Reading Circle  Tues April 6, 2021

Lily King: ‘Euphoria’ (2014)

In 1933 three young, gifted anthropologists are thrown together in the jungle of New Guinea. They are Nell Stone, fascinating, magnetic and famous for her controversial work studying South Pacific tribes, her intelligent and aggressive husband Fen, and Andrew Bankson, who stumbles into the lives of this strange couple and becomes totally enthralled. Within months the trio are producing their best ever work, but soon a firestorm of fierce love and jealousy  begins to burn out of control, threatening their bonds, their careers, and, ultimately, their lives …

Maria, Sandra and Andrew discuss the dramatic storyline, edgy characters, and the socio-poltical Zeitgeist. They also cover the tribal customs and the sexual mores described, as well as the narrative structure and style of this enthralling book.

Music: from Papua New Guinea, with bamboo tubes