Book Review: The Last Living Cannibal
November 1, 2025
Koko’s voice has so much dry humour and warmth and it was the strength of his perspective that made the novel so absorbing for me.
Jo would struggle to pick a single favourite genre but if you asked she would say her favourite book is the one she is reading right now. Of late, that has been Robert McFarlane, Arundhati Roy, and most recently Mark Z Danielewski, this one might take a while. She also has a passion for anything NZ wild. Hugh Wilson’s new ‘Hinewai Reflections’ book being the latest addition to her bookshelf.
Koko’s voice has so much dry humour and warmth and it was the strength of his perspective that made the novel so absorbing for me.
As the novel develops, we find out how she came to be living on the streets, and how her life could have been very different.
Lessons is an intense, compassionate and enormously satisfying read that will stay with you long after you close the covers.
The Deck is an intriguing hybrid of fiction and nonfiction with a uniquely Kiwi perspective that I couldn’t put down…
the relentless pace of the story made this a charming and fiercely compelling read, full of heart. Meaty and riveting fiction.
Written in true Winton form, it’s gritty, character-driven, and rich, with beautiful but threatening images of the natural world.
This is science meets memoir, but the narrative is never weighted down by the information. I was spellbound.