| The guide to the Auckland Writers’ and Readers’ Festival declares: "We live in anxious times…. It is not too far-fetched an idea to think that books and reading could save us."
This is the hope of creative directors Stephanie Johnson and Peter Wells for their fourth festival, held biennially at the Hyatt Regency in Auckland. This year the theme is "Worlds Within Worlds," and to develop this idea they have invited, among others, best-selling American authors Jonathan Franzen (The Corrections) and Rick Moody (The Ice Storm). Annie Proulx cancelled, citing "global events," and Iain Banks was confirmed but was ultimately absent. Too bad, but Peter Wells is delighted with his festival guests nonetheless,
"When we heard we had Jonathan Franzen and Rick Moody," he says, "we danced around the room."
He’d have a tough time dancing in the packed downstairs room where most of the events take place. The festival was intended to be housed in the Hyatt’s ballroom, but sadly, the room is still being constructed. To preserve goodwill in the crowded room, hall and staircase, the Hyatt Spa offers free massages to festival-goers all weekend. Venue problems notwithstanding, the events I attend are outstanding.
The melancholy, witty Franzen is decidedly the hit, attracting book groups who loved The Corrections, writers who loved his essay "Why Bother?" and others who are simply intrigued by the Oprah debacle, wherein Franzen refused to have an "Oprah’s Book Club" stamp on the cover of his book. The incident comes up despite his efforts to avoid it – after describing the relationship between humans and machines as "co-dependent," he asks, "You have the word ‘co-dependent’ here, right? I mean, you have Oprah here. Oh, that sounds like a crack. Oh boy."
Franzen’s fellow American Moody is introduced and responds to the enthusiastic applause by saying, "That’s very kind of you considering what we did to global politics this year." Later he apologizes for having "the ugliest accent in the room." He speaks enthusiastically about his novel Purple America and his new memoir The Black Veil, but seems embarrassed by the level of audience interest in The Ice Storm, his story of an unhappy family afflicted by Nixon-era hypocrisy.
Moody reminds us that he wrote the book – which was made into a film by Ang Lee – long ago, and he’s changed his mind about a few things since then. "I was 29 when I wrote it, I’m 41 now. I love my parents," he explains. He goes on to speak of his sister’s death in 1995 and the role he has taken in raising her children: "I once referred to children as ‘bloodsucking dwarves.’ And that’s funny, very funny, but it’s also really rude and untrue."
Other events feature discussions of journalism, Maori-Pakeha relations, animals, shock fiction, feminists, Captain Cook and dramatic writing. Travel writer William Dalyrimple (White Mughuls) describes his visit to a Muslim cinema to watch, of all films, Dr. No – dubbed in French. British historian Antony Beevor shows off a Russian cigarette package he acquired while conducting research there – on it is a stylized portrait of Josef Stalin and the not-tongue-in-cheek motto "Viva Nostalgia!"
Naturally, there are Canadian connections, too. Anita Rau Badami reads from The Hero’s Walk, whose protagonist lives in Calgary (this gets a reaction from no one but me), and Franzen says Alice Munro is his favourite writer. Viva Canadiana!
Poetry readings take place in an upstairs lounge, far from the crowd and close to the bar. Near-legendary Australian poet Les Murray is the draw of the evening, as well as Kate Camp, Glenn Colquhoun (the self-described Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams of Kiwi poetry) and a host of New Zealand poets. Israeli poet Ronny Someck has the distinction and misfortune of reading last of the 10 writers, to an increasingly restless, inattentive audience.
Logistical kinks notwithstanding, it’s a fine thing to have so many intelligent, enthusiastic authors under one roof. Perhaps reading and writing can’t save us, but it can certainly soothe us.
Julia Williams is travelling around the world and exploring the global arts scene. |
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