After an early start and a landing at Auckland Airport that was a little like being on the inside of a giant caterpillar, the team has had its first chance to savour the literary offerings at the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival.
Bronwyn enjoyed High Tea, Roberta went to a schools session with Des Hunt, Marion explored local book offerings, and Richard interviewed Charlie Dark and Te Radar.
We also attended the TVNZ7 Good Word debate, filmed live at St Matthew in the City. Where, according to host Te Radar, ‘literary warriors unsheath swords of verbosity’. The moot? Off the shelf and into the hard drive: the book is dead. Finlay Macdonald, Gordon McLauchlan and Jennifer Ward Lealand argued the affirmative, while Emily Perkins, Steve Braunias, and Bill Hastings took the negative. The teams got stuck into the topic and hammered it out – the book lovers eventually coming out on top by audience vote. The debate will screen on TVNZ 7 in October.
- Listen to the audio wrap up:
- View the photos as a set on flickr
- Comment on any of the posts
Today the festival has a full day of programming followed by the official opening gala.
Christchurch City Libraries Blog 
Loving the blog and the audio. Roberta and Bronwyn lovestruck? Who would have thought?
Well, I am apparently cougar-aged, although not single, so perhaps I am a little stereotypical. And it makes a change from my slavish adoration of Neil Gaiman and Robert Downey Jr. At least Te Radar is in the same country!
I have festival envy.
Is there some kind of cream for that? Because I’ve got it too. A very bad case of it.
Sorry, ladies. I’d love to lie and tell you it’s awful, but it truly isn’t. Even tho I’m already sleep- and food- deprived, and faintly beginning to see the imprint of the hotel walls on my inner eyelids, it’s all brilliant.