The Free-Range Bookclub
Bookclubbers without boundaries in Nelson, New Zealand
The Glass Room – Simon Mawer
READ FOR BOOKERTHON
Based on a real villa in Czechoslovakia, the house in this book is a minimalist masterpiece with a transparent glass room as its centre. Built for Liesel and Viktor Landauer in the 1920s, the house becomes the central character and the WWII story unfolds through all the people and experiences that pass through the glass room, including the Nazis themselves.
A work of art like this,’ he tells one of the journalists, ‘demands that the life lived in it be a work of art as well. I am certain that Viktor Landauer and his beautiful wife will do the place justice.
❚ “Interesting in the way this story is told with the house being a character so that the plot is seen through the ‘eyes’ of the glass room – all of the major events of the story happen in the house. I loved the characters and the relationships which were expertly embedded in a historical framework. Very enjoyable.” – Jo
❚ “Though the glass room is transparent, it conceals so many secrets and deceits. I loved this thematic aspect of the book, with the room as a character. The architecture, the characters, their relationships, the war as a setting all combined seamlessly. I felt for the house, sorry for it that it was being mistreated, and I have to say I have never felt empathy for a building before as if it was a humanised character! This book was riveting and I did not want to put it down!”
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Published 2009
Other Press
406 pages
Wolf Hall – Hilary Mantel
READ FOR BOOKERTHON
A fictionalised biography documenting the rapid rise to power of Thomas Cromwell in the court of Henry VIII.
❚ “Wolf Hall is primarily about Thomas Cromwell who in real life was a disliked man who worked for King Henry. He orchestrated many of his plans and wishes, such as divorces and political decisions such as the break with Rome and the dissolution of monasteries.
In this book Mantel has brought the man to life, giving him a fictional upbringing and attributes both good and bad to made him appealing to readers. The other real life figures of the time are also brought to life and for Tudor fans I’m sure this is a huge drawcard.
However, because I know next to nothing about English royalty history or the Tudor period, I found this book difficult to read or enjoy. The vast number of characters, who were often referred to by multiple names, and the density of the occurrences in the English courts, politics and history was quite frankly overwhelming.
I have no doubt Mantel is a formidable researcher and writer and has contributed to the history books with the writing of this novel. But I could not keep up with this one myself.” – Rachel
But it is no use to justify yourself. It is no good to explain. It is weak to be anecdotal. It is wise to conceal the past even if there is nothing to conceal. A man’s power is in the half-light, in the half-seen movements of his hand and the unguessed-at expression of his face. It is the absence of facts that frightens people: the gap you open, into which they pour their fears, fantasies, desires.
❚ “The sheer number of characters and confusingly written passages make for a frustrating read. I usually enjoy historical fiction but this story was way too labourious. I only finished it because I didn’t want to let my bookclub friends down and, because it was one of the few books I bought, I had a financial incentive to make the most of it!” – Jo
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Published 2009
Fourth Estate
672 pages
The Quickening Maze – Adam Foulds
READ FOR BOOKERTHON
The true story of poet John Clare’s incarceration in London’s Epping Forest, a mental asylum run on the reformist principles of occupational therapy. Lord Alfred Tennyson had his brother treated there and the book bases its storyline on the speculation of whether Clare and Tennyson ever met.
The world is a room full of heavy furniture. Eventually you are allowed to leave.
❚ “The thrill of a story being based on real people and actual events seems to enhance its power for me and so it happened too with this book. Adam Foulds seems to be greatly adept at unfolding characters in a gentle and sympathetic manner. The story itself is interesting with many layers of detail within each character’s life. Well worth reading.” – Jo
❚ “Sympathetic characters and the merging of the actual and imaginary makes this an interesting and thought-provoking story. Not overly exciting and I probably wouldn’t recommend it, but I did appreciate its construction.” – Rachel
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Published 2009
272 pages
The Children’s Book – A S Byatt
READ FOR BOOKERTHON
Loosely based on the life of E Nesbit, The Children’s Book follows the lives of several inter-related families from 1895 through WWI.
❚ “The Wellwood family consists of Olive, Humphrey, Olive’s sister Violet, and many children. They are Fabians, living in a world amongst artists, writers, and craftspeople, establishing new ways to express art and live an artful life.
“The central character Olive is a writer of children’s literature, loosely based on children’s writer E Nesbit. She supports her large family with her writing, The title of the book refers to the many children in the book, all of whom grow up within the pages. As the years go by, they attempt to define their place in life, whether via fulfilment, evasion or manipulation of opportunities. With World War I looming, survival becomes paramount no matter how each character tackles life.
“Also amongst the pages are insights into the creative processes required to succeed at artistry, plus historical context of arts and politics between the 19th and 20th centuries.
Maybe all steps into the future drew strength from a searching gaze into the deep past.
❚ “This is an epic read, and there is so much packed into it. Fantastic characters, damning relationships based on fact, familial secrets galore, beautiful sensory locations and the horrors of war, too. Highly detailed so as to instil the plot lines into your mind like a memory. At 675 pages it required days of reading and I loved being completely immersed in it over this time.” – Rachel
❚ “Long winded and complex with way too much descriptive narrative. The alarmingly large number of characters made the story hard to follow at times. It was a blur and although I enjoyed parts I would have great trouble finding motivation to re-read which I suspect is a necessary task for me to digest the story properly.” – Jo
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Published 2009
Chatto & Windus
675 pages
Back Booker 2006
Before we get onto this year’s Bookerthon we’ll sneak in another Back Booker.
This time we are looking at 2006 which had a huge variety of narratives and settings, yet each tale delivered the authenticity of a lived experience. Being lost in the story as if you’re there, as if you can hear and see and smell what the characters do imparts the book on your brain like a memory. And such books are expected on award shortlists!
Here’s what we read:
Carry Me Down features John Egan a 11-year-old with a man’s stature and intellectual capabilities that baffle many around him and interfere with his ability to assess the emotional turmoil that is affecting his family. He undertakes drastic action to counter family events and the repercussions of that fill the pages.
In The Night Watch, four characters relive their war time experiences backwards – we meet them in 1947 and the pages work backwards until 1941. There is much more than war time tales in this novel, there are many experiences that are indicative of the era and very moving.
In The Country Of Men is a story about Libya under Gaddafi’s regime. It is told from the perspective of narrater as a child and as such is engaging, emotive and educational. The fluid writing style offers an experience, and many aspects to war and conflict we had not read about before.
The Inheritance of Loss is set both in a dilapidated house in the Himalayas and fancy New York eateries. A retired judge has links to both through his children and recollects his memories in order to accept the two variations of living. Snippets of electric descriptions highlight the discord between the two worlds.
Mother’s Milk is moving book, albeit a bit disturbing. It details a mother’s obsession with her sons to the detriment of her family’s progression and happiness. Patrick Melrose is dealing with the neuroses of both his wife and his mother in a book that deals with big topics like parenting, adultery and assisted suicide.
In The Secret River William Thornhill is transported to New South Wales in 1806 as a punishment for theft. He and his wife set up home but must forge relationships with the natives in order to live a peaceful life. Interesting, but we did agree it was a shallow portrayal of the injustices carried out on Aboriginal People by settlers, compared to the NZ stories we are used to.
In the end, after what felt like a trip around the world in a time machine, we concluded that any could have won it this year and we would have been okay with it. However, for Suzy, her fave was The Inheritance of Loss and for Rachel, her top pick was In The Country of Men. Chosen for the reasons already stated, that they were so evocative and we closed the pages feeling like we’d been there and lived the life of the characters.
Best book 1-6: Rachel:
In The Country Of Men
The Inheritance Of Loss
The Night Watch
Mother’s Milk
The Secret River
Carry Me Down
Best book 1-6: Suzy:
The Inheritance Of Loss
The Night Watch
In The Country Of Men
Mother’s Milk
The Secret River
Carry Me Down
The Potato Factory – Bryce Courtenay
READ FOR BOOKCLUB
Chosen by Jo
Set in the early 19th century, The Potato Factory explores the lives of London’s thieves, con men, prostitutes, street urchins and lowlife many of whom, suffering from England’s social and political inequalities, are sent to the penal colony of Van Diemen’s Land, now Tasmania.
Ikey Soloman was one such person. A real person who has been fictionalised here, the book is not so much about him, but rather the people who’s lives are changed because of him. After being sentenced to transportation, Ikey’s mistress, Mary Abacus, and also his wife Hannah make the harsh journey from London to Van Diemen’s Land. In the backstreets and dives of Hobart Town, both are set on destroying the other.
Turning to Ann Gower, she smiled. “You’re a good woman, Ann Gower.”
Ann Gower drew back and looked askance at Mary. “Don’t you go ruinin’ me reputation, Mary Abacus. I be a real bad woman, but a bloody good whore, and you knows it!”
❚ “A thrilling story with plenty of interesting twists and turns. Ikey Soloman is a despicable rogue who you can’t help but like. Some scenes of violence seem a bit gratuitous. However, I love a story centred around hardship and poverty and so enjoyed this book thoroughly.” – Jo
❚ “I do like reading about the penal colonies and the stories of individuals who had to work so hard to adjust and survive, so this was an enjoyable read.” – Rachel
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Published 1995
832 pages
Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
READ FOR BOOKCLUB
Chosen by Suzy
A coming of age novel where a young man, Pip, has an anonymous benefactor who sponsors him in to becoming a gentleman
❚ “ Great Expectations is a story of a young man who wants more than what he is, only to discover that what he had was not so bad.
“Pip is an orphan who lives with his sister and her family. In the opening pages he interacts with and chooses to assist an escaped convict with the provision of food and a file to break loose of his chains.
“Putting this experience with the lower classes behind him, Pip ends up in the company of Miss Havisham, a rich, eccentric woman, and Estella, her adopted daughter. Spending time in their company makes Pip embarrassed of his poverty and his harshness, and he becomes determined to better himself.
“A lawyer then comes to the village and tells Pip that an anonymous benefactor has decided to bestow property on Pip and turn him into a gentleman. He is whisked away to London to study with a tutor, who is a relation of Miss Havisham.
“His journey into becoming a gentleman is one which has been the foundation for many novels and movies over the years, though none are never as clear cut as simply learning about class and status and living happily every after as such. Pip’s transformation has the predicted ups and downs, with ambition and guilt weighing equally in his life, and in the actions of other characters.”
There was a long hard time when I kept far from me the remembrance of what I had thrown away when I was quite ignorant of its worth.
❚ “A wonderfully complex story which has poverty and hope at its core and the romantic turmoil between Pip and Estella creates perfect tension. A must read.” – Jo
❚ “Yes Pip’s story is one of opportunity but also of appreciating what and who you have in your life whatever your status. This is a book that never leaves me and which pops into mind every so often when certain circumstances occur. Though it was written so long ago, it’s amazing how often I can see the personality traits depicted in people around me!” – Rachel
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Published 1861
Chapman & Hall
544 pages
Twilight – Stephanie Meyer
READ FOR BOOKCLUB
Chosen by Nadine
Seventeen-year-old Isabella Swan moves from Phoenix, Arizona to Forks, Washington and finds her life in danger when she falls in love with a vampire, Edward Cullen, whom she comes to consider her immortal soulmate.
About three things I was absolutely positive. First, Edward was a vampire. Second, there was a part of him-and I didn’t know how potent that part might be-that thirsted for my blood. And third, I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.
❚ “Yes, I’m embarrassed to have put this on our reading list, but I just had to know what all the hype was about! Enough said.” – Nadine
❚ “Although this book is seemingly aimed at teens it is a surprisingly enjoyable read for adults. Easy to read with a tried and true vampire theme it is hardly a literary novel, however I didn’t want to put it down and even watched the movie.” – Jo
❚ “I can see why this book would be captivating to a teenage audience, and while it didn’t appeal to me so much, I am glad I have read it and know what all the fuss is about. Interesting to learn more about the author and her experiences in creating the Twilight brand.” – Rachel
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Published 2005
Little, Brown
544 pages
The Outcast – Sadie Jones
READ FOR BOOKCLUB
Chosen by Rachel
Eight year old Lewis Alridge meets his father for the first time in 1945, newly returned from the war. Life awkwardly ekes by until one day there is a tragedy in the family which sets Lewis on a path of violence and he ends up in prison. His return home at aged 19 is to a provincial English society full of folk unwilling to question the past or the present. Lewis has had enough of tip-toeing around, however.
There was a sudden stillness like the gap between ticks on a clock, but the next tick never coming.
❚ “This is a heavy novel. Weighty in themes, drama and suspense. The entire book is narrated by 19-year-old Lewis, so the depth of his emotion is heavily laid at our feet for we only have his point of view to go by. There are a lot of intense morals and moments in this book, so it’s not for the light hearted but it will reward those who love to be moved by fiction.” – Rachel
❚ “This book is a little depressing – the main character has an awfully tragic loss to bear and a father who offers him no real love. Lewis Aldridge has been very well developed and I felt a lot of sympathy for him. The weird maternal-sexual tension is nicely disturbing and adds to the tension. An enjoyable read for me.” – Jo
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Published 2008
480 pages
Anne of Green Gables – L M Montgomery
READ FOR BOOKCLUB
Chosen by Suzy
A coming-of-age novel about a talkative orphan called Anne Shirley who is sent to a farm in Avonlea
❚ “Siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert plan to adopt a young boy to help out on the family farm, Green Gables. However a young, talkative, redhead girl called Anne arrives instead. Though initially reluctant to take on the girl, her precocious nature endears her to the brother and sister.
“Anne’s life is never dull, with her imagination, impulsiveness and tendency to talk too much leading her on one adventure after another. Still, through a combination of resourcefulness and good luck, Anne manages to avoid any dire consequences.
“Montgomery captures the happy side of childhood: the excitement of finding a best friend, creating a romantic fantasy world, and receiving small privileges. However, the loneliness of being the outsider, the sense of considering oneself unattractive, and the grief of losing someone are also apparent.
“Anne of Green Gables addresses social problems of the early 20th century, some of which remain relevant today. Written before most women even had the right to vote, Montgomery reiterates that boys and girls are equally intelligent and talented. Although she does portray gender roles that could be considered stereotypical today, her ideas were progressive for 1908.”
People laugh at me because I use big words. But if you have big ideas, you have to use big words to express them, haven’t you?
❚ “Who wouldn’t love a re-read of this classic? Anne Shirley, with her joy for life and her encouragement for young girls to come out of their shells and be their own person, is an infectious character. I love that she’s outspoken and forthright, what we want every girl to be today, yet so few had that opportunity when this book was written.” – Rachel
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Published 1908
158 pages
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