The Luminaries

I watched it all. I agree about the dark.
I know I didn’t fall asleep, but feel I missed some of the plot, as I couldn’t quite follow how things seemed to change, but could be me.
Hmm, shall probably tune in tonight, but not sure if I will keep watching TBH.

It was dark and normally I don’t like that but I got strangely drawn into the story and enjoyed it.

Watched last night. Probably won’t bother with tonight’s episode.

Wasn't over impressed last night.

She arrived looking quite smart, how after a sea voyage of goodness knows how long?

Seemed quite articulate, but illiterate.

Flashbacks between times were confusing.

Will give it another go tonight, but it needs to buck up a bit!

We decided not to watch another episode. Couldn’t follow the story line and lost interest.

I ploughed through the book a few years ago, I say "ploughed" because it was overly long, over 800 pages and I found it dull! However, sometimes the dramatisations can be better than the book, as in the case of "Ordinary People" so I will persevere with it, I can't remember much about the plot other than it was set in the New Zealand Gold Rush era, mid 19th century and yes the dark didn't help much with the plot. I wonder who thought this would make a good drama, I didn't find the book riveting.

I must admit, Phoenix I did think she had very little luggage for a six month trip and her first day in NZ was extremely eventful!

I bought the book on Kindle years ago but have never read it. For some reason that I cannot recall why, I thought it was about the Bloomsbury Set.

Unwatchable!

Wow TerriBull you managed to read the whole book? I’m impressed. I persevered for about half of it and gave up. I thought I would watch it last night but gave up 3/4 through. Managed to vaguely follow story line thanks to reading book. It was not luminary for me. Glad others found it the same.

Not keen to pursue it.

SueDonin, definitely not about the Bloomsbury set! 25Avalon, don't be impressed, I shouldn't have persevered it was a waste of time, Booker prize no less, but as with others that have won that accolade that doesn't always mean it's going to be good, well an enjoyable read is subjective of course, but lets just say I've read worse particularly Booker Prize winners! that said "The Luminaries" was far from what I'd call a good read. I don't think this series is going to be a great success somehow or other.

I've just seen I've made a mistake in my first post meant "Normal People" not "Ordinary People".

It didn’t look very Bloomsbury set, Terribull!

I shall delete it from my Kindle. I’ve got lots more enjoyable books to read.

I watched but was not inspired by it at all I ll see if it revs up at all tonight but so far it’s a ??

A bit of useless information about the lead actress, Eve Hewson, Bono's daughter no less! not that she can make the plot any better, so if it doesn't grab you now it probably never will. I don't know why I'm bothering to watch it really other than my husband says he will continue with it

The critic in Radio Times said it was a bit bonkers... I haven't seen it yet, but have recorded the first episode.

I was going to watch until I saw those 3 dreaded words “Booker Prize Winner” guaranteed borefest

I posted on the other thread about this

it seems to be yet another BBC drama set partly in the dark. Is it just me?
Those were DH's words too
Another dark and dismal BBC drama so we can scarcely see what's going on.

I have read many books about early European settlement in New Zealand and Australia and any one could have been televised and made into much better drama than this.

OK, so she is illiterate - but is she that stupid too? If you found your purse would you not take it and go? Unless, of course, she had worked as a prostitute in London and that was her intention, to go to the goldfields as a prostitute and get rich that way.

phoenix to arrive in NZ that well dressed and clean after weeks at sea she can't have travelled cattle class so must have had some money.

I don't mind a few spoilers please, Terribull - if you type SPOILER at the top of the post others can avoid it. I won't have to watch the rest then.

I forgot to watch it last night but was thinking of watching it on i-Player. However, I tried to read it when it first came out and didn't get very far. 'Dark' was my main impression so I'm not surprised to read the impressions on this thread. So thanks very much, everyone. You've saved me from the boredom of confirming my previous impressions of the book.

Really pleased to read the above reviews as I thought it was just me being confused by time shifts.

There's always the playground of the rich which is Monaco on BBC2, which I was watching until this series started.
It's like a very rich Benidorm

I watched the first part but with the combination of unending gloom and endless flashbacks and flash forwards I was no wiser at the end. I'm recording tonight's and might have another look at it.

Well I m no further forward tonight after the second one than I was after the first one
No not really enjoying it

I watched it last night and probably won’t bother to watch further episodes as it had two things that annoy me: scenes in the dark and hopping back and forth in time

I have read the book....yes, it takes some ploughing through as others have said.?
The only reason that I persevered is that it was so wonderfully descriptive, evocative, and generally well written.
What it needed was some serious editing.
The main female character ( can’t remember her name) is a prostitute and heroin addict, and every man seems to be in love with her.I found her very tiresome.