Thoughts upon watching people shout people down
I began writing this in October in response to one ‘storm on twitter’ and finished it today, prompted by another. I’ve been wondering whether, in most people, the instinct for agreement is stronger than the one for self-expression. When people agree they belong. And belonging doesn’t necessarily mean feeling yourself part of a larger society. […]
Eleanor Catton’s The Luminaries
This is my speech for the launch of Eleanor Catton’s The Luminaries at Unity Books in Wellington, 3 August 2013. ‘Fergus’ is Fergus Barrowman, my husband, and Ellie’s New Zealand Publisher. I was honoured that Ellie asked me to launch her novel. I have a habit from my student days of writing page references and […]