Man Booker Prize Winner Intrigues Readers By John Sulzbach, Killingworth CT

Introduction• An arborist by profession, John Sulzbach of Killingworth,

CT, is an avid reader in his free time. John Sulzbach names Man Booker Prize-winning novel The Luminaries among his favorite works of fiction.

Eleanor Catton was only 28 years old when she won the Man Booker prize. She captured the honor in 2013, the last year the prize was open only to writers from the British Commonwealth and Ireland. The chair of judges who voted on the book reported a unanimous decision after two hours of discussion. The 832-page novel, the longest in prize history, offered them an experience rich with literary rewards.

Man Booker Prize Winner•Media outlets have described the book as a

murder mystery penned in 19th century style. Weaving through the perspectives of multiple protagonists, it centers on the death of a hermit and the loss of a vast fortune. The novel begins from the point of view of aspiring Scottish barrister Walter Moody, who steps out of the spotlight when the narrator lends omniscience to the process and shows readers the point of view of each person involved in the situation's intrigue.

Conclusion•The focus of the story turns to jailed prostitute

Anna Wetherell and a woman by the name of Lydia Wells, who takes Ms. Wetherell in to allow her to recover from illness. Their lives intertwine in an almost supernatural star-crossed relationship that can easily carry a reader's attention through to the final page. Enhanced with astrological references and epic-worthy settings, the work asks much from the reader but gives much in return.