Last Tuesday, Lou Anne R. mused “What is Eleanor About?” while discussing the works of Eleanor Catton. Lou Anne discovered Ms. Catton while searching for an author for her first presentation to the club. On the recommendation of a local bookstore, she started the works of Catton by reading Birnam Wood (2024) and worked her way back through The Luminaries (2013) to Catton’s first novel, The Rehearsal (2008).

Birnam Wood is a satire of the idealizations of youth, following a group of people who long for a live off the land lifestyle in a remote area of New Zealand. Like their predecessors of the 1960’s, the characters discuss important subjects, rail against capitalism while failing to be self sufficient, and promote the least use of resources while consuming excessive recreational drugs. The young commune moves on to the land of a knighted cynic and … “Read the book. It’s good. It has a surprising ending!” (Lou Anne R.).

Eleanor Catton won the Man Booker prize for her book The Luminaries. It is, in simple summary, a murder mystery set in the 1860’s New Zealand gold rush. On a deeper level, 12 characters represent the western Zodiac. Other characters represent heavenly bodies moving through each sign. Chapter titles give hints of this. This is a thoughtful, multi-layered book that takes time to work through.

Finally, Lou Anne tackled The Rehearsal, written as Catton’s graduate thesis. For Lou Anne (and for her friend), the start of the book was disgusting, with characters whose thoughts were repugnant. Lou Anne kept at this book – she found the author dwells on people with dysfunctional personalities. Nonetheless, in the final analysis Lou Anne found this book to be well worth it – it arouses emotions that stick with you after you turn the last page.

“Catton is an acquired taste – like blue cheese”. These books are complex, intellectual and rewarding to the patient reader. Like many admirers around the world, Lou Anne has acquired a taste for this author. The characters from these books seemed to live in Lou Anne’s house while she prepared her presentation – perhaps now they will move on peacefully.

We have one more presentation this spring. On Tuesday April 24, 2024 member Natashia H. will be presenting on author Brené Brown. Join us as guest on Tuesday or during our fall session by clicking on Contact Us.