tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2131514811483888026.post2034539838005859576..comments2024-01-26T20:41:02.065+13:00Comments on Quote Unquote: On literary festivalsStephen Stratfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00426799380228308536noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2131514811483888026.post-1531130736156715742014-05-23T00:15:05.018+12:002014-05-23T00:15:05.018+12:00Festivals are a bit like panning for gold, swirl s...Festivals are a bit like panning for gold, swirl swirl, then all of a sudden -- a nugget. For me, that Jacques Roubaud reciting his sonnet "Life", written completely in binary code, was 24 carat. Reading it yourself could never compete. As an inveterate Raymond Queneau oddmirer, you should have been there.Karen Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18310967522076681423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2131514811483888026.post-48430158170109756252014-05-22T19:39:16.460+12:002014-05-22T19:39:16.460+12:00I'm ambivalent about these events too, Stephen...I'm ambivalent about these events too, Stephen. Great that they sell books, but why on earth do readers want to meet writers, who are mostly boring? Why do writers want to meet readers, who are mostly boring? I can understand book clubs, which are reader to reader, and what you say about writers catching up with - I suppose you mean drinking with - other writers, but not the rest of it. Daisy Raenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2131514811483888026.post-91244385288709842532014-05-20T17:49:32.679+12:002014-05-20T17:49:32.679+12:00Your loss, Stephen. I don't know when we will ...Your loss, Stephen. I don't know when we will next hear Irvine Welsh and Elizabeth Knox duetting on Fly Me to the Moon.Fergusnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2131514811483888026.post-31119547032019127652014-05-16T18:27:06.761+12:002014-05-16T18:27:06.761+12:00I like the social aspect - catching up with other ...I like the social aspect - catching up with other authors and editors, and even the occasional publisher, at night over a drink. But as a reader I'd rather be home reading.Stephen Stratfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00426799380228308536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2131514811483888026.post-44144505133835215852014-05-16T10:51:00.412+12:002014-05-16T10:51:00.412+12:00Yeah nah. It's always nice to be asked to go o...Yeah nah. It's always nice to be asked to go on stage, but I don't understand why you wouldn't be happy to be there as a reader.Fergusnoreply@blogger.com