What I'm reading: Author Fiona Sussman on her favourite books of the moment
5 Mar, 2021 09:00 PM
3 minutes to read
By: FIona Sussman
"The focus of my artistic life," says George Saunders in his latest book, "has been trying to learn to write emotionally moving stories that a reader feels compelled to finish." A few years ago, I
had the privilege of attending an Auckland Writers Festival masterclass by this distinguished writer. It was an incredible 90 minutes. Saunders, who has taught creative writing at Syracuse University for more than 20 years, was generous with his insights, conveying wisdoms about the writing process and writer's life in an accessible, inspiring way. You can imagine my excitement when my daughter gifted me A Swim in the Pond in the Rain, a distillation of his Syracuse course, in which seven short stories by great Russian writers are springboards for examining the craft and reflecting on the significance of storytelling. I have just begun this read and am savouring every page.