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What's Hot ...with BDS readers

Read feedback on books in the BDS catalogue by BDS readers. We welcome any comment on the titles in the catalogue, as it helps us to make sure the catalogue contains something for everyone.

Note: Group comments are not always quoted in full owing to requirements of space.

                         What's Hot - July 2010



The Reader

Bernhard Schlink         Fiction       1997           216pp

“One of the better books on postwar Germany we have read. It was a simple but deep book which covered many issues sensitively and succinctly.”Palmerston Nth 011

“Book enjoyed and appreciated. Provoked much interesting discussion around collective guilt.” Auckland 015

“The whole group rated this book very highly. It was easy to read but raised all sorts of issues which we discussed vigorously.” Christchurch 155

“A very powerful book. All members were greatly moved by it. An excellent book for discussion.” Pahiatua 001

 “Fabulous conversation provoker – talks to everyone about the Halocaust – cause and effect.” Whangarei 013

 
The Road Home

Rose Tremain          Fiction     2007           365pp

“Thought it an excellent picture of those who travel to foreign countries for work and remuneration.” Whakatane 005

“Rose Tremain is a wonderful storyteller.” Nelson 014

“Agreed Rose Tremain’s characters feel real and we found ourselves becoming emotionally involved with Lev. We all thought the ending was as it should be, quite satisfactory.” Queenstown 005

“We all appreciated the book. Recalled immigrants who have survived and remained in their host country, especially those who came and stayed in NZ.” Te Anau 001

 
Readers' Choices

Is your reading group struggling to find books that everyone enjoys?

The titles below are those that have received the most positive reviews from groups. They may assist you with book choices for 2010.

 Fiction
 Book Thief, The  (Markus Zusak)
 Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, The  (Mark Haddon)
 Family Tree, The  (Carole Cadwalladr)

 Girl with a Pear Earring  (Tracy Chevalier)

 Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (The)
 Half of a Yellow Sun  (Chimamandi Ngozi)
 Kite Runner, The  (Khaled Hosseini)
 Madonnas of Leningrad, The  (Kim Edwards) 
 March  (Geraldine Brooks)
 Memory Keeper's Daughter, The  (Kim Edwards)
 Old Filth  (Jane Gardam)
 Poisonwood Bible, The  (Barbara Kingsolver)

 Purple Hibiscus  (Chimamandi Ngozi)

 Saturday  (Ian McEwan)
 Short History of Tractors in Ukranian, A  (Marina Lewycka)
 Suite Française  (Irène Némirovsky)
 Thousand Splendid Suns, A  (Khaled Hosseini)
 Water for Elephants  (Sara Gruen)
 
 New Zealand Fiction
 Captive Wife
 Mister Pip  (Lloyd Jones)
 Small Holes in the Silence  [short stories]  (Patricia Grace)
 Let Me Sing You Gentle Songs  (Linda Olsson)
 

  Non Fiction

 All the Fishes Come Home to Roost  (Rachel Manija Brown)
 Glass Castle, The  (Jeanette Walls)
 House by the Dvina  (Eugenie Fraser)
 Infidel: My Life  (ali Ayaan Hirsi)
 Mao's Last Dancer  (Li Cunxin)
 Nazi Officer's Wife, The  (Edith Hahn Beer)
 Never Have Your Dog Stuffed  (Alan Alda)
 Stasiland  (Anna Funder)
 
 2011 Titles that should appeal

 Help (The)

 Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)

 Spilling the Beans (Clarissa Dickson Wright) -non-fiction

 Thing Around Your Neck (Chamanda Ngozi Adichie) - short stories

 

 


 

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