The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
Set during the New Zealand Gold Rush of the 19th century, this novel follows Walter Moody, a prospector who stumbles upon a secret meeting of twelve local men who are trying to solve a series of unsolved crimes. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the crimes, which include a rich man's disappearance, a prostitute's attempted suicide, and a huge fortune found in a drunkard's cottage, are all interconnected. The novel's complex narrative structure, which uses astrology to organize its characters and events, adds another layer of intrigue to the story.
The 3271st greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 2013
- Nationality
- New Zealand
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 832
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(4.0)
- Alternate Titles
- None
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 9 lists:
- 13th on The 50 best New Zealand books of the past 50 years (Spinoff)
- 31st on 100 Best Books to Read by Women Authors (Good Housekeeping)
- 2552nd on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 100 novels that make you proud to be Canadian (CBC Books)
- 20 Best New Zealand Books of the 21st Century (The Conversation)
- 87 Books Written by Women That Are So Good, You Won't Be Able to Put Them Down (Pop Sugar)
- Booker Prize (Booker Prize)
- Ockham New Zealand Yearly Fiction Award Winners (Ockham New Zealand Book Awards)
- The Big Jubilee Read (BBC)