Reviews - The Bone People: A Novel

644 reviews for:

Fluid prose blends stream of consciousness, Maori, dreams, and real world interactions – casual reading of the text isn’t really an option if you want to understand what’s happening. The treatment of domestic violence was problematic, however; the abuse kept me from seeing Joe as a complex, ultimately loving person. The deus ex machina of a happy Holmes reunion in the final 5 pages of the book felt like a poor coda to the odd world of makeshift familial love crafted by three very unconventional protagonists.

macwoods's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional mysterious medium-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

This is the story of three people in rural South New Zealand, all damaged and isolated in their own way. The main character, Kerewin Holmes, is likely autobiographical (Keri Hulme). So far, this is the earliest example of an asexual aromantic character I've encountered.

I really want to really like this book, but maybe for that reason, I was a bit disappointed with it. Probably the hype. I can imagine how the way it was written would have been novel at the time; it is less so now... The shortcomings of this style are not counterbalanced by novelty.
I feel like there were so many loose ends. Perhaps that leaves something to the imagination, perhaps these were hinted at and I simply didn't grasp them.

veronicacanread's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

weavedreamer's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

azu_rikka's review against another edition

4.0

I struggled immensely with the first ten pages and thought that I will drudge on a little more and give up if nothing started to make any sense.
Luckily Haimona first appeared just then and we got to see Kerewin's character- and I basically fell in love! Her dry humor and practical personality stand out in this novel. I liked the story much less for the 90 pages that her voice was silenced (towards the end).
The way topics of child abuse and juvenile substance abuse where handled left much to wish for and yet, I liked all three protagonists.
Maori folklore and magic are explored and everything is coming together nicely at the end.
When I reread the first ten pages again as soon as I had finished, they made so much sense then and even made me very emotional.
I liked the first 2/3 best.
Oh, the 'killing six men with my Aikido"-Kerewin was ridiculous. But only that.