The Luminaries

How wonderful that Eleanor Catton has won the Man Booker Prize2013 and with such a big book that reads like a puzzle unraveling itself. Every word, every action is significant and every character has many layers. A wonderful novel from a wonderful writer. Eleanor's speech at the awards was well written and well-delivered showing her amazing talent. She has now won two other awards and is on a world tour - we might have to wait some time for her next book.


Here is Carole from the Women's Bookshop reviewing The Luminaries when it was first published:

Ladies' Litera-tea

At Raye Freedman Arts Centre, Epsom Girls' Grammar on Sunday 25 August from 1pm

Winter reading

A cold day outside, a warm spot inside, a hot chocolate and a good book - something engrossing and heart-warming? Try:

The Art of hearing heartbeats by Jan Phillip Sendker
Set in Burma this novel tells the story of a blind boy and a handicapped girl and their long-lasting love for each other. The story is told by Julia who travels from New York to Burma to find out the truth about her father and U Ba who knows the local history. Hearing heartbeats is a wonderful metaphor for understanding people. A different story in a different setting , it's captivating.

The Red Book by Deborah Copaken Kogan
A mix of gossip and anaysis makes lively reading in this novel about contemporary lives and personal circumstances. It's satirical, funny, ironic and by describing the lives of friends from one class reunion to the next charts the way we live today.

And also the novel I am reading right now that combines the realities family life with cooking and baking, Souffle by Asli Perker is perfect and will encourage you to bake something nice to go with that hot chocolate!

May is Festival month

Auckland Writers and Readers Festival 2013 from Wednesday 15 May to Sunday 19 May promises readings, interviews and discussions to suit every taste. Everyone is invited to "think between the lines" and discover the best writers and thinkers who will be examining:
Faraway lands - Anita Desai (India), Sharad Paul (Tibet), Shehan Karunatilaka (Sri Lanka), John Sinclair (China) and Diego Marani (Finland)
Science and Reason - Dr Helena Popovic, Sir LLoyd Geering, Rebecca Priestley, Sylvia Nasar
Art, Music and Poetry - Jackie Kay, Ian Wedde, Fleur Adcock, Bill Manhire
There's examples of architecture, history, philosophy, ecology and food and plenty of fiction that I'm looking forward to the most - Life after life by Kate Atkinson, The writing class by Stephanie Johnson, The Crane wife by Patrick Ness, exciting new novels that really come to life when you hear the author talk about the ideas and characters they have created.

Join me there!

The country diary of a New Zealand lady

I'm impressed by Back to the land : a year of country gardening by Linda Hallinan, well known for her columns in New Zealand Gardener and The Sunday Times. Divided into the four seasons it is composed of diary entries about her life and her garden, including practical tips on cooking, preserving, keeping chickens, planting trees, raising plants, harvesting vegetables, cracking nuts and selling produce at the farmers' market. Along the way we are treated to insights into family life and rural living. Hallinane's writing is down-to-earth and amusing; she explains mistakes and disappointments but the beautiful photographs illustrate her many successes.
I've already made her "never fails to set" damson jam - it was easy and delicious. And I'm determined to get out to the Clevedon Farmers' Market some time soon.

Looks are deceptive.....

.... for two slight books from small publishers that are so full of intensity that they were shortlisted for the 2012 Booker prize. And deservedly so.

The Lighthouse by Alison Moore follows the journey and thoughts of Futh as he takes a walking tour in Germany. It is what is not stated rather than what is written that is so effective in this short novel. This story leaves a haunting impression of sadness and missed opportunity. The motif of the lighthouse is very significant and adds to the eerie atmosphere.
To find out more watch Carole Beu's review on Triangle TV.

Swimming home by Deborah Levy is a tense description of a summer holiday in a gite in the South of France. There is something unnerving about each of the characters and an underlying tension that surprises when it snaps. Very cleverly written and again there is a significance in the title.