POPULARITY
Pip Adam talks about the horror maestro's work and the horror genre in general.
Pip Adam reviews a number of short novellas that have villains as their central characters.
Happy Valentines lovers
Pip Adam muses on novel adaptations into TV or films. She suggests a number of NZ books that would lend themselves to a multi-episode TV series. Pip's choices include Wednesday's Children by Robin Hyde; The Time of the Giants by Anne Kennedy and The Brain of Katherine Mansfield by. Bill Manhire.
We are back with the seventhepisode of We All Float Down Here — A Stephen King podcast. And we are talking Cujo — from 1981, the classic movie version, and the sequel story Rattlesnakes, from the brand new story collection, You Like It Darker. But, as always, it's the book that matters most.And for this conversation we were joined by our first guest, one of New Zealand's greatest authors, Pip Adam.The podcast goes out on YouTube first and foremost — so we'd love you to like and subscribe over there.But also adding it here so you can find it on Substack, and your favourite podcast providers like Spotify if you just want the audio.Sounds Good! is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for reading Sounds Good! ! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Sounds Good! at simonsweetman.substack.com/subscribe
Pip Adam recommends some new and not so new books that focus on a single human life.
Today Pip talks to Jesse about the books she's loved over time. She reviews, Marrow & Other Stories by Sloane Hong, Panthers and the Museum of Fire by Jen Craig and Mrs S. by K. Patrick.
Miranda July speaks to Kate Wolf about her latest novel, All Fours. Its narrator is a woman in the middle of her life, a recognized artist who's worked steadily for years with “the confidence that comes from knowing there is no other path.” Shortly after her 45th birthday, she decides to take a road trip to New York to celebrate with money she's recently made from a whiskey commercial. She leaves her husband and child one morning and ends up stopping in a small suburb outside of Los Angeles for breakfast. But instead of continuing on, she rents a motel room there and proceeds to stay for the next three weeks. Part of her decision is based on her intense desire for a Hertz rental car employee she meets named Davey, a younger man, who yearns to be a hip hop dancer. But other aspects of her reasoning are more ineffable, fueled perhaps by the uncertainty of the future, aging, mortality, and struggles with the confines of domestic life. Her sojourn in the motel room becomes the catalyst for a reckoning with that life upon her return, and the basis for a deeper philosophical and visceral inquiry into desire, the female body, social and sexual possibility, caregiving, and what truly makes life worth living. Also, Danielle Dutton, author of Prairie, Dresses, Art, Other, returns to recommend The New Animals by Pip Adam.
Miranda July speaks to Kate Wolf about her latest novel, All Fours. Its narrator is a woman in the middle of her life, a recognized artist who's worked steadily for years with “the confidence that comes from knowing there is no other path.” Shortly after her 45th birthday, she decides to take a road trip to New York to celebrate with money she's recently made from a whiskey commercial. She leaves her husband and child one morning and ends up stopping in a small suburb outside of Los Angeles for breakfast. But instead of continuing on, she rents a motel room there and proceeds to stay for the next three weeks. Part of her decision is based on her intense desire for a Hertz rental car employee she meets named Davey, a younger man, who yearns to be a hip hop dancer. But other aspects of her reasoning are more ineffable, fueled perhaps by the uncertainty of the future, aging, mortality, and struggles with the confines of domestic life. Her sojourn in the motel room becomes the catalyst for a reckoning with that life upon her return, and the basis for a deeper philosophical and visceral inquiry into desire, the female body, social and sexual possibility, caregiving, and what truly makes life worth living. Also, Danielle Dutton, author of Prairie, Dresses, Art, Other, returns to recommend The New Animals by Pip Adam.
This week Pip reviews cook books. She talks to Jesse about Anything's Pastable by Dan Pashman, East Meera Sodha by Meera Sodha and Good vibes : eat well with feel-good flavours by Alby Hailes.
Today Pip looks at suspense fiction. She talks to Jesse about The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith and The Night She Fell by Eileen Merriman.
Today Pip talks to Jesse about author Thomasin Sleigh, who Pip is talking to for the Aotearoa New Zealand Arts Festival.
Hi Everyone, Welcome to this episode of Better off Read. First of all, apologies for no podcasts in November. Things got a bit on top of me and I wasn't able to record an episode. Beyond a Joke will be back in January, with more conversations with people about things that make us laugh. We'll be starting the year talking to some of the amazing people who took part in the Verb After-Hours: Beyond a Joke event which was held in November. In the meantime, over December I'll be sharing a few recordings of work I've written this year. In this episode, it's a short story I wrote for the amazing journal HEAT. The story is called Please Unlock to Drive and I wrote it after I read an article about e-ecooters being dumped Also in the mix of this story was my sadness and anger over the housing market and gig economy. I am often interested in work and it always finds it's way into my work. Slight, life-meets-fiction fact, my father worked as an Uber driver until the pandemic got too much for him. It was so great to work with Alexandra Christie on this story. HEAT is published by Giramondo who published my book Nothing to See. I've just finished working with Nick Tapper from Giramondo on my next novel Audition which comes out with Giramondo next year. I am so grateful to Giramondo. Nothing to See was scuppered, like so many things, by covid and I am so grateful that they are taking another chance on me with this new book. It is a dream to work with Giramondo. Here's a bit about HEAT from their website HEAT is an Australian literary journal renowned for its dedication to literary quality, and its commitment to publishing innovative and imaginative poetry, fiction, essays, criticism and the hybrid forms. The aim of the magazine has always been to publish innovative Australian and international writers of the highest standard. Fifteen issues were published in the first series, from 1996 to 2000, with internal design by Toni-Hope Caten and covers by Harry Williamson. It was followed by the new series of HEAT, designed by Harry Williamson, with twenty-four issues published between 2001 and 2011. The third series of HEAT commenced publishing bimonthly in 2022, in a new design by Jenny Grigg. It is edited by Alexandra Christie, with the support of a distinguished editorial board. There are two really exciting new podcasts that I wanted to say, Yay!! about. Flying Fetu podcast of some of the sessions that took place at their recent talanoa. The best way to get information about this is by following Flying Fetu on Instagram Rats in the Gutter is a new podcast by Sam Te Kani and Johanna Cosgrove. Rats in the Gutter also has an Instagram account you can follow
Hi All, This episode a short one, because I figure most of you will be well on your way to New Year's plans. I recorded this version of a talk I gave in November for a Brooklyn School fundraiser which is called Appetites. It was a fun night, Brannavan Gnanalingam, Emmily Writes, Jo Randerson and I shared a lift to the event which was really nice. Brannavan, Emily and Jo's talks were awesome. Brooklyn School is on Te Atiawa, Taranaki Whānui and Ngati Toa Rangatira land. The topic of my talk was how much a love reality TV. Thanks for listening Pip
This week Catherine's got some guest reviews in the mix for her books chat. One is from Jane Arthur at GOOD BOOKS in Te Aro, who's picked Audition by Pip Adam to review and the other is from Louise Ward at Wardini books in Hawkes Bay, she's reviewing The Observologist.
This week Pip talks to Jesse about books that have altered the way she experiences the world. She reviews Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapokai, A Billion Years Before the End of the World and Owl.
Today Pip talks to Jesse about author Isabel Waidner and their work including a number of podcasts as well as books.
Pip Adam https://www.pipadam.com/ Buy Audition from https://giramondopublishing.com/authors/pip-adam/ or https://teherengawakapress.co.nz/audition/ or https://peninsulapress.co.uk/products/audition Pip's Substack/podcast https://betteroffread.substack.com/ Gateway books Jackie Collins books S.E. Hinton - The Outsiders Wuthering Heights Frankenstein Bae Suah - Nowhere to Be Found Current Reads Dawn Hounds - Sascha Stronach Turncoat - Tīhema Baker Corey Fah Does Social Mobility - Isabel Waidner Lioness - Emily Perkins Animal Joy - Nuar Alsadir Desert Island Books Frankenstein Nowhere to be Found - Bae Suah Confessions of the Fox - Jordy Rosenberg Bad Behaviour - Mary Gatskill Watchmen - Alan Moore Love and Rockets - Hernandez Brothers The Golden Notebook - Doris Lessing Wide Sargasso Sea - Jean Rhys End of Days - Jenny Erpenbeck Cesar Aira - Ghosts
Penelope Noir brings us the ultimate Fashun of handbags- the late Jane Birkin's famously exclusive Birkin bag. Guideropes dials in from the shores of Malta to talk about his new EP, Cascade. On Loose Reads, Jenna reviews the latest work from Pip Adam, Audition. Amelia D'Screte is in the country for one weekend only, and kindly brings us a reprise of Word Salad. Whakarongo mai nei!
Jenna reviews the latest work from Pip Adam, Audition. Whakarongo mai nei!
Today Pip talks to Jesse about Animal Joy: A book of laughter and resuscitation by Nuar Alsadir, Unscripted: The Battle for a Media Empire and the Redstone Family Legacy by James B Stewart and Rachel Abrams and The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act by Isaac Butler.
This week Pip talks to Jesse about Grimmish by Michael Winkler and The Pugilist at Rest by Thom Jones and
Today Pip talks to Jesse about finding time to read and how she's managed to fit in a few books over the past month despite her busy schedule. Today she talks about an essay, ChapGPT Is a Blurry JPEG of the Web, by Ted Chiang, Recipes from The Korean Vegan Cookbook by Joanne Lee Molinaro and she's been listening to the New Yorker Fiction Podcast which is a podcast where writers read stories by other writers from the New Yorker archives.
Today Pip reviews Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires by Douglass Rushkoff, We are Made of Diamond Stuff by Isabel Waidner and Either/Or by Elif Batuman.
Today Pip talks to Jesse about books coming out in 2023 that she's excited about.
Today Pip talks to Jesse about books that can help navigate through economic difficulties. She talks about Too Much Money: How Wealth Disparities Are Unbalancing Aotearoa by Max Rashbrooke and More Zeros adn Ones: Digital Technology, Maintenance and Equity in Aotearoa edited by Anna and Kelly Pendergrast.
Marolyn has been on the podcast once before in an episode we recorded about the show From the 4410 to the 4412 which Marolyn made with Helen Lehndorf and Charlie Pearson last year. In this episode we touch briefly on that show. I loved recording this conversation because it made me think a lot about the joy of process. I also loved the web-series Marolyn brought as a subject for our chat. Hudson Valley Ballers: Lovers is very funny and you can watch the rest of the series on YouTube as well. Marolyn is currently making an incredible podcast called cyanutopia which is a podcast about cyanotype. I am so interested in cyanotype as an form and I think even if you weren't, Marolyn's podcast is such an amazing opportunity to listen to artists talk about their process and work. Subscribe to Better off Read at https://betteroffread.substack.com
Subscribe to Better off Read at https://betteroffread.substack.com Anna and Kelly Pendergrast's latest work is More Zeros and Ones a book they edited which is published by BWB. This book brings together essays from incredibly interesting thinkers and doers who write about environmental science, law and Te Tiriti o Waitangi and recent developments in technology. I just can't recommend this book enough. I love this blurb from BWB: Many of today's digital technologies inadvertently amplify the power structures and prejudices of wider society. By examining the way digital tools and platforms are designed, built, and maintained, this BWB Text aims to identify how we can do better for everyone in Aotearoa. Anna and Kelly are founders of Antistatic a research and communications consultancy like no other I've come across. I got to talk to Anna and Kelly, as Antistatic, last year about their part in the Flat Earthers exhibition/book/event. Still one of the best things I've ever done. I was interested in talking to Anna and Kelly about humour and laughter for several reasons. Anna and Kelly's work is often playful and because of this I think, is able to say some pretty profound things about some of the power structures that sit in technology. Also, Anna and Kelly do a lot of work in communications - taking very complex ideas and structuring them for different purposes. I was interested in how this deep knowledge of communication gives an insight into what makes us laugh. Ann and Kelly brought the perfect ‘thing that made them laugh' for this kind of conversation. The Laughter Lift is a segment on the Kermode & Mayo's Take podcast. I loved the way this opened up a conversation about jokes and the social act of telling jokes. One of the things I loved talking about was that because we often share an idea of the structure of ‘the joke' with the people are telling jokes to, even when the joke goes wrong it is still funny because it becomes a subversion of the form. This gives me immense hope as I am practicing my ‘bit' for the Verb After Hours - Beyond A Joke night Thursday 3 November, 8.30pm at Meow in Wellington. To which there are still tickets available. This is a shameless self-promotion but also, the folk who are appearing in this event are amazing!!
Today Pip talks about three books that 'respond to voice'. They are, Scenes from a Yellow Peril by Nathan Joe, Dictee by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha and Deep Wheel Orcadia: A Novel by Harry Josephine Giles.
Rijula Das' award-winning novel Small Deaths is an amazing book. Set in Shonagachhi and orbiting the violent murder of a sex worker it is one of the most compelling and felt reading experiences I have had this year. It is astounding. Read more and subscribe at: https://betteroffread.substack.com/
Today Pip talks to Charlotte about the books she used as inspiration for her recent Verb Festival workshop called Losing the Plot.
To read more and subscribe: https://betteroffread.substack.com/p/ep-117-beyond-a-joke-8-dominic-hoey#details
Today Pip talks to Jesse about the Science and Fantasy fiction genre in New Zealand and the recent I Say Nope and Sir Julius Vogel Awards. Within that theme she reviews Na Viro by Gina Cole and Butcherbird by Cassie Hart. Both are published by Huia.
To read more and subscribe https://betteroffread.substack.com/
To listen and learn more subscribe to the Better off Read Substack https://betteroffread.substack.com
To listen and read more subscribe to Better off Read's Substack https://betteroffread.substack.com/
Today Pip looks at books that can help with restoring attention.
Anthony is an incredible fiction writer and you can read more about him and his work on his website www.anthonylapwood.wordpress.com For more information about this episode and to subscribe go to https://betteroffread.substack.com
Today Pip talks about Jane Austen books which have been turned into films. She gives her take on Fire Island, Pride and Prejudice and Emma. She also has a special mention of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a book by Seth Grahaeme-Smith also adapted for a film.
Today Pip talks to Jesse about her recent trip to the Brisbane Writers Festival and the outdated perception that people in the Pacific region don't read books from other countries. She also talks about two books from Australian author Tony Birch.
Jordan's new book Everyone is Everyone Except You is out in May 2022 with Dead Bird Books. Click here to read more
Listen to the latest episode and subscribe on Substack https://betteroffread.substack.com
Subscribe to Better off Read on Substack In this, the first episode in this series I speak with Anna Jackson abouta single cell from a Peanuts cartoon where Snoopy is pretending to be a cow. This turns out to be a really great way into talking to Anna about her amazing new book Actions & Travels: How Poetry Works (Auckland University Press)
Today Pip talks to Jesse about the art of writing about art. She delves back to last year's inaugural Michèle Whitecliffe Art Writing Prize winners to use as examples of how to do that well!
Today Pip Adam is talking about books about real people. She's reviewing The Surgeon's Brain by Oscar Upperton, Action & Travels: How Poetry Works by Anna Jackson and American Wife (Penguin, 2012) and Rodham (Penguin, 2020) by Curtis Sittenfeld.
Today Pip Adam's theme is 'banned books'. She's been prompted to go back through time following the news that Art Spiegelman's Pulitzer prize-winning novel about the Holocaust, Maus was removed from the curriculum in the US.
Pip Adam tells Jesse about the books that have made her year better.
In the third episode in the Character season of Elements, I talk to Tatyana Kulida about character and how it relates to her work. We use Henry Miller's book ‘To Paint is to Love Again' as a starting point for this discussion. Here is a link to Tatyana's website
In the second episode in the Character season of Elements, I talk to Tara Black about character and how it relates to her work. We use René Magritte's 'The Treachery of Images' as a starting point for this discussion. Some of the things we talk about are: Here is a link to Tara's website We talk about the books of Scott McCloud Understanding Comics, Making Comics, Reinventing Comics. Here is a link to Scott McCloud's website
In the first episode in the Person/Character season of Elements, I talk to Rachel O'Neill about character and how it relates to their writing. We use Andrea Arnold's film Milk as a starting point for this discussion. CW: Please be aware that Milk contains the death of a baby and deals with the grief resulting from this. Here's a link where you can watch Andrea Arnold's film Milk Here's a link to Rachel's blog Here's a link to Rachel's Instagram