Bookworms walking down Shotover St would be forgiven for spying wetsuits and snowboard gear in the window of NZSHRED and strolling right on by. But inside, literary treasures abound. We caught up with owners Jase and Jon to find out how they got here.
"...reading doesn't always have to be a struggle for knowledge. It’s ok just to be entertained or made to feel an emotion."
Hi Jase and Jon! Thanks for joining us. Can you tell us a bit about NZSHRED to start.
NZSHRED started in 1986 as the first dedicated snowboard shop in New Zealand. After a number of owners, we took over from Jeff Hylton around 13 years ago. Now selling boards of all kinds: snowboards, surfboards, SUPS, wakeboards, skateboards etc, as well as a large selection of clothing and eyewear - focusing on products with less environmental impact, where possible. More recently we have started stocking 'nice things', such as books, cards, notebooks, pottery and art from local artists.
It's a cracking selection of books, too. The surf guides I expected, but you also have everything from stone-cold classics, literary royalty like Atwood, Evaristo and Murakami through to Monique Fiso's Hia Kai, Liv Sisson's Fungi and a bunch of great Aotearoa fiction. Please explain.
Thanks, we like them! Like you said, some match the store like adventure books, surf guides and photography books. The rest was a bit of an evolution. Mainly my thing (Jon), we started with a tiny shelf of books no one noticed, then at some point people noticed as they actually started to sell. This meant we could stock more, as they became a viable product instead of a hobby tucked into the corner. A good mix of classic and contemporary fiction, but not stuff you're likely to find in Whitcoulls. Some science, philosophy, politics, environmental stuff, a bit of travel, and obviously some surf and adventure. We now have people coming specifically to get books from the store, because they know they will find books they'll like, and I suppose because it’s a small hand-picked collection. There is none of the ‘filler’ that a large book store might have. However, for a bigger selection, people should still check out Bound in Queenstown and The Next Chapter in Wānaka. Always support good local shops.
Who curates this eclectic selection?
Jase: Mainly Jon as the resident geek, however there’s input from everyone. Shaped by a diverse taste in life - from being a politics and economics geek when younger, with punk-influenced leanings towards socialism and counter-culture, evolving into philosophy and science, and growing up to realise fiction is actually great and reading doesn't always have to be a struggle for knowledge … it’s ok just to be entertained or made to feel an emotion.
Jon: Obviously, Jase as the other owner has a hand in things – however, really any staff, friends and customers have an input. It’s a great way to get chatting to people who love our selection and have get a nice surprise when they find it. People with similar tastes to ours will often suggest some great books that we don't have, and our collection keeps expanding from this. We also have a small library of environmental books people can borrow, and return after getting their fill.
What's your Desert Island book?
Jon: my favourite books are probably 1984 (Orwell), The Outsider (Camus) and Unbearable Lightness of Being (Kundera). But I've read them a few times and they are not the most uplifting, so maybe for a desert island book, something long and lighter like 1Q84 (Murakami) or Overstory - or something that causes a lot of contemplation, like a comprehensive philosophy book. I think my taste in political and existential books won't help to have a long and happy existence on the island.
Jase: maybe Ishmael (Daniel Quinn), or something accurate like Shackleton (Ranulph Fiennes), The Book of Hope (Jane Goodall) or A Life on Our Planet (David Attenborough). But, if I need a laugh on the Desert Island, then perhaps a little something from Bill Bryson, Michael Palin or Stephen Fry.
Is there a natural connection between reading and people who love surfing, snow and watersports, do you think?
I think there is probably a large part of the population that read, but particularly our type of people. I think we see the world slightly differently to the mainstream population, which probably is also why our collection suits them; the books reflect the diversely different ways of seeing the world. For QT locals, most of us have chosen to leave our hometowns, often from the other side of the world. This desire to travel and question the status quo (not just getting a job and a family in your home-town), comes from a slightly different mindset, wanting more out of life. And whilst most of us watch TV and probably spend too much time on Instagram, that is not where our living is done. That's to be found in the quality parts of life: being in the outdoors, surrounded by good people, good film, music, food and books.
What's currently on your TBR pile?
Jase: So many, and always growing. Currently reading three. I usually have a heavy fact-based book, a fiction and a light book I can pick up and read when I only have a few minutes. Staring at the bookshelf here in the shop, I think my next ones will be something about plant-based drugs by Michael Pollen (we have two). I never took drugs other than alcohol, but never been against them strongly for others and think its an interesting area. Or, Sitopia (Carolyn Steel) which is about how we connect with food, the natural world and each other, and how it shapes our politics and our environment.
Jon: A book close to all our hearts here: I turned vegan around 19 years ago and Jase has always been a bit of a hippy, going to school in Aus not wearing shoes. He is pretty good at keeping his food local with hunted meats, farmers markets produce, his chickens' eggs, and we both have veggie gardens. As I get fitter in middle age, not content with just riding bikes down a hill or falling off boulders anymore, I think food becomes a more important part of life and health. And, I think the world has been very slow to see how our food plays such a massive role in the environment. Our food is a political statement.
Nat has recently turned vegan and Brooke is also vegan (our other two current staff), for various combos of health, animal rights and the environment. Don't worry, you won't get any vegan lectures in the store unless you come in with a stupid comment like 'vegans are the cause of Amazonian deforestation because of the soy you eat'. In which case you will politely be directed to read anything on the subject which will soon correct your ignorance.
There’s some great fiction books I have on my list that I haven't read yet like Girl, Woman, Other (Evaristo); Question 7 (Flanagan); Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow (Zevin); and Jitterbug Perfume (Robbins). Also open to suggestions as reading a great book currently from Queenstown's ever improving library (good work QLDC team) called Other Minds, that was suggested by a customer - Consciousness, Philosophy and Octopuses.
Any NZ writers you'd like to see at the Queenstown Writers Festival this year?
Honestly, sorry to say I am hugely unqualified in this area. I have read a few of the classics for NZ culture from Ihimaera, Dr Hinemoa Elder, my favourite new food book is by Eleanor Ozich, and I have read a few modern fiction, but not enough to have any authority on new authors. I will say local Bethany Rogers as I met her, she is an awesome person and a friend bought me her newest book of short stories (and she lives in QT).
I got a good book by Coco Solid from Wānaka (which we now stock). I think embracing some diversity is always a positive thing. To know anything of a different culture (especially when its within your own country (if I can call NZ that after moving here 15 years ago) is enlightening and important. Knowledge leads to understanding, which leads to greater sharing and compassion. So, maybe more contemporary Māori writers, as I think there is probably a decent amount of books on traditional Māori life, but given how white and non-NZ a lot of QT is, maybe an infusion of diverse NZ culture would be beneficial. There are also a lot of impressively adventurous people from NZ and particularly this mountainous part, so some great books from writers such as David Vass.
Go browse at NZSHRED on Shotover St or online at nzshred.co.nz.