After an intense, enjoyable, fast-paced last day of the festival fever, we present our last audio wrap up. We have been proud to represent the library and hope you have enjoyed the coverage, which we have tried to make entertaining and informative.
The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize added so much to the festival. It brought variations of eloquence to our ears and eyes from around the world, and impressing all the audiences, I am certain, with the breadth and depth of the all to uncommon wealth of writers which we were lucky enough to see.
Our final report is a touch under 14 minutes long.
Keep an eye on the blog for more interviews with Commonwealth Writers’ prize best book winner Christos Tsiolkas, Rod Oram, Don McGlashan, and for a slightly different take, Patricia Kay, one of the volunteers who has been with the festival since day one. We also hope to have follow-up interviews with authors in the near future, and more photos will be added to the library flickr soon. If you have questions or comments about any aspect of the festival or the coverage, leave a comment – we would love to hear from you.
Now get thee to a library 🙂
Christchurch City Libraries Blog 
May I please send the Christchurch City Libraries Blogging team an enormous virtual bouquet for their fantastic coverage of The Auckland Writers and Readers Festival, and congratulations to the library itself for having the foresight and conviction to send them there in the first place!
My congratulations to the blogging team for the great work they have done in giving those who weren’t there the closest experience possible of what a great festival it was. I was lucky enough to be there and it was wonderful seeing our bloggers in action. The library can be very proud of them and proud of the decision to send them there.
Another effort that had me smiling away … who said you should never meet your idols! You all seemed to thrive on it.
Thanks for the Fantastic coverage- Loved the round ups each night. One year I may even make it there in person…..But until then, this is a great second best. Thanks Guys.
Hi, did anyone hear Iggy Mcgovern at the festival? He was interviewed by Kim Hill and sounded rather lovely. Nice Irish voice, a scientist and a poet (seems to be a trend with scientists expressing themselves in the poetry medium which I rather like). He read a poem about coming to the South Island for the first time which left me feeling warm and fuzzy
I heard Iggy two years agon in Christchurch so made apoint of hearing him again at the Poets on sunday. He is truely lobvely, he likes New Zealand and as his son is living here at present hs should be back. Morrin Rout was stalking him in the nicest possible way, lining him up for an appearance in Ch Ch next year.
Oh, and well done everyone. Your enthusiasm shines through even though I know at times you would have felt exhausted. It is wonderful to hear that the festival is going strong.
@Jane: I didn’t get to hear Iggy McGovern unfortunately and yes, it took a fair bit of energy!
@Sue: next time, make plans to come along!
@everyone else – cheers!
And there’s more to come…
That was excellent and I’m glad you saw some interesting writers. I was disappointed that Christos T. won the award as I found the book so dispiriting I gave up.
Others have also said so – I told Christos, much to his amusement, that his book has been described as the Satanic version of neighbours: http://austlit.typepad.com/cfn/2008/11/review-the-slap-by-christos-tsiolkas.html
The NZ Herald faithfully reported in it their coverage: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10572841
Awesome blogging, has been a pleasure to read!
Fantastic coverage again team. I share Robyn’s worship of Don McGlashan (but in a completely manly way of course) – you never said what the song was he sang…I have the new CD on high-rotate in the car. Not sure what Joyce not wanting her nieces to be librarians implies – you all make the job sound like a heap of fun! Congratulations and thanks for sharing the festival with us stay-at-homes.
It was “While you sleep”, from the Envy of angels CD and Don just stood there on the stage of the ASB Centre, a man (or should that be a genius) and his 1930s acoustic guitar, and that was all there needed to be. Awe-inspiring.
Have risen from my sick bed (actually couch in front of tv I confess) to catch up. Great coverage – so much to read and think about. Just before I became unwell I finished The Slap (is there a connection?) because I had to. By that I mean I wasn’t enjoying all the characters (some were quite loathsome) but I was hooked by the story telling and wanted to know how it all came out. I thought there was some pretty powerful writing in this book but it was uneven. The portrait of the guy who administered the slap was so powerful, and then he disappeared – never to be seen again. If there was something redeeming in this it was the feeling the author seemed to have for his teenage characters – the kids are alright as they navigate the screwups of adult society.
Hello Richard,
thanks muchly for telling Mr T about my review!
I was so chuffed to see that quoted in two papers, it made the Sunday Age too 🙂
Congratulations on spreading the love for your festival, as well. I will have to read more of this blog now.
Genevieve Tucker
Hi Genevieve – no problem! He roared with laughter, which got the interview off to a great start. I hope to post the interview later this week. I enjoy your blog, I’m sure others will too. Ciao!
http://austlit.typepad.com/cfn/