The Free-Range Bookclub
Bookclubbers without boundaries in Nelson, New Zealand
The Year Of The Runaways – Sunjeev Sahota
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Three Indian men and a British-Indian woman are linked by chance in Sheffield, England, as they run the full gamut of experiences that come with being a migrant worker in Britain.
❍ “I was *very* heavily immersed in this book recently when I was dragged into the Tokoroa Subway for lunch by my daughter. Sitting there at a table enjoying their sandwiches were four people – who to me right then – looked exactly like this book’s main characters. They were happily interacting and enjoying each other’s company. “Hurray,” I thought, “everyone is okay!” A split second later I realised I had been A LITTLE BIT TOO INVOLVED in this book. I am a sane person okay – I HAVE JUST BEEN READING A BIT TOO MUCH LATELY.
For every chapter, page and scene of this book I was right there alongside the characters, experiencing their triumphs and despair. It gave insight into a culture I had little familiarity with and the individual character’s struggles with duty versus personal ethics and belief systems was written comprehensively without being laid out too obviously for the reader. I am delighted to have had the opportunity to read this book.” – Suzy
❍ “The Year Of The Runaways uses four main characters to explore every possible experience for illegal migrant workers in Britain, from sham marriages, to the long, exhausting days of work, to the satisfaction of counting out piles of hard-earned money to send home. Generally, it is a book full of sad situations, of nerve-wracking escapes from the authorities and the mis-treatment of migrants by employers and landlords.
But amongst all this is an overwhelming sense of personal pride and dignity ingrained into the migrants as they seek to better themselves and their families. It was this, and the well-written relationships between the four main characters, which made the story a standout for me. A vivid and significant book.” – Rachel
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Published 2015
Picador
468 pages
The Fishermen – Chigozie Obioma
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Four brothers encounter a madman whose mystic prophecy of violence threatens the core of their close-knit family.
❍ Four middle-class Nigerian brothers with a proud and strict father decide to sneak out of the house one day to go fishing. They do this each day during their father’s absence, hiding evidence from their mother. One day at the river they meet a local madman who prohesises that the eldest boy will be killed by one of his brothers, “the fisherman”. This prophecy unleashes a tragic chain of events onto the family.
Listen, days decay, like food, like fish, like dead bodies. This night will decay, too and you will forget. Listen, we will forget.
❍ “This is a powerful account of four brothers, their run in with the local madman, and the moral and social choices they make as a result of his omen hanging over their heads.
Actually, it’s more than that. It’s a well-constructed combination of contemporary fiction, of mythological beliefs and ancient storytelling, and a Nigerian history lesson. This immense structure does not impede the pace or readability however, in fact it provides a perfect riverbed for the desired flow and for the twists and turns of the plot.
The brothers are definitively built characters, each with their own presence and impact. They draw you into their lives within a few pages, and quickly their passions and woes become yours.” – Rachel
❍ “After reading the longlisted Sleeping on Jupiter by Anuradha Roy recently I was left with that feeling you get when a book doesn’t quench your reading thirst – you are left wanting more, but not in a good way. The Fishermen however is a perfectly full and satisfying, well-rounded story and I loved it.
Writing a book from the perspective of a child surely adds another layer of difficulty for a writer. It’s what left unsaid in this story that I found the most troubling. It allows the reader to come up with their own interpretation of major events and in this novel this is done subtly but powerfully.
Rather embarrassingly the sum total of my knowledge of Nigerian politics to date has come from both Half of a Yellow Sun and Amerincanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and now I can add The Fishermen to that list. Hmmm, I think it’s probably time to look for some non-fiction information about the situation there.
I’m really looking forward to reading more of Chigozie Obioma’s work as the years go by.” – Suzy
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Published 2015
Little, Brown & Co
297 pages
A Little Life – Hanya Yanagihara
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Child abuse survivor Jude St Francis moves to New York with three friends, all ready to make their way in life. Yet their greatest challenge, each comes to realise, is Jude, a talented litigator but an increasingly broken man who is haunted by traumas he fears he’ll be unable to overcome.
❍ “I had very high hopes for this novel as the reviews have been amazing. I was apprehensive about the almost gleeful hype around the ‘suffering’ but I have read lots of grim stories before and coped so I steeled myself and dived in.
The strongest theme is that people are forever defined by the abuse that they have experienced. Despite what may be done to personally overcome abusive situations people are unable to ‘escape’ what happened and the best that can be done is to try and reconcile horrible events of the past with current life experiences. A Little Life illustrated cleverly that this can be done with varying degrees of success.
I can’t begin to imagine the difficulty of writing about abuse and its effects in a way that is authentic and credible. Did the author do this well? I guess that is up for individuals to decide.
What really disappointed me about this book was the storyline around the main characters’ lives. It felt more at times like a Flowers in the Attic or the latest Jodi Picoult rather than a piece of literature worthy of a Man Booker shortlist. In this sense it was very ‘readable’ but I would have preferred a lot less of the overwrought plot. The last third of the book was almost comical and unfortunately did not do the weighty theme any justice.
It’s not an author’s job to give readers a happy ending and tie everything together. We don’t need to feel as though justice has been served to enjoy a novel. Bad stuff happens to good people, we all know that. However, an author should not be celebrated for tackling such a difficult topic if the storyline supporting that topic is weak and laughable.
I’m not saying I could’ve done a better job! Kudos to Hanya Yanagihara. I just expected more from a Man Booker shortlisted novel.” – Suzy
Why wasn’t friendship as good as a relationship? Why wasn’t it even better? It was two people who remained together, day after day, bound not by sex or physical attraction or money or children or property, but only by the shared agreement to keep going, the mutual dedication to a union that could never be codified.
❍ “This book has received a lot of media coverage about its themes of abuse and redemptive friendships. And yes those big themes are present. They are well-explored, evocative and all-consuming. Everything a theme should be.
But I question what’s missing from this book. For a start, Jude is not a complete character – in fact none of them are. Instead he is simply a victim; a caricature of a victim, to be violated in every way you probably can’t imagine. This does not make Jude a convincing or realistic character, rather the violence seems gratuitous and convenient; 700 pages of misery for misery’s sake.
Usually I appreciate (and actually revel in!) book misery for its potent ability to transcend the literary experience but this misery is not only the theme, it is also the plot, and as the plot, it is over done to the point of ridiculousness. Less would definitely have been more. I ended up becoming immune to the constant plot horrors and starting rolling my eyes when things took another far-fetched turn. There are not really any sub-plots either as every occurrence is used as another angle from which to examine Jude’s suffering.
The positives are the consistent pace, the reveal of information, the readability of the writing style, albeit a little waffly at the start, plus the timelessness created by a lack of details about the outside world. And, if you want to look at it as a case study of abuse, you’d say it’s perfect – it is entire and unabridged and overwhelming. (Maybe there’s a reason the characters are flat …)
I don’t know if I would recommend A Little Life. Some people may be touched by it, like the several sobbing reviewers quoted on the back cover, but I wouldn’t like to be the one to recommend something when I’m unsure if it would move you, distress you, or annoy you.” – Rachel
The Colour Of Water – James McBride
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Chosen by Sonya
The memoir of a white woman written by her black son. The book details Ruth’s difficult childhood but her ability to turn things around for her own children.
❍ “The Colour of Water was a great read, and I was moved by James’ account of his childhood and his mother’s life. Ruth was indeed an incredible woman! I doubt I would have the strength and tenacity to overcome the challenges she faced. I was most fascinated by the Jewish-Christian threads in the story, and in the way Ruth navigated the apparent chaos to succeed in raising 12 well-educated, multi-racial children. Kind of mind-blowing actually. Humbling.” – Sonya
❍ “I loved The Colour of Water for being so heart-achingly vivid, and for the way the memoir was so eloquently structured as if memories and recollections were bubbling up.” – Sophia
I asked her if I was black or white. She replied “You are a human being. Educate yourself or you’ll be a nobody!
❍ “A moving tribute from a son to his mother. The pieces of James memories come together to give an often heart-breaking account of his mother’s life as well as his grandmother’s. I was left wanting to know more but the nature of an autobiography is that there will be gaps – this adds to the book’s appeal for me though. Ruth is an amazing woman and I thought this was a great story which had me fully immersed. I haven’t read a book this quickly for years! Thoroughly enjoyable.” – Jo
❍ “Ruth was an amazing women, who was willing to sacrifice everything for her husband and her 12 children. It’s easy to see why her son considered her worthy of a memoir. A touching story.” – Rachel
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Published 1995
Bloomsbury
320 pages
The Age Of Innocence – Edith Wharton
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Chosen by Jo
An upper-class couple’s marriage is threatened by the arrival of the bride’s cousin. The Age Of Innocence won the Pulitzer Prize in 1921 making Edith Wharton the first woman to receive the prize.
❍ “The Age Of Innocence was a dense slow read – there are many references I didn’t understand. They were explained at the back of the book, but I find constantly flipping to the back laborious and a stilted way to read. However, I did enjoy the story. It has a tragic love story at its core with the friction of New York’s societies’ ideals being challenged for Newland Archer and other characters by Ellen Olenska. The way Wharton mocks these ideals is darkly humourous, her writing is beautifully precise and this book is thick with quotable quotes, e.g. (Society people) “dreaded scandal more than disease”, and from Ellen “the real loneliness is living among all these kind people who only ask one to pretend” – keeping me smiling throughout. The characters are cleverly portrayed with profound details emerging near the fabulous ending. It is easy to see why this book rates so highly with many people. Definitely one of the greats.” – Jo
I want – I want somehow to get away with you into a world where words like that -categories like that- won’t exist. Where we shall be simply two human beings who love each other, who are the whole of life to each other; and nothing else on earth will matter.
❍ “An interesting commentary on high society in New York around the turn of the century, about a man’s hopeless love affair with a beautiful women and the life he isn’t brave enough to have. A beautifully written book that felt very slow to me at times, that is possibly to be expected with this type of novel and it maybe is a good reflection of how it felt to live within the social constraints of ‘Old New York’ at the time.” – Becks
❍ “An evenly paced book which is thick with detail and analysis, as, it seems, Manhattan society was pre-war. The pretence of innocence is spread among the characters, and I enjoyed discovering who was innocent and who was covertly in control behind their angelic facade. A book of social tragedy where sympathy is elicited for all the characters, all of whom have the best intentions even if they do succumb to temptation occasionally!” – Rachel
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Published 1920
D Appleton & Co
293 pages
Sophie’s World – Jostein Gaarder
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Chosen by Rachel
After Sophie Amundsen finds a note in her letterbox asking ‘who are you?’ and ‘where does the world come from?’ she becomes embroiled in a philosophical riddle about existence. A fictional book which manages to summarise two thousand years of philosophical history.
❍ “This is a book that requires attention, but provides great pay offs. An excellent introduction to philosophical beliefs through the ages which you could investigate further if you were so inclined. Despite being simply written, Gaarder has produced such real life characters that I was surprised and emotionally affected to discover the truth about their existence. A novel that mixes up the roles of reader/writer, teacher/student and creator/being and had me pondering my own existence. Probably one of the most thought-provoking novels I’ve come across, although in the end I had to agree: I know nothing.” – Rachel
❍ “I loved Sophie’s World for where it led me in thinking about philosophy and religion. Raised as a Catholic, I think it was especially interesting and thought provoking. And with regards to the fictional storyline, I was gripped by the mystery of unusual events. I loved where Jostien took me emotionally and imaginatively. It was witty and playful. My only regret was that in reading it under pressure I felt I did not give it enough time! It is not a book to be rushed, or read with a cluttered mind. I plan to re-read it one day soon, when I can absorb and reflect on it in a more mindful way.” – Sonya
❍ “This is a book to savour and unfortunately I didn’t! It provides a wonderful history of philosophy which does at times feel like you are back in school being lectured. The explanations on various philosophers’ theories, the culture of the time and the interplay between Sophies’s World’s characters is complex – I felt like I needed to do some further research to fully understand at numerous points throughout. This book is clever with a book within a book within a book … but the ridiculousness of Sophie’s later life left me a touch annoyed. I think I would have relished the big questions if I read this much earlier in my life … but now I know I know nothing (Socrates would agree!)” – Jo
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Published 1991
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
544 pages
The Harp In The South – Ruth Park
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Chosen by Sophia
The portrayal of an Irish-Australian family living in the slums of Surrey Hills in the ’40s. Ruth Park is a New Zealand-born Australian.
❍ “The Harp of The South was a bit of an average read for me. It did make me think, and I did feel connected to the characters. I was at time moved by ideas about being poor and the day-to-day struggles this meant. I smelled the odour of poverty, of stale cooking smells, slowly rotting wallpaper, and stale sweat. I felt with the characters their disappointment, frustration and struggles. But I also saw in them snippets of hope and optimism, and their experience of joy and beauty albeit rare. Their love for each other was evident throughout their struggles, and in this way it was not a depressing book. However, I did struggle to get through it! I felt the absence of an overall plot, or building of tension meant I wasn’t drawn into reading it. The little anecdotes of life events were short and choppy, and at times I felt annoyed by this. Overall, I felt a little underwhelmed, and it probably wouldn’t be on my list of recommended reads.” – Sonya
❍ “While I enjoyed this novel I found that the numerous peaks and troughs of the story were not explored fully and many times did not lead on with further expected development. So when various seemingly meaty story lines went nowhere it was somewhat disappointing. I loved the distinct and feisty characters and the themes of poverty, lack of hope and unconditional love made for a compelling mix. When the dread of potential disaster did not materialise with Roie’s love story and there was an overly sentimental dip in the story I’m afraid my enthusiasm hit a low. I still enjoyed the story and found it an easy read but I have to say it was not one of my favourites.” – Jo
❍ “A nostalgic and moving story which encapsulates a moment of Australian history. True-to-life characters and detailed imagery provided me with plenty of incentive to read on, despite the lack of an obvious tension-filled plot. The poverty is spelled out in many ways yet it is easy to not pity the Darcys, who, despite their faults, are a close and loving family. I wasn’t enamoured with the ending and regarded it more as a precursor for the sequel.” – Rachel
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Published 1948
Penguin Books
360 pages
The Train – Georges Simenon
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Chosen by Becks
On May 10, 1940, as Nazi tanks approach, Marcel Feron abandons his home and, separated from his wife, joins a freight car of refugees hurtling southward ahead of the pursuing invaders.
❍”Marcel, a timid, happy man must abandon his home and confront the fate he has been secretly awaiting for years. A poignant, believable love affair that deals with an aspect of war we don’t often hear about. An interesting and troubling insight into human behaviour in the face of a traumatic experience, and the bonds that we create with individuals out of the instinctual need to grasp at life. An easy read that was deeply thought provoking and hard to put down.” – Becks
❍”Georges Simenon created a story that I fell straight into, I could imagine the scene or situation vividly and felt an understanding for most of the characters. It took some time to understand the main character, Marcel, and his dissociation from his regular life. The tension of potential danger physically, mentally and emotionally is expertly created. A wonderful story of a normal, vulnerable man stepping outside of his life comforts and enjoying all that ‘fate’ has to offer.” – Jo
❍”I read this book over one night – it is truly unputdownable. Marcel’s momentary detachment to the real world and acceptance of (almost dependance on) fate makes for a fascinating character study. The paired-back writing style creates an appropriate war-setting atmosphere, yet reveals so much in a minimum of words. I can’t stop thinking about this book.” – Rachel
Published in French 1961
Translated into English by Robert Baldick 2011
Melville House
144 pages
The Happiness Project – Gretchen Rubin
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Chosen by Sonya
A non-fiction book detailing the year the New York author spent dedicated to becoming happier.
❍ “I used to have a (slightly embarrassing!) soft spot for ‘self help’ and personal development type books! So The Happiness Project appealed to me. I was drawn in by ideas about what makes us happy, the philosophy and thinking behind bringing more joy to our daily lives. And so I read it from this viewpoint, less affected than others by questions around the author’s authenticity. In this way I did enjoy aspects of it, and I found myself making small positive adjustments to little things I do. However, I lost interest towards the end. Perhaps, like others, it felt somewhat contrived and I lost the initial connection I felt for the author.” – Sonya
❍ “Gretchen Rubin is an admirable woman; her ability to achieve her targets set during ‘the happiness project’ year of her life is astounding. However the sheer number of goals set for each month during the book is overwhelming and perhaps the reason for a superficial examination of each task rather than a longed for depth of analysis with a greater emotional content. I was left feeling unable to relate to her as it lacked legitimacy for me – why would a happy person commit to completing a happiness project? How on earth did she do what she said she did with a young family? Although her goals or resolutions had merit the book generally seemed like an opportunity to grandstand to me and ultimately was a disappointing read.” – Jo
❍ “I wondered how much of this book was fiction, ie a ‘self-help’ book written for a niche market, as it all seemed a bit unrealistic and quite narcissistic. There were a few ideas I picked up on for maximising time in a busy day, but ultimately this was neither a believable self-help book nor reputable fiction. I fail to see where it lies in the market.” – Rachel
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Published 2010
Harper Collins
320 pages
Ethan Frome – Edith Wharton
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Chosen by Jo
Through the eyes of a visitor, the reader observes Ethan Frome falling in love with his wife’s niece while stuck on a desolate farm in a harsh setting.
The niece is Mattie Silver. She arrives in the mountain village of Starkfield to help with housekeeping for her cousin Zeena, the sickly, cantankerous wife of Ethan. Ethan has long been resigned to caring for his ailing wife but is drawn to Mattie’s youthful beauty and energy. As the story progresses, Ethan’s vitality and hopes are refocused but a little bit obsessive.
The books talks of loneliness, frustration and moral responsibility in an economical and unsentimental style to represent the frigidity of the Massachusetts winter.
He seemed a part of the mute melancholy landscape, an incarnation of it’s frozen woe, with all that was warm and sentient in him fast bound below the surface; but there was nothing nothing unfriendly in his silence. I simply felt that he lived in a depth of moral isolation too remote for casual access, and I had the sense that his loneliness was not merely the result of his personal plight, tragic as I guessed that to be, but had in it, as Harmon Gow had hinted, the profound accumulated cold of many Starkfield winters.
❍ “Thwarted dreams, transformation and confinement are some of the themes that run through this tragic love story. Ethan Frome could have had a very different life if he had escaped the land of broken dreams – Starkfield, Massachusetts. There is a strong sense of dread and the final twisted truth is shockingly satisfying. I loved the doomed love story and the slow build up of tension. A very enjoyable read.” – Jo
❍ “A seemingly simple story full of descriptive imagery and character studies. The language is efficient and meaningful and as such built the story using all the senses. I connected with Ethan Frome and the women in his life, despite their misgivings, and was captivated by their twisted love stories.” – Rachel
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Published 1911
Scribner’s
195 pages
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