Selwyn College

137,983 pages read and 3,445 team points

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PageRunner

13,897 pts

(10,228 pages read)

Slags

By Emma Jane Unsworth

4 stars

Hilarious and very naughty
The Audition

By Katie Kitamura

3 stars

Beautifully written and interesting concept. The sliding doors of motherhood.
Burnt Sugar

By Avni Doshi

3 stars

There were some interesting parts to this story. But it felt disjointed and I am not sure what the point was. Not one of my favs.
A Different Kind of Power

By Jacinda Ardern

5 stars

Excellent memoir. I enjoyed listening to Jacinda’s perspective on her rise and fall in this audio book. Highly recommend.
This is Going to Hurt

By Adam Kay

4 stars

Hilarious, vulgar and heartbreaking. I started this book right at the beginning of the challenge, and it’s taken me this long to finish because it’s definitely not a book you can read in one go.
The Bookshop Detectives 1: Dead Girl Gone

By Gareth and Louise Ward

3 stars
The Vanishing Half

By Brit Bennett

5 stars
Piglet

By Lottie Hazell

4 stars
Remote Sympathy

By Catherine Chidgey

5 stars

Devastating.
The Midnight Feast

By Lucy Foley

4 stars

Lots of twists and turns where nothing is quite what it seems. A very readable little story…entertaining, but not one I’d write home about. A good palette cleanser after the last bunch of five star reads. 420
Poor People with Money

By Dominic Hoey

4 stars

The places in this book resonated with me more than the characters. I felt like the small town up north might be Maungaturoto? I love Hoey’s writing style: gritty, colloquial, and imaginative. I was a little disappointed with the wrap-up. Sequel? NZ240
The Ministry of Time

By Kaliane Bradley

5 stars

Quirky, intelligent, and uniquely written. A Victorian man meets the 21st century, and our cultural values are examined through his eyes. Part sci-fi, part historical fiction, and my kind of romance…I have fallen hard for this Victorian heartthrob. 353
Crossroads

By Johnathan Franzen

5 stars

Sex, drugs, and umm religion… Jonathan Franzen is an amazing writer, and I was hooked. An epic take on the psychology of family life. I was completely absorbed in this audiobook and can’t wait for the sequel. 592
Flowers for Algernon

By Daniel Keyes

5 stars

Woah!!! How have I never come across this classic from 1966?! This story is incredible and deeply meaningful, and it can be read and interpreted in so many ways on so many levels.. Eat your heart out, Limitless…this would be the reality. Best book so far. 320
The Last Living Cannibal

By Airana Ngarewa

4 stars

I love learning about history through story, and this book taught me a lot about tikanga Māori of Taranaki, tangi, family dynamics, and especially utu through the practice of muru. A fascinating retelling of Māori history by a Māori writer. NZ305
1985

By Dominic Hoey

5 stars

My first taste of Hoey, and I’m well impressed. He made me feel nostalgic for an Auckland I wasn’t even living in the country for. Lovely similes and metaphors, and a cool little story too. I recommend the audiobook, narrated by Hoey himself, his accent is classic. Loved this book and will definitely read more of his work. Obsessed. NZ288
Good Things Come and Go

By Josie Shapiro

3 stars

A strong message…it’s right there in the title. Not as good as Shapiro’s running book, but a sweet story that makes you reflect on life. I enjoyed the NZ setting and Rigg’s character, but felt the ending needed work, as it didn’t quite feel finished. Maybe that’s the point? NZ336
Station Eleven

By Emily St John Mandel

4 stars

I love a bit of dystopia, and what a relief to read an apocalyptic book where the end of the world isn’t caused by environmental collapse but by a plague. I enjoyed the characters and the multiple storylines in this audio book. Highly recommend. 350
Martyr!

By Kaveh Akbar

5 stars

Woah!!! I loved this book so much. Smart, intellectual, and original. It was great to read something genuinely different. It had the same vibe as Netflix’s Master of none. The best book I’ve read so far. It made me think…and keep thinking. 352
Gravity let me go

By Trent Dalton

3 stars

Dalton is a quirky writer, even when writing crime fiction. I enjoyed the symbolism, the red herrings, and the odd little bits and pieces that are becoming Dalton’s trademarks. Not his best, but definitely a bit of fun. 448
The Book of Guilt

By Catherine Chidgey

4 stars

I love Chidgey and how she keeps you in suspense as the story slowly reveals what’s really going on… BUT, I’ve read this book and seen this movie too many times before for the suspense to fully work on me. That said, I still really enjoyed it and can see why it won Best NZ Book of the Year. NZ432
Atmosphere

By Taylor Jenkins Reid

3 stars

This ended up being a very different book from what I thought it was…though I didn’t realise that until halfway through. Not what I was expecting. I love a good love story, but I don’t think this book quite pulled it off. More chemistry needed! 352
Miracle

By Jennifer Lane

4 stars

Written by a Kiwi but based in small-town Australia, this book reminded me of Pet in that it’s written from a young girl’s perspective. But it’s much darker, and the writing style made my life feel like The Barbie Movie in comparison. I enjoyed the story and the mystery as it unravelled. NZ 328
Pet

By Catherine Chidgey

4 stars

I loved this book and thought it was very clever. I enjoy reading about what makes up the psychology of people. The unreliable narrator is a young girl who shares her experience of a teacher she worships. Chidgey writes beautifully, allowing the reader to slowly unpick the mystery behind the story, always keeping us in suspense. NZ350
How To Loiter In A Turf War

By Coco Solid

3 stars

I loved the poetry in this book and its take on manaakitanga. I thought I understood this concept, but the book gave me a new perspective, which I really appreciated. I only wish it were longer and went into more depth. I would have liked to experience more of the characters and their world. NZ 176 pages
Small Things Like These

By Claire Keegan

3 stars

Irish books are often so austere and bleak. The message here was important, especially at Christmas time. I would have liked a bit more narrative and found it a little short. 128 pages
Flesh

By David Szalay

4 stars

If you can get past the detailed sexual abuse in the first chapter, it’s a good book. The plain stripped back writing style is clear and made me feel like my brain had been washed. It was refreshing to read a book that just told a story without all the flowery stuff. An Everyman of the 21st century. 349 pages
The Wedding People

By Alison Espach

3 stars

This is an easy read…just a few sips before bed to calm the mind and get ready for sleep. I enjoyed some of the characters but ultimately found it a little superficial. 384 pages
The Four Winds

By Kristin Hannah

5 stars

Romance meets historical fiction, two things I usually love. I find Hannah’s writing a little maudlin, but I enjoy learning about history through story. The Great Depression and the Dust Bowl weren’t that long ago, and it was interesting to read about them in more detail. Stand up, fight back! 465 pages.
I'm Glad My Mom Died

By Jennette McCurdy

4 stars

I am glad my mum has not died, and this book made me feel super grateful for her. I enjoyed this audiobook. It made me laugh, but it was also an interesting look into the lives of child stars, as well as intergenerational abuse and breaking cycles of narcissistic personality disorder. 320 pages.

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Selwyn College

137,983 pages read and 3,445 team points

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