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By: AUCK 107
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2025-07-07 11:34:19 |
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There was a mixed reaction to this book. Only a couple of people really enjoyed it although all agreed it was well-written. None of us picked up on the hidden meanings or different layers until we read the notes. We did think it was quite a stretch that no-one in the local community seemed to notice all the unusual goings on in and around the Darvish's property. Normally small town N.Z. is very nosy. We weren't keen on the ending - felt it was too rushed. We were also amazed at what Tony achieved with both a broken leg and arm on the same side of his body. |
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By: CHCH 020
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2025-06-10 20:10:53 |
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We gave it 3 stars as the book had a mixed reception with some of us finding it hard to get into and others giving up at the dense beginning. Others thought it so good they couldn't stop reading. Those who read it felt that it got more enjoyable as it went on but most of us were surprised by the ending - even though it was Shakespearean. There was criticism of the long-winded social commentary. One of us said that the writing was too good for the story. Overall we were glad we had read or tried to read it. |
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By: WHANGA 001
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2025-06-04 12:24:45 |
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A well-written book as would be expected from this author, but generally the group were unenthusiastic. Interesting plot but characters unlikeable. Sometimes too wordy or overwritten. |
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By: AUCK 440
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2025-05-12 09:35:16 |
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Most of our group found 'Birnam Wood' too hard to get into. Those that made some headway with it agreed it became more readable as it went on. Catton is undoubtedly a wordsmith but it felt like she was trying too hard with this book to the extent that it didn't flow well, and was too dense. |
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By: CROMW 005
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2025-04-30 10:10:23 |
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8/10 read it and loved it, once they got used to very long sentences, and no chapters! |
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By: RAWEN 001
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2025-04-10 10:10:46 |
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Divided views on this book. 3 members did not like it. Too wordy, couldn't get into the characters. The rest of us loved it. Good story, and learnt a lot about drones and mining for rare minerals. |
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By: ASHB 028
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2025-03-20 09:59:10 |
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A wonderful thriller in a New Zealand context with thought-provoking futuristic content. |
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By: UPMO 002
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2025-03-20 09:53:22 |
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The themes are very topical - power, greed, mining of conservation land, climate change, extreme wealth. Very well-written and a gripping read. |
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By: NELS 096
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2025-03-10 12:57:38 |
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We found this book very hard going, particularly in the first quarter of the story. The style of writing was dense, extremely well researched, but we found there were some incredibly long paragraphs and phrases that while evocative were rather dirge-like! However we all thought it was a very good book, the subject matter very close to home, relevant and timely. We all felt the characters of Lemoine and Darvish darkly portrayed, and made us think about the many sides to a person, and we all disliked the dishonesty and deceit. Overall we thought 4 stars. |
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By: AUCK 100
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2025-03-09 14:47:26 |
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We thought this book needed a “good editor” as it is too long and has too much dense prose. Her overview of society seemed very judgmental with her lampooning of the honours system and various government figures. Readers questioned what the criteria were for assessment for the various awards for which the book had been nominated. |
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By: JERV 001
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2025-02-21 08:49:23 |
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Our group was divided over Birnam Wood ranging from: High praise for her complex characters, plot development & train wreck of a finale to unlikeable characters, overuse (even if deliberate) of character descriptions, absence of chapters & the unsatisfactory sudden ending. It found accord on its unique NZ setting & contemporary issues. It highlights the risk that satire will be read “straight”. |
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By: AUCK 412
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2024-12-15 20:31:59 |
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A couple really liked it but, overall, we found it quite disjointed and rather hard to read. However we felt it was a book of our time, albeit with a rather unsatisfactory ending - as if she didn't quite know how to tie it all together. |
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By: AUCK 027
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2024-12-12 14:53:12 |
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Great read, slow developing but moved to a cracking pace at the end. |
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By: NELS 062
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2024-11-21 12:49:31 |
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A novel 'of our time'. Very mixed reviews from our members. A number did not finish the book finding it an intense, intellectual read. Overly analytical. Preferred 'The Luminaries'. |
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By: OWAKA 001
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2024-11-21 12:01:55 |
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Lots of discussion. Very thought provoking and topical. |
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By: CHCH 553
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2024-11-08 08:57:40 |
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Mixed reviews from our group. But all agreed it was a bit rambly at the beginning, with lots of action at the end (for those who made it that far!). Provided good basis for quite a bit of discussion around the different characters. |
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By: MARTO 001
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2024-10-16 12:44:20 |
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After a slow complicated beginning the plot thickened. A good yarn. |
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By: TAUR 049
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2024-10-10 09:59:20 |
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Mixed reaction to this book. Much to challenge readers and engendered good discussion. All acknowledge Catton's intellect and writing skills. |
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By: TAUR 061
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2024-09-26 17:02:46 |
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We celebrated the contemporary setting and ideas explored by Catton. The recent news items based on a challenge to the QE2 covenant/mining corporate in Cromwell, were part of the discussion. We agreed the authorial voice of Catton is ‘on the money’. For some, the interior monologues of characters/diatribes of Tony slowed the pace, however there was consensus it was a cracking ending. Definitely unexpected! |
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By: TIMAR 011
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2024-08-07 10:09:08 |
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A very mixed response to this book. Half our group loved it - the beautifully crafted writing, the well developed characters, the parallels ( Macbeth, Peter Thiel etc etc) and more. The other half found it wordy, difficult, and were not engaged. |
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By: CHCH 179
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2024-07-01 10:38:52 |
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'Birnam Wood' generated very interesting discussion and all members were impressed with the cleverly constructed plot, weaving together topical and relevant issues. Some of us were reluctant at the start of the book, but all were engrossed by the middle. Eleanor Catton is such a clever writer. |
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By: TAKA 001
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2024-06-13 09:23:22 |
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People liked that the setting was in NZ, and reading the descriptions of the landscape. Some found the first half too detailed and long before the action started. Some absolutely loved it. There was disappointment and shock for some with the final outcome for some of the protagonists. |
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By: TAUP 015
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2024-06-06 09:52:17 |
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We felt the first section of the book was very laborious and not easy to read, however one member who had read the book previously stated that she got a lot more out of it the second time. It was generally felt that the gripping and unexpected ending justified the very wordy set up. We found several of the characters difficult to believe. |
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By: PALMN 019
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2024-05-28 13:26:36 |
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While we enjoyed the prose and unique story and relevance to our time, we felt it lost momentum/got too long winded in the middle, and we know of others who have given up at this point. Similar to The Luminaries - needed more editing. |
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By: WELL 024
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2024-05-23 11:27:45 |
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Enjoyed by all although some would have liked the story to get moving a bit faster and have fewer philosophical rants. The discussion covered the therapeutic quality of gardening, the exclusion of a Maori viewpoint in the book, through to the presentation of characters, satire of the story, structure of the story, and other topics! Book was a thriller though we didn't realise it at first. |
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By: CHCH 058
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2024-04-18 10:29:36 |
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Most in our group found the book very verbose and felt it needed a good editor. The descriptions appealed to some, but the characters took some time to develop. Almost all found initial reading to be quite tiring, and there was a general feeling that it would make an exciting film. |
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By: MOSG 004
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2024-04-15 12:40:41 |
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Absolutely brilliant! |
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By: CHCH 051
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2024-04-15 12:38:06 |
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This generated a lot of discussion. Some liked it a lot and some didn't. |
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By: MAST 013
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2023-11-06 12:04:26 |
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A very mixed reaction! "Didn't read... gave up part way... read all but didn't love it... read all and loved it!... very wordy, long sentences but brilliant writing...an easier read than The Luminaries..." |
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By: NEWP 013
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2023-07-03 14:32:10 |
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We were all astounded at how different this is from 'The Luminaries' and most of us admired the language. Several of us found it quite hard to get engaged in the plot or to care about the characters. Some people hated the ending. However, one of our group rated this book on a par with the best of Margaret Atwood, in satire and pertinence. We certainly enjoyed a robust discussion. |
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