Select a number of questions, write each on an index card, and distribute. Eleanor cattons booker prizewinning luminaries the. No, not a kevin federline type of golddigger, more like the minerfortyniner type of golddigger. Topics about this book topics that mention this book. Set in 1866 in the goldmining town of hokitika on the west coast of new zealands south island, cattons novel initially focuses on twelve very different men who. If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction and nonfiction alike. Apparently a classic example of 19thcentury narrative, set in the 19th century, with all the rightsounding syntax, clothing and props, the project twists. Set in new zealands south island in 1866, the novel follows walter moody, a prospector who travels to the fledgling west coast settlement of hokitika to try to make his fortune on nearby goldfields. Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. The best book of the decade is eleanor cattons the luminaries. Astrology shapes the strange and intricate plotting of eleanor cattons man bookerwinning novel, writes john mullan.
That cattons absorbing, hugely elaborate novel is at its heart so simple is a great part of its charm. The book of the heavenly luminaries 1 enoch 7282 also known as the astronomical book, this section is a lengthy discourse on celestial bodies with the goal of. With all the great books there are out there to read. The book of the courses of the luminaries of the heaven, the relations of each, according to their classes, their dominion and their seasons, according to their names and places of origin, and according to their months, which uriel, the holy angel, who was with me, who is their guide, showed. Theres not an ounce of flab in it, but its still too much for ordinary mortals to take in. The luminaries by eleanor catton 4 stars joy d, 4, 20, aug 31. Moody has had a harrowing journey by sea, so hes looking to relax when he arrives. Just got done with the luminaries, anyone else read it.
Adventure mystery set in the midst of new zealands 1860s gold rush period it has all the stuff that makes a good drama murder, love and revenge as men and women travel the world making their fortunes. Theres a lovely payoff after the miles of twists and turns. The luminaries eleanor cattons epic mystery, set in 19thcentury new zealand, is the winner of this years man booker prize. The luminaries hardcover book discussion goodreads.
The luminaries of heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods. The luminaries series premiere discussion i havent been able to find any other discussion thread for this on reddit so hope it is ok that i post this. With this book catton has proved, at least in my eyes, that shes the exception to the rule. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. I love a good mystery book and this is why i really enjoyed the luminaries by eleanor catton. For possible questions to start discussion on specific books, check the back of the book, particularly if the title is a popular book club choice, or the publishers website. Few novels have been so carefully and cinematically lit, or so concerned with illumination. About the only fault of the book is its unending length. The pages fly, the great weight of the book shifting quickly from right hand to left, a world opening and closing in front of us, the human soul revealed in all its conflicted. John mullan on the luminaries guardian book club books. The story begins with walter moodys arrival in hokitika, new zealand. Chapters lxxiilxxxii the book of the heavenly luminaries. The luminaries, eleanor cattons remarkable second novel the winner of this years man booker prize is a lot of things, and i mean a lot, but above all, perhaps, it is a love. Do you start by pointing out that its author, whose.
If you loved the luminaries, try reading these 9 books, too. Im hopeful its going to be a strong year for books making their way to film and screens. The luminaries, by eleanor catton, little brown, 848 pages. Winner of the 20 man booker prize, the luminaries is the longest novel in history to win the prize, and eleanor catton is the youngest fiction writer to receive this great honor. The second part of the book starts after the discussion that involved the thirteen men and the shipwreck of francis carvers ship. Or use a search including reading guide to find information on the various book group sites.
Catton adds distinction to her award as the youngest person to receive this award and her book is the longest ever chosen for such recognition. Books to film 2020 40 movies based on books coming in 2020. Eleanor cattons booker prizewinning luminaries the new york. The luminaries a very interesting novel by eleanor catton. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. The luminaries by eleanor catton in epub, fb2, txt download e book. Eleanor catton will discuss the luminaries at the guardian book club on 8 april at kings place, 90 york way, london n1 9gu.
Cattons epic novel about the new zealand goldrush has been shortlisted for the man booker prize. Instead, he stumbles into a tense meeting between twelve local men, and is drawn into a complex mystery that is. The men are connected by strange occurrences, including. Buy this book with a knack for conveying robust detail. The luminaries by eleanor catton is the winner of the 20 man booker prize. The plot in a nutshell part 1 is long and convoluted but the windup is needed to appreciate the unwinding that follows. This is a 6part miniseries based on the man booker prizewinning novel the luminaries 20. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Buy a cheap copy of the luminaries book by eleanor catton. The novel opens in 1866 with walter moody, an english lawyer, arriving in hokitika to try his luck at being a golddigger in new zealand. The characters are so lush and the mystery is so complex. On the stormy night of his arrival, he stumbles across a tense gathering of twelve local men.
Its just the sort of book i should have given 5 stars. Usually i find that a novelist is either an exceptional writer or an exceptional storyteller, but rarely are they both. The range of characters, accents and the language make listening far more enjoyable than reading. The best book of the decade is eleanor cattons the luminaries a prolix lunar epic, a bravura stargazing feat, the book s plainly monumental eleanor catton, who wrote the book the luminaries.
Twelve men who are having a secret meeting in the lounge of the hotel where moody is staying take him into their confidence. And its not even a novel in the normal sense, but rather a mass confabulation that evaporates in front of us, an astrological divination waning like. Here are 11 books that every book club should read even including several that didnt make oprahs. Catton has built a lively parody of a 19thcentury novel, and in so doing created a novel for the 21st, something utterly new. We know moody is technically the protagonist, but anna and emery actually emerge as the books central figures by the end. It is our intent and purpose to foster and encourage indepth discussion about all things related to books, authors, genres, or publishing in a safe, supportive environment. If youre looking for help with a personal book recommendation, consult our weekly recommendation thread, suggested reading page, or ask in rsuggestmeabook. Sometimes i read for plot, and sometimes for the rhythm and language, and while the plot is good, it is not the primary value of this book. John mullan on the luminaries guardian book club books the. As with the 2019 list, note that this only includes titles that. Like the luminaries, tremains 2004 novel centers on an outsider who attempts to make his fortune during the west coast gold rush of the 1860s.
The luminaries deserves to win the man booker prize this year. Used books may not include companion materials, some shelf wear, may contain highlightingnotes, may not include cdrom or access codes. The book of the courses of the heavenly luminaries chapter lxxii, the sun source. The luminaries is an impressive novel, captivating, intense and full of surprises times literary supplement the luminaries is a breathtakingly ambitious 800page mystery with a plot as complex and a cast as motley as any 19thcentury doorstopper. Winner of the 20 man booker prize and canadas governor generals literary award, a breathtaking feat of storytelling where everything is connected, but nothing. From here the plot is no longer narrated from the past, and it contains present events.
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