The Free-Range Bookclub
Bookclubbers without boundaries in Nelson, New Zealand
Category: Literary fiction
2011 – Bookerthon
A year in the life of a Booker judge must be such a challenge. What is the best book of the year? Is it one that represents the past 12 months on a global scale? Is it one that tackles serious topics, or one… Continue Reading “2011 – Bookerthon”
Pigeon English – Stephan Kelman
READ FOR BOOKERTHON Ghana migrant Harrison Opoku unbalances the hierarchical balance in his community when he speaks out about the murder of school mate. ✔ “Harri Opoku is 11 years old when he moves from Ghana to a London housing estate with his mother and sister.… Continue Reading “Pigeon English – Stephan Kelman”
Ragtime – E L Doctorow
READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Sophia Centering on an unnamed New York family, Ragtime hosts an array of fictional and real characters who seek to find their way at the turn of last century. ✔ Ragtime is a snapshot of life in the US… Continue Reading “Ragtime – E L Doctorow”
2011 – Thematic Construction
The best characters exist within the construct of firm guidelines, and life-changing literature becomes so because of the meaning which permeates every turn of events. It is these sturdy but often subtle parametres which define our love of books. With this is mind we have opted… Continue Reading “2011 – Thematic Construction”
2010 – End of Year Thoughts
Harry’s Bar was our destination for EOY bookclub in 2010. Joined by our newest arrival, the fabulous Sophia, we had a lot to discuss. We found that we had many conflicting opinions on this year’s readings, which we welcomed as it makes for lively… Continue Reading “2010 – End of Year Thoughts”
In A Strange Room – Damon Galgut
READ FOR BOOKERTHON A South African writer named for the author goes backpacking abroad. ☁ A young man, named for the author, undertakes three journeys to different countries where he meets and enjoys the company of strangers, but seems to attract bad luck. In… Continue Reading “In A Strange Room – Damon Galgut”
C – Tom McCarthy
READ FOR BOOKERTHON C is a 1960s-, modernist-style anti-novel steeped in philosophy. It follows Serge, an encoder, through WWI. ☁ Opening in England at the turn of the 20th century, C is the story of a boy named Serge Carrefax whose father spends his… Continue Reading “C – Tom McCarthy”
White Noise – Don DeLillo
READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Sophia A satire in which Jack Gladney and his family endure an airborne toxic event after an industrial accident ☁ “Jack Gladney is a professor specialising in Hitler studies who is consumed with the idea of his death. His… Continue Reading “White Noise – Don DeLillo”
Back Booker 2003
The 2003 Man Booker shortlist was another where we thought there was a stand out winner, however the judges didn’t see it the same way. Oryx & Crake is a life-changing book. Margaret Atwood not only has a hugely creative imagination, she is a… Continue Reading “Back Booker 2003”
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