Sydney Writers Festival

From Janet --

Just recovering from the writers festival. Despite the look of the program it was really interesting with far too much to hear. Junot Diaz was articulate, thoughtful and outspoken (lots of swearing and hip hop talk - he loves the music) and also a very attractive boy. Niki and Marjorie how was his closing address?

Jeanette Winterson was amazing. Cath said she spoke on the opening night without reference to any notes and gave an inspirational lecture on the role of imagination and creativity in our lives. I heard her in the questions session where she was one of the best speakers to handle this difficult format. She is extremely well read, articulate, passionate and has a great sense of humour. She said her books were chaotic and either you love or hate them - am inspired to try her latest The Stone Gods. One girl asked if she could have Jeanette's baby!

Other highlights were Heather O'Neill (new Canadian writer who is winning a lot of acclaim - Lullabies for Little Criminals), Bob Carr and his writer Grahame Freudenberg speaking about oratory, Paul McGeogh (SMH) on Iraq war and Don Watson about his new book Travels in America ( a fascinating insight into how he thinks Americans function) - Niki you will have to tell us what you think of his views.

Some interesting fiction writers were, David Davidar on modern India, Imran Ahmad on life in UK as a Pakistani immigrant and Jose Dalisay from Phillipines on the plight of overseas workers.

Ran into Jean Hart who is 80 this year but looks 70 and is as passionate as ever.