The Free-Range Bookclub
Bookclubbers without boundaries in Nelson, New Zealand
Category: Literary fiction
Nacropolis – Jeet Thayil
READ FOR BOOKERTHON A story set over three decades about a Bombay opium den and the diverse cast of characters who frequent it. © “The main character in Narcopolis is Rashid who owns an opium house in Bombay. We meet him first in the 1970s, entertaining a variety… Continue Reading “Nacropolis – Jeet Thayil”
Umbrella – Will Self
READ FOR BOOKERTHON Apparently, the plot of Umbrella revolves around psychiatrist Zack Busner who works in Friern mental hospital. One of his patients, Audrey Death, has been catatonic for 50 years. The doctor recognises that she and several other long-term patients may be suffering… Continue Reading “Umbrella – Will Self”
Swimming Home – Deborah Levy
READ FOR BOOKERTHON Poet Joe Jacobs’s family vacation is interrupted by a fanatical reader who wades, naked, out of their swimming pool © Joe Jacobs is a Polish poet living in Britain, holidaying with his family and another couple in the South of France.… Continue Reading “Swimming Home – Deborah Levy”
Tropic of Cancer – Henry Miller
READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Rachel The Tropic of Cancer was published in 1934 and was widely banned for its explicit sexual content, including for a 27 year period in the US. Its protagonist is a struggling writer living in Paris and is named… Continue Reading “Tropic of Cancer – Henry Miller”
Slaughterhouse Five – Kurt Vonnegut
READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Rachel Kurt Vonnegut writes of his own experiences as a World War II prisoner in Slaughterhouse Five, in particular the bombing of Dresden. On February 13, 1945, only months before the end of World War II, the Allies undertook… Continue Reading “Slaughterhouse Five – Kurt Vonnegut”
2012 – Critical Review
Any entity with five years’ history should be open to review: analysis and self review to continue with realised successes, and a thick-skinned willingness to shoulder the opinions and expectations of others. For example, when we ask ourselves what are we doing right, we realise… Continue Reading “2012 – Critical Review”
2011 – End of Year Thoughts
The end of the year already! This year we chose to lunch at The Grape Escape in Appleby and discuss the who, whys and whats of the year. We agreed it’s been a tumultuous year with the Christchurch earthquake and the Japanese tsunami and… Continue Reading “2011 – End of Year Thoughts”
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”
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