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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
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
Right up until the last 100 pages this would have been 5 stars for me. The ending however wasn't bad, it just didn't deliver the kind of end, the explanation I hoped for. Still this was an extraordinarily amazing read, not just a book but a work of art. Even though at times the cruelty was almost too much to bear. This is not an easy story to read, not by far.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Violence
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Medical trauma
Minor: Homophobia, Pedophilia
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Review of The Bone People by Keri Hulme
Keri Hulme's The Bone People is a Booker Prize–winning novel that boldly blurs the lines between prose and poetry, realism and mysticism. Set on the coast of New Zealand, the story revolves around three deeply damaged yet spiritually entwined characters: Kerewin, a reclusive and eccentric artist estranged from her family and creativity; Joe, a Maori widower struggling with grief and violent impulses; and Simon, his mute, troubled foster son. The novel delves into the emotional depths of these characters, examining themes of cultural hybridity, trauma, redemption, and love in their most complex forms. The disturbing depictions of abuse, the challenging narrative structure, and the mystic, almost jarringly neat ending may alienate many readers.
đź‘Ť What Worked:
- Lyrical, experimental prose that captures emotion and place vividly
- A bold, uncompromising exploration of identity, trauma, and redemption
- Deep cultural texture and insight into Maori heritage and worldview
- Simon is a haunting and unforgettable character
🤔 What Needed Work:
- Abrupt, inconsistent shifts in POV and style may disorient readers
- Depictions of child abuse are graphic and troubling, especially given how they're resolved
- Kerewin's character often feels like a self-insert and lacks emotional realism
- The redemptive ending feels unearned, relying heavily on spiritual/magical resolution
- The moral ambiguity around Joe's abuse of Simon is deeply unsettling and unresolved
Recommendation:
The Bone People is a challenging, polarizing novel that rewards patience but doesn't shy away from darkness. If you're drawn to experimental fiction and can stomach unsettling subject matter, it's a work of literary intensity and profound cultural significance. I found its ambition admirable, but its execution emotionally difficult—powerful, but not readily embraced.
This was a difficult read for many reasons and well worth it. Plenty of Maori phrases throughout (with glossary), some stream of consciousness thinking, New Zealand English rather than proper American English (kidding, sort of); constantly shifting perspectives; mystical flights; and difficult topics, including death, estrangement, and, especially, brutal child abuse. It's also a pretty long book (450 largish pages).
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
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 "borrowed" this from a hostel in Wellington two years ago and haven't got around to reading it until now.
I enjoyed the language and style very much, and it deals a lot with questions of who we are when we seem to lose what we find be to be our defining feature, be it titles like "family father" or "artist" or even "maoritanga". But the rating plummets for the simple reason that I had issues with much of the rest of the plot - SO MUCH CHILD ABUSE. Ugh. No.
I enjoyed the language and style very much, and it deals a lot with questions of who we are when we seem to lose what we find be to be our defining feature, be it titles like "family father" or "artist" or even "maoritanga". But the rating plummets for the simple reason that I had issues with much of the rest of the plot - SO MUCH CHILD ABUSE. Ugh. No.