Brannavan Gnanalingam
LightNews LightNews
brannavan.bsky.social
Brannavan Gnanalingam
@brannavan.bsky.social
820 followers 580 following 180 posts
Novelist and occasional reviewer
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
antzlapwood.bsky.social
Xmas is just around the corner... So I'm doing a book giveaway!

Win a copy of my prize-winning story collection Home Theatre 🏠🎭

Simply reply below with a good book you read this year.

Draw closes 5pm NZST Sunday 30 November.

#pukapuka @thwupbooks.bsky.social
Cover of Home Theatre with Xmas themes cheaply added: a Santa hat stuck on a man standing in an apartment window, a red nose and reindeer antlers stuck on a glowing horse in the window above.
November 29, 2025 at 4:06 AM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
thespinoff.bsky.social
Eight New Zealand novelists on the music they write to
Eight New Zealand novelists on the music they write to
From one song played masochistically on repeat to a sprawling 12-hour playlist, this is the music behind the books....
thespinoff.co.nz
November 27, 2025 at 12:00 AM
brannavan.bsky.social
We’re at that point of the year when you can’t tell what day of the week it is anymore
November 26, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
rnzrss.bsky.social
Film, documentary maker Costa Botes dies after nearly a decade with cancer
Film, documentary maker Costa Botes dies after nearly a decade with cancer
New Zealand documentarian and filmmaker Costa Botes found fame creating Forgotten Silver alongside Peter Jackson in the 90s.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 23, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
someforeignfield.bsky.social
Using the Sterling Arms XLCR as an illustrative example, I discuss the web of money and guns that the UAE operates to fuel the RSF's activities in Sudan, where it has been credibly accused of committing genocide. Until something is done about this, the killing will only continue.
Illicit Arms in Sudan
How foreign actors and lax arms export regimes are fueling genocide in Sudan
someforeignfield.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:41 PM
brannavan.bsky.social
This has been one of the silliest alpha test matches I’ve ever seen, but Australia will end up out alpha-ing England, as per usual
November 22, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
dreddieclark.bsky.social
On leave today to decompress after a pretty gruelling marking season; let's do something inconsequential and fun.

1 like = 1 book from my bookshelves and 300 characters worth of comment on it. Until I get bored.
November 20, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
dreddieclark.bsky.social
21) Brannavan Gnanalingam: The Life and Opinions of Kartik Popat. I've known Bran for 20 years; I own pretty much all his novels because they're pretty much all great. This one is, amongst other things, a spiky exploration of the fact that terrible politics isn't limited to white people.
Cover of The Life and Opinions of Kartik Popat by Brannavan Gnanalingam.
November 21, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
christchurchlib.bsky.social
Dublin Literary Award nominated titles are out!
Kia ora to the writers from Aotearoa New Zealand on this list:
📗1985 by Dominic Hoey
📕Delirious by Damien Wilkins
📘Kataraina by Becky Manawatu
and - our pick - 📙The Mires by Tina Makereti.
dublinliteraryaward.ie/features/new...
#Booksky #ReadNZ ^DR
A collage of nominated titles for the Dublin Literary Award
November 19, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
jennifilm.nz
PATHA's statement has been published: patha.nz/news
The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) condemns today's decision from Minister of Health Simeon Brown introducing a ban on new prescriptions of GnRH analogues (puberty blockers) for transgender children and young people who are not currently on them. This ideologically driven ban will have a devastating impact on the lives and wellbeing of our transgender and gender diverse young people. We know that children, young people and their whanau will be highly distressed by this decision. We also acknowledge health professionals' frustration at the way their expertise has been ignored and disregarded. "The ban will lead to a deterioration in mental health, increased risk of suicidality and increased dysphoria in gender diverse children and young people, and will put them at a higher risk of experiencing marginalisation and discrimination," says Dr Elizabeth McElrea, GP specialist in gender affirming care and PATHA Vice-President. "The prescribing of puberty blockers is always undertaken with the utmost care and consideration. They have been prescribed safely for decades for transgender children and banning their use will lead to profound distress in this already vulnerable group." This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. While the evidence brief identified some limitations in the academic quality of evidence regarding the risks and benefits of GRH analogues, limitations in evidence quality are common across a number of areas of medicine, especially within paediatric medicine, and do not justify a ban on access. "PATHA supports evidence-based medicine, which consists of three key components: academic evidence, clinical experience, and patient preferences and values," says Dr McElrea. "When the quality of available academic evidence is of lower quality, it's incredibly common for clinicians to lean on guidelines drawn from clinical experience." "Practising medicine, and paediatric medicine (not just within gender affirming healthcare), often necessitates providing care without a high-quality evidence base. The absence of high-quality clinical evidence does not mean providing this care is wrong." "Children benefit from innovative medical treatments that improve their survival and quality of life. Pediatric care would all but cease if physicians denied treatments for which the evidence base is imperfect." (McNamara et al., 2024, p. 15) 'An Evidence-Based Critique of "The Cass Review" on Gender-affirming Care for Adolescent The new restrictions will be in place until the conclusion of clinical trials in the United Kingdom, which are not due until at least 2031. "In no other area of care would life-saving medication be withheld from a vulnerable population for six years. This will have a traumatic impact on a generation of transgender children," says Avery Zavoda, PATHA Executive Committee member. PATHA is strongly against the decision. It is a shocking act of discrimination against transgender children and young people. "That New Zealand First announced this news three hours before the Minister of Health shows the way this care has been politicised, and how politics have been prioritised over the wellbeing of New Zealand children," said Zavoda. "Banning puberty blockers will not prevent children from being transgender, despite the disinformation New Zealand First are promoting," says Jennifer Shields, PATHA President. "It's obvious that this has been a political decision made to appease a coalition partner based on an imported culture war, rather than a medical recommendation reflecting the expertise of NZ clinicians and researchers who have been working in this field for over 25 years." Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences of rainbow young people showed "the proportion of young people who wanted puberty blockers and were able to use them was nearly half the number of young people who wanted these medications but could not access them." These findings made it clear that the prescription context and existing regulations "did not result in the easy access to young people who wanted puberty blockers that some people have claimed existed. In fact, the results demonstrate a seriously constrained prescription context that urgently needs further attention to be more equitable." "We call on the Ministry of Health to publish their consultation report immediately, so that health professionals, trans people, and the wider public can see that this decision has been made by politicians rather than based on clinical experience," says Shields. "We also look forward to the Minister now immediately allowing the updated guidelines for gender affirming healthcare to be published." "We also call on Labour, the Green Party, and Te Paati Mãori to commit to reversing this harmful decision if they are elected into government next year. Our communities need the reassurance that this ban will not last." "PATHA is committed to ensuring all trans children and children experiencing gender dysphoria have access to the best quality care.
November 19, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
overlandjournal.bsky.social
“During the late months of 2024, it was becoming readily clear to some of us that Gaza existed on two incommensurable planes: one which was transmitted in Arabic and the other in English.”

An introduction to OF WEAPONS AND WORDS, and to the vital task of translating militant writings on Palestine.
To fight against the annihilation of thought: an introduction to Of Weapons and Words - Overland literary journal
Across Palestine and beyond, militant intellectuals continue to study the ongoing catastrophe despite Israel’s best efforts. This study and critical analysis has nothing to do with scholasticism. It r...
overland.org.au
November 19, 2025 at 2:01 AM
brannavan.bsky.social
I must confess I had no idea about cli-fi when I wrote Sodden Downstream in 2017, but I’ll take the shoutout! thespinoff.co.nz/books/15-11-...
What is ‘cli-fi’ and why is it so hot right now?
A literary genre that's really heating up.
thespinoff.co.nz
November 14, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
yourjokesarebad.bsky.social
Whitcoulls don't stock my book so it has been banned and I am a victim of censorship.
November 13, 2025 at 8:26 PM
brannavan.bsky.social
This place fucking rules
November 14, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
paulajoygreen.bsky.social
terrific virtual cafe reading for the weekend nzpoetryshelf.com/2025/11/14/p...
Poetry Shelf Cafe Readings: Aruna Joy Bhakta
Aruna reads a selection of her poetry Aruna Joy Bhakta (she/her) grew up in New Plymouth, and went on to study her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Classics Studies. She currently lives in…
nzpoetryshelf.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
jennykaynz.bsky.social
Tonight I was delighted to attend the launch of @jackremiel.bsky.social 's second collection of short fiction, The Emotion Dealer & Other Stories. I've already started snacking on these tasty bites! So pleasing and yet tantalizing! What next to find?
A slim young man with pale skin and ginger hair proudly holds up a book with a beautiful yellow and gold cover. Jack Remiel Cottrell with The Emotion Dealer and Other Stories. The background is Unity Books Wellington where people can buy copies of the book. One to keep and one to give for Christmas. At $30 it's the right size for a gift! 📙🎁
November 13, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
jackremiel.bsky.social
Launch tonight! If you're free in Wellington from about 6:00pm this evening come along and check out my new book. There's free drinks (quality not guaranteed) and @brannavan.bsky.social will be speaking (quality guaranteed) if you need enticing.

www.unitybooks.co.nz/news-and-eve...
Canterbury University Press and Unity Books Wellington warmly invite you to the launch of The Emotion Dealer & Other Stories
www.unitybooks.co.nz
November 12, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
dennycarter.bsky.social
so joyce carol oates owned elon so hard he's been taking out ads on X saying he has in fact read a book and watched a movie and he's clearly spiraling and unable to recover from such a vicious own i say to my wife as she frantically pulls out of the driveway
November 11, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
theonion.com
In Memoriam:

Cheney Haunted By People He Didn't Manage To Kill In Iraq War
November 4, 2025 at 5:14 PM
brannavan.bsky.social
RIP Peter Watkins, an underseen master (following the BBC’s half-witted panic over The War Game). He was a brilliant and provocative director
A still from Peter Watkins’ Edvard Munch
November 2, 2025 at 8:28 PM
brannavan.bsky.social
NZer in the news! Putting aside the terribleness of it all, it’s also objectively funny that a journo got sucked in by a Bill de Blasio impersonator for a Times article
thetnholler.bsky.social The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · Oct 28
Rupert Murdoch-owned @thetimes.com of London completely fabricates a hit piece on @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social , gets called out by former mayor Deblasio — then deletes it.🤔
October 29, 2025 at 9:40 PM
brannavan.bsky.social
I released The Life and Opinions of Kartik Popat this time last year. I’m super proud of the book & genuinely think it has captured the zeitgeist. The circumstances of the book have become more and more relevant as the viciousness of this era reveals itself. Anyway, here’s a review that nailed it
pipadam.bsky.social Pip Adam @pipadam.bsky.social · Apr 3
Love this review of a book I love. The Life and Opinions of Kartik Popat by Brannavan Gnanalingam: An 'Asian horror story' and an 'instantly iconic' political satire. By Tze Ming Mok
The Life and Opinions of Kartik Popat by Brannavan Gnanalingam - Aotearoa New Zealand Review of Books
An 'Asian horror story' and an 'instantly iconic' political satire.
www.nzreviewofbooks.com
October 28, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
mikepmoffatt.bsky.social
Of all the housing charts not made by MMI, this one is my favourite. It shows how, despite rhetoric, housing shortages aren't a global phenomenon, but they do seem to be an Anglo-American one.
October 23, 2025 at 2:07 PM
brannavan.bsky.social
Who robbed the Louvre? Right answers only
October 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Brannavan Gnanalingam
beijingpalmer.bsky.social
while 'young republicans are literal nazis' is well known to folks here, the extent of it is surprisingly not that commonly known even in media and analyst circles, let alone normal people.
jamellebouie.net jamelle @jamellebouie.net · Oct 14
a real water is wet scenario here
carlquintanilla.bsky.social Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · Oct 14
POLITICO: “.. They referred to Black people as monkeys and ‘the watermelon people’ and mused about putting their political opponents in gas chambers. They talked about raping their enemies .. and lauded Republicans who they believed support slavery.

@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
October 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM