The Free-Range Bookclub
Bookclubbers without boundaries in Nelson, New Zealand
The Long Take – Robin Robertson
READ FOR BOOKERTHON
A war veteran tries to assimilate back into every day American life post war.
➽ “I was completely consumed by The Long Take and while the storyline and themes were far from uplifting I felt captivated by the events that were occurring.
“Initially I baulked at the style of this novel – it’s written in almost poem form and I thought I would be enduring rather than enjoying it. Using the characteristics of film noir to help shape the narrative, the story quickly drew me in and had me hooked.
“The main character Walker is aware of the cause of his suffering and actively works to try and diminish it, and as a reader I wanted nothing more than for him to be able to succeed. A unique and mesmerising read. ” – Suzy
➽ “The Long Take (Or A Way To Lose More Slowly) is a sad title, referring to the suffering of war veterans that is particularised in this novel. I say novel but it’s really a novel-poem hybrid: it has the breadth and ease of reading of a novel, but the rhythm and sharpness of a poem.
“Whatever it is, it is deeply affecting. The hero, Walker, wanders the streets of New York, LA and San Fran post war, in a daze, reliving the atrocities of his war experience and trying to assimilate back into normal life. As the title suggests there are many long takes, which Walker must endure.
“In the book, Robertson does what poets do best, burns imprints into your mind with glimpses of time and place and memories; these few words far more impressive than a page of prose could be in its place. And had these half lines and well-comma’ed phrases been converted to proper sentences, they would have lost their rhythm and their beauty.
“I see why Robertson felt this was the only way to present his story.” – Rachel
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Published 2018
Picador
256 pages
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