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Maggie Rainey-Smith
Reading short stories in prison
 
I’d  like to present  a  paper on  my  experience  with  the  short story  at  Arohata prison. For 8 years (in early 2000) once a week, on a Thursday morning, I had the privilege of spending time in the library at Arohata Women’s prison, running an informal book group and latterly a writing group.
The women given clearance to participate were usually classified as low risk, and could be short-term or long-term inmates.  Their crimes varied and mostly I tried not to enquire, choosing to see the women as readers, not offenders. But there were murderers, young and old, in our midst.  Due to the constantly changing conditions in a prison and the availability of books, we chose to read short stories. When I started this volunteer work,  I was a recent   convert   to   reading   New Zealand Literature, somewhat of an evangelist almost. I was reading some of these   stories   for   the   first   time   in   the   company   of   these   women.  

My   own childhood, like many of the women I spent time with, was rich in hand-me-down stories, anecdotes, doggerel, but not ‘literature’ with a capital L. My journey as a reader was enhanced by sharing these stories with fresh ears, fresh ideas, novel and insightful opinions often more interesting than the lectures I had recently attended as a late-life university student. I’d like to share some of the stories and their impact, on me and on the inmates. The recognition that a good short story can cross the social, cultural and economic divide. That a good writer leaves room for the reader.
 
Biography
http://www.anzliterature.com/member/maggie-rainey-smith/
Thom Conroy
Katie Wilson
James Eunson
Dame Fiona Kidman
Paula Morris
Craig Cliff
Tracey Slaughter
Majella Cullinane
Rebecca Styles
Kevin Ireland
Tim Jones
Anna Smith
Maggie Rainey-Smith
Owen Marshall
Janet Wilson
Tom McLean
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