Confession: There are going to be posts that appear to be off theme. There will be times when I colour outside the lines. Every now and then, you’ll find “outlier” books on this blog. Here’s why:
Aotearoa – New Zealand is a series of islands, but it can’t (and shouldn’t) be appreciated as a community fully insulated from the global community. This blog was created to explore Aotearoa’s stories, authors, landscapes, and cultural identity through books — but sometimes, that means widening the lens to include global perspectives and broader literary conversations.
Art is not made in a vaccum
If you’ve ever worked on a Literature Review or checked out sites like Literary Map, you’ll know that every book is part of a web of influence —global politics, historical context, climate, colonisation, gender, migration, resistance, and myth.
Before the days of BookTok, streaming services, and Goodreads algorithms, many recreational readers read thematically and widely, often moving across genres and subjects in pursuit of ideas. That kind of reading still matters. In fact, reading beyond the algorithm can enrich our understanding, add depth to our literary landscape, and introduce new authors, new genres, and unexpected favourites to our To-Be-Read piles.
And yes—this expansion also gives me room to write about books I adore: the ones that move, challenge, or delight me, even if they don’t reference Aotearoa directly.
Putting on the breaks: How These Books Will Relate to NZ-Focused Content
I read broadly, generally, so I have had to give myself some boundaries (check in with me if you think I overstep). It’s early-days, so these could evolve, but you can expect the scope when of books outside the NZ frame to include:
- Thematic resonance (e.g. Indigenous futurism in global sci-fi linked to Māori speculative writing)
- Shared colonial histories (e.g. Caribbean, Irish, or Canadian authors alongside New Zealand postcolonial narratives)
- Environmental storytelling (e.g. cli-fi novels that echo NZ’s ecological concerns)
- Diaspora and migration (e.g. characters negotiating identity and belonging, echoing Pacific or migrant experiences in NZ)
- Genre reflections (e.g. spice-filled romantasy reviewed not only as entertainment but as a lens to examine publishing trends and NZ reader communities)
What You Won’t Find Here
This isn’t going to turn into a free-for-all. You will not find:
- A general fiction blog that’s lost its compass
- Trend-only coverage (e.g. just because it’s on BookTok).
- There won’t be random celebrity memoirs or international bestsellers unless there’s a thematic or contextual reason.
- It’s not a dumping ground for all reading—only the books that feed into the wider story this blog is telling.
Final thoughts
I’m genuinely excited about this opportunity to write more widely and honestly about my reading life. Some connections will be clear; others might be surprising. But they’ll all be intentional.
Please join me. You can check get the rundown on how I review books here. Share your thoughts on literary networks and unexpected connections. Suggest books, challenge ideas, or simply enjoy the ride. This is an open conversation, and you’re warmly invited.
Kaka's nest books 