Stephanie Johnson (1) (1961–)

I have admired much of this author's early books and have listened to her speak at the Auckland Writer's Festival of which she is the co-founder, so I was hoping for some interesting incite into the pulling together of these events.
This book like its predecessor, The Writing Class, is set in contemporary times and loosely based on her personal experience. That being said I was disappointed in the portrayal of the women and men in the behind the scenes look at the creation of these festivals. They come across as petty, small-minded and not really convincing. The writer's tend to be painted in a better light but not so the directors who are in to one-up-man-ship. She aims to convey the pressures placed on these women in both their personal and business roles. Interestingly one of her authors has written a new book under a pseudonym as this author has done herself.
In 2017, she was revealed as Lily Woodhouse, the author of Jarulan by the River. Once again, I commend her earlier historic novels and those set in the 1950's and 1960's but this one falls short in my opinion. I am tempted to get hold of Jarulan by the River, although it has been described as a bodice-ripper.… (mer)

I feel a real connection with this New Zealand author as she depicts the Auckland of my generation. She has created a cast of characters that, although at times are a little exaggerated, they are none the less a recognisable reflection of the ‘80’s generation. There is a complexity to this tale as we follow the many diverse characters and finally discover their connectedness to each other, something I was still trying to clarify in my mind at the close of this novel. It has pace and realism and won the Deutz Medal for Fiction in 2003. (7.5)… (mer)

This writer continues to impress me.
She takes us on a voyage, to times past and conjures up the landscape and society of New Zealand 1840's - 1860's, those early colonial days and evokes London during the same period. Elizabeth Smith, elderly, alone and in poor health, reflects on her life and times in New Zealand, where she worked as a nurse in the Native Hospital in the now Judges Bay, Auckland.
I swum there on occasion during my childhood, so I was intrigued by the history of the area. Stephanie Johnson's descriptions of the bay brought to mind the early paintings of the Auckland waterfront in the Auckland Art Gallery.
The story flits between the 1860's London where Elizabeth Smith is alone and dependent on opiates, having left her sons and grandchildren in New Zealand and the 1840's where she embarks on a voyage, as travelling companion to Lady Martin, young wife of Judge Martin, who had preceded her to Auckland.
The changing time frames are accomplished smoothly and the authors adoption of a more formal writing style transports the reader to those early pioneering years.… (mer)