A little more light on "The Luminaries"

I promised I would find a little more information on our Christmas read The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton.  This hefty tome won the 2013 Man Booker Prize.

Here is what Telegraph's Lucy Daniel had to say about it in October 2013. Bill Roorbach (What an incredible name for a book reviewer!) in a Sunday Book Review from The New York Times has this to say about it.

All in all it sounds like it a great way to spend the Christmas break! I can't wait till someone brings their copy back so I can get reading it!

Hope you get time to try out a few other books as well! Happy reading!

Awash with tragedy

Well talk about reading the blues!  It seemed to be the general consensus that this month's reads were generally hard work. Some folk hadn't quite finished them despite valiant efforts while some folk who waded through felt a little underwhelmed with the conclusions.

"On Chesil Beach" was considered the more rewarding read of the two. Some readers found themselves frustrated with the communication breakdown between the two protaganists while others spoke of the tragedy of timing - they just met in the wrong decade! Many readers empathised with the pain experienced by the main characters and therefore felt sympathy towards them while others just wanted to shake the book and thus bring the characters to their senses.

However "The Sea" did not seem to evoke the same degree of empathy. While some readers really enjoyed the beauty of Banville's language and thought the sea provided an underlying rhythm to the book, others got tired of feeling caught in the backwash and just got annoyed with the main character.
Other readers thought the language used made the story less accessible than it needed to be. Many readers opted to skim the book and just read the final chapter. One reader shocked everyone by admitting they always read the final chapter first and then go back and read the book, claiming this gives them a better idea of what they need to be looking for in the book. This admission certainly raised a lot of eyebrows and animated discussion.

As it was our last Book Club for the year we spent time reminiscing about the books we've read over the past couple of years and some of our participants decided to catch up on some of the ones they had missed. There was also much discussion about reading plans for the Christmas break.

As we do not meet until 30 January 2014, we opted for a big read over Christmas - "The Luminaries" by Eleanor Catton. This bulky tome won the 2013 Man Booker Prize and should ensure readers gain rather sculpted arms as they read!

I'll include more information about this book in my next blog.

Keep those pages turning!

Next meeting Thursday 28 November at 6pm at Gordon White

Hello everyone,

Just a reminder that we have our last catch-up for 2013 this Thursday! I hope you are enjoying the maritime theme. I'm afraid I'm a bit swamped at the minute and am all at sea even trying to get through our selection.

I hope you are all sailing calmer seas and see you all there on Thursday!

Happy reading!

October BTL get together about 'Burial Rites' and 'The Fix'

Eight folk enthusiastically discussed their varied reactions to our titles for October.

Hannah Kent's Burial Rites had mixed responses. Some were moved by the descriptions of the bleakness of the northern Icelandic landscape; some were disappointed with degree of character development; some were saddened by the descriptions of poverty; some found the ending sad but satisfying while others some found the ending close to unbearable; and some found it easier to read than expected. This finely written novel certainly provoked reactions from our book club readers and they are awaiting Hannah Kent's next novel with great interest. There was much discussion as to what direction she might take with her next project.

The setting for Nick Earl's The Fix stirred nostalgic reactions from several readers who had lived in and around the areas described. The sense of 'knowing' the locations mentioned in the book helped many of our readers identify more easily with the book. Our readers enjoyed the descriptions being so Australian awhile avoiding the overdone stereotyping that sometimes occurs in Australian novels. Most of our members were far happier with the character development in this novel. There was much debate about how many 'fixes' there were in the novel and much discussion as to whom was 'fixing' who. There were many interpretations of what 'really happened' in the book and what might have happened 'after the events in the book'.

Sharing such animated discussion about the books we have read, really adds another element of enjoyment to reading. It's wonderful how one's perception of a book can change or be reinforced by the opinions and viewpoints of others.

If you enjoy reading and would like to share this passion with others, please consider joining one of the three book clubs we have at Mackay Regional Council Libraries.

For November we have opted for a marine theme. You can read one or both.

The first is a shortish novel, On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan.

Maintaining the sea theme, the second book is The Sea by John Banville.

 

 

 

If you would like to read either of these books, call into Gordon White Library, bring your library card and ask any of the friendly library staff and they will be able to assist you.

 

Happy reading 'Between the Lines' and looking forward to seeing you at Gordon White Library at 6 on Thursday 28 November, 2013.

 

 

Celebrate Halloween with BTL Book Club at 6 on Thursday 31 October at Gordon White Library

Hello everyone,

Looking forward to meeting up with everyone and sharing our thoughts on Nick Earl's "The Fix" and Hannah Kent's "Burial Rites". I have just finished "Burial Rites" last night and now need to skim "The Fix" which I had read several years ago.

They are quite contrasting books so discussion will certainly be interesting!

See you all Thursday, 31 October, at 6 pm at Gordon White Library!

Book club for men

Philip Lane  loves reading and is keen to start a book club for men. If you are interested, or know of someone who is, please contact Philip at p.lane@mky.net.au

More detail on October Book Club titles

One of our members who attended September's Between the Lines Book Club has kindly let me know the two titles that we have on offer for October!


We are reading "The Fix" by Nick Earls

Have a look at a review here


and "Burial Rites" by Hannah Kent.

Here's what one of the many reviews had to say.


Don't forget to drop your copy back after you've finished reading it so that someone else can borrow it and enjoy contributing to the discussion.

Happy reading and see you Thursday 31 October at 6pm at Gordon White Library.

Same horse, different jockey and not sure of the destination yet

Hello everyone,

As I'm sure you all know, Margaret has left us for the wilds of the Northern Territory. She misses Mackay and everyone terribly.

As I did not attend the Between the Lines Book Club September meeting, I am not sure what book has been chosen for October. I would love to hear from anyone who was there so that I can be better prepared for our next meeting which is Thursday 31 October at 6 pm at Gordon White Library. After much sleuthing and deduction we think "The Fix" by Nick Earls is a distinct possibility. Any information confirming this or otherwise would be much appreciated.

Looking forward to hearing from you and keep those pages turning or just flicking over.

September Selection

Thanks again to everyone for coming along to book club and sharing your experiences of 'The Age of Miracles.'

This month we have two books:

Painter Of Silence by Georgina Harding - read about it here
Bush Oranges by Kay Donovan - read about it here

See you for my last book club, sniff, on the 26th September!

 

First Cityside Bookclub

So we had the first Cityside Bookclub on the first Thursday of August at Mackay City Library.
After blind date jitters we selected 'Light between the Oceans' as read by those across the river.

We chatted alot about reading preference, why people join bookclubs and what we were looking at getting out of it, so bring on September 5th!

It's not too late to join in the fun, you can borrow a copy by calling in to City library and asking your handy librarian, Lorel.

Hope to see you there!
xx

Pick for this month....

Glad to see a great turn out at the last book club and to hear you enjoyed the Death of Bees as much as I did.
The next book club selection is: The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker

 

you can read about it here or watch the literature video below

 

 

Next month we will be reading two books, now that the SLQ titles have arrived!

See you on the 29th, the last Thursday of August.

I'm Baaaack!

Hi there everyone,
I am back from the wilds of the Northern Territory and excited to see you all tonight at Book Club!
The book I hope you have enjoyed as much as I have, "The Death of Bees' will be discussed tonight and I have another tasty morsel for you, as we have received our book swap from Townsville City Libraries!

You can read about it here

So see you tonight, July 25th at Gordon White Library 6pm-8pm.

Margaret

You're invited to a book launch .....

Mackay City Library is hosting a book launch for a Queensland author, Kylie Asmus

When: Saturday July 27th at 10am - 11.30am in the foyer of Mackay City Library.

Hope you can make it!

Pick for June.....

Hi there everyone,

Great discussion and merriment last bookclub! The Dinner provided alot of gasps and consternation from many.

This month's pick is from The State Library of Queenslands book club collection....

 

You can find the reading notes here

 

The book has a string of prizes, it was published in 2004 and went on to win the Miles Franklin Literary Award, the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for the South East Asia and South Pacific region, The Age Book of the Year (Fiction) and the Courier Mail Book of the Year Award. It was also shortlisted for the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards that same year.

 

Happy reading, Lorel will be facilitating the discussion and drinks at the next book club on the 27th June, 2013 at 6-8pm at Gordon White Library.

This month's pick!

Hello there,
Because we had to bring the Bookclub ahead a week it was a bit thin on the ground but lively discussion was had about last months book. Overall everyone enjoyed it and found it very interesting and unique read.

So onto this month's selection: The Dinner by Herman Koch

 

The author is from the Netherlands and you can read all the very different views on this book, there are many! here

 

If you would like a heads up on the questions and discussion we will have, you can read it here

Happy reading and see you on 30th May at 6pm!

Margaret

Are you in a State of Wonder with this months selection?

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the delay in posting this months pick. It has been a busy few weeks with all the book club selections arriving at once!

This months pick is another somersault to your synapses in your brain. At least I hope so. I found it a very intriguing, unique storyline and I can't wait to hear what you all think of the book.

You can find out more about it here

If you would like to know more from the author herself and this title, you can watch a live video chat here

Ann Patchett Live

For a preview of the questions for discussion you can find them at Litlovers here

See you on Thursday 18th April at 6pm at Gordon White Library !

(the last Thursday is Anzac Day and we are closed, apologies)

Happy Reading,

Margaret

First bookclub of the year!

Hi there,

So the first bookclub of the year is done and dusted, such a great turn out and some really interesting conversation about trips overseas to laundry habits!

The first book pic is 'Dog Boy' by Eva Hornung

You can read about it on Good Reads here

Let me know if you can make it to the next bookclub by leaving a comment, you can use a psuedonym for your name!

It will be on the eve of Easter Friday, Thursday 28th March at 6pm. Happy reading.....

First Book Club of the Year....February 28th!

Hello 2013!
I hope you have had a wonderful festive season and holiday break. I have made a slight dent on my reading pile, how about you?
The first Book Club of the year is on February 28th at Gordon White Library at 6pm.
Looking forward to hear what your have been reading! We will have two titles to choose from, I won't spoil the surprise....

Cheers,
Margaret