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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Amazing - challenging is probably an apt description of the book, not due to the pace, but due to themes. I had been told it was dark, so had put off reading it in a poor headspace and picked it up while feeling a little better. Was still a tough read, but found it healing, looking at the depths of humanity, the quirks that come from trauma. And how relationships are so difficult but at the core of what makes us human.
As a New Zealander living overseas, the use of Te Reo Maori and references to the homeland really helped ground me in this book. One of the best I have ever read.
As a New Zealander living overseas, the use of Te Reo Maori and references to the homeland really helped ground me in this book. One of the best I have ever read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Pedophilia, Medical content
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was long, boring, and confusing.
While I might have been able to appreciate the artistry of the unique prose I couldn't get past the fact the story is centered on two shitty people abusing/neglecting a disabled child.
The ending was incredibly underwhelming and I didn't enjoy any of it.
I thought it took was taking me awhile to get into because it's not my typical genre. No there just wasn't hardly anything happening. I don't understand the point of this story at all.
While I might have been able to appreciate the artistry of the unique prose I couldn't get past the fact the story is centered on two shitty people abusing/neglecting a disabled child.
The ending was incredibly underwhelming and I didn't enjoy any of it.
I thought it took was taking me awhile to get into because it's not my typical genre. No there just wasn't hardly anything happening. I don't understand the point of this story at all.
This is a very difficult review for me to write. This book was recommended to me by a new LibraryThing friend.
The language is simply beautiful - even/especially the Maori words that I do not understand. Hulme's words create color drenched pictures and music that is haunting and incredibly sad. (Fitting music for the background of this book.)
The reason that this is a difficult review to write is that because Hulme is so successful at putting us inside the (3) main characters...but those are places I do not want to be. I sympathize with these incredibly damaged people - but I cannot empathize with them. The amount of violence - especially against a small child - leaves me heartsick and almost unwilling to read on.
Because of that level of violence - I was unable to trust Hulme when the story came to a conclusion. I simply no longer believed that the characters would act as they did.
This book provides a window to a world far from my own...one very foreign and very disturbing.
The language is simply beautiful - even/especially the Maori words that I do not understand. Hulme's words create color drenched pictures and music that is haunting and incredibly sad. (Fitting music for the background of this book.)
The reason that this is a difficult review to write is that because Hulme is so successful at putting us inside the (3) main characters...but those are places I do not want to be. I sympathize with these incredibly damaged people - but I cannot empathize with them. The amount of violence - especially against a small child - leaves me heartsick and almost unwilling to read on.
Because of that level of violence - I was unable to trust Hulme when the story came to a conclusion. I simply no longer believed that the characters would act as they did.
This book provides a window to a world far from my own...one very foreign and very disturbing.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Physical abuse
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
It’s unlike any book I have ever read. I grew fatigued in the last hundred pages but my star rating is more a reflection of me than the book. It’s difficult in that it references a culture I don’t know anything about and it doesn’t hand hold you threw it. I also had a difficult time with the child abuse that was used as a stand in for colonialism.
I think this is a book that would benefit from a reread after doing more background research, and probably would be a good book to discuss with others willing to take the trek.
Some positive points for me was how atmospheric it was, and how distinct the three main characters were. The narrative perspective shifts a lot and without telling you but the characters are written so well that you know who’s head you are in.
If you’re up for a challenge and want a book that can’t be easily classified and will make you out your research cap on, this might be a winner.
I think this is a book that would benefit from a reread after doing more background research, and probably would be a good book to discuss with others willing to take the trek.
Some positive points for me was how atmospheric it was, and how distinct the three main characters were. The narrative perspective shifts a lot and without telling you but the characters are written so well that you know who’s head you are in.
If you’re up for a challenge and want a book that can’t be easily classified and will make you out your research cap on, this might be a winner.
The first parts were excellent, but the last three stories about the lost year made so much of it trite and pushy. So that two stars is really 4 to begin, then 1 to end.
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I decided to pick up this book because I heard the main character, Kerewin, was aroace and I wanted to read more of that rep. It is very clear that Kerewin is aroace which is good. This book was just not for me. I wanted to learn more about the child's past, go in the Kerewin's path and exactly what was going on with her, and dive into the mental health of the child's adoptive father, Joe. We go a little into all of those but not enough to make the picture clear to me.
After the event (Joe beating up Simon so hard he goes into a coma) , I don't understand what is going on with the characters there, especially Joe and Kerewin. And I don't know how we get from what's happened in this book to the ending. I don't understand how they can have a happy ending without reconciling more of their past and mental health struggles and child abuse that was permitted to happen
Maybe this book is meant for other people. I get that. If you do decide to read, please read the content warnings. There is a lot in this book.
After the event
Maybe this book is meant for other people. I get that. If you do decide to read, please read the content warnings. There is a lot in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcohol
Moderate: Chronic illness, Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book is written beautifully. I truly felt like I knew the scenery of New Zealand by the end of the book, and I felt like I got into the minds and hearts of the characters. I loved all the characters, even the ones I am supposed to hate.
My biggest gripe with the book is that the family is reunited at the end, despite Joe's history of behavior. I feel it makes a statement that it is more important to keep a child with their loved ones rather than protect the child even though they love someone that is hurting them. But it is not a black and white issue.
In the book I felt like I understood Simon's viewpoint and why he continued to seek Joe's protection even when Joe was hurting him. Poor Simon has suffered so much trauma that he does not know another world.
The author is an interesting character. I get the feeling she had more going on under the surface than meets the eye.
My biggest gripe with the book is that the family is reunited at the end, despite Joe's history of behavior. I feel it makes a statement that it is more important to keep a child with their loved ones rather than protect the child even though they love someone that is hurting them. But it is not a black and white issue.
In the book I felt like I understood Simon's viewpoint and why he continued to seek Joe's protection even when Joe was hurting him. Poor Simon has suffered so much trauma that he does not know another world.
The author is an interesting character. I get the feeling she had more going on under the surface than meets the eye.
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14831899
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14831899