1 Oct 2017

Brannavan Gnanalingam's Sodden Downstream

From Standing Room Only, 2:40 pm on 1 October 2017
Brannavan Gnanalingam

Brannavan Gnanalingam Photo: supplied

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Photo: supplied

In Tamil-New Zealander Brannavan Gnanalingam's latest novel, a refugee is desperate to get to Wellington City from the Hutt Valley, despite a  'once-in-a-century' flood. The roads are blocked and there's no public transport. But If Sita doesn't get into the CBD she could lose her zero-hours cleaning job. She's also under pressure at home with an out-of-work husband and a demanding and difficult son.

Sodden Downstream is the name of Brannavan's novel, which he tells Lynn Freeman had its starting point after a fierce storm two years ago. Sodden Downstream is a Lawrence Gibson publication.