Limmud NZ 2021

When Gigi Fenster’s first book, The Intentions Book,  came out, a reviewer referred to it as ‘New Zealand’s first Jewish novel’. Gigi was not very happy about this. The label felt both constricting and inappropriate. With her memoir, Feverish, Gigi was more open to sharing herself as a Jewish author, visiting the Sydney Jewish Writers Festival and speaking about it at Limmud NZ in 2019. She remains, however, ambivalent about being characterised as a ‘Jewish writer’. Nadine Rubin Nathan set up a literary agency to find the widest possible audience for authors in New Zealand. She didn't intend for it to be focused on Jewish anything, but was thrilled to begin representing Gigi and happy to help her reach a Jewish audience with her work. Now Nadine fantasises about setting up a Jewish literary prize in New Zealand. Nadine Rubin Nathan, co-founder of Highspot Literary Agency, and Gigi Fenster, writer discuss whether there is such a thing as a (New Zealand) Jewish book, whether there is a distinctive Jewish voice, Jewish themes, or Jewish ideas, and how these are reflected in literature.