659 reviews for:

The Bone People

Keri Hulme

3.95 AVERAGE

dark emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
Plot or Character Driven: Character
adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
challenging emotional reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
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 have too many thoughts and feelings about this book to do it any justice. There is beauty and there is suffering. Sometimes I had to take breaks because it was so beautiful it hurt, sometimes I took breaks because there was simply too much hurting.

On a personal note, Kerewin reminded me very strongly of someone I used to know, someone who meant the world to me a lifetime ago. Everything that was art and knowledge and music and wordplay conjured this ghost out of my past. Bittersweet.

Most unique book I've ever read. Greatly appreciated.

I read this book not long after it's release. I remembered it having a slow start and then building up to a shattering climax.

The scenes that had an impact for me still do. This book does a wonderful job of exploring a complex relationship that was both loving & violent.
Spoiler I wish I could say Joe's prison sentence was unrealistically short. But I can't.
Some of the prose was quite beautiful & I didn't mind the liberties Hulme took with descriptive words.

There are also a few flaws.

Kerewin is at least partially autobiographical (the similar names are a little clue!) and I could just feel Hulme's smug approval of Kerewin's actions. Personally I found her insufferable at the start, although she did improve in the middle of the book & I liked the character's honesty about her part in the outcome for Simon.

I had forgotten the ending. Was a bit Mills & Boon for me. Thought Hulme wimped out a bit there.

Not a masterpiece (Mistresspiece?) but a very fine book & an important part of New Zealand's literary landscape.


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