Fiction on Friday

Although today began with two history sessions; serious stuff too, a panel on Judith Binney's books and then James Belich on Replenishing the earth, it was the fiction writing that formed most of the programme and I made a list of books to request and authors to investigate:

Alligator and February by Lisa Moore (pictured left) are set in Newfoundland. Lisa's writing is sharp but sympathetic and I'd like to see how it fits with other contempoarry Canadian writers that I've enjoyed.

The good parents by Joan London, a celebrated Australian writer, sounds dark but evidently explores intimacy.

American novelist Susanna Moore started her writing life with three books set in Hawaii that explore place, family and identity. She wrote the erotic thriller In the cut filmed by Jane Campion but read from her latest book The big girls a narrative about the aftermath of a brutal murder. Not my kind of read but I'd certainly like to find out about her early autobiographical novels.

The fiction finale brought together Neil Gaiman and Margot Lanagan with chairperson Kate de Goldi in a talkfest accompanied by thunderclaps, strong winds and drumming rain - yes, the southerly came through but Neil Gaiman kept a straight face and continued talking about sinsiter things in graveyards!