Comments on: Ken Barris

By: nicola rowley

nicola rowley — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:58:55 +0000

Ken Barris was my English teacher about 20 years ago! I remember him sharing his thoughts to me about his first novel which he was in the process of writing. I feel very inspired after reading this interview and will certainly read his latest novel.

By: Susan Henderson

Susan Henderson — Thu, 24 May 2007 11:07:39 +0000

Liesl! So nice to see you here!

By: Liesl

Liesl — Thu, 24 May 2007 04:41:30 +0000

“I learnt mostly about writing outside my own world, ways of managing this intrusion into otherness that I hope at least are tactful.”

For me, this is the supreme challenge as a white South African writer when venturing into our complex and loaded society. It’s Ken’s honesty and compassion that I find most appealing in his poetry and fiction. I am also privileged to belong to a critique group with him and benefit from this honesty coupled with his kindly insights.

Great interview, Sue. Thanks for bringing the literature from our country to the attention of a wider audience.

By: Andie

Andie — Fri, 18 May 2007 21:08:39 +0000

Hi there

Very interesting interview.

Just a note to let you know that Phaswane Mpe’s name is missing an h.

Best wishes
Andie

By: Susan Henderson

Susan Henderson — Fri, 18 May 2007 11:21:16 +0000

Thanks, Ken. It was great to have you. I’ll keep spreading the word about your book!

By: Ken Barris

Ken Barris — Fri, 18 May 2007 11:07:30 +0000

Sue, this is a great way to present a book, allowing both the writer and the text to speak – while still asking good critical questions! I enjoyed talking to you, even though it was from 10,000 miles away.

Ken

By: Jody Reale

Jody Reale — Thu, 17 May 2007 15:46:08 +0000

I’m grateful that I always end up “meeting” people who introduce me to literature that I never would have discovered on my own. Thanks, Susan, Ken, and all of the other great voices here.

By: n.l. belardes

n.l. belardes — Thu, 17 May 2007 14:39:46 +0000

I recently had a manager from South Africa. He was nearly 7-ft tall, a giant, and spoke often about his home country. He sailed a lot and told the most interesting tales.

You meet people, whether writers, people you work with, or a particular book, and you discover another side of life. You slice into it because you’re never there, and it’s a world of discovery. Great interview.

By: Pia

Pia — Thu, 17 May 2007 14:17:37 +0000

There is so much to understand about South Africa through fiction and poetry, and photography. Ken’s writing is beautiful, as is your interview. Thank you Sue.

By: Anneliese

Anneliese — Wed, 16 May 2007 22:00:21 +0000

“…because much of my writing takes place invisibly, even to myself. I begin with a great deal of hesitancy, shopping around mentally and imaginatively for a subject, working off vague and suggestive images.”

Nice description, as well as the terms Ken Barris used to describe his writing: “spaces,” “landscape,” “composition.”

The technical aspects of writing, as well as the creative process, make for interesting reading. Writers have different ways of looking at the same thing. Lots of good stuff here.

Thanks for the interview!