Bookclubbers without boundaries in Nelson, New Zealand
The end of the year already! This year we chose to lunch at The Grape Escape in Appleby and discuss the who, whys and whats of the year. We agreed it’s been a tumultuous year with the Christchurch earthquake and the Japanese tsunami and… Continue Reading “2011 – End of Year Thoughts”
READ FOR BOOKCLUB Chosen by Jo Lolita is the story of a European scholar named Humbert Humbert who confesses to being obsessed with ‘nymphets’, ie young girls. He travels around America with his new wife and her pre-teen daughter Lolita and slowly becomes more and… Continue Reading “Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov”
A year in the life of a Booker judge must be such a challenge. What is the best book of the year? Is it one that represents the past 12 months on a global scale? Is it one that tackles serious topics, or one… Continue Reading “2011 – Bookerthon”
READ FOR BOOKERTHON Ghana migrant Harrison Opoku unbalances the hierarchical balance in his community when he speaks out about the murder of school mate. ✔ “Harri Opoku is 11 years old when he moves from Ghana to a London housing estate with his mother and sister.… Continue Reading “Pigeon English – Stephan Kelman”
READ FOR BOOKERTHON Eight-year-old Jaffy Brown escapes the Victorian slums and sets sail for a better life. ✔ A 19th Century street urchin named Jaffy Brown is at the heart of his book. In search of a better life, he works for Mr Charles Jamrach,… Continue Reading “Jamrach’s Menagerie – Carol Birch”
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”
READ FOR BOOKERTHON In 1940s France a black cabaret singer disappears. Fifty years on, one of his bandmates, Sid, embarks on a journey to discover Hieronymous’s fate. ✔ “Hiero is African German and a member of a jazz band in pre-war Berlin. The Nazis ban… Continue Reading “Half Blood Blues – Esi Edugyan”
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