OcUK Book Club #6: Sebastian Barry - A Long Long Way

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Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It's another book.

Hmm, I really need to work on these openers!

Our sixth book, as submitted by Masterdog, and chosen by gillywibble is: Sebastian Barry - A Long Long Way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Long_Long_Way

A Long Long Way is a novel by Irish author Sebastian Barry set during the First World War. The protagonist Willie Dunne leaves Dublin to fight for the Allies as a member of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He is caught between the war playing out on foreign fields and that festering at home, waiting to erupt with the Easter Rising.

The novel was short listed for the Booker Prize in 2005. In a 2009 National Public Radio interview, author R.L. Stine stated that A Long Long Way was one of the most beautifully written books he had ever read, and gave copies of the novel to friends and family to read.
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So it seems that we'll be carrying on with our little world at war theme for this one. Hope you enjoy! :)
 
Nix, completely off topic - but head into REED in Southend about jobs at Essex House (Lloyds) we are giving them a job order soon, if they don't have it yet get on the books ready for when they do...

If you already have work, then grats and ignore! :)
 
I finished this novel about three weeks ago.

I found the book fairly disturbing, in the sense that it really brought the tragedy of the First World War home to me. Typically, one cannot understand the depth and tragedy of an event when talking about the loss of millions of lives, it takes the story of one man to bring it home.

The book was extremely well written, the story line interesting if not somewhat depressing, but then that is clearly the point.

If I had one criticism, it would be that it ended rather abruptly.

9/10.
 
gillywibble said:
If I had one criticism, it would be that it ended rather abruptly.

9/10.
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Thanks for getting back to this gillywibble. :)

Incidently, I really must order my copy of this when I get paid. I've been a little preoccupied with my own literature tangents recently. :p

As for the above, I'd imagine - although I cannot be certain - that that may well be a reflection on man's mortality during the whole conflict. When I recall videos of men going over, it just seems so sterile and pointless. They're marching and just, silently dropping down - dead before they hit the floor. There was no neat little ending for those souls. I'll have to have a read and get back to you on that. ;)
 
Nix said:
As for the above, I'd imagine - although I cannot be certain - that that may well be a reflection on man's mortality during the whole conflict. When I recall videos of men going over, it just seems so sterile and pointless. They're marching and just, silently dropping down - dead before they hit the floor. There was no neat little ending for those souls.
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A very good point and something that hadn't occurred to me. Assuming that this was Barry's intention, then I have to give the book full marks.
 
jas72 said:
ah a book club can we order this as an ebook anywhere?
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You can indeed, very first search for eBooks brought up this site and they seem to have it for sale. I've not searched hard so you may well be able to find a cheaper alternative but that's a starting point at least.

I decided against taking part in the book club this time round but I'd be up for restarting whenever the next book is chosen.
 
Oo, Im pretty new to the forums, so ive only just noticed this book club. I hope I can get involved at some point next year.
Is there anything I should know about the book club in advance? Like dont talk about book club & be sure as hell not to let your boss catch you 'attending' book club on work hours ;) .. not that Id ever do such a thing ;)
Also does the club stick to on genre of book or is it nicely mixed up?
 
PixieLandGirl said:
Oo, Im pretty new to the forums, so ive only just noticed this book club. I hope I can get involved at some point next year.
Is there anything I should know about the book club in advance? Like dont talk about book club & be sure as hell not to let your boss catch you 'attending' book club on work hours ;) .. not that Id ever do such a thing ;)
Also does the club stick to on genre of book or is it nicely mixed up?
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It's all nicely mixed up. We usually tend to pool a few ideas then pick one out of the proverbial hat. I've been keeping record of all our threads here, so feel free to take a look or bring a few threads back to life if you fancy joining in.

I'll probably select one last title from the current pool then open up the floor to new input again come January.
 
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Thats fab, ive joined the group ready. I best get started on my Stieg Larsson novel before I cram my shelves with any additional books :p

Does the group have a general thread at all to discuss fav authors or genres?
 
hnfmr said:
Hi guys, where can I get more information on OCUK BOok club? Thx
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There's the link to the group that Nix posted above where he has been keeping track of the relevant threads but other than that just keep an eye on this forum and you'll see the threads pop up from time to time. Posting in this thread is a good start as usually there'll be a question posted in here which will determine the choice of the next book and then a new thread created for that book.

PixieLandGirl: We don't have a thread for discussion of favourite authors or genres yet but feel free to create one.
 
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