The longlist for the third Stella Prize has been announced.
Monthly Archives: February 2015
The one hundred year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared
The One hundred year old man who climbed out the window and disappeared
Abstract
Sitting quietly in his room in an old people’s home, Allan Karlsson is waiting for a party he doesn’t want to begin. His one-hundredth birthday party to be precise. The Mayor will be there. The press will be there. But, as it turns out, Allan will not …Escaping (in his slippers) through his bedroom window, into the flowerbed, Allan makes his getaway. And so begins his picaresque and unlikely journey involving a suitcase full of cash, a few thugs, a very friendly hot-dog stand operator, a few deaths, an elephant and incompetent police. As his escapades unfold, Allan’s earlier life is revealed. A life in which – remarkably – he played a key role behind the scenes in some of the momentous events of the twentieth century. The one hundred-year-old man who climbed out the window and disappeared is a charming, warm and funny novel, beautifully woven with history and politics.
Comments
Light hearted, humorous and sometimes obsurd.
Never too old to experience life.
Repetitious, flowed through life.
Average reading, enjoyable.
Not recommended, not funny.
Read by
Second Tuesday Evening Book Group
INDIE Book Award 2015
The Indie Awards shortlist for 2015 has been announced!
How many have you read?
Pick your winners from the shortlist before they are announced on 25th March 2015.
DEBUT FICTION
Lost & found by Brooke Davis
Foreign soil by Maxine Beneba Clarke
The strays by Emily Bitto
After Darkness by Christine Piper
FICTION
Amnesia by Peter Carey
Golden Boys by Sonya Hartnett
The Rosie effect by Graeme Simsion
When the night comes by Favel Parrett
NON FICTION
This house of grief by Helen Garner
The Bush: travels in the heart of Australia by Don Watson
Where song began by Tim Low
Cadence by Emma Ayres
CHILDREN’S & YOUNG ADULT
The 52-storey treehouse by Andy Griffiths
Pig the Pug by Aaron Blabey
Withering-by-sea by Judith Rossell
Laurinda by Alice Pung
Questions of Travel
Michelle De Krester
Abstract
A mesmerising literary novel, Questions of Travel charts two very different lives. Laura travels the world before returning to Sydney, where she works for a publisher of travel guides. Ravi dreams of being a tourist guide until he is driven from Sri Lanka by devastating events. Around these two superbly drawn characters, a double narrative assembles an enthralling array of people, places and stories – from Theo, whose life plays out in the long shadow of the past, to Hana, an Ethiopian woman determined to reinvent herself in Australia.
Comments
Read half of it, enjoyed it. Parallel stories, quite interesting a nice read.
A worthy book, too many themes, too many characters; enjoyed the prose various quotes from book.
Ready only 200 pages excellent characterisation. Tourism and travel. Took a while to get into. I think I will finish it. Shows how people can change from travel.
Did not read, only 100 pages, did not enjoy.
Did not read, started and could not get into.
Did not read
Read by – The First Wednesday Book Group
Three Stories – a review
Author: J M Coetzee
Title: Three stories
This is a very slim and short book by renowned author J M Coetzee. Three short stories with very austere words contained inside a pocket size book barely about 70 pages. But the book touches the core values of humanity. Continue reading