Nine To Noon Book review: Every Second Counts by Charlotte Glennie
Mar 22, 2026
Laura Caygill, a book reviewer and journalist, gives a lively take on Charlotte Glennie’s memoir. She highlights the near‑fatal fall in Croatia and the long recovery threaded through a 30‑year reporting career. She touches on frontline coverage of major disasters, quirky and tender anecdotes, and a plea for stronger foreign reporting. Short, sharp, and hooky.
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Personal Struggle Woven Into Reporting Career
- The memoir balances professional reportage with a personal story of recovery, making the accident a haunting but not dominant presence.
- Glennie weaves lingering symptoms through her 30-year career narrative rather than focusing solely on the crash.
Near Fatal Croatia Fall And Gritty Comeback
- Charlotte Glennie survived a near-fatal fall in Croatia in 2001 that shattered her leg and required multiple surgeries.
- She rushed back to TVNZ work while still hobbling, downplaying pain to avoid being defined by the accident.
Tsunami Coverage That Demands Pause
- Glennie's coverage ranges from human interest stories to massive crises like the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
- Laura Caygill says the tsunami chapters were emotionally intense and required her to take a break after reading them.
