Tag: literary fiction
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New Zealand Fiction Excellency in Keri Hulme’s Iconic The Bone People
What a rollercoaster this novel is! Keri Hulme’s exceptional and iconic classic kiwi novel The Bone People, winner of the Booker Prize in 1985, is a masterful literary fiction novel which blends language, narrative structure, and style to deliver a compelling, emotional, and gut-wrenching story you will not forget. In a tower on the New…
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Kirsty Gunn’s Pretty Ugly – A Short Story Collection Full of Human Emotion
Would it be fair if I only reviewed one short story collection this month? Pretty Ugly by Kirsty Gunn is a darkly-fascinating, ominously-enticing read, and I felt myself being drawn into the writing with no desire to pull back. Pretty Ugly by Kirsty Gunn is the inaugural title in a new series of short story…
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The Mires by Tina Makereti – Intense and Charming
The Mires by Tina Makereti, shortlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the Ockhams 2025, will immerse you in a tale of indigenous folklore, suspense, domestic drama, and the threat of extremism on ordinary lives. It is a magical page-turner from start to finish, and it won’t take you more than a…
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Michelle Rahurahu’s Tragicomedy Poorhara Will Leave You Stunned
Poorhara by Michelle Rahurahu, winner of the Modern Letters Fiction Prize and the Hubert Church Prize for Fiction in the Mātātuhi Foundation Best First Book Awards at the Ockhams 2025, is a powerhouse of writing ingenuity and prowess. It is gut-wrenching, tear-jerking, and laughter-inducing, all wrapped up in one unforgettable tale. A tragicomedy set in…
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Potiki – Another Stunning Patricia Grace Novel
Cousins was not enough for me (and it will not be enough for you readers who want more beautiful Maori literary fiction), so I have picked up Potiki by New Zealand literary powerhouse Patricia Grace. Not only is she one of New Zealand’s most iconic writers, but her family dramas and literary fiction where family…
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Be Mesmerised by Samantha Harvey’s Orbital
Another Booker Prize-winning novel has made its way up my tbr. Orbital by Samantha Harvey is a stunning literary science fiction masterpiece that will leave you mesmerised, awestruck, and ever thankful for our beautiful planet earth. If there was ever an ode to Mother Earth and to humanity, it is within these pages. Life on…
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We Do Not Part – Han Kang’s Newest Literary Masterpiece
We Do Not Part, Han Kang’s most recent literary fiction release, is rich with sharp detail, evocative imagery, and that particular tone she is known for, a blend between ominous and hauntingly beautiful that sticks in your mind for days, and your heart for longer. I think I may have found my favourite of her…
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Horrifying Literary Fiction in Han Kang’s The Vegetarian
Han Kang’s literary prowess has been a point of interest of mine for the last few months, with Humans Acts and The White Book coming across my recent reads and now The Vegetarian making it to the list. The Vegetarian, like her other works, is not a light-hearted story, nor is it a simple read.…
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Paula Morris’ Exceptional Essay On Coming Home
Don’t underestimate On Coming Home by Paula Morris. This short yet punchy essay-style story brings to question the meaning of returning home, belonging to a place, and where a traveller fits in their own country. Full of references to academics, novelists, and philosophers the world over, On Coming Home is a thought-provoking read that will…
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Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts By Josie Shapiro – Heartfelt Literary Sports Fiction
If you’re a fan of From Lukov With Love and Carrie Soto Is Back, then I have another sports lit fiction to add to your reading list. Josie Shapiro’s Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts is a stunning debut from a phenomenal kiwi talent, showcasing the highs and lows of long-distance running and the turmoils…
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