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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 due to requirements of space. What's Hot - March 2010
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Jane Gardam Fiction 2004 260pp 
“We loved the book and talked a lot about the unfeeling way people dealt with children in past generations. Great writing style too. Most wanted to read it again when finished.” Takaka 001 “Well crafted and very readable…Gardam explores an intriguing life with great wit and humour, pathos and nostalgia.” Katikati 001 “We really enjoyed this book. It gave insight into the plight of the ‘Raj orphans’ and how the mothers of such children faced the dilemma of having to send their very young children away and how this affected these children in some way for their whole lives.” New Plymouth 005 "A great read enjoyed by all but one. A lot of discussion [on] colonial children sent ‘home’ to England for schooling, emotional deprivation, stiff upper lip etc. Old Filth was a great character.” Mangawhai 002
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James McBride Non-fiction /Memoir 1996 291pp 
“Agreement was unanimous that this was a great read. Ruth’s account of her surprising, hard, sometimes harrowing, sometimes hilarious and totally incredible life kept us spellbound.” Katikati 001 “…a story of a determined woman despite barriers. We all admired her.” Cambridge 002 “We had a lively discussion on Judaism and the long-lasting influence on Ruth in spite of her conversion to Christianity.” Hamilton 026 “She was such a survivor. Two black husbands, twelve children and no monetary help, but determined to educate her family which she did with outstanding success.” Christchurch 048 |
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Carole Cadwalladr Fiction 2005 476pp  “A first – all our group enjoyed this book and had many of our own family ‘stories’ to tell.” Nelson 021“ "Most interesting as regards nature/ nurture and family dynamics.” NewPlymouth 005“ It caused lots of discussion particularly about family resemblances, and would we want to know if in the future we were to have something like Alzheimers or Huntington’s.” Ashburton 009 "Everyone enjoyed this book! Found it sad and funny. Enjoyed the references to 70s and 80s TV programmes ie. Dallas, and the way all the threads of the story were woven together.” Te Puke 005 |
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) | | |
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