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The Choke
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
I never had words to ask anybody the questions, so I never had the answers. Abandoned by her mother as a toddler and only occasionally visited by her volatile father who keeps dangerous secrets, Justine is raised solely by her Pop, an old man tormented by visions of the Burma Railway. Justine finds sanctuary in Pop's chooks and The Choke, where the banks of the Murray River are so narrow they can almost touch - a place of staggering natural beauty that is both a source of peace and danger. Although Justine doesn't know it, her father is a menacing criminal and the world she is exposed to is one of great peril to her. She has to make sense of it on her own - and when she eventually does, she knows what she has to do. A brilliant, haunting novel about a child navigating an often dark and uncaring world of male power, guns and violence, in which grown-ups can't be trusted and comfort can only be found in nature, The Choke is a compassionate and claustrophobic vision of a child in danger and a society in deep trouble. Sofie Laguna, winner of the 2015 Miles Franklin Award for The Eye of the Sheep, once again shows she is a writer of rare empathy, originality and blazing talent.
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review
whatrebeccasread
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Mehso-so

“The Choke” isn‘t an easy read, it‘s gritty and it‘s disturbing in places, but don‘t let that put you off – author Sofie Laguna is highly praised and rightfully so. This is a powerful read but not one I can say I enjoyed all that much – it‘s 3 stars from me.

My full review is up on my blog now 📚

Soubhiville Great photo! 4y
CarolynM I was put off this by her previous book. Have you read it? 4y
whatrebeccasread @CarolynM I actually didn't know this author had written anything else! I haven't read any others but have just read the blurb for The Eye of the Sheep and don't think that one is my kind of thing either. 4y
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review
Rissreads
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Pickpick

#Ozfiction #LitsyAtoZ letter 'L'
I loved this book. I listened to the first third and read the rest. I was so invested in it that I couldn‘t go to sleep last night until I finished it. Laguna does an amazing job at narrating as a 9 to 14 yr old. This book is devastating and yes I had an ugly cry. I will definitely read her other book ‘The eye of the sheep‘.

TrishB Stacked 👍🏻 sounds interesting. 5y
AntoinetteBuchanan Eye of the Sheep is wonderful 5y
Rissreads @TrishB what‘s really distressing about this book is lots of children live in these kinds of worlds where the adults are not really the adults and they have to fend for themselves 😩 5y
TrishB I know, that‘s awful 😔 5y
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review
Christine11
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Pickpick

This book is a raw and intense book of a young girl growing up in poverty and neglect in 1970‘s Australia. It‘s so good and my full review is on my blog now if you fancy reading!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
https://lifewithallthebooks.com/2019/03/30/the-choke-by-sofie-laguna-review/

I received the book from the publisher. My review is my own honest opinion.

candority I love that cover! 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Pretty pic ❤️❤️ 5y
Christine11 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you lovely 💛😊 5y
62 likes3 comments
review
Jeg
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Pickpick

Another Aussie read for me. I loved her first book but a bit unsure about this one. Great writing but for me uncomfortable subject. At least it had my kind of ending. @MrsMalaprop

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TheCuriousHousecat
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Pickpick

This book was so good I have to rate it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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MrsMalaprop
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Pickpick

This novel was a #guiltypleasure. I devoured it whilst knowing it felt wrong and ‘soapy‘ and kind of trashy. A bit like All The Ugly and Wonderful Things.
(Sorry about the gratuitous donut pic)
#ozfiction

CarolynM I thought you meant the donut at first😂 (edited) 6y
MrsMalaprop @CarolynM 😂 I devoured the donut too 😋. 6y
saresmoore @CarolynM Me, too! Perfect analogous donut. 🍩 6y
RebelReader @CarolynM I thought the same thing! 😂 6y
59 likes4 comments
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MrsMalaprop
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Making a start. #ozfiction

Teresereading It‘s great, I loved it. 6y
CarolynM I'll be interested to see your review of this one. Did you read The Eye of the Sheep? 6y
MrsMalaprop Sure did @CarolynM & loved it. It was set in Altona where I grew up, which was fascinating. I recall reading about the hills & thinking that there are none 🤔. Have you read it? 6y
CarolynM Yes and I really didn't like it. A lot of people have told me how good this one is but I am very reluctant to try. 6y
MrsMalaprop Understandably if you didn‘t like her first one @CarolynM. Her style is weird and the subject matter dark. I liked the uniqueness. 6y
41 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Redheadrambles
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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#Aprilwrapup A good month of books. No 5-Star reads but some very solid 4s. It would be a toss up between two Australian books for best of the month - The Fish Girl and The Choke were excellent.
8/24 on #ReadHarder2018

ClairesReads A solid month and up to date with read harder! Well done 👍 6y
24 likes1 comment
review
ClairesReads
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Pickpick

This novel is gritty, confronting, uncomfortable and challenging in its subject material. It deals with real issues, PTSD, violence and assault; and the neglect of children, that occurred around and because of this. Rural Australia is as stark and oppressive as ever, and serves its purpose well, as character, tension builder, witness to the crimes. What impressed me most about this novel, was the skill with which Laguna manages a child narrator.

Neale Hey Claire how did you get the uncorrected proof copy? The collector in me is very jealous. ;) 6y
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ClairesReads @Neale from the publisher through Facebook I think for this one. I still have a couple of contacts at publishers from when I worked in bookselling and they occasionally hook me up as well! 6y
Neale Oh man now I‘m even more jealous! Hahaha ;) 6y
Joanne1 Great review. I felt the same way about this novel. Have you read her first novel - also a brilliantly executed child narrator. 6y
ClairesReads @Joanne1 I haven‘t but I‘m really keen to read it now...I thought this was excellent 6y
ClairesReads @Neale hahaha sorry to make you jealous! 6y
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quote
ClairesReads
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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#indiebuddyread quote spam

Redheadrambles And appropriate river image as an extra bonus 👍🏻 6y
ClairesReads @Redheadrambles Yass- love a good image 6y
32 likes2 comments
quote
ClairesReads
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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So behind on my buddy read but THIS MOMENT GUYS #indiebuddyread

Redheadrambles @ClairesReads on quote fire again ! I read this book so quickly I didn‘t even have time to ponder good quotes ! But this is a beauty 6y
ClairesReads @Redheadrambles 🙏🏻 you know me- love a good quote! 6y
Redwritinghood There are a lot of these little jewels in the book. Sometimes the language just flows along and you can miss them. It‘s good you‘re taking the time to savor them. 6y
28 likes3 comments
review
Redheadrambles
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This might be one of the best new Australian novels I have read in some time.
Laguna has such a deft hand at writing from a child's point of view. She is also a master at creating tension. It is exceptionally good writing of place. In this regard it reminds me a lot of Tim Winton.

What a great new ( to me ) Australian novelist to watch and also to seek out her previous novels.
#indiebuddyreads

Neale Totally agree! I will be reading her other two books. :) 6y
28 likes1 comment
review
Redwritinghood
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Pickpick

#indiebuddyreads Finished up this frustratingly sad book today. It involves a young girl trying to navigate a confusing world without much support from the adults in her life. I was glad that she finally gained some agency near the end, but for most of the book I just wanted to help her. The writing seemed jarring to me at first, but it fits the voice of a young girl and I grew used to it. Thanks to my buddy readers for introducing me to this one.

AceOnRoam Glad you liked it, I love this author so much 💕💕💕 6y
Redheadrambles Great review pleased you liked it in the end - I also struggled to get the rhythm of it at the start 6y
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ClairesReads
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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This family dynamic is so complicated but so well constructed #indiebuddyread

Redheadrambles @ClairesReads hey there I hope your ok or maybe away or under a landslide of school marking commitments? Hopefully still enjoying the book ? It‘s weird I miss you when your not around now - haha 6y
ClairesReads @Redheadrambles oh mate! Sorry I‘m MIA and I‘m so behind on this read. I‘m away at a conference And was such a shambles organising myself for it on Sunday before I left. I‘m staying up now to finish this read because I can‘t stop myself reading our good reads thread any longer!!! 6y
Redheadrambles @ClairesReads no worries!! And no need to rush with the book I just was like oh I hope she‘s ok - which just shows how much we chat on here - haha ! 6y
ClairesReads @Redheadrambles it‘s actually so compelling! 6y
40 likes4 comments
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ClairesReads
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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The narrative voice in this novel is 🔥 #indiebuddyread

Redheadrambles @ClairesReads yes it‘s a superb start. I like the portrayal of dyslexia. It‘s all going to be so sad isn‘t it .... it has “portends of doom” about it. (edited) 6y
Redwritinghood @Redheadrambles I didn‘t pick up on the dyslexia yet. Maybe I haven‘t gotten far enough? 6y
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Redheadrambles @Redwritinghood well I assumed that is what her troubles with reading were - seeing words jumbled and letters out of order 6y
Redwritinghood @Redheadrambles Just got to that part. Yes, I think it has to be dyslexia. 6y
ClairesReads @Redwritinghood that‘s what I‘m getting from it too! 6y
34 likes6 comments
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Redheadrambles
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Stella Prize winner announcement tomorrow and starting this one in honour of that. Also it‘s April‘s #indiebuddyreads book of the month with @cmoo053 @AceOnRoam @Redwritinghood and whom every else is out their want to jump in ;)

Bookartbookmarks Great picture! 6y
Redheadrambles Oops yeah thanks Ace 6y
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ClairesReads Yes- loving what I‘ve read so far! It‘s very tense. 6y
AceOnRoam This pic is so beautiful @Redheadrambles 💚 6y
Redheadrambles @AceOnRoam thanks 🙏🏻 it is my post storm picture 6y
16 likes6 comments
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ClairesReads
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Getting a head start on the next #indiebuddyread which we will be discussing this weekend- since my school is closed today!

Redheadrambles Ohh how did you get an uncorrected proof copy ;) 6y
ClairesReads @Redheadrambles I got it ages ago I think from a publisher through Facebook! 6y
35 likes2 comments
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Redheadrambles
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Next three selections for the #indiebuddyreads bookclub. Normally it‘s one discussion weekend per month but April has so many literary prize shortlist‘s so we have the following schedule
April 14/15 The Choke ( Stella Prize longlister )
April 21 / 22 Frankenstein in Baghdad ( Booker International Prize )
May 5 / 5 See what I have done ( Woman‘s Prize longlist)

Join for one or join for all ;)

AceOnRoam I can't wait to read 6y
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Redheadrambles @AceOnRoam and we already know what you think of The Choke ;) 6y
ClairesReads I am so keen for all of these!! 6y
mklong I‘ll try to join you for the Frankenstein in Bagdad discussion. That one sounds so good! 6y
Redheadrambles @mklong it does indeed ! 6y
Redwritinghood I have See What I Have Done, so I‘m definitely in for that. I‘ll have to see if I can get the others from the library. 6y
Redheadrambles @Redwritinghood great ! I see we have ended up with two Australian books and one from Iraq so that‘s a nice bit of diversity right there ;) 6y
25 likes9 comments
review
Mich1
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Mehso-so

Well written but not my cup of tea. Frustratingly sad. #australianauthor #sofielaguna #australian

review
Joanne1
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
Pickpick

I found this a mesmerising, quite disturbing and deeply sad novel. I had to stop several times to pull myself together and remind myself that Justine was fictional. For me, Laguna, and her ability to tell such powerful stories through the eyes of a child (as she also did in Eye of the Sheep) is a masterful writer, but perhaps not for everyone.

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Joanne1
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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We've had a sweltering couple of Aussie summer days and between swims in this glorious beach I've been reading one of my favourite #aussieauthor. This book is really so good and deserve a bit more litsy love.

CarolynM Did you like The Eye of the Sheep? 6y
Joanne1 @CarolynM loved it! She has a real talent for telling heartbreaking stories through the eyes of a child. Have you read it? What did you think? 6y
CarolynM Don't hate me, but I really didn't like it at all. 6y
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Joanne1 @CarolynM of course I don't hate you, different strokes and all that. Have you read this one? I'd say if you didn't like Eye of the Sheep this one won't float your boat either. 6y
Joanne1 @CarolynM are you enjoying any particular Aussie authors at the moment? 6y
CarolynM I've heard lots of people saying they like The Choke without being able to ask about the other one, which is why I had to ask you. I don't think I'd like it either. My favourite read of last year was Between a Wolf and a Dog. It was the first Georgia Blain I'd read, so I've a few to catch up. (edited) 6y
CarolynM Also loved Sulari Gentill's Crossing the Lines as well as the latest in her Rowland Sinclair series. Enjoyed the Jane Harper's, also liked Steven Carroll and Fiona Capp's books 6y
Joanne1 @CarolynM ooh that gives me a few more authors to check out. Between a wolf and a dog has been on my radar for a while and I'm very much looking forward to Jane Harper's second novel. 6y
Abailliekaras I just bought this! It will be my first Sofie Laguna but my daughter has read and loved her children‘s books. Loved Berween a wolf and a dog @CarolynM ! 6y
MrsMalaprop @CarolynM & @Abailliekaras Great thread. We did The Eye Of The Sheep for Book Club a couple of years ago. I liked it but it was a very uncomfortable read. It was set where I grew up in Altona, which made it extra interesting! I think Between A Wolf & A Dog was my favourite 2017 read too. Want to read more of her work. 6y
Joanne1 @Abailliekaras I really wasn't aware she wrote for children until recently. What age group are they aimed at? @MrsMalaprop this one is perhaps even more uncomfortable than Eye of the Sheep (I tend to be drawn to that kind of book). And now I really will have to get Between a Wolf and a Dog. 6y
Abailliekaras @Joanne1 I think she writes some of the Australian Girl series. My daughter recommends for ages 6-9. 😊 6y
Joanne1 @Abailliekaras great. I have two daughters 6 and 8, I'll have to check these books out for them. 6y
70 likes4 stack adds13 comments
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McFarchie
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Starting this on audio 🤘🏽 🎧

58 likes2 stack adds
review
Gillyreads
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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Pickpick

Just finished The Choke. Totally devastating read. Highly recommend. Australian literary fiction

LeeRHarry I really don't think I can do this one...😳 6y
Gillyreads @LeeRHarry it‘s pretty intense 6y
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Joanne1
The Choke | Sofie Laguna
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I'm so excited about these three new releases. I'm working on lots of assignments in my library course this week and I think these would be the perfect reward for my hard work, don't you?

Abailliekaras Good choices! I enjoyed The Dry; have been meaning to read Sofie Laguna ever since I saw her breast-feeding while signing books at Writers' Week (what a legend) & can't ignore the hype about Little Fires Everywhere. 6y
Joanne1 @Abailliekaras I loved the previous books from all of these authors. Sofie Laguna's Eye of the Sheep was amazing, I would highly recommend it! 6y
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