As the Earth Turns Silver by Alison Wong

From the late nineteenth century to the 1920s, from Kwantung, China to Wellington and Dunedin and the battlefields of the Western Front - a story of two families. Yung faces a new land that does not welcome the Chinese. Alone, Katherine struggles to raise her children and find her place in the world. In a climate of hostility towards the foreign newcomers, Katherine and Yung embark on a poignant and far-reaching love affair ... 

This book gave us a lot of food for discussion - our own impressions of Wellington, understanding how different groups struggle to integrate into our world.  

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with the rest of the group.

Book selection for 2013

 So everyone has replied to the survey about books for 2013.  Thanks for making the effort.   Here are the results…

A book that has been read by 3 or more people is not being included in the list, so if you want to read these books, you will need to source them yourself.  They are

Caleb's crossing by Geraldine Brooks

Jane Austin book club by Karen Joy Fowler

The Larnachs by Owen Marshall

At home: A short history of private life by Bill Bryson

The Hare With Amber Eyes by Edmund De Waal

The top 25 books that are part of our selection are (in order)

Cellist of Sarajevo, The by Steven Galloway

Something for the birds by Jacqueline Fahey

Paris Wife, The by Paula McLain

In the place of fallen leaves by Tim Pears

Various pets alive and dead by Marina Lewycka

Hand that held mine first, The by Maggie O'Farrell

Before I Go To Sleep by SJ  Watson

Conductor, The by Sarah Quigley

Get on the waka by Witi Ihimaera

Anil's ghost by Michael Ondaatje

State of Wonder by Ann  Patchett

Madonnas of Leningrad, The by Debra Dean

Bright star; Beatrice Hill Tinsley, Astronomer by Christine Cole Catly

Memory Palace, The by Mira Bartok

Cutting for stone by Abraham Verhese

Started early, took my dog by Kate Atkinson

Access Road by Maurice Gee

Degrees of separation by Laurence Fearnley

All that I am by Anna Funder

Every last one by Anna Quindlen

Sense of an ending, The by Julian Barnes

Truth by Peter Temple

When God was a rabbit by Sarah Winman

Colour, The by Rose Tremain

Life Like Other People's, A by Alan Bennett

Unfortunately there is no guarantee that we will get these books, but at least it has been a lot more democratic this time.   I hope you enjoyed the whole process.