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By: CHCH 299
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2025-07-09 13:28:30 |
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Everyone agreed this was a well-written book and the author handled a difficult subject well. While some found it a riveting read, others found it hard going, a bit too real and reminiscent of lots of cases of child neglect and the meth problems in NZ. A good discussion book however on the issues raised, including whether the relationship between the two main characters was abusive or not. |
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By: CHCH 512
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2025-06-25 13:55:26 |
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VERY hard read! Very thought provoking book. |
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By: BLENH 010
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2025-05-13 11:11:53 |
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An excellent discussion. One member loved the book, while others found it disturbing. Several have had experience with alcohol and drug addiction and could relate to events and characters in the book. Some found the age difference unlikely. Others found the graphic sex uncomfortable. Everyone was able to find positive aspects in the story. Interesting that the author had her own relevant experience with her first relationship, and her meth-addicted father. |
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By: CHCH 422
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2025-02-06 09:30:49 |
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A well-written story written by a woman who could write from the heart having had a shared experience in her own life "I did date and fall in love with a much older man. I wasn't normal. He wasn't normal. But we understood each other. We had a loving, consensual romance that nurtured me more than a lot of my adult relationships have." A depressing and brutal story but covered the subject well. Sadly reflects some of our society. |
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By: BLENH 010
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2025-01-15 11:52:44 |
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An excellent discussion. One member loved the book, while others found it disturbing. Several have had experience with alcohol and drug addiction and could relate to events and characters in the book. Some found the age difference unlikely. Others found the graphic sex uncomfortable. Everyone was able to find positive aspects in the story. Interesting that the author had her own relevant experience with her first relationship, and her meth-addicted father. |
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By: TAUP 012
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2025-01-15 11:49:12 |
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We all thoroughly enjoyed this book. The subject matter was challenging at times and provided lots of discussion. We would totally recommend reading this book. |
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By: WAIUK 001
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2024-06-26 10:31:52 |
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All members present last night, all read and enjoyed this book. Made for a lively discussion when answering the questions. Recommended reading. |
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By: CHCH 400
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2024-01-11 14:48:55 |
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Generally enjoyed - all agreed that this book is extremely well-written, also an "easy read". Some thought the subject matter a little too grim and explicit, but others found it deeply moving and thought-provoking. |
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By: TIMAR 024
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2023-11-27 10:27:58 |
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Our group absolutely loved this book - it was a great first book for our foray into the club! We work in social services so the book was very relevant to the work we do. It generated lots of discussion in the office and made a lot of people look deeply into their professional practice. Group members who thought they'd struggle with getting through the book surprised themselves by reading it within days - it was that good! A highly recommended read! |
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By: NELS 056
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2023-07-26 11:46:30 |
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Very thought provoking, confronting and engaging. An authentic read. The author portrayed Wavy's view with absolute sensitivity. Very well-written, readily visualised. An absolute page-turner. |
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By: WESTO 001
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2023-03-30 15:12:12 |
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Although the subject matter was hard and very confronting, everyone who read the book couldn't put it down. One member describing it as our best read. A couple of members choose not to read the book. |
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By: WINT 02
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2023-02-27 11:43:57 |
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Mixed reactions with this one. Some struggled with Wavy and Kellen's relationship as it evolved. But then that was kind of the point. Made you think about consent and stereotypically accusing an elder without knowing the situation. |
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By: WHANG 018
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2022-11-21 15:05:55 |
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This book generated the most intense conversation and discussion ever! Divided opinions but voted one of the best picks! |
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By: PALMN 031
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2022-11-21 13:31:52 |
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Most members didn't complete the book. Slightly disturbing read. |
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By: CHCH 501
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2022-09-23 14:38:14 |
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Confronting, raw, and well enjoyed by our group. |
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By: CHCH 523
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2022-09-03 08:27:38 |
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This book created quite a lot of discussion! Especially around the issue of sexual consent and age. The read was engrossing, characters well developed and they had a very different 'life' to those of us reading. |
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By: NAP 005
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2022-08-17 12:12:27 |
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A challenging and, in parts, uncomfortable read when measured against the "norms" of our middle class society. A long and excellent discussion. |
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By: PIOPIO 001
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2022-07-28 20:20:48 |
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Highly rated by our group and a real 'page turner'. Challenging at times because of the darker side, but also in that it challenged our social biases. Beautifully crafted characters. Excellent discussion. |
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By: CLARK 001
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2022-05-11 12:37:51 |
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All group members rated this book as one of their best reads. Engaging page turner. For some, it challenged them, and called for a re think on judgements! |
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By: AUCK 218
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2022-01-07 12:51:11 |
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We all finished this book and really, really rated it. The best book of 2021 for us. Very triggering for some. We savoured it and didn't want it to end. |
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By: TAUR 060
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2021-11-19 12:16:55 |
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Our whole group was hooked on this book right from the start. The characters were all very engaging, and had nuances that stopped them from being good or bad, and just people shaped by their past. We enjoyed discussing the "proper" relationship line so blurred by the characters in the book. One of our best reads this year. |
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By: MILT 003
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2021-11-15 13:55:19 |
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Really good read - 6 members read this story within the first week. Couldn't put it down, a real page turner. Very descriptive. Not everything is as it seems in this world. |
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By: CHCH 503
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2021-11-01 14:29:18 |
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A very powerful and thought provoking book, written well. We didn't "enjoy" the questions - so our group had an "open" discussion on various topics that the book delivered. |
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By: TAUR 061
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2021-08-26 14:40:06 |
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Despite challenging the moral compass this book was compelling in all ways. Once again we were reminded that we all need to be loved and give love. |
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By: CHCH 518
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2021-08-25 09:58:13 |
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Well-written, but the final chapter brought the book to an abrupt end. Well drawn characters and a good storyline, albeit very controversial. |
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By: AUCK 276
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2021-08-23 12:38:37 |
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We all enjoyed the book. Challenged our emotions. Good discussions. |
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By: CHCH 510
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2021-06-28 10:13:38 |
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A book that generated a lot of discussion for our group! Great for differing perspectives and made for a very interesting split! |
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By: QUEEN 014
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2021-06-25 12:06:18 |
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Most of us didn't finish. Very dark theme. A few liked the writing style, but overall not a winner. |
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By: ASHB 027
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2021-06-11 12:19:40 |
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Great book and discussion. Not always a pleasant read; challenging in it's characterisations and plot. Highly recommend. |
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By: AUCK 285
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2021-05-13 14:52:07 |
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A must read book. The majority read it, and thought this book was fantastic. It deals with under age sex, and so we felt it made you feel uncomfortable and almost squeamish for them, but also loving the story and the characters. A shocking eye opener to a world we can barely understand - we wondered how much was autobiographical, and therefore how good the author's future books would be. It made us question relationships and what the law deems 'wrong', when in this case the 'wrong' relationship saved two vulnerable people, and ultimately withstood all the prejudice. Brilliant read. |
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By: CHCH 322
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2021-03-24 13:56:17 |
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We had a very good discussion, but we found (especially our clinical psychologist member) the book very disturbing, because of the way Kellen groomed Wavy. We felt that the catalogue description maybe needs to discuss what sexual grooming is, and how this was portrayed and seemingly accepted in this book, as it is more in line with the perpetrator's version of events rather than that of the victim's. |
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By: WANG 015
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2021-02-03 11:30:31 |
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We all loved this book! Made for really interesting discussion as so many conflicting emotions felt about the characters' stories. |
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By: CHCH 426
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2021-01-27 12:01:04 |
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We absolutely LOVED this book. It was a compelling read. |
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By: CAMB 007
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2020-09-28 14:57:21 |
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We all really enjoyed this one. Great book, great characters. We liked the strength of Wavy. How quick people were to judge Kellen. |
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By: DUNED 109
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2020-07-13 13:16:07 |
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Most of the group enjoyed this book - the writer elegantly depicted a sensitive topic. Some found it really disturbing but others were able to get past that. |
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By: CHCH 333
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2020-07-09 14:03:53 |
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All the group enjoyed this book. Lots of discussion on all the problems that arose. |
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By: NELS 015
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2020-07-03 13:26:37 |
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A very polarising book. About half the group found it very challenging and disturbing, others were quite comfortable with the content. However, we all enjoyed it - very well written with believable characters, and all the more real as the author was writing from experience. |
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By: TEPUK 006
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2020-05-08 14:53:07 |
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I loved this book! It challenged me on so many levels. I cried, got angry, was shocked and finally hopeful. |
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By: MOTUE 004
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2020-01-29 22:26:56 |
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Compelling. Disturbing but super endearing also. Very thought provoking and generated good discussion. Definitely recommended. |
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By: PUKEKO 001
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2020-01-29 14:34:04 |
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A controversial subject which provoked somewhat surprisingly little controversy in our group as we almost unanimously loved it. Overall, we found it beautifully written, sensitive, believable and un-putdownable, despite confrontational and taboo subjects. There was some concern over the narrative structure/multiple P.O.V narration but it didn't detract overly from the story. |
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