Play Book Tag discussion

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton - 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

PBT Comments: This book for me was more like 3.5 stars. I eventually decided to round up since it was very well written and elaborately conceived around the twelve signs of the zodiac. I thought it was a bit too long (850 pages).

“For although a man is judged by his actions, by what he has said and done, a man judges himself by what he is willing to do, by what he might have said, or might have done – a judgment that it necessarily hampered, not only by the scope and limits of his imagination, but by the ever-changing measure of his doubt and self-esteem.” – Eleanor Catton, The Luminaries

Set during the gold rush in New Zealand in 1865-1866, the story begins with Walter Moody, a prospector, arriving in Hokitika from Scotland to make his fortune in the goldfields and escape his family’s betrayals. He has experienced a tumultuous trip by sea. In attempting to settle into an inn, he inadvertently joins a meeting of twelve local men and is drawn into an intricate mystery. His arrival coincides with several alarming events: a hermit has just died, a wealthy young man has disappeared, and an opium-addicted young woman has been arrested for attempted suicide. These events are related to the mystery, which Moody undertakes to unravel.

This is not your typical mystery. It is written in a literary style harking back to the novels of the mid-1800’s. Its structure is related to heavenly events and astrological signs, though even if one does not pay much attention to this structure, the story is still enjoyable. The chapters start out extremely lengthy and gradually decrease. The book’s structure seems more important than plot and characterization, but there is enough of each to hold a reader’s interest, though not enough to fully engage an emotional connection. There is probably a 425-page engrossing novel hidden within this 850-page slow-developing tome. For example, the book reaches almost the half-way point before ever leaving the twelve men in smoke-filled meeting room. It contains many lengthy descriptive paragraphs and puzzling diversions. Several stories are intertwined, and it will take a discerning and patient reader to untangle all the threads and keep the twenty-plus characters straight.

Several loose ends remain at the end of the book, leaving some readers to wonder if the mystery was ever satisfactorily resolved (I think it is, but it is like piecing together an elaborate puzzle, and the solution lies between the lines and must be inferred by the reader). The journey seems more important than the destination. It is filled with dramatic setups, prostitutes, illegitimate children, opium dens, fortune tellers, forged documents, secret letters, old grudges, salted claims, clandestine affairs, elaborate swindles, fortunes made and lost, shipwrecks, blackmail, and more. The author addresses timeless topics such as love, greed, class, communication, truth, brotherhood, and revenge. It will appeal to readers of literature that enjoy complex non-linear storytelling. This book won the Man Booker Prize in 2013.

Link to My GR Review

I demolished this a couple of Christmases ago, and loved it - but I’m glad I tackled it when I was relaxed and on holiday otherwise I might never have made it through. It’s so self consciously created - its very cleverness is distancing (the Dickensian writing style and melodrama, the spiral form to the chapters, the zodiac stuff, the cast of thousands). After some WTF moments, I decided just to throw myself into it and not think about it too much and that seemed to work. I got to the end of the book and went ‘what just happened?!’ as I came blinking back into the sunlight. I remember the experience fine. The story? It’s a little hazy...!

KateNZ wrote: "I demolished this a couple of Christmases ago, and loved it - but I’m glad I tackled it when I was relaxed and on holiday otherwise I might never have made it through. It’s so self consciously crea..."
Glad to hear you loved it too! It definitely takes perseverance and a holiday would be a great time to read it. I had put it on my list of "definite reads" for the year, and I kept putting it off due to its length but I finally got to it and found it was a great story. Thanks for sharing your insights. There were so many aspects to this book. I'm sure I didn't catch all the astrological implications.

Great review, thanks! I've been intrigued by this one for a while but it sounds like I need to wait until I find a time I could give it my full attention.