Books to read, television to bingewatch, music to dance to and podcasts to fill your spare time this August.

Bingewatching

The Chosen One : Bear with us – it’s better than it sounds. 12-year-old Jodie discovers he has Jesus-like powers. Everyone wants a slice but all Jodie wants is to impress his girlfriend and smack down his bullies. Based on the comic book series American Jesus by Mark Millar and Peter Gross, this six-part series captures that Stranger Things mix of horror and coming-of-age.

Barry : If you like your comedy dark, this one’s for you. A killer for hire takes an acting class during a hit and gets a glimpse of a life without death – other people’s, that is. Lots of laughs but also plenty to ponder in a series that explores themes of toxic masculinity, abuse and the difficulties veterans can have reintegrating into society.

Jury Duty : Part comedy, part courtroom drama, 100% reality show. What’s not to like? The series chronicles the inner workings of a jury trial in the US through the eyes of juror Ronald Gladden, who is unaware that his jury duty summons was not official and that everyone in the courtroom aside from him is an actor. Guaranteed to crank your paranoia to 11.

Listening

The Feelers – Reimagined – Greatest Hits : Favourite Christchurch sons The Feelers have gone back into the studio to re-interpret 11 of their most recognisable and best-loved songs. Chosen from their first five albums, the fresh cuts include perennial bangers ‘Larger Than Life’, ‘Pressure Man’ and ‘Venus’. Stay tuned – the boys will be touring the new album nationwide during summer.

Summer Thieves – Cigarettes In Space : From gigging at scarfie parties, Dunedin band Summer Thieves have built a solid following with their catchy hooks and dynamic live shows. Cigarettes In Space is their third album. On it, the band continue to evolve and push the boundaries of their sound. Tracks include the 2022 singles ‘Tongue & Cheek’ and ‘Pieces’.

Jon Batiste – World Music Radio : Stephen Colbert’s former band leader follows up his Grammy-winning We Are with an album studded with such stars as Jon Bellion, Lil Wayne, Fireboy Dml, J.I.D, Camilo, Newjeans and Lana Del Rey. Come aboard the mothership as Jon B takes a spin around the globe for his
alien listeners.

Reading

The Waters – Carl Nixon : Ōtautahi author Carl Nixon’s latest book again displays his easy command of setting and character. Here, he explores 40 years in the life of The Waters’ family as they negotiate life in Christchurch. Interesting twist – each chapter is a short story from the point of view of one of the family members.

Adventures with Emilie – Victoria Bruce : In 2021, Victoria Bruce quit work and set out on the 3000km Te Araroa trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff with her seven-year-old daughter, Emilie. From the journey’s extremes, Victoria gained insights into her life’s challenges and demons, which she shares with the reader honestly and generously.

The Art of Winning – Dan Carter : The inside word from a legend as Dan Carter distils from his two decades of high-performance sport the 'perfect 10' lessons on leadership and team culture. Whether you’re on the field, in business or just looking to make a change in your life, this book will share with you some timeless lessons.

Podcasts

Who shat on the floor at my wedding? A gentle piss-take of the True Crime formula, the 14 episodes follow our hapless sleuths as they interrogate wedding guests, put bridesmaids through lie detector tests and bring in forensic experts in a bid to answer the big question.

The good sex project : Melody Thomas follows up her award-winning BANG! with a podcast about good sex, good relationships and how to have them. In interviews with Kiwis from all ages and backgrounds, Melody helps guide listeners to a deeper grasp of their own sexual and romantic lives.