, more present, and more human in the spaces we shape. The book I want to be buried with This is probably the hardest question to answer. To be honest, I'm not sure what book I'd want to be buried with. It reminds me of the panic I felt at the start of high school when I had to create a career pathway plan for Year 9 Social Studies. The pressure of making a 'final' decision and mapping out every move for my career felt so huge and overwhelming that I lost sleep and clearly created a core panic-filled memory for me. Maybe it's the same with this question – the idea of choosing just one book feels way too big, and maybe a little impossible. If I ever decide on one book, I'll let you know. The book that made me cry Earlier this year, I was up north for a week with some friends when I read Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. One of them had insisted I read it, but when she described the plot – a man slowly turning into a great white shark – I wasn't convinced it was my kind of book. But I've never cried reading a book like I did with this one. And I don't mean a tear or two, I mean full-on ugly crying. I had to put the book down just to catch my breath and debrief with friends over a glass of wine and a very large handful of cheese and crackers. I've been raving about it to anyone who'll listen ever since. The premise might sound strange on paper, but once you embrace the world it builds, it's absolutely devastating in the most beautiful, tender way. The first book I remember reading by myself I'm not sure if it was the very first book I read on my own, but I vividly remember winning a reading prize pack from What Now, filled with Jacqueline Wilson novels. I spent the entire day hiding away in my wardrobe, which I'd turned into a secret hut/journaling spot/reading nook, completely absorbed in Tracy Beaker. (Side note: how impossible was it to get through to the Telly Ops on a Sunday morning? IYKYK.) The book I wish I'd never read I vividly remember reading Ripley's Believe It or Not in primary school and becoming both fascinated and completely terrified by a section about ghosts and it stuck with me in the worst and weirdest way. My friends and I somehow decided the library was the only safe haven from these ghosts, and it turned into this odd little game. We'd rush back there at break times, hunting for more 'ammunition' to defeat them. Looking back, I kind of wish I'd never read it – it probably would've saved me a few night terrors, but then again, those irrational fears sparked some of the most bizarre, and oddly brilliant memories. The book that haunts me Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad has stayed with me in a way few books do. It's not just about her journey with cancer, it's about what it means to live when everything you thought defined you has been stripped away. The book I pretend I've read Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown. It's one of those books that's lived on my bedside table forever, and I keep meaning to actually read it. I've flicked through it enough to fake my way through a conversation, but I haven't properly read it cover to cover. I think I feel a bit behind for not having read it yet. If I could only have three books to read for the rest of my life they would be Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren, The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, and The Choice by Edith Eger (even though I've already mentioned it, it's still a favourite). What I'm reading right now I'm one of those people who always has a few books on the go at once which definitely makes it harder to actually finish them. It's usually a mix of fiction, nonfiction, a self-help book I've read three chapters of, and a laryngeal biomechanics textbook I keep telling myself I'll get through. But there's usually one novel that trumps all the others and currently that's Prima Facie by Suzie Miller. I'm down to the final few pages and haven't been able to put it down. It's confronting and heavy, and dives into themes of power, justice and consent in a way that feels deeply important.
The Spinoff
28-05-2025
- The Spinoff
‘Like swimming in a sea of legendary writers': Tina Makereti's books confessional
Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Tina Makereti, author of This Compulsion In Us. The book I wish I'd written This changes depending on what I'm reading at the time, if it's good! Like now I'm reading Gliff by Ali Smith, and I wish I could write something like that. It's set sometime in the near future, and somehow post-apocalyptic, which also seems to be post-this-exact-moment, and tightly narrated so that you are inside this paranoid, limited world of a young person living in a high control society. But there's also a lot of beauty, particularly around words. Everyone should read Everyone should read whatever they want because all that matters is that they read. I'm avoiding naming a single book because I can't see how it's possible to name a single book. I saw someone else online saying this exact thing recently and even though it might seem glib and obvious, it's still profound. How about not judging what anyone reads? How about reading whatever gives you joy, or calm, or relaxation, or fuel? The book I want to be buried with No don't bury books! Someone else can read them when I'm gone! The first book I remember reading by myself I don't remember a specific book but I was obsessed with fairy tales, and Cinderella was my favourite for ages. Those stories are just so archetypal — I don't think anything can replace them, alongside folktales, legends, mythological stories, creation stories. I'm still fuelled quite strongly by those kinds of stories and I still enjoy reading or watching versions of them. Dystopia or utopia The only utopian works I think I've read or watched tended to be dystopia in disguise. I find it hard to imagine a story that is truly utopian. And dystopia comes so naturally. Dystopia is kind of the air we breathe, quite literally. Which makes me very curious about utopia… The book that made me laugh Michelle Duff's Surplus Women. It's laugh out loud funny, and that's not easy to pull off, especially when the subject matter can be confronting. The laughs come from Michelle's sensibility behind the stories, and also her willingness to just say the thing. Funny writers seem so unafraid. Encounter with an author Going to the Calabash Festival in Jamaica was wild — like swimming in a sea of absolutely legendary writers. I had encounters with a many incredible writers that week. A few embarrassing encounters too. Marlon James was there having freshly won the Booker, and I was reading The Book of Night Women, which is an extremely moving book, so I was having a massive fangirl moment. Marlon was quite distant though, which wasn't surprising. I don't think it can be easy to deal with all the attention that comes from winning the Booker. Eleanor Catton was there too and she seemed more relaxed than the year before when she had won! But the most impressive moment might have been at the end of the festival, when there was a big meal and drinks put on for us. I met poet Raymond Antrobus in line for kai, before he had won so many prizes, and later emailed him to ask if I could use his surname for a character in the book I was writing. I don't know what I was thinking. After I filled my plate I found a seat at a big table, full of friendly faces. A very distinguished looking gentleman came to sit across the other side. He seemed to know everyone else at the table, but when he clocked me, he stood again and extended his hand. He said, 'Hello, I'm Linton.' I shook, hopefully I introduced myself, I can't remember, but I do remember my face registering my dawning recognition and surprise. The women at the table nodded and laughed. 'Yes it is!' someone said. Linton Kwesi Johnson, Jamaican-British dub poet, activist, musician. Absolute legend of legends. Inventor of form. I don't know if he's so well known here, or that I know his work well enough, but he sure had a presence. Best food memory from a book Got to be all the kai in The Bone People! And the booze. The big, hearty, straight-off-the-land meals in that book provide a much needed comfort: a counterpoint to the violence. Best thing about reading The feeling you get when you're so taken by a story that you absolutely have to get back to the book, and you kind of carry the story around with you when you're not reading – you might even think about the characters the way you think about friends or family. There are lots of great things about reading, but being so transported by a book, so in love with it, must be one of the most pleasant experiences you can have. I don't get that often anymore, so when I do have it, I really notice. Because reading for work is always my first commitment, I need something really enthralling if I'm going to read for fun. I reckon it must be a slightly different formula for everyone, and that's the nice thing. I often find what other people rave about just doesn't do it for me. Everyone has a slightly different alchemy in terms of what they need from a book. All of this applies to the process of writing too. Best place to read If I'm travelling alone, it's always good to read in cafes, restaurants, pubs even, certainly on public transport, in parks. Reading outside is always nice. This Compulsion In Us by Tina Makereti ($40, Te Herenga Waka University Press) is available to purchase through Unity Books. This Compulsion In Us launches at Unity Books Wellington, 6pm, Wednesday 28 May. All welcome.
