Category: Psychological

Pet – Catherine Chidgey

READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS Pet is a psychological thriller, about 12-year-old Justine and her fascination with her glamorous new teacher Mrs Price. She, and many of her classmates, are determined to be the teacher’s pet, clambering to help or do after-school jobs and… Continue Reading “Pet – Catherine Chidgey”

The Swimmers – Julia Otsuka

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Rachel The Swimmers is about Alice, a Japanese American woman in the early stages of dementia. She swims daily but when a crack appears in the pool (ie in her memory) she has to stop swimming and move to a… Continue Reading “The Swimmers – Julia Otsuka”

At Night All Blood is Black – David Diop

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Rachel ❝ Alfa and his ‘more than brother’ Mademba are Senglese, fighting for the French in World War I. Seen as ‘chocolate soldiers’ they are considered able to scare the life out of the enemy. After Mademba is fatally wounded… Continue Reading “At Night All Blood is Black – David Diop”

Entanglement – Bryan Walpert

READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS Time and perspective are entangled in this novel, in which a time traveller attempts to return to the right point of his past to correct a mistake. Paul’s actions and recollections are scattered throughout the book, reported in three… Continue Reading “Entanglement – Bryan Walpert”

A Good Winter – Gigi Fenster

READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS Olga is an older woman who has taken on the role of carer to her friend Lara, Lara’s grieving daughter Sophie and Sophie’s child Michael. The family are extremely grateful for – what appears to be – her selfless… Continue Reading “A Good Winter – Gigi Fenster”

Sisters – Daisy Johnson

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Rachel Born ten months apart, July and September are almost like twins. They do not look the same, they do not have the same personalties, but they are becoming inseparable and September increasingly exhibits dark influences over July. Their closeness… Continue Reading “Sisters – Daisy Johnson”

Death In Her Hands – Otessa Moshfegh

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Rachel An investigation of an elderly woman’s mental wanderings after finding a note referring to a murder. Vesta Gul is an expected Moshfegh character: a female loner with convoluted, dangerous thoughts. She is 72, living alone in the woods after… Continue Reading “Death In Her Hands – Otessa Moshfegh”

Snowdrops – A D Miller

READ FOR BOOKERTHON British lawyer Nick is seduced by the dangerous Masha while working in Moscow and ends up finding himself buried in secrets. ✔ Nicholas is a single, 38-year-old British lawyer working for banks lending money to Russian corporations. His time in Moscow is… Continue Reading “Snowdrops – A D Miller”

Novel About My Wife – Emily Perkins

READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Jo The lives of a London couple unravel after the wife survives a train derailment and notices a man following her.  ☁ “Novel About My Wife is the story of a couple’s complicated relationship from the husband’s perspective. It’s… Continue Reading “Novel About My Wife – Emily Perkins”

Netherland – Joseph O’Neill

 READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Suzy In Netherland, we follow immigrant Dutchman Hans van den Broek, a financial analyst and cricket enthusiast, across a period of social turmoil following the 911 terror attacks on New York City. At the same time, Hans’ wife Rachel… Continue Reading “Netherland – Joseph O’Neill”