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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
I got this out from the library on a whim, knowing nothing about it other than the fact that it is an award-winning book written by a Kiwi.
This was not an easy book. It's not a lighthearted book. I have no idea how I feel about it because there was so much spoken in metaphors that I didn't understand, and the things I did understand tore my heart to pieces.
I don't know what I think so there's no rating. All I know is I've read it.
This was not an easy book. It's not a lighthearted book. I have no idea how I feel about it because there was so much spoken in metaphors that I didn't understand, and the things I did understand tore my heart to pieces.
I don't know what I think so there's no rating. All I know is I've read it.
This book is different from any I've read in awhile. It concerns the relationships between a woman and a man and his foster-child. It's unusual in it's structure--written almost like a poem in spots, and Hulme doesn't really use hyphens, which she explains in the Foreward. Also, none of the characters are particularly endearing--the adults have such flaws that it makes them frustrating, but also relateable. The young boy, Simon (Clare) is mute and also physically abused by his foster-father. Simon's past is mysterious, and the boy himself is quite unusual--sometimes violent, or weeping, or stealing. The story also examines background and the concept of family. Like I said, very different, but also a great read.
This was a strange book but not a bad one. I liked the writing actually, and I know essentially nothing about Maori culture so this was interesting. I also liked how it tackled major issues and avoided the incessant problem of oversimplifying into cliches. The characters and the scenarios could have been described in the stereotypical way, but the book managed to demonstrate the complexities very well. It was very realistic in that way. Nothing is so simple, everything has multiple sides. We're made uncomfortable by what the author does, showing every side of the equation, but you can't deny that there's some truth in it. That being said, the book is very confusing as well. It drops a lot of plot lines, and the ending isn't particularly satisfying. At times it feels a little too caught up in itself, as if it's forgotten that other people are reading it. I know this won the Booker prize, and I can see why. It's wildly innovative and thoroughly unique and thought provoking. But maybe it's just not my kind of book.
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think there is a lot more to this novel than meets the eye, and it surprises me that to date I havent read a single review that really reflects on this
I found this book very intriguing. I can't help but think that this book is some how autobiographical on the part of the author. One character in particular - Kerewin Holmes - doesn't seem terribly far removed from our author, Keri Hulme. I cannot help but wonder if Keri can relate to other two characters and their experiences as well and bearing in mind the subject matter, that really does give me pause for thought. Many decry this book for its subject matter of child abuse and violence... but I suspect that this is more autobiographical than many give credit.
Bearing in that in mind, this is a beautifully crafted story. It's main themes, I would say, are family and forgiveness. That might be out of place for some in today's world but in other ways Hulme was well ahead of her time with her asexual main character for one
I know many can't handle the veer from reality to the mystical at the end but it seems to me that Hulme was also touching on something personal here. Something about forgiveness. And if so the ending might not be everyone... but also makes total sense
Personally I didn't always appreciate the poetic writing but I understand this is Hulme's voice. And as such, I respect it.
The more I reflect, the more I think this book was well deserving of the Booker
I found this book very intriguing. I can't help but think that this book is some how autobiographical on the part of the author. One character in particular - Kerewin Holmes - doesn't seem terribly far removed from our author, Keri Hulme. I cannot help but wonder if Keri can relate to other two characters and their experiences as well and bearing in mind the subject matter, that really does give me pause for thought. Many decry this book for its subject matter of child abuse and violence... but I suspect that this is more autobiographical than many give credit.
Bearing in that in mind, this is a beautifully crafted story. It's main themes, I would say, are family and forgiveness. That might be out of place for some in today's world but in other ways Hulme was well ahead of her time with her asexual main character for one
I know many can't handle the veer from reality to the mystical at the end but it seems to me that Hulme was also touching on something personal here. Something about forgiveness. And if so the ending might not be everyone... but also makes total sense
Personally I didn't always appreciate the poetic writing but I understand this is Hulme's voice. And as such, I respect it.
The more I reflect, the more I think this book was well deserving of the Booker
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt
Minor: Animal death, Pedophilia, Vomit
Not ready to rate yet... Or this month, maybe. Complex and I was ready to be done with it...
Review:9.13.13
What to say about this book...
I struggled to get through it. There were some beautiful, musical sections. The mythology was strong but totally foreign. The writing style was just.... painful at times and beautiful at others.
In the Guardian's Booker Club review (http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/nov/19/booker-club-bone-people), the reviewer sums it up nicely: "there follows a moving, intimate insight into the lives of these three struggling people. There are passages of great warmth and beauty. There are scenes of fine drunken comedy. There are also moments of brutal violence, made all the more shocking by the clear love Joe shows for his victim Simon – and the reciprocal affection Simon has for Joe, in spite (perhaps even partly because) of everything..."
Once I got in to the pacing of this book, and past its stream of thought style, i really enjoyed it. My favorite section, where the rhythm really felt right was when they were on holiday at the beach. Once they get back and spend the evening at the bar, and everything hits a frenzy of violence, i was lost again. Or more accurately, I was tired. I didn't see any good coming of anyone's life, and they mythology that Hulme was trying to build remained too flimsy for me to stay invested.
I'm glad i picked it up, and for Hulme's dedication to her unique style alone, I appreciate this as a Booker winner. Recommended for: mythology readers, New Zealand/Maori life, alcoholism, strange tone.
Review:9.13.13
What to say about this book...
I struggled to get through it. There were some beautiful, musical sections. The mythology was strong but totally foreign. The writing style was just.... painful at times and beautiful at others.
In the Guardian's Booker Club review (http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2009/nov/19/booker-club-bone-people), the reviewer sums it up nicely: "there follows a moving, intimate insight into the lives of these three struggling people. There are passages of great warmth and beauty. There are scenes of fine drunken comedy. There are also moments of brutal violence, made all the more shocking by the clear love Joe shows for his victim Simon – and the reciprocal affection Simon has for Joe, in spite (perhaps even partly because) of everything..."
Once I got in to the pacing of this book, and past its stream of thought style, i really enjoyed it. My favorite section, where the rhythm really felt right was when they were on holiday at the beach. Once they get back and spend the evening at the bar, and everything hits a frenzy of violence, i was lost again. Or more accurately, I was tired. I didn't see any good coming of anyone's life, and they mythology that Hulme was trying to build remained too flimsy for me to stay invested.
I'm glad i picked it up, and for Hulme's dedication to her unique style alone, I appreciate this as a Booker winner. Recommended for: mythology readers, New Zealand/Maori life, alcoholism, strange tone.
Very unusual syntactically—interesting to read. The author jumps around from first and third person and transitions from inner monologues and thoughts to exposition and narrative without any fanfare. I had trouble staying engaged with it the whole way through, though. Partly because I almost felt complicit in the child abuse taking place, and found it difficult to keep reading toward the conclusion, which argued that the abused child would be happiest and have his best shot back with his abuser. I did just generally lose interest as well.
Unbelievably beautiful (albeit unusual) prose, and gripping characters. I can't decide whether I love this book, or whether it makes me a little ill. Either way, I'm sure I'll be rereading.
Hard work. I can see the literary creativity here, just not for me.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
See oli raske raamat. Raske ja kurb. Sellepärast see ei meeldinudki mulle. Aga eks saatus ongi selline: vahel naeratab, vahel mitte. Igas asjas on killuke head. Niisiis olen siiski rahul, et ma sellise raamatu läbi lugesin. Kas või ainult sellepärast, et ka vastiku sisuga raamatud võivad teatud mõttes siiski olla head. Sest ka reaalses maailmas on koledaid hetki ja raskeid kannatusi, isegi kui me neid iga päev ei näe.
See raamat räägib, lühidalt kokku võttes, purunemisest ja paranemisest. Selles on külluslikult viiteid kristlusele ning ühe peategelase, Simoni/Haimona puhul on autor keeldunud kinnitamast, et ta on nagu Jeesuse kuju, sest ta ei taha õigustada lapse vastu suunatud vägivalda.
Vägivalda on raamatus ehk liigagi palju. Palju on ka vihjeid maori kultuurile, sealhulgas kõnelevad tegelased aeg-ajalt maori keeles. Õnneks on raamatu lõpus nimekiri enamkasutatud fraasidest ja väljenditest, mida lugeja jutut arusaamiseks kasutada saab.
Raamat räägib kolme inimese loo. Joe on 100% maoori, kes on elu jooksul kaotanud osa oma kultuurist. Ta joob ja suitsetab ja peksab oma kasupoega, Simonit. Simon, maoori nimega Haimona on laps, kes ei räägi.Ta on 100% eurooplane. Ta näppab oma lõbuks teiste esemeid, tarbib alkoholi ja ka suitsetab vahel. Kõigest hoolimata armastab ta Joe'd. Ja siis on Kerewin Holmes. Neitsi Maarja. Teatud mõttes Joe ja Simoni päästja. Ta on kunstnik, pooleldi maoori, pooelldi eurooplane. Ühel päeval ristab saatus nende teed ja lugu saabki alguse.
Mul oli neist kõigist kahju. Ja mul oli endast kahju, sest selle raamatu peale kulus nii palju aega. Lihtsalt nii raske oli. Emotsionaalselt ja ka stiililiselt. Aga see oli natuke hea. Hea, et avastasin midagi uut.
"The Bone People" sai 1985. aastal Bookeri auhinna.
See raamat räägib, lühidalt kokku võttes, purunemisest ja paranemisest. Selles on külluslikult viiteid kristlusele ning ühe peategelase, Simoni/Haimona puhul on autor keeldunud kinnitamast, et ta on nagu Jeesuse kuju, sest ta ei taha õigustada lapse vastu suunatud vägivalda.
Vägivalda on raamatus ehk liigagi palju. Palju on ka vihjeid maori kultuurile, sealhulgas kõnelevad tegelased aeg-ajalt maori keeles. Õnneks on raamatu lõpus nimekiri enamkasutatud fraasidest ja väljenditest, mida lugeja jutut arusaamiseks kasutada saab.
Raamat räägib kolme inimese loo. Joe on 100% maoori, kes on elu jooksul kaotanud osa oma kultuurist. Ta joob ja suitsetab ja peksab oma kasupoega, Simonit. Simon, maoori nimega Haimona on laps, kes ei räägi.Ta on 100% eurooplane. Ta näppab oma lõbuks teiste esemeid, tarbib alkoholi ja ka suitsetab vahel. Kõigest hoolimata armastab ta Joe'd. Ja siis on Kerewin Holmes. Neitsi Maarja. Teatud mõttes Joe ja Simoni päästja. Ta on kunstnik, pooleldi maoori, pooelldi eurooplane. Ühel päeval ristab saatus nende teed ja lugu saabki alguse.
Mul oli neist kõigist kahju. Ja mul oli endast kahju, sest selle raamatu peale kulus nii palju aega. Lihtsalt nii raske oli. Emotsionaalselt ja ka stiililiselt. Aga see oli natuke hea. Hea, et avastasin midagi uut.
"The Bone People" sai 1985. aastal Bookeri auhinna.