April 2015

185 278

BOOKS
185 April15
WHAT ARE YOU
READING?
To tell us what books are piled up on your bedside table, or
what you’ve recently downloaded to your Kindle, dash off an
email to .
Nicole Lade,
Australian
THE LUMINARIES
BY ELEANOR
CATTON,
FICTION
Genre?
Historical mystery, set in 19th century New Zealand.
How did you get hold of it?
First I lobbied my book club to read it, then I borrowed
it from the library.
How far have you got with it?
Finished, finally – it’s 832 pages!
Verdict?
I loved it. It’s slow and slightly confusing at the start
because there are so many characters, but then it
picks up pace and the author cleverly recaps the story
throughout so that you can’t put it down.
Recommended?
Yes, highly. Don’t be put off by the page count. It’s
definitely deserving of the 2013 Man Booker prize
it won.
Sue Olivier,
South African
and Australian
THE GINGER
TREE BY
OSWALD WYND,
FICTION
Genre?
Historical novel
How did you get hold of it?
It’s been on my “to read” list for a while. Not my usual
fare, but it is largely set in Japan and I have a soft
spot for all things Japanese.
How far have you got with it?
I’m almost done, and at the stage that I start reading
it more slowly so that it lasts longer; not wanting it to
end is for me always a sign of a good book.
What do you think of it so far?
It started slowly, and I wasn’t sure whether this was
going to be a historically correct tale or whether it
would turn into a human story. Given time, it turned
into a great human story. It paints a vivid picture of a
very strong woman surviving alone, against all odds,
in Asia in the early 1900s.
Recommended?
It is a great read, and I would most certainly
recommend it. It’s beautifully written and takes you
on an unusual journey that haunts you till you can
pick the book up again.