Reviews

Potiki by Patricia Grace

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mnboyer's review against another edition

4.0

"Kids were different these days. They wanted knowledge of their own things, their own things first. They were proud and didn't hide their culture, and no one could bullshit them either" (p65).

A wonderful example of Maori storytelling. The story follows several different individuals, all connected via place and identity, as they struggle to fight against investment builders that would like to strip away sections of Maori homelands in order to build shopping malls and resorts.

There are many uplifting moments, despite having so much tragedy in a small novel. The story is richly woven, takes on many aspects of oral storytelling, and all in all is definitely worth a read for those interested in the Maori. I was pleased to say that there were many examples of Maori language scattered throughout (while some readers dislike this on GoodReads, I am always excited to see Indigenous peoples use their own language in their writings--even if at times that requires the reader to find a dictionary or google a translation).

als_adventures's review

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

atlas_nomad's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

Potiki is an emotional and insightful story. Focussing on a Māori family and their whānau defending their ancestral land from modern day land developers. This book highlighted the importance of simplicity, respecting the land on which we live and the great feats that we can achieve when we work together. The story is told through the eyes of different members of the family and spans many years. At times, it is emotionally raw but also has many moments of joy. A thoroughly excellent read.

leichamoo's review

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dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

juli_sophiex's review

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challenging emotional medium-paced

4.5

kassn's review against another edition

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I didn't get to enjoy this as much as I ought to because I listened to a shoddy audiobook so as to finish this book quickly for my final exam. But, I enjoy the writing style, particularly the style of dialogue. I hope to revisit this book eventually so I can give it a more accurate evaluation.