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Original poster

The Luminaries?

34 replies

sunnybears · 18/03/2015 10:21

Has anyone read this one? I have it for book club and it's proving challenge. I can't get into it and it's quite a thick volume (for me).

If it worth pushing on with?

OP posts:
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CoteDAzur · 20/03/2015 12:16

The Luminaries is not a book club book, though. It is a book to be savoured and experienced, not discussed and mined for morals. It is a long, exquisite journey, not a book a be rushed because you have to read it by your next book club meeting.

Igneococcus · 20/03/2015 08:42

I absolutely loved the Luminaries but I know a lot of people didn't. I was on a plane in January next to a lovely Canadian guy and we started talking about books and we kind of hugged each other when we found out that we both loved the book. He said I was the first person he met, besides his wife, who also liked it.

Yosemitefalls · 19/03/2015 22:20

It was so moving, couldn't stop thinking about it for ages after I'd read it. What a guy.

Provencalroseparadox · 19/03/2015 22:14

Yosemite I know it's only March but my book of the year so far. Truly wonderful

Yosemitefalls · 19/03/2015 22:07

Oooooh yes The Narrow Road was amazing and harrowing in turns. What a story...

antimatter · 19/03/2015 18:50

I have it on Audible. It took me 5 times to get into it and I am glad I didn't give up.
I think one of my favourite books over all.
I love big books I can get into and it just kept going....

Provencalroseparadox · 19/03/2015 10:43

I enjoyed The Luminaries but must admit I also find it quite difficult to get into. I think the first part of the book was incredibly slow for me but then when it moved into the present, I really started to enjoy it. I have much preferred the 2014 booker winner though. I thought The Narrow Road was wonderful.

JoylessFucker · 19/03/2015 10:41

I'm with Cote and kesstrel on this one. I loved The Luminaries - and I wish my book club would select chunky big reads like it. Unfortunately, after reading than This Thing of Darkness (which is also wonderful), we now have a page length limitation as everyone in the group works and three have young children.

I was also Confused about the reference to Afghanistan ...

iseenodust · 19/03/2015 10:39

Our bookclub read the Luminaries. Though actually all bar two of us gave up part way through. I got to the end but it is slow and the retelling from the different characters got repetitive. The style, setting and story are fine but 300 pages fewer would still have covered it all.

Original poster
sunnybears · 19/03/2015 10:31

Yup. I started girl on the train last night!

OP posts:
MyCatIsBatman11 · 19/03/2015 09:51

Abandoned. YOLO, and so forth.

CoteDAzur · 18/03/2015 20:45

There's something about the name of that book. I called it This Hand Of Darkness for ages and now you will, too to general hilarity on the 50-Book Challenge thread.

Yosemitefalls · 18/03/2015 20:43

I do mean This Thing of Darkness, I knew that wasn't right! Not smoking or drinking sadly just very tired and fed up with blimmin children not going to bed grrr.....

Original poster
sunnybears · 18/03/2015 20:40

Seems like some like it and some really don't. Everyone has their own tastes. It would be boring if we were all the same :-)

OP posts:
CoteDAzur · 18/03/2015 20:37

"This Edge Of Darkness"? Do you mean This Thing Of Darkness, by any chance?

What exactly are you two smoking tonight? Grin

bamboostalks · 18/03/2015 20:24

Loathed it. Also read it for book club. Just found it tedious by the end and found the denouement a huge let down.

Yosemitefalls · 18/03/2015 20:19

Southeastdweller I'm glad you said that as I was thinking I invested a fair bit of time reading the book and sure it never really left New Zealand Grin!

It was fantastic and I almost read it again but I never do that so moved on to This Edge of Darkness instead.

CoteDAzur · 18/03/2015 20:07

The Luminaries takes place in New Zealand Grin

CoteDAzur · 18/03/2015 20:06

Unbelievable. All these years of sharing my infinite wisdom on MN and there are still some who are oblivious to the fact that I am always right Wink

Southeastdweller · 18/03/2015 20:04

I've read the summary for The Luminaries and there's nothing about Afghanistan Blush.

I'll try to get to bed early tonight...

Yosemitefalls · 18/03/2015 20:02

Ha ha x post!

I loved it but read it a little while ago, this is tragic re my memory but I don't remember a bit about Afghanistan in it?

Yosemitefalls · 18/03/2015 20:01

No Cote is right - The Luminaries has been out for a while now.

Southeastdweller · 18/03/2015 19:59

Whoops, sorry to Cote and everyone else. I was thinking of The Illuminations. I'm sleep-deprieved at the moment.

Sorry.

Southeastdweller · 18/03/2015 19:58

Cote You're thinking of something else. The Illuminations was only published a few months ago.

confusedandemployed · 18/03/2015 19:54

I have it on audiobook and managed about an hour before giving up. Not sure I'll bother trying again now..

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