AFTERGLOW: All Who Live On Islands – Rose Lu

Pōneke turned out for the launch of Rose Lu’s debut book All Who Live On Islands, on Thursday November 14. The crowd was huge, with many of Rose’s fellow IIML graduates there in attendance and it was a privilege to see so many talented people all in one space. The night kicked off with Fergus Barrowman expressing his pleasure in being able to publish and launch Rose’s first book. Nina Mingya Powles then spoke; giving her thoughtful insights on the way Rose uses language in the book & the affinity she felt with Rose’s expression of life as an Asian New Zealand woman. Rose first spoke in Mandarin to thank everyone (in reflection of her book, where she translates phrases into English to dismantle the hierarchy of English as most important language), tearing up as she thanked her family who were all there to support her. The ‘Queen of TMI’ read out a couple of excerpts from her book, which were full of humourous and lovely recollections of her childhood. “I feel like I’m getting married, or maybe giving birth to a book” she says. Congratulations on your book baby, Rose Lu, from all of us at Unity.