Nine To Noon Book review: Outliers by Michael Jackson
Oct 30, 2025
Airini Beautrais, a poet and book reviewer, dives deep into Michael D. Jackson’s short story collection, Outliers. She shares how the unexpected twists in the stories captivated her. Highlighting Jackson's background as an anthropologist and poet, she reveals the blend of genres at play. Airini discusses the intriguing mix of fiction and autobiography while examining Antipodean characters that reflect Pākehā identity in Aotearoa, providing a thought-provoking critique of culture and place.
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Episode notes
Unexpected Reading Experience
- The collection surprised the reviewer by unfolding in unexpected ways and continually offering fresh perspectives.
- Surprise and unpredictability are key pleasures in reading this book.
Author's Wide-Ranging Career
- Michael D. Jackson is an anthropologist who has also written poetry and fiction across roughly 40 books.
- His wide-ranging career informs the collection's varied modes and sustained creative output.
Blurring Of Fiction And Anthropology
- Michael D. Jackson blurs fiction and fact across the collection, making stories feel both literary and anthropological.
- This blending invites readers to question what is personal, fictional, or academic in the narratives.
