Latest from The Spinoff
The Spinoff
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
The Friday Poem: ‘Then Worse' by Jordan Irvine
A new poem by Jordan Irvine. Then Worse Man stood over the bridge like That's it Rocks stand scared stiff and water says Excuse me Drug dealers on scooters Polite men turn to looters Got a sentence longer than Virginia Woolf's Look at the clock Chop chop I got places to be Wide eyed This my first time in the casino I stay in the corner like the sun in kids drawings A sparrow with vulture intentions Set my boundaries like tape when painting I'm more blessed than a sneeze in church She treats me like I'm God Then worse
The Spinoff
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
The Unity Books bestseller chart for the week ending June 20
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books' stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington. AUCKLAND 1 A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin Random House, $60) Spot New Zealand's former prime minster on this week's New York Times bestseller list. 2 The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $38) The un-put-downable alternate history that explores some of life's biggest questions, including what does it mean to have a soul? Can a human ever not have one? 3 Eurotrash by Christian Kracht (Serpents Tail, $30) Auckland really loves this hectic mother-son roadtrip novel. 4 James by Percival Everett (Picador, $38) Everett's biggest book yet is his stunning, funny and profound retelling of Huckleberry Finn. 5 Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum (Bloomsbury, $25) Cosy and charming and perfect for a long Matariki weekend. 6 The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (Penguin, $26) This year's winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction. One of the most exquisite novels you'll read this year: it is moving, sexy and surprising. 7 Butter by Asako Yuzuki (4th Estate, $35) The smash hit novel based on a true crime story of a serial killer who lured her victims in with stunning food. 8 A Dim Prognosis by Ivor Popovich (Allen & Unwin, $38) An utterly gripping, energetic memoir from Dr Popovich. Revealing! See The Spinoff this weekend to read an excerpt from this brilliant book. 9 Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (Penguin Random House, $38) Vuong's second novel. 10 King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby (Hachette, $38) A fiery crime novel. Here's the blurb: 'Roman Carruthers left the smoke and fire of his family's crematory business behind in his hometown of Jefferson Run, Virginia. He is enjoying a life of shallow excess as a financial adviser in Atlanta until he gets a call from his sister, Neveah, telling him their father is in a coma after a hit-and-run accident. When Roman goes home, he learns the accident may not be what it seems. His brother, Dante, is deeply in debt to dangerous, ruthless criminals. And Roman is willing to do anything to protect his family. Anything. A financial whiz with a head for numbers and a talent for making his clients rich, Roman must use all his skills to try to save his family while dealing with a shadow that has haunted them all for twenty years: the disappearance of their mother when Roman and his siblings were teenagers. It's a mystery that Neveah, who has sacrificed so much of her life to hold her family together, is determined to solve once and for all. As fate and chance and heartache ignite their lives, the Carruthers family must pull together to survive or see their lives turn to ash. Because, as their father counselled them from birth, nothing lasts forever. Everything burns.' WELLINGTON 1 A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern (Penguin Random House, $60) 2 Towards Modernism: Walter Cook Collection at Te Papa by Justine Olsen (Te Papa Press, $75) This handsome new publication celebrates the Walter Cook Collection of Decorative Arts (held at Te Papa) and the ceramic, glass and metal objects therein. 3 The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $38) 4 It's A Bit More Complicated Than That by Hannah Marshall (Allen and Unwin NZ, $25) A brilliant new YA novel from a huge new talent. Here's the blurb: 'Zelle and Callum used to be best friends, but they haven't spoken in three years: not since the tragedy that wrenched them apart, and Zelle moved away. But now Zelle is back, and their lives are about to get a whole lot more complicated. Zelle is in denial about her alcohol use that threatens to spiral out of control, and she's deeply annoyed at having to leave the city. Callum's future is thrown into jeopardy after both a disastrous uni interview and his budding romance turning sour. But they can't keep running from the past forever, and circumstances force them to examine their grief and guilt and find a way through.' 5 A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan (Allen and Unwin NZ, $37) 'Trevelyan's narrator is 10 years old. She's unnamed until the very end of the book (I won't reveal it here: best to find out for yourself). It's this naive perspective that makes A Beautiful Family both easy to read and impossible to put down. The narrator's innocence is pitted against several disturbing factors, all orbiting her summer in various shapes and shades, and it's that persistent dance of disturbances that creates the sustained and unrelenting tension in the novel.' Read more of Claire Mabey's review on The Spinoff, right here. 6 The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (Penguin, $26) 7 Delirious by Damien Wilkins (Te Herenga Waka University Press, $38) 'I don't want to say that Delirious is the pinnacle of what Damien can do because that would be like putting a curse on his future work. But I am going to say it's almost impossible for me to imagine how he could do better. I think this is a great book – Great with capital G.' Even before Delirious won this year's Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, Elizabeth Knox was rapturous about Wilkins' beautiful novel. 8 Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq (Scribe, $37) Shortlisted for the 2025 International Booker Prize. 'In the twelve stories of Heart Lamp, Banu Mushtaq exquisitely captures the everyday lives of women and girls in Muslim communities in southern India. Published originally in the Kannada language between 1990 and 2023, praised for their dry and gentle humour, these portraits of family and community tensions testify to Mushtaq's years as a journalist and lawyer, in which she tirelessly championed women's rights and protested all forms of caste and religious oppression. Written in a style at once witty, vivid, colloquial, moving and excoriating, it's in her characters – the sparky children, the audacious grandmothers, the buffoonish maulvis and thug brothers, the oft-hapless husbands, and the mothers above all, surviving their feelings at great cost – that Mushtaq emerges as an astonishing writer and observer of human nature, building disconcerting emotional heights out of a rich spoken style. Her opus has garnered both censure from conservative quarters as well as India's most prestigious literary awards; this is a collection sure to be read for years to come.' 9 James by Percival Everett (Picador, $38) 10 The Māori Millionaire by Te Kahukura Boynton (Penguin, $35) 'Te Kahukura Boynton is Māori Millionaire, and her debut book is here to help. Learn how to make money by clearing debt, saving for an emergency, finding work and increasing your salary, and even starting your own business and investing in shares and yourself. With tips on building better habits with your money and your life, Māori Millionaire is the positive mindset change you might be missing.' So goes the blurb.
The Spinoff
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Spinoff
Fury of the Small: The face of evil
In episode seven, the scene is set for a confrontation with the second villain of our tale: the sultry Karla Rose, to whom there is more than meets the eye. Fury of the Small blends radio drama, improv comedy and tabletop roleplaying into a unique audio experience. In our story, four stalwart heroes delve into a goblin den seeking fame and fortune. Months later, four avenging goblins step into the human world seeking retribution. All that follows is decided by the roll of the dice! Our goblins have scuttled through the streets of Highfalls, cut shapes on the dance floor of The Heart and Clover, and snuck their way into the shadowy VIP gallery where a mastermind spins her web. As Karla Rose welcomes the goblins into her parlour, they face their greatest threat yet. With honeyed words and subtle spellcraft, Karla plays on each goblin's weaknesses and foibles — speaking directly to the dark ambitions in Smiggly's heart. Scritches and Sly lose themselves to a powerful enchantment, while Skree and Potato scramble to hatch a plan. But with alarming speed, a cordial conversation turns into a struggle at knifepoint. Fury of the Small is a limited series Dungeons & Dragons podcast produced by The Wild Magic Tavern, in partnership with The Spinoff. It stars Brynley Stent, Arlo Gibson, Ella Hope-Higginson, Tom Eason and Paddy Carroll with sound design by Te Aihe Butler.
The Spinoff
19 hours ago
- Business
- The Spinoff
The cost of being: A political adviser finishing their master's degree
As part of our series exploring how New Zealanders live and our relationship with money, a political adviser and master's student describes their financial situation. Want to be part of The Cost of Being? Fill out the questionnaire here. Gender: Female. Age: 23. Ethnicity: Pākehā. Role: I work full time as a political adviser and am a master's student. Salary/income/assets: My salary is $75,000 a year. My living location is: Urban. Rent/mortgage per week: $240 per week, not including other expenses like power and wifi. I live with two other flatmates and we split everything equally. Student loan or other debt payments per week: My student loan is pretty high because I didn't work for most of my undergrad and have also added to it with the master's degree I'm currently finishing up – I get paid monthly so it's about $550 out of each pay check. Typical weekly food costs Groceries: I would say I spend about $100 a week on supermarket trips – I'm a terrible cook and get decision paralysis in the aisles, so it tends to be on snacky stuff and a lot of beverages. My shelf in the fridge is always empty! Eating out: I eat out quite a bit on weekends (mostly at cafes) – I would estimate I spend about $30 a week on that. Takeaways: I get takeaways during the week if I feel like I need a big dinner which I usually don't have the ingredients to cook – maybe $50 a week? Workday lunches: $30 a week. Usually lunch for me is just a protein bar from the supermarket, but sometimes I branch out and go to a café or out with co-workers. Cafe coffees/snacks: $15 per week (not counting my lunchtime protein bars as a snack – that's a meal!). Other food costs: None. Savings: I put anywhere from $500 to $1000 a month into my savings account (depending on outgoings). I would love to get more adept at investing, because my savings account is starting to have what feels like a useless amount of money to just be sitting there. I worry about money: Sometimes. Three words to describe my financial situation: Growing, impulsive, fortunate. My biggest edible indulgence would be: Trying new cafes at the weekend – and smoked Havarti cheese! In a typical week my alcohol expenditure would be: Unfortunately after a few weeks of sobriety I am back on the Courtenay Place grind. $50 a week. In a typical week my transport expenditure would be: Nothing, because I walk everywhere. Even in winter. I estimate in the past year the ballpark amount I spent on my personal clothing (including sleepwear and underwear) was: I think it would be about $1500, I got a new job last year so had to get some more professional office stuff, but I like to shop vintage/ second hand so a lot of my clothes are from Depop or stores along Cuba St. My most expensive clothing in the past year was: I think it was a pair of Doc Martens I bought a few weeks back for $360. Still mustering up the courage to break them in. My last pair of shoes cost: $280 for some nicer running shoes because my old ones hurt me. My grooming/beauty expenditure in a year is about: Probably about $2000 (embarrassing!): $300 a year on hair-related activities, I replace my (very simple) skincare routine every few months which costs about $50 dollars, don't get through makeup too quickly so probably about $100 a year on that, and get my nails done monthly for about $100. My exercise expenditure in a year is about: My gym costs $7 a week (so $364 a year?) – which I really make the most of and use almost every day. My last Friday night cost: Nothing, unless you include the cost of my degree because I was working on my thesis the whole evening. Most regrettable purchase in the last 12 months was: A pair of shoes I made the mistake of buying online, which didn't fit and which I forgot to return. Most indulgent purchase (that I don't regret) in the last 12 months was: New bedding. I love my bed. One area where I'm a bit of a tightwad is: Socks. Hate buying socks. But other than that, I'm not sure I'm a tightwad at all – maybe with having people pay me back, but I feel like that's fair. Five words to describe my financial personality would be: Fun, I could die tomorrow. I grew up in a house where money was: A frequent and stressful subject because my dad owned his own business and my mum always worked hard too. I felt a lot of anxiety about it growing up because of the negative ways it was discussed, but I was always fortunate to go to great schools and never had to worry about having food on the table. The last time my Eftpos card was declined was: I don't think it has. I always know how much money is in my spending account. In five years, in financial terms, I see myself: Student loan paid off (I hope I pray!), on a higher salary, renting somewhere nicer. It's not on my radar for the next while to even think about buying a house. I would love to have more money for: International travel! I want to do Euro summer at least once. Describe your financial low: Just last year, when I was doing an unpaid internship and tutoring at uni for extra money – I never felt like I had enough, had basically no savings, wouldn't eat much, and would have about $30 to my name some weeks after rent and bills. I give money away to: The SPCA.
The Spinoff
a day ago
- General
- The Spinoff
The Weekend: Matariki is the perfect time to start afresh
Madeleine Chapman reflects on the week that was. Mānawatia a Matariki! Congratulations, you made it. Welcome to the Māori new year. I like the idea of starting fresh on the darkest day of the year. It makes sense that after weeks of feeling the heavy weight of dark and cold, there would be a clear marker for rounding the corner. It's like a reward for persevering and, in my opinion, should include at least one more statutory holiday (take it from January 2). Having our big holiday and new year celebrations in the summer is like being made to run a marathon without water, only to then be hit with a hose at the finish line. Way too late, excessive and not needed: the finish line (summer, daylight) is enough of a reward at that point. This week has been a freezing, dark week where there's nothing to do but sit in front of the heat pump (if you're lucky enough to have one) and contemplate every life decision you ever made. In other words, it's the perfect time for reflection and planning, and a couple of days off. The fact that people spend the Gregorian new year hungover, full of sun and often fresh from a two-week holiday, and then try to reflect on their life and decide what they want to do for the next 12 months is frankly unhinged. No wonder everyone sets ridiculous resolutions and then crashes out in winter when they realise 'morning runs' are hell on earth when there's ice on the ground and you can't see shit. Meanwhile, right there at the perfect moment is Matariki. There to say hey, we've been in the slog era but we're on the way out. Let's reflect on the past 12 months and plan for the next 12. Let's take time to connect with the whenua and reaffirm our place in it, remember those we've lost and plan for those still to arrive. That's the perfect time to be making realistic resolutions. Less 'run 23 marathons' and more 'spend more time with family', less 'lose 75kg' and more 'learn about my own history'. Because you know a desire is real when you want to do it even on the coldest, darkest days of the year. The stories Spinoff readers spent the most time with this week Feedback of the week 'Good on you for knitting socks; hand-knit socks are the best. I hope you enjoy your time here in Aotearoa and, if you choose to, get to stay permanently.' 'yikes. that's what Broadmore left me with here. big ole dirty YIKES.'
