Tag: Best Books

2013 – Title Favourites

What’s in a title? I mean, where did Hard-Boiled Wonderland & The End of the World come from? And how would we refer to dilemmas from which there is no escape because of a mutually conflicting condition if Joseph Heller had gone with his first… Continue Reading “2013 – Title Favourites”

2012 – End of Year Thoughts

What a year with Kiwi new releases lining the bookshelves and winning important accolades. To name just a few; Emily Perkin’s The Forrests, Paula Morris’ Rangatira, Charlotte Grimshaw’s Cool, C K Stead’s Risk and even a posthumous collection of stories by Janet Frame. It’s… Continue Reading “2012 – End of Year Thoughts”

A Severed Head – Iris Murdoch

READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Jo A Severed Head is a 1961 satirical novel about marriage, adultery and deception within a group of civilised and educated people. The six characters are unpleasant, their morals questionable and their actions immoral especially the main character, 41-year-old… Continue Reading “A Severed Head – Iris Murdoch”

Of Mice & Men – John Steinbeck

READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Rachel A 1937 novella which details the life of George and Lennie, two displaced migrants looking for ranch work in Southern California during a time of drought. George is the central character. He’s described as small of stature, but a… Continue Reading “Of Mice & Men – John Steinbeck”

Angel’s Cut – Elizabeth Knox

READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Suzy The sequel to The Vintner’s Luck in which the angel Xas settles in Hollywood 1929 and becomes involved in the seductive movie industry. © “Movie director Conrad Cole is working late on elaborate plans for his aeroplanes and… Continue Reading “Angel’s Cut – Elizabeth Knox”

2012 Bookerthon

Most people expect the finalists on an awards list to be varied, to encompass a wide spectrum of styles, opinions, and to represent many backgrounds. However often such lists have a common thread or theme running through them, especially in response to world events… Continue Reading “2012 Bookerthon”

Bring Up The Bodies – Hilary Mantel

READ FOR BOOKERTHON The sequel to Wolf Hall, charting the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell, a minister in the court of King Henry VIII. © “Bring Up The Bodies is the sequel to Wolf Hall, about the life of Thomas Cromwell who was influential… Continue Reading “Bring Up The Bodies – Hilary Mantel”

The Lighthouse – Alison Moore

READ FOR BOOKERTHON A middle-aged Englishman suffers memories of childhood abandonment as he embarks on a walking holiday Futh is an Englishman leaving his wife. He stands on the deck of a Ferry about to embark on a walking holiday around Germany. One of… Continue Reading “The Lighthouse – Alison Moore”

The Garden of Evening Mists – Tan Twan Eng

READ FOR BOOKERTHON A former Japanese prisoner of war becomes an apprentice gardener and tries to make sense of her life  © Supreme Court judge Teoh Yun Ling retires from her role prosecuting war criminals in Kuala Lumpur and returns to the Malaysian hilltops… Continue Reading “The Garden of Evening Mists – Tan Twan Eng”

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”