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By: CHCH 537
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2024-07-08 11:23:31 |
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All really enjoyed the book. An extraordinary amount of depth in the various chapters. |
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By: GOVER 003
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2024-05-29 12:09:26 |
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A mixed response, but most agreed it improved as you read further, on the whole most enjoyed it. It did generate good discussion and was enlightening on both race and gender. The structure and punctuation was not an issue and suited the book, and we didn't find the number of different characters and their relationship to each other much of a problem. A good read. |
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By: WELL 213
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2024-04-18 10:07:02 |
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Without exception everyone in our group loved this book. As a group of well off Pakeha women of advancing years, the content was initially daunting, but the poetry of the writing, the rhythms, and the pace swept us into and along with the stories/story. Some used the relationship diagram to keep track of characters, and we were all in awe of the author's ability to stitch them together into a final coherent whole. We all agreed that the notes were the best we have had. |
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By: AUCK 385
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2023-11-02 14:21:38 |
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Mixed reviews this month. One member loved this book, its strong characters and novel punctuation. Others felt there were too many characters to ever get to know any of them in depth which led to a disconnect and lack of empathy for them. One member thought it funny that every man in the book was bad. And another that it seemed the author has a "list" of minority groups she felt she needed to tick off and include in the book. A bit contrived perhaps. Not all Booker Prize winners are a good read, ha ha! |
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By: HURUN 001
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2023-10-30 13:55:06 |
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A great discussion, lively at times. Some found the format difficult to start with but quickly found the writing, characters and setting encouraged the reader. |
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By: MOTUE 003
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2023-08-08 12:03:33 |
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It is hard to score this book as our group was down the middle. 50% loved it and found the style easy to read and would recommend it, while about 50% disliked it, didn't like the way it was written nor the content. I would suggest that it was possibly the age difference - almost a generational difference. |
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By: NELS 084
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2023-08-08 11:44:34 |
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Some really enjoyed this book - about half of the group would give it 5 stars. Some felt they "should" finish it but found it challenging, especially the bits that delved further back into the past. However the different experiences of reading provoked a great discussion. |
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By: INVER 003
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2023-06-19 12:10:13 |
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Hard to get into. Didn't enjoy the style. Very confronting topics. |
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By: CHCH 552
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2023-05-29 09:28:01 |
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Our first BDS book - we found it chewy, challenging, edgy and gritty. There was a varied response to the book from our group, some gave it 5 stars and others gave it 2, although we all agreed it was wonderful to discuss - we talked for hours about it! We all found the second half easier to read, perhaps once we'd adjusted to the writing style. |
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By: WAIKA 003
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2023-04-13 13:29:38 |
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Loved the poetic writing. Wonderful insight to a diverse community and people. |
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By: WELL 183
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2023-03-23 14:34:22 |
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Great read - enjoyed by all. Colourful characters - and language! Really liked how it came full circle in the end. |
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By: WANAK 001
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2023-03-23 12:39:58 |
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Fascinating read, a little confusing in the early stages. Not enjoyed by all, but thoroughly enjoyed by some. |
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By: PALMN 016
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2022-12-19 11:43:27 |
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"One of the best, if not THE best, we have read for a long time". ( A comment decided on at our meeting about the book). We'd highly recommend it. |
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By: INVER 001
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2022-11-16 13:19:40 |
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Great book, great discussion! A couple of members found the book hard to get into, but those who read it loved it. So many interesting topics for discussion. |
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By: CHCH 396
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2022-10-31 13:26:56 |
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Mixed response to this book. Most of us loved it. A great read and highly recommended. The range of characters threw us all a little but we forgave the author. |
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By: NEWP 001
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2022-08-31 10:13:38 |
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The book was really informative and enjoyable. Engendered lots of discussion. |
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By: MANGWK 001
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2022-08-01 12:11:11 |
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An insightful easy read, and the style was appreciated. |
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By: TIMAR 013
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2022-07-28 14:57:20 |
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Lively discussion. Some members had listened to interviews with Bernadine Evaristo and found this very helpful. One reader felt this was not a Booker prize-winning book..... |
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By: WHAKA 011
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2022-07-27 13:07:23 |
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Unanimous - all thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite some reservations at the start!! |
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By: COROM 002
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2022-07-18 12:41:40 |
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A remarkable book. The content, the issues discussed, the clever interweaving of the 12 lives depicted, the beautiful command of language - it was quite an experience. The notes were excellent, and helped discussion. |
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By: NGON 002
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2022-06-23 12:07:09 |
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Mixed reviews. Some either didn't finish or didn't start the book, finding the style of layout, lack of capital letters and grammar too annoying. Those of who did found parts of it really good and the actual writing flowed, but parts of it were longwinded and boring. |
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By: NAP 011
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2022-06-23 11:36:23 |
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Absolutely loved it. Beautifully written and so clever. A few members found the writing style a little difficult to begin with, but they persisted and loved it. An all time favourite for a few members. |
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By: WANAK 009
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2022-04-22 13:57:39 |
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Provoked interesting discussion about the style and themes of the novel. Great read, great ideas/characters and themes. |
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By: DUNED 002
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2022-04-22 13:56:32 |
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Everyone loved this book - so many wonderful stories and characters, and so much to discuss. |
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By: HOKITIK 004
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2022-04-11 14:07:01 |
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A really mixed reaction to this, our first BDS book. More challenging to some than others with regard to punctuation - most found it easier and more enjoyable the further through they read. Some found the interconnections between characters quite complex, but visual character webs helped. Loads of discussion and different insights and points-of-view shared. All were impressed with the author's research and skill in regarding historical and current issues. |
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By: WHANG 015
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2022-02-28 17:06:39 |
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All our members enjoyed this book once they got used to her style of writing. |
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By: MOTUE 006
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2021-12-01 12:25:04 |
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We found the style refreshing without the punctuation and usual dialogue. We also enjoyed the range of characters and how they were all interconnected, though it became quite formulaic. Some parts were really funny and it was interesting to hear the stories from history. It was very insightful regarding being a coloured person and non heterosexual. Some of our group had previously read it - 1 got more out of it, and 1 enjoyed it less. Not everyone felt it was deserving of the Booker Prize, but the majority did. On the whole, it was well received. Great read. |
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By: GORE 007
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2021-10-27 12:21:05 |
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A mixed reaction to this book, with some enjoying it and others not so much! |
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By: NELS 042
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2021-09-06 09:51:54 |
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Interesting book. Lots of far-reaching discussion, especially around gender issues. Enjoyable. |
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By: QUEEN 001
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2021-08-27 12:55:53 |
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Wonderful book - so well written. Hilarious at times and thought-provoking. Loved the style of writing and the links between the different chapters. |
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By: GISB 005
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2021-08-25 14:03:56 |
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We had anticipated a difficult read but it was not too challenging at all - the writing was beautiful for the most part. It was complex for sure but all agreed the effort was well worthwhile. |
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By: NELS 042
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2021-08-18 12:46:57 |
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Chimed most with women who grew up in England and remembered certain places and behaviours. Led to discussion on gender reassignment and whether there is more pressure now on youg people to 'make up their mind' perhaps too early (pre puberty). Lots of interest in the choices made by Megan/Morgan. Some enjoyed the 'poetic' feel of the unpunctuated writing. One was annoyed by lack of punctuation. A high level of engagement with this book and the author and the different coping mechanisms of the women depicted. |
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By: NELS 014
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2021-08-06 13:11:09 |
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Good book, interesting style - will look for other books by this author. |
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