THE STORIES WE TELL OURSELVES - Charlotte Grimshaw + Josie Shapiro

Charlotte Grimshaw and Josie Shapiro discuss their latest novels, The Black Monk and Good Things Come and Go, in which they explore complex family dynamics, the lingering effects of grief and trauma, the urge to create art, and the dark shadow cast by addiction and secrets. Chaired by Kiran Dass. In The Black Monk, Alice is not always a reliable narrator, as she grapples with denial, addiction and family secrets. Part psychological thriller, part family saga, this is a daring novel that examines the themes of the moment: shame, addiction, truth and the stories we tell to survive. In Good Things Come and Go, which alternates between Penny’s, Riggs’ and Jamie’s point of view, each character gradually uncover truths about themselves and their relationships with each other, as they come to understand the need to relinquish their hold on the secrets they have carried for years. In both books, the reader becomes complicit in the search for the truth. Charlotte and Josie will discuss how they played with point of view to build tension and momentum in their stories. Thanks to the University of Auckland MCW Alumni Fund for supporting Josie Shapiro’s appearance.