The week's biggest-selling New Zealand books, as recorded by the Nielsen BookScan New Zealand bestseller list and described by Steve Braunias
FICTION
1 Greta and Valdin by Rebecca K Reilly (Victoria University Press, $35)
"This is a wonder of a novel, its dialogue is sharp and witty, its characters recognisable. I cared deeply for the whole of this crazy family": from a review by Louise Ward, Hawkes Bay Today.
2 The Leonard Girls by Deborah Challinor (HarperCollins, $36.99))
From David Hill's review at ReadingRoom, of Challinor's historical novel, set in 1969: "The Vietnam War blunders on. Rowie Leonard (pro-NZ soldiers, partially pro-conflict) heads for the battlefields as a nurse. Little sister Jo (vehemently anti-this war) heads for the streets as a protestor. So it's sibling confrontation, always a promising source of plot power."
3 Harbouring by Jenny Pattrick (Penguin Random House, $36)
From David Hill's review at ReadingRoom, of Pattrick's historical novel set in Wellington, 1839: "A multi-layered cast is adroitly controlled; you become rewardingly invested in the principals' arcs and ends. You also wish to smack the newcomers who intend to teach Māori 'the Christian ways'. Harbouring is a big, bold read."
4 Winter Time by Laurence Fearnley (Penguin Random House, $36)
Novel set in the McKenzie country; nice alpy cover.
5 How to Loiter In a Turf War by Coco Solid (Penguin Random House, $28)
6 Kurangaituku by Whiti Hereaka (Huia Publishers, $35)
7 The Author’s Cut by Owen Marshall (Penguin Random House, $36)
8 Surveillance by Riley Chance (Riley Chance, $35)
From a story by George Heagney at Stuff: "A Manawatū author has outlined a concerning vision of a near future dystopia where everyone is under observation. Riley Chance, which is a nom de plume, has published a new book Surveillance that offers a look at an alternate New Zealand. Set in Manawatū, the book is about how journalist Grace Marks notices an increase in street crime in suburban New Zealand and starts investigating. At the same time, the chief executive of a security company, Will Manilow, becomes concerned about the motives of the company owner, who is trying to grow the business quickly."
9 Auē by Becky Manawatu (Makaro Press, $35)
10 Cousins by Patricia Grace (Penguin Random House, $26)
NON-FICTION
1 Yum by Nadia Lim (Nude Food Inc, $55)
2 The Boy from Gorge River by Chris Long (HarperCollins, $39.99)
3 A Gentle Radical: The Life of Jeanette Fitzsimons by Gareth Hughes (Allen & Unwin, $39.99)
Jeanette by Garth, with an introduction by Chlöe; note green lettering on cover.
4 Matariki: The Star of the Year by Rangi Matamua (Huia Publishers, $35)
5 The Bookseller at the End of the World by Ruth Shaw (Allen & Unwin, $36.99)
6 Aroha by Hinemoa Elder (Penguin Random House, $30)
7 Grand by Noelle McCarthy (Penguin Random House, $35)
The author of the best book of 2022 so far will be interviewed by her close friend Emma Espiner at the Auckland Writers Festival in August. Book now; tickets for that event will sell fast, very fast indeed.
8 Simple Wholefoods by Sophie Steevens (Allen & Unwin, $49.99)
9 I am Autistic by Chanelle Moriah (Allen & Unwin, $29.99)
10 So Far, For Now by Fiona Kidman (Penguin Random House, $38)
A collection of personal and social essays. From my review at ReadingRoom: "The opening chapter on her husband Ian's death is among the best pieces of writing Kidman has ever published. Her closing chapter on life after Ian's death is less present, as you might expect – bereavement gradually loses its edges, becomes vague, formless. Ghosts of the dearly departed appear in dreams, sometimes in daylight. Kidman writes of seeing Ian's outline in the garden shed. And then: 'I saw him move away, taking his time, the way he had not done when he died.' There are some writers who wouldn't know how to tell you that. They'd overdo it, put too much of themselves in it, ruin it. Kidman isn't one of them."
