The Free-Range Bookclub
Bookclubbers without boundaries in Nelson, New Zealand
East Of The West – Miroslav Penkov
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Chosen by Becks
◉ “I was initially put off reading this book as I don’t particularly like short stories – they usually seem to be too short and I am often left wanting more. However this collection has me converted – a great mix of tragedy, sadness and humour with loads of great historical and cultural references. All of the 8 stories are enjoyable but particularly for me, East of the West is the most memorable.” – Jo
◉ “I’ve never really read short stories. Never really ‘got’ them. But this compilation has shifted my thinking. Not only did I read and relish each one with much pleasure, but I read more than one in one sitting, so taken by them was I! I loved the quirk and twist, the clever characterisation (loved the odd-balls), the socio-political commentary (insights into the communist era) and humour (dark,and twisted or light and quirky). Sometimes, sad, sometimes tragic, somtimes weird, but always surprising, this book is one that I will recommend.” – Sonya
◉ “East of the West is now my favourite short story collection! I’m not usually a fan of this genre – I invest myself so fully into characters that taking leave of them so quickly and starting again with a new set is like a break up! However, Penkov manages to encapsulate all the ups and downs and depth of a novel into each of his short stories. At the completion of each I was satiated and ready to move on to the next. Each tale utilises a different type of humour, is thought provoking and educational. The writer makes clear his separation anxieties about his motherland of Bulgaria and his adopted home of the US, but manages to link the two lives, too. He liberates his emotions in a complete and unforgettable voice.” – Rachel
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Published 2012
Picador
240 pages
Blindsight – Maurice Gee
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Chosen by Jo
The lives of Alice Ferry, a retired Wellington scientist, and her brother Gordon take divergent paths.
◉ “Gee gradually unravels this story building the tension effortlessly as we learn about the siblings’ history, start to understand the nature of Gordon’s condition and in the final shocking twist how he came to be that way. What I found really surprising was the empathy I felt for Alice who upon reflection is utterly horrible! Gee made me like her! This book is completely engrossing and I raced through it. Well worth the read.” – Jo
◉ “The lives of two once-close siblings veer apart unexpectedly. Sounds simple enough, and it reads easily enough, but there is a complexity of character strength in this novel that makes it one of Gee’s best, imho. The observations of family life are astute and compelling. Alice is the kind of character you wish every book had, seemingly innocent and honest, intelligent and kind, but with a veil of secrecy about her that draws you in. What’s more the expertly revealed plot keeps you engaged until the last word. What’s not to love?” – Rachel
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Published 2005
Penguin
248 pages
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
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Chosen by Rachel
A class of women, known as handmaids, are kept for reproductive purposes in a reality radically overturned by a theocratic revolution.
◉ “This read was a return to one of my all time favourite books. I wondered would it be as good as the first time, but at this time, with world events what they are, a re-read provided a new perspective. What continues to impress me is Atwood’s ability to combine reality as we know it with acute perceptions of the ever-changing world into a prophecy type writing style. The masterful character and setting construction provides relatable characters whom I cared about deeply from the outset and a place that seems far from fictitious. This is a life-changing book that should act as a warning to all those who worry about humanity and the consequences of nationalised power struggles. But, not only is it important it is also unputdownable, totally riveting and a work of fiction of the highest order. As such I think it should be compulsory reading.” – Rachel
◉ “I couldn’t put this book down – I read it in a day practically. It starts with what I thought was an improbable feminist nightmare which Atwood convincingly persuaded me to believe – fear and mistrust allow the characters to be under the control of mysterious fanatics. This novel is a disturbing tale of terror that gripped me from the start until the end. It’s scary and Atwood’s unnerving ability for prophecy will infect your mind. I still think about this book and I feel regret that I can’t relive reading it fresh again. She’s amazing and I totally loved it.” – Jo
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Published 1985
McClelland and Stewart
311 pages
Into The River – Ted Dawe
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Chosen by Sonya
An East Coast Maori boy wins a scholarship to an Auckland College where his ancestral beliefs collide with his private school education.
◉ “I had no idea that Into The River was a banned book when I chose it! I was after a Kiwi Young Adult’s book that would be a fun, easy read. And easy it was, drawing me in quickly from the first chapter. Fun, it was not. And it did become quickly apparent why it was a controversial piece, with every taboo subject covered off nicely: Under-age sex, drugs, paedophillia, homosexuality, violence, suicide and crime. And all within the context of a boys’ private school! The pace was quick and the characters were colourful. Yet I found it fell short of greatness. The ending left me unsatisfied and a little confused – I wanted the main character Te Arepa to be good. A hero I suppose, but he was a let down. I wanted his Maori heritage to raise him up, but it didn’t. I wanted there to be a message – an uplifting one – and there wasn’t. And the ending wasn’t happy. Perhaps I’m just too much of a lightweight romantic to have enjoyed this book?” – Sonya
◉ “Te Arepa occupies two very distinct worlds in this well told and interesting story – one of home heavy with cultural history and expectations and the boarding school world of pakeha and coming of age experiences.(However at the age of 14 a number of these are slightly alarming which adds to the interest factor). Te Arepa or Devon does seem like two different characters after he enters the boarding school world and takes part in all sorts of dodgy teenage events that culminate in a drastic change of circumstance and an unexpected ending. I thought there was a disappointing lack of a spiritual theme during the eel adventure at the start which felt like an opportunity missed however the story as a whole was hard to put down and thought provoking. I would love to know what Te Arepa is up to now!” – Jo
◉ “There was a naturalness to this book which I enjoyed. As if the author did not aspire to fit his content into a preconceived best-seller mould or be moralistic, but rather wished to write about real things which (fortunately and unfortunately) happen. The characters, their language and actions and their teenage anxieties were spelled out truthfully and the story progressed organically, not in a way which was forced. I particularly enjoyed the juxtaposition of Maori ancestory and storytelling with the private schooling usually spared for the white kids. Also, how the characters did not fit a stereotypical protagonist/antagonist mould – every character was both and neither at the same time, a nod to us all in the real world who exhibit both strengths and flaws on a daily basis. I knew this book had been banned and so was wary that graphic content may surprise me, but it was more mentioned in passing rather than being explicit, so I did not find it offensive.” – Rachel
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Published 2012
Random House
285 pages
2017 NZ Book Awards
Three of the shortlisted fiction books could take out the Ockham’s top prize in 2017. (Wish there’d been time to read shortlisters from the other categories too, but alas.)
With literary giants like Stead and Marshall at the helm of this section and powerhouse Chidgey snapping at their heels it is no surprise this a three way race. (In our humble opinions.) Billy Bird, unfortunately, didn’t float our boats.
What Stead brings to the competition is a neatly packaged recap of his career and his genius – how could any fan resist buying, reading and loving this story story collection, The Name On The Door Is Not Mine? And it delivers the expected punch, and poetic beauty, too.
Marshall delivers as expected also, with Love As A Stranger, which is not heavy on plot, but is an expertly crafted examination of the human psyche, something that he masters time and time again.
After several years without a new novel, Chidgey returns to the literary world with a bang, with The Wish Child. It is an emotional book full of suffering, grief, irony and dark humour and shows she is a force to be reckoned with.
So, all three deserve the win, we believe. Who will the judges side with? Who do we side with? Let’s say our buck lies with Chidgey, by a nose.
The Wish Child – Catherine Chidgey
READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS
Two children watch as their parents become immersed in the puzzling mechanisms of power in 1939 Germany.
◉ “Personally, I love human stories set during the war. But sometimes you feel like you’re reading the same stuff over and over.
“However, Catherine Chidgey has managed to discover and build on a new facet to the human war story that I had not come across before. I don’t know if it was her research, her plot or her poignant prose, but I felt like I was reading something unique and became emotionally invested in the characters’ lives.
“It is a gripping novel and though there is much suffering you are catapulted from one scene to the next without the thought that it is too much. I mean, why stop when there are surprises at every turn, even right through to the postscript! This may be a New Zealand book, but it is a story for everyone.” – Rachel
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Published 2017
Chatto & Windus
384 pages
The Name On The Door Is Not Mine – C K Stead
READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS
A collection of short stories from literary giant CK Stead. The collection includes new, previously unpublished stories as well as older stories that have been reworked. Set in locations from the South of France, Zagreb, Oxford and back to New Zealand.
◉ “If a reader of this book wasn’t aware prior, it would be immediately apparent upon reading this book that C K Stead is New Zealand literature royalty.
“There is an effortlessness and sophistication to this collection of short stories that renders them artful and poetic. Yet there is such an intense humanness too, it’s easy to feel connected to the array of protagonists, many of whom were struggling in the literary world.
“However, the most striking feature to me is the amount of content packed into each short story, ensuring those who prefer novels and weighty stories do not feel cheated, as I often do with the short story genre.” – Rachel
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Published 2016
Allen & Unwin
304 pages
Love As A Stranger – Owen Marshall
READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS
Middle-aged strangers Sarah and Hartley meet by chance in an Auckland graveyard and arrange to have coffee. Sarah’s husband is undergoing cancer treatment. They begin an affair which soon turns into an obsession.
◉ “I loved this book from the very first sentence. The deceptively simple storyline was strung out at such a perfect pace, the slow reveals were done so well and it was just a great read. The sense of foreboding was there early on in the book and I loved it. My one quibble…. one of the characters was in Auckland (from Hamilton) for medical treatment. Would this really be necessary?? Waikato is a tertiary hospital and should be able to do all of this treatment. Hmmm, evidently I’m a health nerd. Anyway, fantastic book and would definitely recommend.” – Suzy
◉ “Love As A Stranger is about just that. Strangers who meet and begin an affair. And really, that just about sums it all up. It’s not a complicated plot. But there is so much more to it. It is a moody, suspenseful book with a simmering dread underlying it. Everything is perfectly explained and described viscously as if the author is actually a character in the book describing everything he sees. I hated to put this book down, as if the characters’ lives would continue on without me. My only disappointment was the urgency of the ending. I expected more earlier on. But that’s just me and it wouldn’t stop me recommending this fantastically written novel.” – Rachel
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Published 2016
Penguin Random House
286 pages
Billy Bird – Emma Neale
READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS
Liam and Iris have a son called Billy, who is as clever and interactive as any other child of his age. However due to a tragedy in the family, Billy turns into a bird. He believes this completely. As his behaviour becomes increasingly worrying, his parents must find a way to stop their family flying apart.
◉ “Billy Bird was a real grind for me. The day-to-day realities of sick pets, mental health issues, emotional pain, grief processing, money troubles etc were all too much. Obviously we don’t expect fiction to always be uplifting (I’d only read self-help books if that was the case) but a bit of escapism is always nice. It just felt like someone I didn’t particularly like oversharing too much of their life with me. Perhaps I’m a cold-hearted monster but Billy Bird wasn’t for me.” – Suzy
◉ “I was expecting great things from this book, shortlisted for the NZ Book Awards and up against literary greats. But I was quickly disappointed. The prose felt full of cliches, and devices were often used like a cheat’s means to an end, making it feel quite flat. New Zealand references are scattered about like confetti, but this does not make it a New Zealand book. There was great potential for the story of a boy who became a bird to deal with his grief, but instead the characters were two-dimensional and the final pages dragged out. Not one for me.” – Rachel
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Published 2016
Penguin Random House
330 pages
Invisible Cities – Italo Calvino
READ FOR BOOKCLUB
Chosen by Becks
Marco Polo describes the cities he visited on his expeditions to Kublai Khan, emperor of the Tartars.
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Published in Italian 1972
Translated into English by William Weaver 1974
Harcourt
174 pages
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