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Angie
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Aug 31, 2011 02:24AM
Use this folder to discuss 'The Larnachs'.
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I'm off to Christchurch for the weekend and had to pack two books in my bag. I am very close to finishing 'Little Women' for the first time. Then it's time to start reading 'The Larnachs'. I'm really looking forward to it, and think I will treat myself to another visit of the castle when I am done.
I've just read the first two chapters of The Larnachs. Chapter 1 from Conny's perspective and Chapter 2 from Dougie's. Having been to The Camp - Larnach's Castle on a number of occasions, it is easy to picture the house and surrounding area. Conny is an incredibly confident and intelligent young woman. I'm looking forward to reading more.
I am currently sourcing a copy of the Larnachs to take part in the reading challenge for this month.
I've been to Larnach Castle. It's great. I can still picture it in my mind. As a historical novelist I took particular interest in the servant's areas and the stables etc where the common people toiled and contrasted that with the interior of the house where the upper classes lived. Things like that fascinate me. I am just starting the book now, I hope to have an opinion on it soon.
Gee, The Larnachs is quite pricey. Does anyone know the cheapest place to get it?
I got my copy off Whitcoulls online. It was about $29.99 including postage, I think. It was the cheapest I could find and I tried a lot of websites. You're right about it being pricey. I usually buy my books through bookdepository.co.uk. Cheap books, prompt service and free postage. They didn't have The Larnachs a few weeks ago, but may do now.
Fishpond seems to have it for $29.65 with free postage at present. I'm about #200 on the library waiting list...
Ha ha, the author talks of gawpers in the prologue. Only a kiwi would undertsand that word.A uniquely Kiwi book. many place names and native flora mentioned. I wonder sometimes how someone from overseas would find this, but I like it.
I'm finding the book to be well writtten and quite easy to read so far.
This one is a bit expensive for me. (Being a struggling author and all). I'm on the waiting list at the library for it, could be a while though.
If you pay for the return postage, you can borrow my copy once I'm finished with it, Colleen.
I'm well over half way through now. As much as I like Conny's intelligence and confidence, I dislike her harsh opinions of others and the way in which she perceives herself as above the common folk and many of the gentry. I guess that is how things were back then. Interesting that she is beginning to wear some of that attitude from people who were once her friends. I've visited the castle many times, and it remains a magnificent house. It is interesting to learn more about The Camp in the days it was a family home.
Hello I am a new member. I live in Auckland and immigrated here from the US 11 years ago. I love to read and I'm looking forward to being a member of a Kiwi book club.I just finished reading the Larnachs and enjoyed the story, as I had an opportunity to visit the castle last year when I went on a road trip of the South island.
I found Connie to be intelligent, but a bit guiless to imagine that she could conduct an affair with Dougie under his father's nose and not be discovered, especially with all the servants they had around in those days. I did admire her view, however, on women's rights and I'm sure it is women like her who led the way for the early recognition to give women the vote. She was a pioneer in her time. I suppose that's also what propelled her to believe that she had the right to pursue her own happiness, independent of husband or society.
I was just a bit disappointed at the end of the book; I felt it could have expanded into more detail, but then I had the sense that perhaps the author was hinting that he might write another book.
As for the writing itself, I found the story interesting. It's always fun I think to get a fictionalized account of history. I did, however, find the writing a bit stilted in that there was an extensive use of adjectives for description and not much flow. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the book and am glad to have read a bit more about the castle and to get a deeper look into early New Zealand history, especially the lives of women.
Looking forward to future books. Linda
Thanks for joining in with our group read, Linda. I agree with all that you said, especially re Conny's decision to conduct an affair in the family home surrounded by servants. I am also interested to learn what happened next in the lives of Conny and Dougie. I finished the book this morning and like you enjoy history that has been fictionalised. I went to the England v Argentina RWC game in Dunedin last night and began a discussion with some friends about the book as we walked past the Hocken Library. It mentioned in the book that Hocken intended to leave all his readings and books to Dunedin, and it is nice to see that his name is still well-recognised about the area. I also wonder how the book would have differed if William Larnach had been given chapters interspersed between Conny and Dougie. Feel free to nominate a book or two for our October group reads. There are definitely some good books out there by NZ authors.
So, I've read the first 100 or so pages of The Larnachs, and although I find it well written and easy to read I'm still waiting for something to 'happen'. A bit of action would be welcome, but I guess I'll have to wait and see what develops.I find Conny hard to empathise with, I think she's a bit self-centered and the writer doesn't seem to give her any real emotions. She's like an empty shell.
I LOVE the cover, especially the embossed bit at the back.
You are reading fast! Does anyway else want to borrow my copy of The Larnachs after Colleen? I'm more than happy for Colleen to forward it on to you.
I found the Larnachs to be intellectually satisfying, on the whole, but my personal taste leans towards a bit more 'action'. The author does indeed build some depth into the characters, which I like, and is not afraid to show their flaws, which I also like.I did find myself yearning for something exciting to happen in parts when the author got a bit bogged down in description or narration, and I found it really hard to empathise with Connie at times too. She was a child of her time, and as such she saw the world diffently to those in our time, and sometimes came across as a bit naiive or conceited, but she had spirit, and for a woman living in her day that was admirable.
I enjoyed the book.
