Must-see sessions at Adelaide Writers’ Week
Adelaide Festival
More than 80 guest writers will take part in the 2017 Adelaide Writers’ Week beginning on Saturday. Here, director Laura Kroetsch highlights seven sessions she says you shouldn’t miss.
Dedication: Elizabeth Harrower
Saturday, March 4, 12-1pm, East Stage
This will be a moment of literary history, as Elizabeth Harrower is one of the greats – a contemporary of Patrick White and Christina Stead. This is the session not to miss if you have even a passing interest in the world’s great writing. This woman is a national treasure.
The Way to the Spring: Ben Ehrenreich
Saturday, March 4, 3.45-4.45pm, East Stage
This session is a must-see for anyone interested in the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Ben Ehrenreich’s book is an account of the people living under occupation in the West Bank. His is a reminder that behind the news are real people, not sound bites. And if you enjoy Ben, do stay on and listen to extraordinary war correspondent Patrick Cockburn on The Age of Jihad.
True Crime?: Graeme Macrae Burnet and Hannah Kent
Sunday, March 5, 9.30-10.30am, West Stage
If you have yet to hear the wonderful Hannah Kent, now is the time. She will be talking about The Good People alongside Graeme Macrae Burnet talking about his brilliant novel His Bloody Project. Both are crime novels which have some reference to history – it’s up to you to determine which is real. This session will be huge fun!
Backyard Cricket: Jock Serong
Monday, March 6, 2.30-3.30pm, West Stage
I have to meet anyone who has not enjoyed Jock Serong’s novel The Rules of Backyard Cricket. It has appealed to crime lovers, cricket lovers and those who don’t usually read about either. And you don’t need to have read the book to see the session as Jack is very charming and his chair is a cricket-loving lady writer.
Bookslut: Jessa Crispin
Tuesday, March 7, 12-1pm, East Stage
This is a session for anyone who identifies as a young feminist, is annoyed by young feminists or is an old feminist – as well as those who do not identify as feminist, but do see the point of equal pay. Jessa Crispin is very smart, rather sharp, and will provoke a reaction – that, I can promise.
The Art of Rivalry: Sebastian Smee
Wednesday, March 8, 9.30-10.30am, West Stage
This session is an absolute must for those interested in contemporary art. Sebastian Smee is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning art critic and his new book is about great rivalries in contemporary art and the creativity they provoked. This is also a session for anyone interested in the twilight ways of men, as these men are nothing if not complicated and their friendships are intense.
The Gut: Guilia Enders
Thursday, March 9, 12-1pm, East Stage
If you are in anyway concerned about your health and future wellbeing, you need to come along to hear Guilia Enders discuss the ways the gut works and its implications for not only our health, but also how we prevent and treat conditions as varied as autism, acid reflux, and dementia. You will simply never think about bacteria in the same way.
Adelaide Writers’ Week will take place from March 4-9 in the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden. The full guide is on the Adelaide Festival website.
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