The Book of Guilt

It’s 1985 and Obi’s on the cusp of teenagehood, after a childhood marked by poverty, dysfunctional family dynamics, (dis)organised crime and violence. His dad’s delusional, his mum’s real sick, the Rainbow Warrior just exploded, and it’s time for Obi to grow up and get out of the spacies parlour.

When he and his best mate Al discover a map leading to unknown riches, Obi wonders if this windfall could be the thing that turns his family’s fortunes around. Instead, he’s thrown into an adventure where the stakes are a lot higher than the games he loves.

An electric novel about life in a multi-cultural, counter-cultural part of Auckland pre-gentrification. 1985 is an adventure story with a local flavour, a coming-of-age story for the underdogs, the disenfranchised and the dreamers.

[Read: 23 August 2025]
REVIEW:
I don't know why I do this to myself; I get so emotionally invested in a story and characters when reading this type of book. Such a brilliant read however, now feeling very sad and very emotional that I've finished. Like the wrap up at the end but would've liked more information on what happens to Summer.

This book had me feeling very grateful that I didn't have that kind of childhood or have to go through that kind of poverty. Adults who don't want to adult really shouldn't be having children. It just makes me so mad.

Love all the Auckland streets and landmarks, got a kick out of being able to pinpoint exactly where the locations were. It's funny though comparing the Auckland of the eighties to now, so many changes that that area has gone through.