KIND, by Stephanie Johnson (PRHNZ Vintage, $37)
A Kiwi pandemic novel with elements of a pacy thriller, Stephanie Johnson's Kind is also a wry and clear-eyed commentary on New Zealand, where we are and where we're headed. There are many plot strands - each richly peopled and filled with nail-biting jeopardy - and multiple perspectives. This satisfying complexity means the novel is way more than an exploration of lockdown-related claustrophobia and navel-gazing. There is a bit of that - but just enough.
It's the second week of Level 4 lockdown and newly separated Lyall Hull, a National MP for Christchurch, has "had enough of looking at walls and Netflix [and] memes about... being kind". So he leaves his soulless apartment and takes off for the Southern Alps in his work van. The van has his face "the size of a P-class sail" on the side, "backed by high-sheen National Party blue". His new mountain bike is in the back.
Denne historien er fra April 22 - 28 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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Denne historien er fra April 22 - 28 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
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First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
