The Free-Range Bookclub
Bookclubbers without boundaries in Nelson, New Zealand
Category: Kiwi lit
The Invisible Mile – David Conventry
READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS A reimagining of the 1928 Ravat-Wonder team from New Zealand and Australia who were the first English-speaking team to ride the Tour de France, then 5476 km of unsealed roads. A psychological journey in which the cyclists rode over mountains… Continue Reading “The Invisible Mile – David Conventry”
Genesis – Bernard Beckett
READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Becks Anax sits an all-day exam for admittance to The Academy, the governing body of her utopian society. However, things are not as they seem and instead unresolved scientific and philosophical questions are raised. Unable to attribute misfortune to… Continue Reading “Genesis – Bernard Beckett”
Owls Do Cry – Janet Frame
READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Jo Owls Do Cry is semi-autobiographical, recounting a character’s – and Frame’s own – time in a mental hospital in provincial, pre-1940s New Zealand. Protagonist Daphne Withers is mute, surrounded by uncaring carers, and begins receiving shock treatment. With… Continue Reading “Owls Do Cry – Janet Frame”
Sydney Bridge Upside Down – David Ballentyne
READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Sophia A dark story set in the sleepy coastal town of Calliope Bay where the children play in the abandoned slaughterhouse and welcome the allure of their city cousin. David Ballantyne (Ngati Uenukukopako, Ngati Hinepare) helped shape the characteristics of… Continue Reading “Sydney Bridge Upside Down – David Ballentyne”
Holy Days – Joy Cowley
READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Suzy A motherless boy seeks solace in an old convent and the three nuns who reside there. ✎ “Joy Cowley is one of New Zealand’s best known authors, her children’s books widely published for use in our primary schools. But… Continue Reading “Holy Days – Joy Cowley”
Under The Mountain – Maurice Gee
READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Suzy Rachel and Theo Matheson travel beneath Auckland’s extinct volcanoes to prevent the destruction of the world ✎ “While vacationing with relatives in Auckland, red-head twins Theo and Rachel discover that they are endowed with special powers to oppose mysterious… Continue Reading “Under The Mountain – Maurice Gee”
The Luminaries – Eleanor Catton
READ FOR BOOKERTHON ❖ “The Luminaries is a ghost story and murder mystery set in Hokitika, New Zealand. It is 832 pages and won the Booker Prize. “Its protagonist Walter Moody comes across 12 men having a secret meeting in the lounge of his hotel… Continue Reading “The Luminaries – Eleanor Catton”
Angel’s Cut – Elizabeth Knox
READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Suzy The sequel to The Vintner’s Luck in which the angel Xas settles in Hollywood 1929 and becomes involved in the seductive movie industry. © “Movie director Conrad Cole is working late on elaborate plans for his aeroplanes and… Continue Reading “Angel’s Cut – Elizabeth Knox”
The Parihaka Woman – Witi Ihimaera
READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Suzy A fictionalised account set amongst the atrocities that occurred in Parihaka, Taranaki during the 1870s The Parihaka Woman tells the story of Taranaki iwi who fought back against settlers and the confiscation of their lands with a programme of… Continue Reading “The Parihaka Woman – Witi Ihimaera”
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