New Zealand night

Same format as previous nights - for any newcomers here is a brief recap of how we do things - look for a book from the chosen country (or a short story, or a poem if you're short on time) and come along to Dram and talk about it . We don't all have to read the same thing and we're basically very non-prescriptive.

As before, I'm not even going to pretend I know much about the literature of NZ so here is what ChatGPT has to say on the matter:

### 1. Katherine Mansfield (1888–1923)

• Genre: Short Stories
• Famous Work: The Garden Party and Other Stories (1922)
• Known for modernist stories, focusing on small, psychological moments.

### 2. Janet Frame (1924–2004)

• Genre: Novels, Autobiography
• Famous Work: Owls Do Cry (1957)
• Iconic writer exploring themes of mental illness and isolation.

### 3. Witi Ihimaera (1944–)

• Genre: Novels, Short Stories
• Famous Work: The Whale Rider (1987)
• Leading Māori writer blending myth with contemporary issues.

### 4. Patricia Grace (1937–)

• Genre: Novels, Short Stories
• Famous Work: Potiki (1986)
• Focuses on Māori culture, family, and land rights.

### 5. Keri Hulme (1947–2021)

• Genre: Novels, Poetry
• Famous Work: The Bone People (1984)
• Booker Prize winner, known for blending Māori and Pākehā culture.

### 6. Alan Duff (1950–)

• Genre: Novels
• Famous Work: Once Were Warriors (1990)
• Raw, powerful novel about urban Māori life and violence.

### 7. Fiona Kidman (1940–)

• Genre: Novels, Poetry, Short Stories
• Famous Work: The Book of Secrets (1987)
• Known for multigenerational family stories and historical themes.

### 8. Maurice Gee (1931–)

• Genre: Novels, Children’s Literature
• Famous Work: Plumb (1978)
• Writes family sagas with moral and historical complexities.

### 9. Eleanor Catton (1985–)

• Genre: Novels
• Famous Work: The Luminaries (2013)
• Youngest Booker Prize winner for a historical novel set in the gold rush.

### 10. James K. Baxter (1926–1972)

• Genre: Poetry
• Famous Work: Jerusalem Sonnets (1970)
• Revered poet known for social and spiritual themes.

### 11. Frank Sargeson (1903–1982)

• Genre: Short Stories, Novels
• Famous Work: Collected Stories (1964)
• Pioneer of New Zealand literature, focusing on working-class lives.

### 12. Sarah Laing (1973–)

• Genre: Graphic Novels, Short Stories
• Famous Work: Mansfield and Me (2016)
• Blends her life with Katherine Mansfield’s in graphic novel form.

### 13. Sam Hunt (1946–)

• Genre: Poetry
• Famous Work: Collected Poems 1963–2015 (2015)
• A public performer, known for accessible, everyday-themed poetry.

### 14. Paul Cleave (1974–)

• Genre: Crime Fiction
• Famous Work: The Cleaner (2006)
• Internationally acclaimed crime writer, known for psychological thrillers.

### 15. Selina Tusitala Marsh (1971–)

• Genre: Poetry
• Famous Work: Fast Talking PI (2009)
• Blends Pacific and European traditions, exploring identity and colonization.

### 16. Hone Tuwhare (1922–2008)

• Genre: Poetry
• Famous Work: No Ordinary Sun (1964)
• Renowned Māori poet addressing political and environmental themes.

Last week, Chris requested we find a country with happier books. Judging from the list I'm not sure this is it....