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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Isn't it fascinating how differently books strike you at different times. I orignally read this about seven years ago, and I took months over it. That implies to me now that I was only reading it because I felt I ought to. Despite that, my feeling on seeing it as part of a GroupRead Challenge was that I'd like to read it again.
I almost didn't read it, though. Got it out of the library and was so busy doing other things that it was due back and I hadn't got beyond the Prologue. It would probably have been practical to return it, however, I renewed it and started reading properly. And I'm glad I did.
I'm not going to say any more except to praise the writing. Keri Hulme has crafted a beautiful piece of literature. All the readers' senses are evoked; we are delighted with fragments of poetry, completely realistic and involving dialogue, and prose that conveys pictures of the scenery and the scenes and the people in such an integral way that you're not even aware you're reading descriptions. This book is a taonga, and it now goes onto my list of must-read-again-in-the-future, and buy-when-I'm-financial.
I almost didn't read it, though. Got it out of the library and was so busy doing other things that it was due back and I hadn't got beyond the Prologue. It would probably have been practical to return it, however, I renewed it and started reading properly. And I'm glad I did.
I'm not going to say any more except to praise the writing. Keri Hulme has crafted a beautiful piece of literature. All the readers' senses are evoked; we are delighted with fragments of poetry, completely realistic and involving dialogue, and prose that conveys pictures of the scenery and the scenes and the people in such an integral way that you're not even aware you're reading descriptions. This book is a taonga, and it now goes onto my list of must-read-again-in-the-future, and buy-when-I'm-financial.
The Bone People is, quite simply, the most powerful, moving, stunning book I have ever read. The characters are well drawn. I wanted to hate Joe, but he was in so much pain that I couldn't, really. I never excused what he did - and Hulme did not ask the reader to do that. She challenges the reader to look at our society as a whole; to see what we do to people and how we as communities play a role in creating some of the violent, terrible situations that result in children being abused.
I know that some people found that the mysticism in the latter section of the novel took away from the book. I disagree. I found that it fit in well with the story and helped flesh out some of the messages the author was trying to get across. Some of the imagery in this novel is absolutely breathtaking. I have never been so utterly moved and transfixed by a novel as I have by this one. It challenged my perceptions and it made me a different person when I was finished it.
The book is quite long, and it can be slow in a few spots. I found that I had to read it twice. I admit I did hate Joe the first time I read the novel; I really only began to understand him the second time I read the book. This is a complex, multi-layered work that speaks to a wide range of issues: child abuse, spirituality, community, and culture.
I highly recommend this novel to everyone. You may not like it or agree with it, but you will be impacted by it. It still haunts me today.
I know that some people found that the mysticism in the latter section of the novel took away from the book. I disagree. I found that it fit in well with the story and helped flesh out some of the messages the author was trying to get across. Some of the imagery in this novel is absolutely breathtaking. I have never been so utterly moved and transfixed by a novel as I have by this one. It challenged my perceptions and it made me a different person when I was finished it.
The book is quite long, and it can be slow in a few spots. I found that I had to read it twice. I admit I did hate Joe the first time I read the novel; I really only began to understand him the second time I read the book. This is a complex, multi-layered work that speaks to a wide range of issues: child abuse, spirituality, community, and culture.
I highly recommend this novel to everyone. You may not like it or agree with it, but you will be impacted by it. It still haunts me today.
This is a strange, evocative book, with a wonderful heroine. It’s fluidly and delightfully written, sometimes a little fey, but it isn’t afraid of anything, from death to cannibalism to child abuse. It took me to an edge every once in a while, and I still have some trouble accepting one of the characters. But it’s a book about transformation and redemption, and it refuses to leave anyone out of the human circle. So, finishing the novel, I ended up with a lot to think about.
It’s set in New Zealand and is full of Maori words, so one is constantly checking the glossary at the back. The culture, land and people are drawn in a very natural way, and you never doubt that you are in a different place.
It’s set in New Zealand and is full of Maori words, so one is constantly checking the glossary at the back. The culture, land and people are drawn in a very natural way, and you never doubt that you are in a different place.
(I do not do star ratings anymore, as I don't think they are a fair assessment to literature.)
- Definitely TW for child abuse.
-A well written asexual protagonist in a book written in the 80s??? Thank you Keri
- Definitely TW for child abuse.
-A well written asexual protagonist in a book written in the 80s??? Thank you Keri
"They were nothing more than people, by themselves. Even paired, any pairing, they would have been nothing more then people by themselves. But all together, they have become the heart and muscles and mind of something perilous and new, something strange and growing and great. Together, all together, they are the instruments of change."
I loved this weird, heartbreaking, mind stretching little book. It forced me to check my tendency to zoom through pages and instead pause to savor words, to think, to second guess what I just read and read it again, and to scribble down quotes that moved or challenged me. This book isn't for everyone - it doesn't do what you expect a novel to do - the narrative is an elusive and strange mix of poetry and prose, and the characters are maddening (I love and hate them still.) But I loved this book and am so glad I read it.
"Life goes on, Ngakau.
The weeping doesn't last forever.
Nor does the waiting.
You'll heal, man, back together again."
[around the world - new zealand]
I loved this weird, heartbreaking, mind stretching little book. It forced me to check my tendency to zoom through pages and instead pause to savor words, to think, to second guess what I just read and read it again, and to scribble down quotes that moved or challenged me. This book isn't for everyone - it doesn't do what you expect a novel to do - the narrative is an elusive and strange mix of poetry and prose, and the characters are maddening (I love and hate them still.) But I loved this book and am so glad I read it.
"Life goes on, Ngakau.
The weeping doesn't last forever.
Nor does the waiting.
You'll heal, man, back together again."
[around the world - new zealand]
2.5…maybe 3? A classic of New Zealand and Māori literature. I thought its strengths were its memorable characters (Kerewin and Simon) and some moments of character development/found family. The spiritual/ancestral/magical realism aspects of the final sections were compelling and made me want to learn more. Before these sections, I had been kind of waiting for the book to finally come to an end. I wouldn’t say the odd prose style was an issue throughout, but at times I did feel like major plot points were lost or muddled in it, including the epilogue, which felt important. The most difficult part of this book to get through was the violence, which at times the narrator seems to justify. An alternate reading could be one of some sense of restorative justice by the final chapters, but I’m not sure the author really draws this out. I also felt like some of the major plot lines that were supposed to be wrapped up in the final chapters were not clearly elucidated (e.g. the confusion around Simon’s identity). This one leaves me a bit unsatisfied, and I’m not sure I would recommend it.
Dnf at about 50%
I’m just not interested in reading the thoughts of a child abuser while he masturbates
I’m just not interested in reading the thoughts of a child abuser while he masturbates
I mused over this novel over the course of several months, an atypical approach to a book for me. As a whole, the book captured the Maori culture - at least I think it did. I have no knowledge about Maoris. But the use of language and trust in the reader to go along was magnificent.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this book years ago and it still haunts me...one of the best written, most poignantly touching, most difficult books I've read. It's actually a great book, but too traumatizing for me, thus only 3 stars.