THE GROOVE BOOK REPORT

Fiona Farrell’s  most recent novel,  Decline and Fall on Savage Street,  is often referred to as ‘a political novel’. Twin to her highly regarded nonfiction work,  The Villa at the Edge of the Empire , the books form a wide-ranging analysis of the response to the Christchurch earthquakes. In this lecture, Farrell considers in general terms the ‘political novel’. What makes a work of fiction ‘political’? Where does imagination stop and journalism begin? What are the special challenges faced by writers creating fiction with a contemporary political element? Come and hear one of own fiction writing luminaries in  Fiction and Factions: The University of Auckland Free Public Lecture . You can also her  Fiona Farrell  and  Alex Miller  discuss why they opted for fiction to tell their very real stories in  Why Fiction?

Event: Tuesday 1 May 2018  Hurrah! Diary of A Wimpy Kid writer and illustrator  Jeff Kinney  brings the world of Greg & Rowley, Manny and Rodrick to the Aotea Stage in a one hour treat for lively readers of all ages. One of the world’s most successful book series – with a continuing spot on  The New York Times  bestseller list, more than 190 million copies sold and translations in 53 languages – it’s adored by legions of fans around the world. Come celebrate the trials and tribulations of the creative boy who struggles to blend in with the crowd, in this special early event to kick-off Festival month. For more info:  http://www.writersfestival.co.nz/programmes/event/diary-of-a-wimpy-kid-jeff-kinney/596457/

The country’s largest literary showcase, the Auckland Writers Festival, brings a world of stories and ideas to the city this May, offering laughter, knowledge, ideas and inspiration for audiences of all ages with more than 230 of the planet’s best writers alive today. Appearing exclusively at the Festival is Norwegian literary rock star  Karl Ove Knausgård . He joins a stellar line-up including US  New York Times  number one bestselling author of  We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves  and  The Jane Austen Book Club ,  Karen Joy Fowler ; CWA Gold Dagger winner  Jane Harper  and Australian literary statesman  Alex Miller ; award winning New Zealand writers: Festival co-founder  Peter Wells , globally lauded Lloyd Jones and national treasure  Anne Salmond ; leading American neuroscientist  David Eagleman ; Kiwi cartoonist  Tom Scott ; leading journalist and memoirist  Diana Wichtel ; New Zealand’s 2017 Ven...

Womad 2018 will kick off on Friday night.  This year the World of Worlds programme returns with a great line up of writers and speakers.  Here's a quick look at what's on offer: Tame Iti (NZ) Well-known Tūhoe Māori activist Tame Iti is no stranger to controversy. He grew up in the Urewera area and has been passionately involved with numerous political protests, including protests against the Vietnam War and apartheid in South Africa. Stan Grant Stan Grant (AUST) High profile Australian journalist Stan Grant’s latest book Talking To My Country is an extraordinarily personal and powerful response to racism in Australia. This multi-award winning media personality draws on his Aboriginal ancestry to discuss what racism really means for Indigenous people. Sharon Armstrong (NZ) In 2011 Sharon Armstrong logged online and fell in love with a stranger. She was tricked into trafficking 5 kilos of cocaine. Her new book is a cautionary tale that details her ordeal. Matt...

The 'Roast' concept has been around for a while.  Some may remember seeing Donald Trump getting 'roasted' by a selection of 'D' celebrities on the Comedy Channel.  I was reminded of this tonight by the very wonderful Ginette McDonald, or 'Nettie', as Tom Scott called her.  She reminded us that in Trump's case, he'd reveled in the filthy irony and crass sarcasm heaped upon him.  He loved the attention - good and bad.  But this was not that kind of 'roast'.  This was more of a gentle ribbing. Our host, Mark Sainsbury, opened the night, reminding us all that Tom and he were best buddies, even helping the late great, and frail, Sir Ed pee in to a cup once, up on Everest.  "And then they went on to save his life," quipped McDonald later on.  Sadly, this is a story we didn't get to hear.  This was one of several I really wanted people to spell out for me but the speakers kept everything very much on the surface and th...

Seventy years since the Commonwealth of Nations was formed to maintain a “free and equal” association between former British colonies, the rise of populism, Brexit and other fast-moving changes have set traditional alliances wavering. Indigenous Australian writer Melissa Lucashenko, Malaysian writer Bernice Chauly and New Zealand poet Selina Tusitala Marsh feature in the new Commonwealth Now edition of the Australian Griffith Review . Today they reflected on the past and consider future commonalities with Griffith Review editor Julianne Schultz. Schultz, by way of introduction, explained how she came to create this edition - Edition 59 Commonwealth Now.  And also how the three speakers became involved. At the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April athletes from countries that were once a part of the British Empire will battle for gold – but is the Commonwealth of Nations more than a legacy of another age? At a time of geopolitical uncertainty, is the Commonwe...

https://www.festival.co.nz/2018/writers-readers/ This year's festival within a festival kicked off tonight with a grand gala dedicated to International Women's day and the upcoming commemoration of 125 years of Woman's Suffrage in New Zealand. The event, hosted by the wonderfully charming and funny Michelle A'Court was a bit of a taster of what to expect over the next four days. There were plenty of highlights,  For me they included radio goddess and doyen Kim Hill talking about her grumpy face for radio and revealing a surprising fact that her mother had plastic surgery due to two car accidents caused by the reckless driving of her father.  She also told us about some of the despicable men she's interviewed over the years, many who despised her grumpy face, even if only down the telephone line. Patricia Lockwood gave us some very witty poetry reinterpreting an ancient poem for old ladies.  Transgender fantasy writer and gamer Charlie Jane Anders told ...

New Zealand Festival’s Writers & Readers programme kicks off Thursday, 8 March, hosting around 90 events at venues along the Wellington Waterfront – with guest appearances as far away as Waikanae and Wairarapa. Writers & Readers manager Mark Cubey says Festival audiences have much to look forward to across four days of literary delights, designed to suit a broad range of tastes. “Whether you’re into poetry, fiction, food, philosophy, comics, fantasy or photography, we have it covered. Join us for discussion, debate and revelation from our international guests and strong local literary community.”  Cubey urged people to take a chance on something new. He recommends the Commonwealth Now lunchtime session on Friday 9 March, with Selina Tusitala Marsh joined by indigenous Australian write Melissa Lucashenko and Malaysia’s Bernice Chauly to explore the history of post-colonial relationships and reflect on our common future. He als...

"In 2016, the feminist press Emily Books held a panel in Brooklyn titled, a bit cheekily, “What Is Women’s Writing?” There was no consensus, much laughter and a warm, rowdy vibe. Eileen Myles read from a memoir in progress and Ariana Reines read a poem, wearing a dress with a pattern of a city on fire. All of this felt exactly right." This is the introduction to a very interesting piece about the question "What is Women's Writing", especially in today's world.  Read the full article here.

Now in their 50th year, in their current format these annual awards offer four principal prizes: the Poetry Award, the Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize, the Illustrated Non-Fiction Award and the Royal Society Te Apārangi Award for General Non-Fiction. There are also four Best First Book awards, and a Māori language award for books written entirely in te reo Māori, awarded at the judges’ discretion. A longlist of up to 40 titles is announced in November of the preceding year, and a shortlist is released in March. The awards event is held in May each year. Winners of the Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize win $50,000. Winners of the other three principal category awards each receive $10,000, the Māori language award $10,000, and each of the winners of the four Best First Book awards, $2,500. Panels of three judges each are selected to judge each of the categories. Before 1996, there were two major New Zealand literary prizes, the New Zealand Book Awards (1976...

The NZ Festival Readers & Writers Week kicks of this Thursday 8 March.  Get on board for 4 days of Book-craziness at: https://www.festival.co.nz/2018/writers-readers/