Tag: read

By Samantha Magick A new detective novel set in Fiji brings to life a time rarely discussed beyond academic texts; the experiences of Indian labourers under Girmit. A Disappearance in Fiji follows Akal Singh, a 25-year-old Sikh police officer, sent to Fiji in disgrace after an indiscretion in his previous posting of Hong Kong. He […]

By Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti The Fiji Times at 150 is a book that is really a kaleidoscope of stories with a vivid, witty, funny, and remarkable history of Fiji through the Fiji Times’ lens. The author, historian and writer Anurag Subramani, described it as a ‘scrapbook of Fiji’s history’ at the book’s launch last week. He […]

“Eating healthy can be a challenge these days because of readily available fast foods and processed products, available in shops and stores”, says Courtney Underwood-Dass.  “Whether it be going down to the market or growing things in your own backyard, I hope that our book teaches kids that eating healthy can be fun and worth […]

Kulawai Press is a name adopted from a rare lorikeet bird last sighted in 1965 in Fiji. Paulini Turagabeci, who owns the publishing company and is a softly-spoken, self-made author, entrepreneur, and now publisher,  talks books, indigenous writers, publishing, and being a mother with Fiji Traveller’s Sera Tikotikovatu-Sefeti. “I think the publishing industry in Fiji […]

By RNZ Pacific A charitable organisation in Australia is on a mission to promote the work of indigenous writers from the Pacific. The founder of First Nations Writers, Anna Borzi, has travelled to four Pacific countries in search of the region’s hidden talent. Borzi is an award-winning writer and a international investment banker who worked […]

By Ariela Zibiah Prisoner 302: A Fijian Prime Minister’s Story of his Life, of Military Rebellion, National Oppression and a Handful of Miracles by Laisenia Qarase (Fiji, 2022) is a lot more than one man’s attempt to capture the period between the 2000 coup by George Speight through to the 2006 coup, and beyond. For those who […]

After 44 years, Fiji’s first guidebook on its capital city, Suva, returns with a revamped version. The authors of Suva – A History and Guide have expanded coverage to over 200 pages. This includes detailed information on neighborhood attractions, restaurants, cafes, shopping, heritage buildings and Suva’s flourishing cultural and nightlife scenes. The new edition features […]

By Samantha Magick “Our children are valuable and we have the responsibility to ensure that they are educated;  that they have the basic needs to go through school.” That’s the firmly-held belief of Vunilagi Book Club founder Mariana Waqa, who for four years has worked with a group of volunteers to bring high-quality books and […]

By Iliesa Tora First it was Sandalwood Blood. Now it’s They Said. Two books in a space of seven years, authored by a Fijian in Tonga, Iliesa Samu Lala. Now 72 years old, the almost-7-foot giant of a man’s recent work, They Said, collects discussions and conversations he recorded over the years as he travelled the globe. These […]

Before she left Fiji recently, Sarah Gwonyoma ran a mecca for Fiji book lovers, the Suva Book Swap, from her garage. Fiji Traveller spoke to Sarah about her life in Fiji before her departure. Sarah Gwonyoma, a writer and online book influencer by profession, moved to Fiji from the United Kingdom after meeting a “beautiful […]

Fiji writer, Mary Rokonadravu has won the 2022 Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Pacific) for her story, The Nightwatch. Rokonadravu described the win as affirming.  “Stories are bridges to connect us with each other, especially when we disagree or are different – stories allow us to walk in each other’s complexities and gain understanding of the […]