Kura Rutherford ruminates on how powerfully children’s books can evoke geographies both unknown and familiar, from Beatrix Potter’s Lake District to the isolation of Mangere Island. Sometimes a walk around a lake means walking into a book. When my family…
Kate Duignan recalls two influential books from her childhood, Heidi and The Diddakoi, in this stunning personal essay about the importance of a child’s sense of home. Kate’s new novel for adults, The New Ships, is out now from Victoria…
Emma Neale is a Dunedin-based poet, novelist, and recently appointed editor of the esteemed New Zealand literary journal, Landfall, which has been running for over 70 years. She tells us, hilariously and poignantly, about the books her two sons are…
For World Refugee Day, former refugee Nida Fiazi writes about her life and how books have intersected with it, and includes her recommendations for books (and attitudes) to help all people in Aotearoa understand the lives of refugees better. Books…
Bonnie Etherington, author of the multi-award-nominated novel The Earth Cries Out, reminisces about the stories and books from her childhood, how they connected her to New Zealand from West Papua, and considers language’s ability to give voice and pass on…
Maurice Gee’s O Trilogy is one of the most enduringly excellent works of Aotearoa literature. Megan Dunn recalls its power. In the South Island, at the back of an old mineshaft is the entrance to the planet O. There are…
Books aren’t the only place to find stories. Some of the most important and meaningful stories are passed down through generations, strengthening our connections to land, whānau, whakapapa. Kura Rutherford shares what family storytelling means to her. I first experienced…
Ahead of his appearance at the Auckland Writers Festival, novelist (for adults) Rajorshi Chakraborti tells us about the books his daughter is reading, and his aspirations to write a book for her one day. A big challenge is looming for…
Writer, comedian and author of a new collection of true love stories, How We Met, Michele A’Court tells us about the books she reads to her granddaughter, and the tricks she uses at story time. As much as I am…
At The Sapling we believe that books grow humans. What kinds of books grew Ockham-shortlisted writer Brannavan Gnanalingam? An intriguing mix, as we find out today. I don’t remember when I learned English, but it wasn’t my first language. That…