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mmcv304's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
cholton427's review
Very beautiful and poetic but hard to understand for me. It was due back at the library but I’ll come back to it!
notsailingalone's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is a gorgeous book. It is divided into Miromiro/Te Kore (the void) and Ruru/Te Pō (the darkness). Although it is meant to be read either way, I read Te Kore first and found that very helpful in understanding the motivations of Kura in Te Pō.
This book will not hold your hand and say "this means this and that means that". It centres Māori Mātauranga and Te Ao Māori. You might want to read basic Māori creation stories to help you understand more of the story and have Te Aka/maoridictionary.co.nz right there while reading if you feel uncertain of the worldview.
This is one of the most creative and beautifully written books that I have read in a long time. It is not only a retelling of a story but a contemplation of the cycles of life, love, learning, what it means to tell stories, creativity, colonisation, and being a consumer of stories. It can be horrifying and beautiful at the same time. The descriptions of te ngahere are vivid. Kurangaituku is both terrifying and engaging as a character. This is one that I will think about for a long time.
This book will not hold your hand and say "this means this and that means that". It centres Māori Mātauranga and Te Ao Māori. You might want to read basic Māori creation stories to help you understand more of the story and have Te Aka/maoridictionary.co.nz right there while reading if you feel uncertain of the worldview.
This is one of the most creative and beautifully written books that I have read in a long time. It is not only a retelling of a story but a contemplation of the cycles of life, love, learning, what it means to tell stories, creativity, colonisation, and being a consumer of stories. It can be horrifying and beautiful at the same time. The descriptions of te ngahere are vivid. Kurangaituku is both terrifying and engaging as a character. This is one that I will think about for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Confinement, Rape, Abandonment, Toxic relationship, War, Violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Body horror, Colonisation, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Murder, and Animal death
Moderate: Domestic abuse
mebriese's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
kellybody's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kaila_robertson's review
5.0
I have thoughts, but I'm currently too tired to write them down, so all I'll say atm is: HOLY CRAP THIS IS GOOD. I am so unbelievably glad that Whiti Hereaka shone a new light on the story of 'Hatupatu and the Bird-Woman' by bringing this wonderful novel into the world. And the way it's structured, with a separate facet of the story read from either side of the book that meets in the middle to the original story - so brilliant! I am obsessed. It lowkey reminds me of Madeline Miller's reinterpretations of the Iliad and the Odyssey in her novels CIRCE and THE SONG OF ACHILLES, bc of both the beautiful feminist reimagining and the lyrical prose. I hope this book gets the attention it deserves, because it is WONDERFUL.
coffee_books_breathe's review
4.0
Such a wonderful book and so beautifully written.
I didn't know the story of the Bird Women going into this book, but that didn't stop me from being captivated by this story.
I started on the dark side, but I do think I would of enjoyed it more starting on the light side.
I loved the Te Reo throughout this book, and how it was always followed with a sentence in English that helped you understood what the words meant, without just being a translation into English.
Really enjoyed this one, and am keen to revisit one day and start from the light side.
And let's just take a moment to appreciate the stunning covers. Love them both!
I didn't know the story of the Bird Women going into this book, but that didn't stop me from being captivated by this story.
I started on the dark side, but I do think I would of enjoyed it more starting on the light side.
I loved the Te Reo throughout this book, and how it was always followed with a sentence in English that helped you understood what the words meant, without just being a translation into English.
Really enjoyed this one, and am keen to revisit one day and start from the light side.
And let's just take a moment to appreciate the stunning covers. Love them both!
zacharyngow's review
adventurous
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
celestinepoirier's review
5.0
Excellent! The narrative voice is written in a very beautiful and intriguing way. A story that makes for deep reflection and encourages you to question traditional perspectives. Really happy I bought it and my first read of kiwi/ Maori literature!