Brannavan Gnanalingam

Guest writer

Brannavan Gnanalingam is a practising lawyer who lives in Wellington. He is the author is five novels, including A Briefcase, Two Pies and a Penthouse, and Sodden Downstream, which was shortlisted for the 2018 Ockham New Zealand national book awards. His sixth novel, Sprigs, is due for release in July 2020 through Lawrence and Gibson.

Vivek Ramaswamy (left). Author, Brannavan Gnanalingam (right).

A new novel imagines a New Zealand version of the conservative South Asian grifter

There's little to like about figures like American politician Vivek Ramaswamy, but there is a lot to learn.

By Brannavan Gnanalingam | 2nd November, 2024

Photo: Maja Hitij/Getty Images

A postcard from the Paris Olympics

Brannavan Gnanalingam on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to combine his two favourite things: mooching around Paris and watching the Olympics.

By Brannavan Gnanalingam | 15th August, 2024

Image: Tina Tiller

The ‘undoubted brilliance’ of AMMA

The debut novel by Saraid de Silva navigates the migrant experience across generations, and the ways in which women persist.

By Brannavan Gnanalingam | 19th March, 2024

Shehan Karunatilaka (Photo: Getty Images / Design: Tina Tiller)

Not a traditional ghost story: a chat with Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka

The author of The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida on Sri Lanka, the trauma of war, cricket and his past (and possibly future) life in New Zealand.

By Brannavan Gnanalingam | 11th December, 2022

The cover of Brannavan Gnanalingam’s novel Sprigs

Circling the wagons: The rugby story that’s played out over and over again

Author Brannavan Gnanalingam on the surprising response to his 2020 novel, Sprigs.

By Brannavan Gnanalingam | 20th October, 2022

Image: Hana Chatani

The Sunday Essay: When the young stand up

There's something magical about teenagers making a stand, and history is almost always on their side.

By Brannavan Gnanalingam | 4th April, 2021

“Lu traces the changing dreams and expectations of three generations”. Rose with her mother and bu’uah in the kitchen of their Whanganui home, 2016. Supplied.

Fearless and perfectly formed: Rose Lu’s All Who Live on Islands, reviewed

Brannavan Gnanalingham reads Rose Lu's groundbreaking essay collection – overlooked by the Ockhams judges – and finds it full of elevating yarns.

By Brannavan Gnanalingam | 1st February, 2020

Marlon James and his book Black Leopard, Red Wolf.

Book of the Week: A brief history of several zombies

Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews the long-awaited and outstanding novel by Marlon James, who won the Man Booker prize two years ago with A Brief History of Seven Killings.

By Brannavan Gnanalingam | 14th April, 2019

Man Booker Prize Fight Week, round 2: Esi Edugyan vs Rachel Kushner

Man Booker Prize Fight Week, round 2: Esi Edugyan vs Rachel Kushner

The 2019 Man Booker prize is announced next week. Brannavan Gnanalingam reviews two of the shortlisted novels, Washington Black by Esi Edugyan and The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner.

By Brannavan Gnanalingam | 10th October, 2018

Finally, the Spinoff reviews ‘Book of the Year’ The New Animals

Finally, the Spinoff reviews ‘Book of the Year’ The New Animals

Pip Adam won the Acorn Prize for best novel of the year at the recent 2018 Ockham New Zealand national book awards. Is her book actually any good? Readable? Likeable?

By Brannavan Gnanalingam | 29th May, 2018