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Barb Garrie

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📚 WORD Christchurch gets the city buzzing with books, ideas and kōrero.
🎟️ Festival on now! 27-31 August 2025
👇🏻 Get your tickets here

We're blue sky dreaming this Summer... 15 writers

We're blue sky dreaming this Summer... 15 writers from around the city have imagined everyday life in 2125 - hotter, drier, wetter and more intense were just some of the situations they so brilliantly depicted. Look out for their writing on posters around the city this summer. Here's just a couple we've spotted around!

For more: https://wordchristchurch.co.nz/blue-sky-dreaming/

A creative collaboration with @christchurchcc
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#clific #christchurchnz #blueskydreaming #nzwriters

It’s the last day of work for the WORD team, so

It’s the last day of work for the WORD team, so let’s see what Kiran will be reading during the summer break:

John of John by Douglas Stuart
I just finished Good Things Come and Go by @josie_shapiro which is so great! I’ve passed it on to Steph. As soon as the summer break begins I’m diving into one of the most anticipated Not Yet Published books of 2026 John of John by Booker Prize winning author of Shuggie Bain. Douglas Stuart is such a beautiful writer. Due in May.

The Old Fire by Elisa Shua Dusapin (translated by Aneesa Abbas Higgins)
Blurbed as being “for fans of Anne Enright and Tessa Hadley.” Sign me up! A chic novel set in the French countryside, this will be the perfect summer read.

A State of Siege by Janet Frame
I’m thrilled that this new edition from my favourite publisher Fitzcarradlo Editions will introduce Janet Frame to new and international audiences. A different kind of sub-tropical island novel.

The Best American Essays 2025 edited by Jia Tolentino
A yearly summer break tradition for me is to dip in and out of the year’s Best American Essays collection.

Minor Black Figures by Brandon Taylor
Brandon Taylor is an exquisite writer and I’ll read anything by him. This novel brings together a black painter and a white priest in the contemporary Manhattan art scene.

A Breed of Woman by Fiona Kidman
I snapped up this snazzy 1980s edition of Fiona Kidman’s 1979 novel A Breed of Woman from Wellington’s excellent Ferret Bookshop after hearing Fiona talk about it in the intensely moving and beautifully made documentary about her The House Within.

Forbidden Notebook by Alba De Céspedes (translated by Ann Goldstein)
I didn’t know anything about this book but saw two of the team at one of my favourite publishers Daunt Books included it on their Favourite Reads of 2025 roundup. I trust their recs so promptly got it out of the library.
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#SummerReading #Bookstacks #TBRPile

Stuck for Christmas gifts? Our WORD festival partn

Stuck for Christmas gifts? Our WORD festival partners have you sorted - @universitybookshopcanterbury has some great deals at the moment, @threeboysbrewery and @pegasusbaywine always are welcome around a table, @noodnz have stocking stuffers and more, or @fablehotelsandresorts, @crowneplazachristchurch and Carnmore (@chchristchurch) could do vouchers for a staycation? If all else fails, a @booksellersnz token means they can do the choosing. We also have our Simon Winchester event on 6 March on sale!

#giftideas #supportlocal #christmasinNZ #wordchch #thejoyofwords

We’re sharing what we are looking forward to rea

We’re sharing what we are looking forward to reading over the summer break! First up is Steph:

Every year I try to limit my stack because I know things will fall in my lap during the summer, but here’s my priority pukapuka!

The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai
The running joke here is that Kiran Dass wrote it, but really of the Booker Prize shortlist this sounds like the best holiday read for me. I love a generation-spanning story and while it’s quite the chunk of a book I hear it’s a page-turner.

Better the Blood by Michael Bennett
I’m hosting a Book Club about Michael’s books for @rawafestival next year... and Michael will be in attendance. I better scrub up. I have all three of his Hana Westerman series on the stack.

Netherland by Joseph O’Neill
It’s a cricket book! Those who know me know I’m a cricket tragic, so this will likely be read in innings’ breaks. This 2009 book is set in the wake of the 9/11 attacks in New York, and won awards and praise that year. Once read it will settle in the bookshelf next to Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Matthew by Shehan Kurunatalika, another stellar cricket novel.

The Luminous Solution by Charlotte Wood
I am in love with our WORD 2025 guest, and I think this book on thinking creatively will be good new year inspiration. I’m hoping also a great companion book for Jo Randerson’s wonderful Secret Art Powers which I devoured and dogearred.

Good Things Come and Go by Josie Shapiro
This is on my shopping list after next pay day - if the Chidge [Catherine Chidgey] calls it ‘’Poignant, redemptive, electrifying.” then that’s me sorted.
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#SummerReading #Bookstacks #TBRPile

Our top stress-busting tip for the silly season.

Our top stress-busting tip for the silly season.

NEW EVENT ALERT! Our first event for 2026 is write

NEW EVENT ALERT! Our first event for 2026 is writer, journalist and broadcaster Simon Winchester OBE (UK/USA). Known for his deep dives in to so many subjects with top notch storytelling. His latest book is on wind - hopefully he doesn't get any turbulence on his way over here.

Friday 6 March 2026
6.00pm
@thepiano.nz
tickets: $30 / $20

PLUS! $65 / $55 Ticket & Book Package for the person who has everything this Christmas - we've got a special package on our website now with our friends @universitybookshopcanterbury.

In partnership with @harpercollinsnz.

#bookstagram #christchurchnz #simonwinchester #wordchch #thebreathofthegods #bookevent

WORD CHRISTCHURCH FESTIVAL 2026 DATES FOR THE DIAR

WORD CHRISTCHURCH FESTIVAL 2026 DATES FOR THE DIARY: 1- 6 September

If you're getting your 2026 sorted, be sure to be in Ōtautahi Christchurch for the first week of Spring. Our annual festival will have the city buzzing.

#datesforthediary #wordchch #christchurchnz #nzlit #nzfestivals

All these WORD guests from 2025 have featured on a

All these WORD guests from 2025 have featured on a best of list for the year - if you haven't already read their books you might want to pop them in the summer reading pile.

Head to our website for a compendium of lists of the Top 2025 things to read, listen and view. Have you spotted a list we should add in there? Let us know!

📷 1-6: @petramingneau ; 7: @nzkebabette

📗 1: Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood
📗 2: See How They Fall by Rachel Paris
📗 3: The Book Of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey
📗 4: This Compulsion in Us by Tina Makereti
📗 5:Surplus Women by Michelle Duff
📗 6: No Words for This by Alison Mau
📗 7: Better the Blood and Return to Blood by Michael Bennett

#bestof #nzlit #auslit #wordchch #bookstagram

78 years and 250 editions - a landmark for @landfa

78 years and 250 editions - a landmark for @landfallnz! It is great to see our friends at @03_magazine celebrating this milestone in their latest edition. Find a copy around Ōtautahi Christchurch, or check it out online. It's a great summer read.

#christchurchnz #supportlocal #03magazine #nzlit

Librarians from around the world have made us all

Librarians from around the world have made us all an amazing reading list! @dublinlitaward takes its nominations from libraries around the world so if you're looking for a recommended read, their 69 books nominated by 80 libraries is a good list to start from!

Congratulations to @dominichoey, @damienwilkins103, @bexmana and @tina.makereti - their latest novels all feature on this list.

@christchurchlib @dunedinpubliclibrariesnz @auckland_libs @wgtncc

#tbrpile #litawards #nzlit #thejoyofwords

AWARD WINNER! Toi Te Mana: An Indigenous History o

AWARD WINNER! Toi Te Mana: An Indigenous History of Māori Art by Deidre Brown (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu), Ngarino Ellis (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou) and the late Jonathan Mane-Wheoki (Ngāpuhi, Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kurī) is the winner of the @apollomagazine Book of the Year award!

Published by @aucklanduniversitypress and @uchicagopress , and the feature of a great kōrero at the @chchartgallery as part of our festival in August.

#apollomagazine #apolloawards2025 #art #books #ceremony #awards

FREE BOOK LAUNCH & RECORD SPINNING: Join us to cel

FREE BOOK LAUNCH & RECORD SPINNING: Join us to celebrate the release of Chris Knox: Not Given Lightly, a biography by Craig Robertson.

📍 Wednesday 3 December, 6pm at Lyttelton Coffee Co.

Come along to hear author Craig Robertson in conversation with Bruce Russell. Books will be available to purchase thanks to @universitybookshopcanterbury and Craig will sign your copies! Records will be spinning before and after the kōrero.

Presented in partnership with our friends at @aucklanduniversitypress.

#nzmusic #nzlit #booklaunch #ohinehau #wordchch

This Thursday night is book night in Ōtautahi!

This Thursday night is book night in Ōtautahi!

5.30PM: @scorpiobooks hosts @lynleyedmeades in conversation with our own @steelydass

Also at 5.30PM: @physicsroom launches their new book, Correspondence IV,
with contributions from Raine Angeles, Hāwea Apiata, Jenny Gao, Bella Macdonald, and Nell May, and editor Anna Welham.

then at 7.30PM: @ngapukapukapekapeka series 2 launches at @littleandromedachch with @annabelwilsonwriter, @hey.ray.shipley and @nathaniel4heathcote

That should keep us all busy for the night! Make sure you RSVP to keep the organisers happy and ready for you.

#wordchch #supportlocal #christchurchnz #bookcity #nzlit #nzart #toiōtautahi

Celebrate 250 years of Jane Austen with @christchu

Celebrate 250 years of Jane Austen with @christchurchlib on Sunday 14 December with a bookmaking workshop and Devonshire Tea. Held at the Sumner Centre, it sounds like something the Bennet sisters would love to attend (IYKYK). Find out more on the What's On section at www.my.christchurchcitylibraries.com

#austen250 #romancereads #nzbookstagram #nzbookcommunity #mrdarcyfans #christchurchnz

No big deal, but we've just got a few Emmy nominat

No big deal, but we've just got a few Emmy nominations to celebrate! The @skynz Originals TV series adaptation of Red Rocks by @rachfking has been nominated in three categories of the Children and Family Emmys, including a nomination for writing.

Congratulations to the series writers for such a great adaptation of Rachael's work.

📷 of Rachael from Books Alive! 2025

#nzlit #bookstoscreen #booksforlife📚 #thejoyofwords #nzbookstagram #nzauthor #nzonscreen

The 2025 @storylinesnz Notable Books List is out n

The 2025 @storylinesnz Notable Books List is out now, , compiled from entries from publishers by expert panels of authors, teachers, librarians, academics and parents.

We've circled a selection from writers we've hosted at WORD the past year or two, including Gavin Bishop, @rachfking, @kirilightfoot , @heathermcqwriter, @meldixonwriter and @stacygreggauthor. Special mention to the beautiful Matariki book from our friends at @chchartgallery too.

#supportlocal #nzlit #kidlit #christmaspresentideas #wordchch #thejoyofwords

Local legend and WORD favourite Tusiata Avia has a

Local legend and WORD favourite Tusiata Avia has another extraordinary book on the way.

Come celebrate with her and @thwupbooks at the Book Launch of Giving Birth to My Father at @spaceacademychch on Saturday 15 November from 5pm. All welcome.

Tusiata Avia is the 2026 @modern@_modernletters_ Writer in Residence in Te-Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington, so we might not get many local events with her next year!

#supportlocal #wordchch #nzpoetry

Hurō! The 2025 Prime Ministers Awards for Literar

Our friends at @scorpiobooks have several great ev

Our friends at @scorpiobooks have several great events on this month at the shop, including Harry Ricketts in conversation with @erikcurtiskennedy, Peter Dowling and Takerei Norton talking New Zealand Place names, and @lynleyedmeades talking to our own Kiran Dass AKA @steelydass.

Support local! Find more info and RSVP links on the Scorpio Books website.

WORD: Living Books. Back from WORD 2025 and bigger

WORD: Living Books. Back from WORD 2025 and bigger than ever this Friday night at Tūranga.

Join @chchhiphopsummit03 for an open kōrero with some of Aotearoa’s most iconic DJs, MCs, graffiti artists, producers, and dancers. These are the voices who built the culture here, the ones who lived it before the spotlight.

Hip Hop has always welcomed everyone, yet here in Aotearoa some of its earliest champions were Māori and Pacific peoples who made it their own. A platform for identity. A protest. A celebration. A stage for truth when there wasn’t one.

This is your chance to listen, learn, and engage directly with the people who shaped the movement.

Free entry! Get there early - it will fill up quick.

#LivingBooks #CHCHHipHopSummit #Ōtautahi #HipHopAotearoa #ForTheCulture #NZMusic #AotearoaArtists #KnowledgeIsPower #BarbersDJsMCsBreakingGraffiti #YouthAndCulture #YCD #HipHopCommunity

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