Library Book Club

Winifred Bull

Isn’t it always the way?

Someone new wants to join and that is the day when all the other members have a perfectly good reason for not coming, like work , or sickness, or previous appointments. But it was good just to sit and chat and find we both came from South Canterbury and attended the same secondary school in Timaru.

So the books this month are; Judith Collins “Pull No Punches” and as Winifred said this book brought out the human side of our leader of the opposition. It showed a much different persona to the one we saw on the hustings. From a Waikato childhood as the youngest in the family, to  her becoming a stalwart of the National Party because its principles of economic and personal freedom resonated with Judith. An interesting book.

And then the book “Apeirogon” by Colum McCann is a powerful book that links so many facets of history, politics, the reality of the now in Israel/Palestine and functioning relationships into an amazing tale. Essentially it is the story of two fathers, one Israeli and one Palestinian each one who lose a daughter in the conflict between these two forces. Fourteen year old, Smadar dies at the hands of a suicide bomber and ten year old, Abir by a rubber bullet fired by a member of the border police. This book  had a page that so impacted on me, the futility of revenge, the need to understand, communicate and the way forward in sharing the pain of loss. This book is so good. I have purchased a copy for my bookshelf. And although it was longlisted for this years Man Booker it didn’t make the shortlist.  I would have made it the winner!

Next meeting Thursday 19^th Nov. 10.30 am at the library All welcome.

                        Glenys Hansen