Jaidee's Reviews > The Luminaries
The Luminaries
by
by
5 "superlative, intricate and fascinating" stars !!
4th Favorite Read of 2015
Wow just wow. This is a very long book and so I developed a quiz to see if you are a potential reader of this most amazing tome.
1. Did you love "The Alienist" by Caleb Carr?
2. Did you adore "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel?
3. Do you like your mysteries intelligent, complex and compelling?
4. Do you like stories with elements of the supernatural, murder, blackmail and intrigue?
5. Do you like your women wicked and your men wickeder?
6. Do you like writing that is formal, elegant and with a systematic style that ties in
brilliantly to both plot and character?
7. Are you fascinated by New Zealand or the chaotic wild west?
If you answered yes to two or more of these questions then what are you waiting for...giddyup to your nearest bookstore or library and pick this up as it will take you many hours to finish.
On a more serious note- this book is absolutely exquisite and perfect in every way. Ms. Catton at the age of 28 has written a novel that will stand the test of time.
This book reminded me of a complex mandala ....broad at the outside and like a whirlpool draws you in quicker and quicker so that you are immersed in a world that you never want to leave. This novel is systematic, mystical and endlessly fascinating. She uses astrological charts and also personality traits to predict the futures of her fifteen or so main characters. One could easily do a PHD thesis on this work and believe me I'm sure there are people at it right now.
Ms. Catton...thanks so darn much...I'm mighty obliged ma'am :)
4th Favorite Read of 2015
Wow just wow. This is a very long book and so I developed a quiz to see if you are a potential reader of this most amazing tome.
1. Did you love "The Alienist" by Caleb Carr?
2. Did you adore "Wolf Hall" by Hilary Mantel?
3. Do you like your mysteries intelligent, complex and compelling?
4. Do you like stories with elements of the supernatural, murder, blackmail and intrigue?
5. Do you like your women wicked and your men wickeder?
6. Do you like writing that is formal, elegant and with a systematic style that ties in
brilliantly to both plot and character?
7. Are you fascinated by New Zealand or the chaotic wild west?
If you answered yes to two or more of these questions then what are you waiting for...giddyup to your nearest bookstore or library and pick this up as it will take you many hours to finish.
On a more serious note- this book is absolutely exquisite and perfect in every way. Ms. Catton at the age of 28 has written a novel that will stand the test of time.
This book reminded me of a complex mandala ....broad at the outside and like a whirlpool draws you in quicker and quicker so that you are immersed in a world that you never want to leave. This novel is systematic, mystical and endlessly fascinating. She uses astrological charts and also personality traits to predict the futures of her fifteen or so main characters. One could easily do a PHD thesis on this work and believe me I'm sure there are people at it right now.
Ms. Catton...thanks so darn much...I'm mighty obliged ma'am :)
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Reading Progress
October 16, 2013
– Shelved as:
to-read
October 16, 2013
– Shelved
May 8, 2015
– Shelved as:
jaidee-s-next-three-reads
June 12, 2015
–
Started Reading
June 12, 2015
–
1.0%
June 13, 2015
–
2.0%
June 14, 2015
–
3.0%
June 14, 2015
–
6.0%
June 15, 2015
–
7.0%
June 15, 2015
–
9.0%
June 15, 2015
–
10.0%
June 16, 2015
–
12.0%
June 16, 2015
–
13.0%
June 16, 2015
–
15.0%
June 17, 2015
–
16.0%
June 17, 2015
–
17.0%
June 17, 2015
–
18.0%
June 17, 2015
–
19.0%
June 18, 2015
–
20.0%
June 19, 2015
–
21.0%
June 19, 2015
–
23.0%
June 19, 2015
–
25.0%
June 19, 2015
–
27.0%
June 19, 2015
–
28.0%
June 20, 2015
–
30.0%
June 21, 2015
–
31.0%
June 22, 2015
–
32.0%
June 22, 2015
–
34.0%
June 22, 2015
–
36.0%
June 23, 2015
–
37.0%
June 23, 2015
–
38.0%
June 24, 2015
–
39.0%
June 25, 2015
–
40.0%
June 25, 2015
–
41.0%
June 25, 2015
–
42.0%
June 26, 2015
–
43.0%
June 26, 2015
–
44.0%
June 27, 2015
–
45.0%
June 29, 2015
–
46.0%
June 29, 2015
–
47.0%
June 30, 2015
–
48.0%
June 30, 2015
–
49.0%
July 2, 2015
–
50.0%
July 2, 2015
–
52.0%
July 2, 2015
–
53.0%
July 3, 2015
–
55.0%
July 4, 2015
–
56.0%
July 4, 2015
–
57.0%
July 4, 2015
–
61.0%
July 5, 2015
–
64.0%
July 6, 2015
–
6.0%
July 6, 2015
–
66.0%
July 7, 2015
–
67.0%
July 7, 2015
–
68.0%
July 8, 2015
–
70.0%
July 9, 2015
–
73.0%
July 13, 2015
–
75.0%
July 14, 2015
–
77.0%
July 15, 2015
–
80.0%
July 16, 2015
–
81.0%
July 17, 2015
–
82.0%
July 18, 2015
–
86.0%
July 18, 2015
–
92.0%
July 19, 2015
–
95.0%
July 19, 2015
– Shelved as:
five-stars-books
July 19, 2015
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 99 (99 new)
message 1:
by
Squire
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Jul 19, 2015 07:50PM
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Bloody good choice Squire :)
Thanks so much Teresa. What did you score on the quiz by the way?
O i do hope you enjoy it Cindy :)
Lol Marita. Such a special book this is!!
I do hope your destiny includes this book Agnieszka !!
Thank you so much Dolors :)
Thanks so much Seemita. I absolutely love Mandalas. I often use them in meditation.
A 3. So I guess I should read it. ;)
I'd tried the first chapter about a year or so ago and wasn't pulled in immediately, but maybe I should give it another try, especially as I love books that someone could do a thesis on -- that quality reminds me of how I felt about Marias' Tomorrow in the Battle Think on Me.
A 3. So I guess I should read it. ;)
I'd tried the first chapter about a year or so ago and wasn't pulled in im..."
The oracle says "Teresa Teresa (in a deep basso voice) the number 3 is an auspicious number and so now YOU MUST read the Luminaries" :P
Thank you so much Helle. Yes a five means that reading this book is no longer optional :}
Thanks kindly Rowena. I hope that when you read it that you enjoy it immensely.
:) Well, if the oracle says so ... ;)
Thanks Sarah...do you think its possible to love both the Lumianries and the Goldfinch because the Goldfinch is third on my list on my tbr list.
Thanks Sarah...do you think its possible to love both the Lumianries and the Goldfinch because th..."
Ha Ha! Of course it's possible. Some of my best friends are Goldfinch lovers. But I would argure that Catton's ability to inhabit an entire universe (instead of throwing around arcane details) is what makes her book so darn compelling.
I hope so, Jaidee. Because I loved The Goldfinch.
Thanks Sarah...do you think its possible to love both the Lumianries and the Goldf..."
O thanks, Sarah. I'm so curious now about your comment and will keep it in mind as I read the Golfinch.
I hope so, Jaidee. Because I loved The Goldfinch."
Good I hope I love it too. BTW I left you a question on your Marias review and I am patiently waiting a response.
Thanks for letting me know and being so patient. ;) I didn't see it and am going there now.
Your welcome. I hope you dive right in and really enjoy it.
thanks so much dear dustin...I hope you read it someday
thanks so much dear dus..."
I plan on it, thanks again.:)
Thanks kindly Arah-Linda :)
No Dustin but I have recently added it to my long list which means it will be at least 3 to 4 years before I get to it.
Thanks so much Deanna. It really is one of my top reads this year. :)
Thanks so much Mike. Hope you love it as much as I did.
Thanks so much Sabah :)
The book is incredible Gautam.
I think for many it is a matter of patience...I have much of it and I adored the unfolding of this story...I am very happy that you are enjoying it Nageen.
in many ways this is a 5 star book for me and perhaps one of my favorite books. unfortunately just one annoying thing annoyed me, in a major way, which is why I became miserly and didn't give it a fifth star.