NZ Post Book Awards 2010

As the earth turns silver by Alison Wong won the Fiction Award at the 2010 NZ Post Book Awards this weekend. Judge Charmayne Poultney said ‘Based on meticulous research, this novel opens new windows on the development of our nation; it also opens our hearts to the anguish caused by racism, ignorance, failures in family relationships and communication, and war. The book is a delight to look at and hold, as well as deeply moving to read,’ The author herself said that she was inspired by her own family history and informed by her research but that she wanted to write about what it feeels like to be in such situations. In discussing her approach to writing, Alison Wong explained her love of beautiful language, she still writes poetry, and mentioned reading the works of Marilynne Robinson. Brian Turner, who won the Poetry Award, also noted the poetic language of Gilead and Home by Robinson. They are absorbing reads.


Always in the running for the Fiction Award, I put in my vote for As the earth turns silver for the People's Choice Award. This year the popular vote went to Al Brown's Go Fish, a "cook book with attitude" - lots of recipes, helpful hints, beautiful photos and important messages about food and sustainability.