by Tim Winton
Well, a great discussion as always and some very thoughtful reflections not just on Eyrie, but on life in general and the state of the world.
A small stalwart group but no holds barred when it comes to considering Eyrie or Fourth Revolution.
Sorry to miss absent members, so contributions appreciated. Mike, it’s definitely your book, and it did get a mixed reaction – as I suspect that you saw coming. The general consensus was that the style of writing either captivated or repelled. One member admits to simply not being able to get into the book after 50 pages and for one I admitted that I stagnated the first go around and then tried an audio version with no more success and only through perseverance was able to make inroads. That being said I did get into it and admittedly struck close to home in many respects for me, but the striking home was not where I wanted to be. Would be interested Mike in little more on the truth you found in it. It struck close to home on some things for me and this troubled rather than engaged and I admit that it tended to distress and depress me. But something in that does talk to the power of the writing. It was about rescuers and victims, but also very much about circumstances and the situational dynamics of relationships.
Jim expressed a real connection with the Australian idioms and the way in which Winton was able to convey his appreciation of place. I had a tendency to struggle with the interior monologue an also with what I found to be the excessive description – clearly something that appealed to others. The low score for the book was 6 and a high from those attending of 8 (Jim?). I actually gave it a 7/7.5. It was extremely well crafted for all I give out and am going to try another of his books to see what sort of breadth he has in his repertoire. Am going to now leave to others to throw in.
Fourth Revolution inspired a well-spirited discussion but I think was seen as being somewhat overblown in terms of the number of words to convey less than abstract concepts. What could have been accomplished in far fewer distractions? Jim also was left unconvinced by the arguments and supporting evidence. All I think agree that there we find ourselves as a civilisation in an unsustainable position but actual nature of what it would take to spark a fourth revolution is largely left undiscussed other than the overarching situation itself, which at this stage doesn’t seem to be resolution sparking. Good discussion over evolution versus evolution and the nature of perspectives on how one measures and dissects how we define a society.
Onward.
The book selected for next read is an overdue non-fiction and selected is the new TK Whittaker biography by Anne Chambers. It’s gotten a bit of controversy but I know I have enjoyed Chambers writing in the past I am rather hopeful of it and hope that we all do enjoy.