The Free-Range Bookclub
Bookclubbers without boundaries in Nelson, New Zealand
Tag: book-reviews
Down From Upland – Murdoch Stevens
READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS Set in Wellington, down from Upland Road in Kelburn, this book is a satirical tale about the complexities of growing up, when you’re a teenager and when you’re in your 40s. Axle has joined a new school. He is… Continue Reading “Down From Upland – Murdoch Stevens”
The Fish – Lloyd Jones
READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS 2023 A baby is born to a young, single mother in a caravan park, suffering from an unnamed condition which earns him the name the Fish. The story of the Fish, and the family’s shame and secrets are narrated… Continue Reading “The Fish – Lloyd Jones”
How To Loiter In A Turf War – Coco Solid
READ FOR NZ BOOK AWARDS A day in the life of three brown friends hanging out in Auckland, eating, chatting, catching the bus, amongst racism, gentrification and the modern effects of colonisation. That’s the third person I know without a house.What the hell is… Continue Reading “How To Loiter In A Turf War – Coco Solid”
The Axeman’s Carnival – Catherine Chidgey
READ FOR BOOKCLUB & NZ BOOK AWARDSChosen by Suzy From New Zealand author Catherine Chidgey is a story quite unlike her former novels. Instead of wartime Germany, this time the setting is rural New Zealand and the protagonist is a magpie called Tama, who… Continue Reading “The Axeman’s Carnival – Catherine Chidgey”
2023: Escape From Reality
Looking for an escape from reality is a primary reason why many people read: to forget the worries of the world, the stresses of work, the demands of family and to take a moment to indulge in a fantastical world that stretches and opens… Continue Reading “2023: Escape From Reality”
2022: End of Year Thoughts
2022 was the year of adverse reactions to strong sentiment. Covid and its consequences may have been the catalyst but the effects reached all facets of the world. In literary circles, 2022 saw a hark to the mid 20th century with the banning and… Continue Reading “2022: End of Year Thoughts”
Potiki – Patricia Grace
READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Suzy Potiki tells the story of land developers who have their eye on coastal Māori land for commercial development with no understanding of the community’s needs or of their strong connection to the land. Grace (Ngāti Toa, Ngāti Raukawa, Te… Continue Reading “Potiki – Patricia Grace”
The Color Purple – Alice Walker
READ FOR BOOKCLUBChosen by Jo The lives of two African-American sisters growing up in rural Georgia in the early to mid 20th Century are detailed in The Color Purple. Celie is raped by her stepfather and bears two children to him who are sent… Continue Reading “The Color Purple – Alice Walker”
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