October Book Club: One Day a Taniwha

Melissa and Eden host this monthly book club, bringing readers together to explore and discuss some of the best recently released books. October’s selection is One Day a Taniwha by Tīhema Baker, a gripping story of new fatherhood, mounting pressure and the unsettling boundary between dreams and reality. Hepa hasn’t slept properly in four months. His newborn son, Wi, cries through the night, the bills keep piling up, and the pressure to keep his family afloat is becoming almost unbearable. Determined to be the strong, dependable father his family needs, Hepa tries to push through the exhaustion and fear. The only place he feels in control is in his dreams, where he has been able to shape and manipulate the dream world since childhood. But when something begins watching him from within that world, Hepa’s grip on reality starts to unravel. As sleeplessness and tension take their toll, the question becomes increasingly disturbing: can Hepa trust his own mind - and can he be trusted with his son? Join Melissa and Eden for a thoughtful discussion of this compelling and unsettling novel.