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The Predictions
From the author of the acclaimed The Girl Below comes a stunning novel of one woman's attempt to outrun the destiny that is predicted for her, moving from a remote New Zealand commune in the waning days of 1970s free-love experimentation to the heady music scene of 1980s London.
Gaialands, a bucolic vegan commune in the New Zealand wilderness, is the only home fifteen-year-old Poppy has ever known. It's the epitome of 1970s counterculture--a place of free love, hard work, and high ideals...at least in theory. The reality is complicated and sometimes fraught, especially as its children reach adolescence. Poppy is drawn to handsome sixteen-year-old Lukas, who's increasingly skeptical of Gaialands and the adults who shape its rules.
To help 'heal' the commune's energy, new arrival Shakti harnesses her divination powers in a Predictions ceremony. All of Gaialands' teenagers receive a card outlining their futures. Poppy, predicted to find her true love overseas, joins Lukas when he follows his dream of starting a punk rock band first in Auckland and then on to London, where punk has given way to 80s pop and hair metal. Struggling simply to survive as they navigate the city's squats, pubs, and burgeoning clubs, she and Lukas drift apart. Poppy finds a life that looks very like the one her prediction promised, but is it the one she truly wants? And if not, can she define her own happiness, even if it takes her in unanticipated directions?
The Predictions is a mesmerizing, magical novel of fate, love, mistakes, and finding your place.
Gaialands, a bucolic vegan commune in the New Zealand wilderness, is the only home fifteen-year-old Poppy has ever known. It's the epitome of 1970s counterculture--a place of free love, hard work, and high ideals...at least in theory. The reality is complicated and sometimes fraught, especially as its children reach adolescence. Poppy is drawn to handsome sixteen-year-old Lukas, who's increasingly skeptical of Gaialands and the adults who shape its rules.
To help 'heal' the commune's energy, new arrival Shakti harnesses her divination powers in a Predictions ceremony. All of Gaialands' teenagers receive a card outlining their futures. Poppy, predicted to find her true love overseas, joins Lukas when he follows his dream of starting a punk rock band first in Auckland and then on to London, where punk has given way to 80s pop and hair metal. Struggling simply to survive as they navigate the city's squats, pubs, and burgeoning clubs, she and Lukas drift apart. Poppy finds a life that looks very like the one her prediction promised, but is it the one she truly wants? And if not, can she define her own happiness, even if it takes her in unanticipated directions?
The Predictions is a mesmerizing, magical novel of fate, love, mistakes, and finding your place.
400 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2015
768 people want to read
About the author
Bianca Zander
3 books47 followersBianca Zander was born in Britain but has lived for the last two decades in New Zealand. She is an established journalist who has written for national magazines and newspapers including the The New Zealand Listener, Sunday Star Times, and Dominion Post. In addition, she has produced radio shows and written for film and television. In 2009, she wrote the dramatic short film The Handover, which screened in competition at the Chicago Film Festival. She holds an MA in creative writing from Victoria University, Wellington. She lives in Auckland with her husband and son. The Girl Below is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 25, 2017
In Zander's second novel - following her flawed but extremely likeable debut,
The Girl Below
- Poppy and Lukas are teenagers raised on a commune, Gaialands, in New Zealand. The story follows them from 1978 to 1989, as their relationship, which could very accurately be described as star-crossed, is tested not only by a move halfway across the world, poverty, and (later) incipient stardom, but by 'the predictions' of the title, visions of their future laid out by an eccentric and charismatic prophet - the enigmatic, seductive Shakti.
If The Predictions was going to be broadly categorised as a genre, I suppose I'd have to (reluctantly) say it's a romantic novel; and in some ways consistent with stereotypes about that genre, it stretches the limits of credulity. But the story is underpinned by much more interesting themes than just Poppy and Lukas' love story, exploring community, family and the idea of fate. The commune's effect on the children raised there, and the way political developments (and the conspicuous lack of any dawning of a 'New Age') affect its progression, are particularly well done. Zander also does a fantastic job of evoking a variety of settings and time periods - I could practically smell the hairspray in the 80s sections of the novel. The Predictions would make a great trashy film, unashamedly cheesy and with what would no doubt be a brilliant soundtrack.
I didn't feel the same affection for this as I continue to do for The Girl Below, and I didn't love Poppy like I did that book's protagonist Suki, but I found The Predictions more slick and accomplished than Zander's debut. The issues with that novel, mainly the supernatural elements not gelling with the rest of the story, have been ironed out here, and the way slight suggestions of magic are woven in - Poppy's sighting of Fritz, the enduring power of the prediction, not to mention the mysterious appearance of that camper van - is seamless.
I just have to say, though, that the cover is truly, TRULY awful.
If The Predictions was going to be broadly categorised as a genre, I suppose I'd have to (reluctantly) say it's a romantic novel; and in some ways consistent with stereotypes about that genre, it stretches the limits of credulity. But the story is underpinned by much more interesting themes than just Poppy and Lukas' love story, exploring community, family and the idea of fate. The commune's effect on the children raised there, and the way political developments (and the conspicuous lack of any dawning of a 'New Age') affect its progression, are particularly well done. Zander also does a fantastic job of evoking a variety of settings and time periods - I could practically smell the hairspray in the 80s sections of the novel. The Predictions would make a great trashy film, unashamedly cheesy and with what would no doubt be a brilliant soundtrack.
I didn't feel the same affection for this as I continue to do for The Girl Below, and I didn't love Poppy like I did that book's protagonist Suki, but I found The Predictions more slick and accomplished than Zander's debut. The issues with that novel, mainly the supernatural elements not gelling with the rest of the story, have been ironed out here, and the way slight suggestions of magic are woven in - Poppy's sighting of Fritz, the enduring power of the prediction, not to mention the mysterious appearance of that camper van - is seamless.
I just have to say, though, that the cover is truly, TRULY awful.
August 4, 2018
Poppy is one of 7 children raised on a vegan commune, off the grid, in a valley of New Zealand. It’s a wilderness encampment of hard work survival. When, while cleaning a pig pen, a gypsy-style wagon and its towing car crash into their toils, life’s course is set to change. Shakti is unlike anything they have seen, tho already aquatinted with their leader, Hunter.
Hailing from Berkeley, but deeply rooted in commune life, Shakti brings excitement to Poppy’s doldrum life. When Poppy finds a tarot card of the lovers on Shakti’s caravan porch, a confused read is given.
Soon, Shakti is hosting self-care and (ala Annie Sprinkle) public cervix announcements via show & tell in sequestered women meetings. Then the night of “the predictions” comes and life changes. More so for Poppy & Lukas than the rest.
Leaving the commune, they wind up slumming in London, Lukas in search of a profession of musician, Poppy for her predicted king of love. A 3 year separation brings changes that quickly fall to the wayside when they happen upon each other again, more secure and on to better things. But the draw is persistent and undenied.
Lukas winds up in a very successful band, Poppy winds up pregnant. They wed, but see little of each other while he tours. And it is on one of these tours that Poppy realizes the inevitable life they lead and leaves to go back home just after she arrived to join him.
Back at the commune, secrets are found, shared and extracted. Revelations are made and acted upon and I got the ending I hoped for with entrenched emotions for the main characters. A well written, character driven read that should please most every reader. I’ve even learned a few new phrases, so double delight.
Hailing from Berkeley, but deeply rooted in commune life, Shakti brings excitement to Poppy’s doldrum life. When Poppy finds a tarot card of the lovers on Shakti’s caravan porch, a confused read is given.
Soon, Shakti is hosting self-care and (ala Annie Sprinkle) public cervix announcements via show & tell in sequestered women meetings. Then the night of “the predictions” comes and life changes. More so for Poppy & Lukas than the rest.
Leaving the commune, they wind up slumming in London, Lukas in search of a profession of musician, Poppy for her predicted king of love. A 3 year separation brings changes that quickly fall to the wayside when they happen upon each other again, more secure and on to better things. But the draw is persistent and undenied.
Lukas winds up in a very successful band, Poppy winds up pregnant. They wed, but see little of each other while he tours. And it is on one of these tours that Poppy realizes the inevitable life they lead and leaves to go back home just after she arrived to join him.
Back at the commune, secrets are found, shared and extracted. Revelations are made and acted upon and I got the ending I hoped for with entrenched emotions for the main characters. A well written, character driven read that should please most every reader. I’ve even learned a few new phrases, so double delight.
May 30, 2015
I loved 'The Girl Below', and 'The Predictions' is another singular coming-of-age story by the talented Bianca Zander. It starts in a 1970s Coromandel commune, with a gloriously mucky pig-shit-shovelling opening scene. A stranger comes to town - or more precisely Gaialands - in the guise of a Californian hippy. Shakti is a brilliant character. A fortune-telling, free-loving trickster spirit, she destabilises the spartan ideology of the commune. She holds a predictions ritual for the 7 teenagers, and it's this prediction that propels the story forward: will Poppy, our heroine, fulfil or defy her prophesy? Is it destiny or a load of shit?
I revelled in Poppy's journey, from the rickety commune cabins where they ate dense brown bread and home-grown vegetables, to the music festival Nambassa, where the attendees stripped naked and danced in body paint. Poppy and Lucas leave the commune, a bad social experiment in Lucas' mind, for Auckland and then London. Lucas wants to make it in the music world, and rather than emulating more obvious 80s phenomenons like The Smiths or Joy Division, Zander chooses to explore the world of hair metal. Tight lycra pants, big blond perms, loads of drugs - this part of the novel is a trip. Zander is very skilled at infusing ordinary human experience with a glam rock sensibility. And the settings are spectacular. We move from the wild green of New Zealand to London squats, mansions, European metal band venues, back to the commune and to Wimmin Only Grey Lynn villas of the late 80s. All are vividly drawn, with a cinematic quality about them - I kept thinking that this book would make a good film.
There is a lot on the surface to make this a page-turny kind of novel, and below Zander grapples with some big ideas. How much our life is determined by other people's vision of it? What constitutes good parenting? Can children be brought up by a village or is there something essential about the mother-child bond? What if this bond shuts out other people in the child's life? Having known people who grew up on communes, I was intrigued to see how the characters might embrace or shun their upbringing.
This is an excellent follow-up to The Girl Below, filled with thrilling plot turns. Zander has stepped back on the magi-realism but plays on our own willingness to believe in the occult. I can't wait to read what she comes up with next.
I revelled in Poppy's journey, from the rickety commune cabins where they ate dense brown bread and home-grown vegetables, to the music festival Nambassa, where the attendees stripped naked and danced in body paint. Poppy and Lucas leave the commune, a bad social experiment in Lucas' mind, for Auckland and then London. Lucas wants to make it in the music world, and rather than emulating more obvious 80s phenomenons like The Smiths or Joy Division, Zander chooses to explore the world of hair metal. Tight lycra pants, big blond perms, loads of drugs - this part of the novel is a trip. Zander is very skilled at infusing ordinary human experience with a glam rock sensibility. And the settings are spectacular. We move from the wild green of New Zealand to London squats, mansions, European metal band venues, back to the commune and to Wimmin Only Grey Lynn villas of the late 80s. All are vividly drawn, with a cinematic quality about them - I kept thinking that this book would make a good film.
There is a lot on the surface to make this a page-turny kind of novel, and below Zander grapples with some big ideas. How much our life is determined by other people's vision of it? What constitutes good parenting? Can children be brought up by a village or is there something essential about the mother-child bond? What if this bond shuts out other people in the child's life? Having known people who grew up on communes, I was intrigued to see how the characters might embrace or shun their upbringing.
This is an excellent follow-up to The Girl Below, filled with thrilling plot turns. Zander has stepped back on the magi-realism but plays on our own willingness to believe in the occult. I can't wait to read what she comes up with next.
August 9, 2015
It’s 1978, and teens Poppy and Lukas have grown up at Gaialands, a commune in New Zealand. This is not a smoke-pot-and-groove commune; this vegan community grows its own food, lives without electricity, lives in leaky, mouse-ridden shelters, shares everything, and works hard all day, every day. Even the kids have been brought up communally, having their own group shelter rather than living with adults- they didn’t even know who their parents were until recently, when circumstances forced the adult’s hand.
Lukas can’t wait to come of age and escape to the larger world. He wants to form a punk rock band. Poppy just wants to be with Lukas, who she loves. But when a new person enters the commune, she begins to doubt that love.
Shakti arrives, fancy Gypsy caravan and all. She’s a New Age chick, ankle bells, Indian clothing, Tarot cards, consciousness raising, and beautiful- and too good to do any actual work on the commune. Manipulating others into doing things for her is as natural as breathing.
As a coming of age ritual for the kids, she creates predictions for them. Poppy’s states that she’ll find love in a land far away. This is almost heartbreaking, given her feelings for Lukas, but when he leaves the commune, she goes with him. It’s the only way she’ll find her true love. Things don’t go as planned, and life out in the world turns out to be harder than they thought. They eventually end up in London, where hair metal and drugs are the current hot things.
It’s a rather harsh coming of age story, but I think pretty realistic for the time and subculture. Poppy and Lukas both take their time growing up. I liked Poppy, but found her frustrating and kept finding myself wondering what the heck she was thinking when she did things. Lukas has no real depth to him, sadly. There is a side plot of a mystery that seems like it should have upset people more than it did. The story reads like the author hurried herself and she didn’t have time to develop characters and refine the plot properly. A good editor would have helped her immensely. I can only say I liked the book; I definitely can’t say I loved it.
Lukas can’t wait to come of age and escape to the larger world. He wants to form a punk rock band. Poppy just wants to be with Lukas, who she loves. But when a new person enters the commune, she begins to doubt that love.
Shakti arrives, fancy Gypsy caravan and all. She’s a New Age chick, ankle bells, Indian clothing, Tarot cards, consciousness raising, and beautiful- and too good to do any actual work on the commune. Manipulating others into doing things for her is as natural as breathing.
As a coming of age ritual for the kids, she creates predictions for them. Poppy’s states that she’ll find love in a land far away. This is almost heartbreaking, given her feelings for Lukas, but when he leaves the commune, she goes with him. It’s the only way she’ll find her true love. Things don’t go as planned, and life out in the world turns out to be harder than they thought. They eventually end up in London, where hair metal and drugs are the current hot things.
It’s a rather harsh coming of age story, but I think pretty realistic for the time and subculture. Poppy and Lukas both take their time growing up. I liked Poppy, but found her frustrating and kept finding myself wondering what the heck she was thinking when she did things. Lukas has no real depth to him, sadly. There is a side plot of a mystery that seems like it should have upset people more than it did. The story reads like the author hurried herself and she didn’t have time to develop characters and refine the plot properly. A good editor would have helped her immensely. I can only say I liked the book; I definitely can’t say I loved it.
May 31, 2016
An adult novel, written with the fast pace of a YA, this is the coming of age story of a teen raised in a New Zealand commune in the 1970s, and her efforts at a new and different life in 1980s London.
I can't give less than 4 stars to a book that held my interest and kept me reading enough to finish it in within a few days. But the entire time it struck me as not very well-written; there was an immaturity to the narrative that was not due to the character's age, and events occurred so quickly it was almost farcical at times. Yet, the same frustrating writing style definitely kept me turning pages.
Briskly the story moves from primitive family life on the commune, to the squalor of slum living in Auckland while the main character supports her musician boyfriend, followed by an ascent through London metal rock success, then a heavy-hearted return to the commune. All these locales are vivid and distinct.
If I was a teenager, I think I would probably love this book. As it is I found it an unrealistic, but very entertaining ride.
I can't give less than 4 stars to a book that held my interest and kept me reading enough to finish it in within a few days. But the entire time it struck me as not very well-written; there was an immaturity to the narrative that was not due to the character's age, and events occurred so quickly it was almost farcical at times. Yet, the same frustrating writing style definitely kept me turning pages.
Briskly the story moves from primitive family life on the commune, to the squalor of slum living in Auckland while the main character supports her musician boyfriend, followed by an ascent through London metal rock success, then a heavy-hearted return to the commune. All these locales are vivid and distinct.
If I was a teenager, I think I would probably love this book. As it is I found it an unrealistic, but very entertaining ride.
September 15, 2015
Wonderful writing, with a great sense of place and time. A good book for me, not a great one.
September 6, 2015
A great journey through the culture of the times. If she weren't so young I'd have believed that the author lived these times.
September 17, 2015
A good fun read with a killer line about hippies right at the end.
December 18, 2016
This was ok, not amazing, but an easy read.
May 6, 2019
This was a very interesting book. It's about life in a commune in the 1970's and early 80's and the impact it has on a group of kids raised there.
I liked reading the scenes of them in the commune, because they all seemed so close, but underneath it all., there's a lot of damage. To the parents and the children. Some of the adults didn't really want to live the way they did, but didn't voice it or stick up for themselves, and each of the kids had a different take on it depending on their mindset.
One of the more interesting elements was the social experiment that the adults did on the children, not telling them who their mothers and fathers were until well after puberty, when they had to to avoid incestuous relationships from occuring.
Shakti is probably the most damaged character of all. She hides under the guise of enlightenment, even wisdom, but she's the most broken. She likes to make the others think she's in control. but she has some issues around children, because she can't have any of her own. The scene with Poppy's baby just feels entirely out of place, and I still can't figure out why she had Poppy's hair, unless she was performing some bad rituals with it or something. The ceremony for "The Predictions" is a little on the creepy side, and semi cliche with the whole commune concept. A neccessary scene to tie the book together, but still unsettling.
Poppy as a character, is unique. She doesn't feel as constrained by the commune as the others do, and likes to follow most of its rules. And when she is free of the commune. she's a bit more lost than the others seem to be, at least emotionally.
This is a quick read and engaging, but I didn't really feel much for the characters, which is why I only gave this a 3.
I liked reading the scenes of them in the commune, because they all seemed so close, but underneath it all., there's a lot of damage. To the parents and the children. Some of the adults didn't really want to live the way they did, but didn't voice it or stick up for themselves, and each of the kids had a different take on it depending on their mindset.
One of the more interesting elements was the social experiment that the adults did on the children, not telling them who their mothers and fathers were until well after puberty, when they had to to avoid incestuous relationships from occuring.
Shakti is probably the most damaged character of all. She hides under the guise of enlightenment, even wisdom, but she's the most broken. She likes to make the others think she's in control. but she has some issues around children, because she can't have any of her own. The scene with Poppy's baby just feels entirely out of place, and I still can't figure out why she had Poppy's hair, unless she was performing some bad rituals with it or something. The ceremony for "The Predictions" is a little on the creepy side, and semi cliche with the whole commune concept. A neccessary scene to tie the book together, but still unsettling.
Poppy as a character, is unique. She doesn't feel as constrained by the commune as the others do, and likes to follow most of its rules. And when she is free of the commune. she's a bit more lost than the others seem to be, at least emotionally.
This is a quick read and engaging, but I didn't really feel much for the characters, which is why I only gave this a 3.
August 11, 2021
Do not read this god damn book. I wanted to rip my eyes out the whole time.
The synopsis seemed SO PROMISING. I bought it in like 2018 or around then, DNFed it because I was so bored, and decided to pick it up again.
I was right in 2018, it was BORING.
Within a matter of 3 or 4 paragraphs, rhs main character goes through such important life milestones, and the book skips over it like it's nothing. Barely any character development, insight into Poppys mind. She discusses a situation she's not entirely on board with, and then 5 paragraphs later she's advanced 7 miles ahead, mindlessly. This book is all tell, no show. Pages upon pages of descriptions, skipping over months and years like a roll of the dice. Even the dialogue is dry and boring. Literally no part of the writing is interesting.
Definitely not a cute loving romance like the synopsis and COVER make it seem like. The "love interest" is just awful. Absentee father, drug abuser, fucks Poppy in front of his best friend while she's like half asleep, just weird. but oh he is so comforting childhood love 🥺. Yawn. Boring.
Shakti is awful. and a fucking creep. It was never explained why she cut off Poppys hair and kept it in her truck for 10 fucking years. Or why she kept Fritz's shirt for 10 fucking years. She let so many people grieve a death and sat idly back, knowing better. She tried to fucking breastfeed someone else's baby. She got children naked. She tried to fuck Lukas and he was barely of-age so... fucking creepy and disgusting. She projects her insecurities onto Poppy and basically give her a borderline anxiety disorder ab her fake ass prediction.
Yeah I guess books are the authors art, but I hated this book. Sorry. Glad I got it on sale.
The synopsis seemed SO PROMISING. I bought it in like 2018 or around then, DNFed it because I was so bored, and decided to pick it up again.
I was right in 2018, it was BORING.
Within a matter of 3 or 4 paragraphs, rhs main character goes through such important life milestones, and the book skips over it like it's nothing. Barely any character development, insight into Poppys mind. She discusses a situation she's not entirely on board with, and then 5 paragraphs later she's advanced 7 miles ahead, mindlessly. This book is all tell, no show. Pages upon pages of descriptions, skipping over months and years like a roll of the dice. Even the dialogue is dry and boring. Literally no part of the writing is interesting.
Definitely not a cute loving romance like the synopsis and COVER make it seem like. The "love interest" is just awful. Absentee father, drug abuser, fucks Poppy in front of his best friend while she's like half asleep, just weird. but oh he is so comforting childhood love 🥺. Yawn. Boring.
Shakti is awful. and a fucking creep. It was never explained why she cut off Poppys hair and kept it in her truck for 10 fucking years. Or why she kept Fritz's shirt for 10 fucking years. She let so many people grieve a death and sat idly back, knowing better. She tried to fucking breastfeed someone else's baby. She got children naked. She tried to fuck Lukas and he was barely of-age so... fucking creepy and disgusting. She projects her insecurities onto Poppy and basically give her a borderline anxiety disorder ab her fake ass prediction.
Yeah I guess books are the authors art, but I hated this book. Sorry. Glad I got it on sale.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2017
A truly addictive read from start to finish. The novel begins being told by Poppy, a teen who has grown up in a vegan New Zealand commune. Right away a character, and I mean character, appears and throws a huge wrench into the machine that is Gaialands. The book follows Poppy as she transitions into adulthood trying to follow the prediction that Shakti, the newcomer, sets out for her. With lots of twists and turns plus excellent writing, I could not put this book down. It kept me interested from start to finish and not once did I daze off. Poppy definitely grows as a person and is very likeable and relatable. Her self discovery and awareness is very intriguing. This book deserves 50 stars and I can definitely describe as a page turner. The descriptions of the decades are spot on also as if you are right there.
September 2, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, the writing is amazing. Poppy and Lukus grow up together on a backwoods commune in New Zealand. Life is pretty rough on the commune and the children are all raised collectively without knowing which of the adults are their actual parents. As Lukus and Poppy fall in love and come of age they decide to leave the commune so that Lukus can pursue his dream of being a musician in a band in England. Times get tough for them and they go their separate ways until a chance meeting brings them together four years later. I really enjoyed the writing in this novel, so many beautiful and descriptive sentences. I felt like I was right there with the characters.
This is the second book I have read by Bianca Zander and I can't wait to read more of her work. Highly recommended!
This is the second book I have read by Bianca Zander and I can't wait to read more of her work. Highly recommended!
September 15, 2022
Predicting a life of infertility seems like a terrible thing to hang on a person. That prediction from a faux Tarot card seems to push this book along. Life on the commune figures heavily and that (and the New Zealand setting) reminded me somewhat of the first season of Top of the Lake. This is a rather sad book overall.
April 30, 2023
loved it
May 25, 2015
I have contradictory feelings about this novel by author Bianca Zander.
British-born Zander has lived in New Zealand for 20 years, where she is a creative-writing lecturer and recipient of writing awards and bursaries. In The Predictions, she spins a tale that spans the globe from New Zealand to Great Britain.
The Predictions is the story of Poppy, a young woman growing up in a commune called Gaialands in New Zealand in the 1970's.
Part of what I didn't like about The Predictions was the way in which it was narrated; Poppy tells us the story of her life in linear fashion, as if she is writing her memoir. The narrative style gives the story a sense of already having been completed and thus set in stone. This diminished my emotional engagement with the characters.
The memoir style also meant that Poppy tells us about her life in hindsight, which serves to distance her from her own experiences. As she reflects on her life, she judges people and interprets events in a way which sometimes feels didactic and self-satisfied.
Although Poppy encounters many diverse situations and types ("types" being an operative word here) of people in her life, she herself begins and ends the novel as much the same person.
Finally, I think it's worth noting that The Predictions ends with Poppy in her 30's. As the novel concludes, we very much get the sense that Poppy has completed her life arc...her biggest troubles and struggles are behind her. As a reader, I wasn't satisfied or impressed by this.
What I did like about The Predictions was that it was an interesting story, with settings ranging from a commune in rural New Zealand to the heavy metal/glam rock scene in London in the 1980's, to women's right's marches. What I didn't like was the perspective from which these potentially fascinating and complex situations were viewed.
Thank you to William Morrow Publishers for my review copy of The Predictions. My review can also be found on my blog at https://hafullmer78.wordpress.com/.
British-born Zander has lived in New Zealand for 20 years, where she is a creative-writing lecturer and recipient of writing awards and bursaries. In The Predictions, she spins a tale that spans the globe from New Zealand to Great Britain.
The Predictions is the story of Poppy, a young woman growing up in a commune called Gaialands in New Zealand in the 1970's.
Part of what I didn't like about The Predictions was the way in which it was narrated; Poppy tells us the story of her life in linear fashion, as if she is writing her memoir. The narrative style gives the story a sense of already having been completed and thus set in stone. This diminished my emotional engagement with the characters.
The memoir style also meant that Poppy tells us about her life in hindsight, which serves to distance her from her own experiences. As she reflects on her life, she judges people and interprets events in a way which sometimes feels didactic and self-satisfied.
Although Poppy encounters many diverse situations and types ("types" being an operative word here) of people in her life, she herself begins and ends the novel as much the same person.
Finally, I think it's worth noting that The Predictions ends with Poppy in her 30's. As the novel concludes, we very much get the sense that Poppy has completed her life arc...her biggest troubles and struggles are behind her. As a reader, I wasn't satisfied or impressed by this.
What I did like about The Predictions was that it was an interesting story, with settings ranging from a commune in rural New Zealand to the heavy metal/glam rock scene in London in the 1980's, to women's right's marches. What I didn't like was the perspective from which these potentially fascinating and complex situations were viewed.
Thank you to William Morrow Publishers for my review copy of The Predictions. My review can also be found on my blog at https://hafullmer78.wordpress.com/.
May 5, 2015
For Poppy, life in Gaialand was a bit like paradise. Until she started to grow up.
The turn began with the arrival of Shakti, a woman whose exotic nature drew almost everyone in the commune to her. Shakti planed a ceremony for the seven commune children, one in which she promised to predict their future paths. Poppy's promised true love in a foreign land. It was a prediction that immediately began to affect her choices, and led her to leave the commune behind for London. But was the prediction worth giving up the life she knew?
Zander's latest traces Poppy's story as she moves from the commune to the big city, passing from her teenage years in the late seventies through her early adulthood in the eighties. Her life is filled with decisions - some made according to logic, some made according to love, and some made according to the prediction Shakti laid out for her. And as she wonders which decisions are the right ones, her life progresses in ways she could never have imagined.
It's an interesting read, one about fate, human nature, and the heart. It's also about the freedom and uncertainty faced by someone who thought their life was all planned out. Of course most of us don't have a life that's all planned out. Most of us are living day to day, sometimes wary of how our decisions will play out further down the line. Interestingly, the prediction that is the deciding factor for Poppy in beginning her life away from the commune leaves her free to live without such wariness or fear. At least in the beginning.
As to whether Shakti's prediction is a true one or whether things will work out for Poppy, that's something you'll have to discover for yourself!
The turn began with the arrival of Shakti, a woman whose exotic nature drew almost everyone in the commune to her. Shakti planed a ceremony for the seven commune children, one in which she promised to predict their future paths. Poppy's promised true love in a foreign land. It was a prediction that immediately began to affect her choices, and led her to leave the commune behind for London. But was the prediction worth giving up the life she knew?
Zander's latest traces Poppy's story as she moves from the commune to the big city, passing from her teenage years in the late seventies through her early adulthood in the eighties. Her life is filled with decisions - some made according to logic, some made according to love, and some made according to the prediction Shakti laid out for her. And as she wonders which decisions are the right ones, her life progresses in ways she could never have imagined.
It's an interesting read, one about fate, human nature, and the heart. It's also about the freedom and uncertainty faced by someone who thought their life was all planned out. Of course most of us don't have a life that's all planned out. Most of us are living day to day, sometimes wary of how our decisions will play out further down the line. Interestingly, the prediction that is the deciding factor for Poppy in beginning her life away from the commune leaves her free to live without such wariness or fear. At least in the beginning.
As to whether Shakti's prediction is a true one or whether things will work out for Poppy, that's something you'll have to discover for yourself!
August 30, 2015
So, truth be told, I'm still not entirely sure where I stand with The Predictions. When I saw the synopsis, the word "commune" jumped out at me. I've always had a fascination with communes and cults. Obviously they aren't the same thing, but the simple idea of living together with so many other people, of relying on all those people, fascinates me. What is it like? I hoped this book might tell me.
Now, and this is entirely my fault, I didn't quite grasp the fact that Bianca Zander's book focused on a New Zealand commune in the 1970's. Not only was I out of my element in terms of the era, but some of the wording caught me off guard too. It took me almost 50 pages to finally sink into Poppy's world. To see the commune as more than just a group of strangers. I found myself with that weird dilemma of not exactly feeling connected, but still wanting desperately to try.
That being said, once Poppy left the commune and fled to London I was thrilled. This was the portion of the book that I really enjoyed. Watching her come into her own. Following her as she would seek out love, make mistakes, and just live her life. Zander did a great job weaving together Poppy's past and present. It was a wonderful reminder that we never truly leave our old selves behind.
While the ending wasn't as satisfying as I would have liked, overall The Predictions ended up being a solid read. I'd never read a book like this before. The concepts of communal breastfeeding, and public nudity made this an interesting ride for me. I like pushing against those comfortable reading walls I hide in sometimes though, and so I'm glad I gave this a shot.
Now, and this is entirely my fault, I didn't quite grasp the fact that Bianca Zander's book focused on a New Zealand commune in the 1970's. Not only was I out of my element in terms of the era, but some of the wording caught me off guard too. It took me almost 50 pages to finally sink into Poppy's world. To see the commune as more than just a group of strangers. I found myself with that weird dilemma of not exactly feeling connected, but still wanting desperately to try.
That being said, once Poppy left the commune and fled to London I was thrilled. This was the portion of the book that I really enjoyed. Watching her come into her own. Following her as she would seek out love, make mistakes, and just live her life. Zander did a great job weaving together Poppy's past and present. It was a wonderful reminder that we never truly leave our old selves behind.
While the ending wasn't as satisfying as I would have liked, overall The Predictions ended up being a solid read. I'd never read a book like this before. The concepts of communal breastfeeding, and public nudity made this an interesting ride for me. I like pushing against those comfortable reading walls I hide in sometimes though, and so I'm glad I gave this a shot.
May 8, 2015
To be honest, I'm not really sure what to say about The Predictions. It was kind of a weird journey for me. The book begins when Poppy is 15 and living in a commune in New Zealand. They essentially live off the grid trying to be completely self sufficient. The children have no idea who their birth parents are since all of the adults have raised them together. After newcomer Shakti shakes up their peaceful existence, Poppy flees to London with Lukas to find her true love.
Maybe it's because I have no frame of reference for communal living or the "Age of Aquarius" that I had a hard time warming to the book initially. I found the way they lived odd and disturbing. I can't imagine giving birth and having to share my baby with other women, especially when it came to breast feeding. It wasn't until Poppy gets to London that I began to feel more comfortable with the book.
I really liked Poppy's character and was really rooting for her to find her own way in the world and in love. Far from the twisted communal living, the insights that she discovers about herself as a woman and as a mother were interesting. I loved the scene with her mother when she realizes that she was loved by all of the adults each in their own way.
This is definitely a book that I think I will keep in the back of my mind for a long time.
Maybe it's because I have no frame of reference for communal living or the "Age of Aquarius" that I had a hard time warming to the book initially. I found the way they lived odd and disturbing. I can't imagine giving birth and having to share my baby with other women, especially when it came to breast feeding. It wasn't until Poppy gets to London that I began to feel more comfortable with the book.
I really liked Poppy's character and was really rooting for her to find her own way in the world and in love. Far from the twisted communal living, the insights that she discovers about herself as a woman and as a mother were interesting. I loved the scene with her mother when she realizes that she was loved by all of the adults each in their own way.
This is definitely a book that I think I will keep in the back of my mind for a long time.
August 17, 2015
I won a copy of The Predictions: A Novel through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program to read and review. The main character, Poppy Harvest, is a naive young woman who has been raised on a commune in New Zealand where the members share all their minimal possessions and they shun modern conveniences such as electricity. When Shakti, a New Age Priestess of sorts, tumbles into their lives she exposes the commune to new ways of thinking and empowers the women and empowers them to become more free thinking. Shakti has an especially large influence on Poppy who looks up to her and her feminist values so much so that when Shakti predicts Poppy's future rather than brush it off, Poppy uses this as a guideline for her future. I enjoyed this book and thought it was well written overall although it got off to a slow start. Poppy and Lukas were both likeable characters for the most part although I was a bit annoyed at times with Lukas' moodiness and overall immaturity. The ending was what kept me from rating this book higher because I felt the ending was rushed and didn't feel quite realistic. I feel Bianca Zander is a talented author though and I would definitely try another of her books.
September 25, 2015
3.5 stars. Poppy grew up in the seventies living in a commune in rural New Zealand. Her unusual upbringing provided many bizarre opportunities including a divination ceremony that gave predictions to each of the seven children. As they reach adulthood Poppy and her boyfriend Lukas leave the commune to try their luck in London. As Poppy deals with Lukas's tumultuous music career, her prediction never strays far from her mind. This is a well written book and I like the way it explores how parenting philosophies, especially the extremely strange ones, have long lasting effects. I liked Poppy and Lukas and how they dealt with their childhood traumas but I found myself a little stressed out by their relationship and mistakes. I also didn't get Poppy's obsession with her prediction. I did enjoy reading this book though, and after a fast read, it ended well. I received this book from a LibraryThing giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
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April 1, 2016Zander hooked me in Chapter Two of The Predictions. I won’t give away what was in the chapter, but it was bold, graphic, realistic and in keeping with the spirit of her setting and the promises she was establishing at the outset of her narrative. The rest of the book did not disappoint. It features a fictitious 70s commune in New Zealand which introduces the theme of parental experimentation; an intense romance between Poppy, her first-person protagonist, and Lukas; and a wonderful treatment of the psychological effects of allowing others to speak prophecy over our lives. In addition to the compelling content, it was Zander’s writing that spurred me on – sometimes a writers voice just seems to fit in a reader’s head, and her narrative flowed easily for me.
September 29, 2015
I really enjoyed the premise of this novel: a coming of age story, starting on a commune in 1970s New Zealand and journeying into the gritty rock scene of 1980s. It is written well, and the underlying narrative of a potentially self-fulfilling prophecy was strong. Maybe it was the youthful tone but I came away from it thinking it would be a good book to study in school... there are plenty of interesting themes to carry the story but it isn't exactly challenging.
It was an enjoyable read. I appreciated how the author used New Zealand slang and colloquial language: other than making me homesick it kept it authentic!
It was an enjoyable read. I appreciated how the author used New Zealand slang and colloquial language: other than making me homesick it kept it authentic!
October 13, 2019
I read this book more than one year ago, yet its themes and characters still stay with me. Very readable, the writing flows, and draws the reader into the story from the first page. A strong sense of time and place gives authenticity to this narrative of coming of age. The characters are memorable and the themes, even if they draw on the local, gesture towards the universal: nature versus nurture, the power of affection to both blind and resurrect, inner strength and kindness as means of bootstrapping the self from precarious circumstances. Predictions is the work of a mature writer in control of her craft. Would strongly recommend and will perhaps read it again soon.
April 30, 2015
The writing is done well and is easy to read and understand. The romance aspect is a bit much to swallow for me but I feel many readers of that genre will enjoy it anyway. The descriptions and set-up for the commune area are well done yet a touch off-putting for me. I did like the familiarity with the era's. Overall it is a good read but not one I enjoyed enough to give more than 3 stars. I received an ARC through Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.
May 25, 2015
An interesting coming of age book. Certainly different context than many have experienced. I am not a stranger to communal life, but this is certainly more extreme than I remember.
More Kibbutz than hippie. Strict. No wonder the kids want out.
I can't say I really connected with the characters, but I found the trip fascinating nonetheless.
An adventurous story of growing up.
See my full review here - http://livinginthekitchenwithpuppies....
More Kibbutz than hippie. Strict. No wonder the kids want out.
I can't say I really connected with the characters, but I found the trip fascinating nonetheless.
An adventurous story of growing up.
See my full review here - http://livinginthekitchenwithpuppies....
May 25, 2015
*** I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FREE FROM GOODREADS FIRSTREADS ***
I was hesitant to start this book because I wasn't sure I could get into the whole commune thing. I surprised myself. It only took me a day to read it because it completely sucked me in. This book is beautifully written and the characters are easy to like/dislike. I loved Poppy's story and was happy it ended the way it did. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
I was hesitant to start this book because I wasn't sure I could get into the whole commune thing. I surprised myself. It only took me a day to read it because it completely sucked me in. This book is beautifully written and the characters are easy to like/dislike. I loved Poppy's story and was happy it ended the way it did. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
April 30, 2015
The book definitely told a new story, disturbing as it was. In some ways, I found it intriguing to be on the inside of a commune that held the ideals of what a commune was supposed to be. In other ways, it was far too weird. See rest of review: http://amusingreviews.blogspot.com/20...
August 13, 2015
I won this book.
Poppy grows up on a commune in New Zealand
that was not the typical "hippie" commune where they had
to work hard, had no Tv . Her and Lukas start dating and move to London
while he tries to be in a band. I really like how this story came alive on the pages
it was a fun read with a conclusion no plot holes.
thanks for the opportunity.
Poppy grows up on a commune in New Zealand
that was not the typical "hippie" commune where they had
to work hard, had no Tv . Her and Lukas start dating and move to London
while he tries to be in a band. I really like how this story came alive on the pages
it was a fun read with a conclusion no plot holes.
thanks for the opportunity.
September 28, 2015
Nice little tale of young love in an interesting setting, a drug free, alcohol-free, free-love free, family ties free commune in New Zealand where everyone works their buns off and eats lousy food. The interaction between Poppy and Zachary are especially appealing. Seems like it was raining all the tine, kinda dimmed my interest in visiting New Zealand.
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