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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
It took me a long time to get into this book - and by that I mean it took about 18 months to get through the first 130 pages, because I could only seem to manage a page or two at a time before getting bogged down and switching to something more readable. However, once my interest was engaged, I finished the remaining 400 in a couple of weeks.
I found the style interesting and frequently poetic, but rather difficult to follow as it wasn't always clear to me who/what the subject was. I would have to re-read several passages multiple times to get my head round them (or just skip them), which unfortunately interrupted the flow. The plot/background was, again, interesting, and not at something with which I'm that familiar, so it was a bit of an exploration for me in understanding all the inter-connections, particularly the spiritual/religious. I did find the Joe/Simon relationship quite hard to read due to some personal experiences, but on the flip side I think pretty accurately reflects how these things can be.
I was disappointed in myself that it took so long for me to twig about the link between the female protagonists name and that of the author. I generally take a dim view of such things, but in this case it didn't really make much difference to how I viewed the character (possibly because I was practically at the end of the book by then).
3.5 stars, with a bonus half-star for featuring asexuality without it being the treated as the sole defining characteristic of the person.
I found the style interesting and frequently poetic, but rather difficult to follow as it wasn't always clear to me who/what the subject was. I would have to re-read several passages multiple times to get my head round them (or just skip them), which unfortunately interrupted the flow. The plot/background was, again, interesting, and not at something with which I'm that familiar, so it was a bit of an exploration for me in understanding all the inter-connections, particularly the spiritual/religious. I did find the Joe/Simon relationship quite hard to read due to some personal experiences, but on the flip side I think pretty accurately reflects how these things can be.
I was disappointed in myself that it took so long for me to twig about the link between the female protagonists name and that of the author. I generally take a dim view of such things, but in this case it didn't really make much difference to how I viewed the character (possibly because I was practically at the end of the book by then).
3.5 stars, with a bonus half-star for featuring asexuality without it being the treated as the sole defining characteristic of the person.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
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
This was an incredibly difficult book to read. I found myself disliking Kerewin straight off the bat, since we spend a lot of time in her head reading about how much she dislikes children. Simon is very clearly a traumatized, terrified little boy who deserved (but probably never had) a loving and kind adult in his life. Joe is equally traumatized by the deaths of his wife and child, and is completely unable to care for Simon in the way that they both need.
All three protagonists in this story have been deeply hurt in their pasts: fractured families, illness, injury, andbeing unwillingly involved in drug smuggling . This manifests differently for each of them: Kerewin is bitter and has lost touch with her art, Simon seeks attention by "misbehaving" and is unable to speak, and Joe is stuck in a pattern of self-loathing that externalizes in a pattern of physical abuse and apology.
All three protagonists in this story have been deeply hurt in their pasts: fractured families, illness, injury, and
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcohol
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Trafficking, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent
context for death of parent: Simon's parents (or parent figures) died before the book started in a boating accident and trafficking the boating accident was a drug trafficking run . A character is imprisoned (it is referenced but not a main focus of the narrative). A named character dies on page. A named character prepares for their own death. A partner and child died off page in the past - it is referenced several times but not described in extreme detail.
Absolutely beautiful - an honest and unusual narrator. The world is so vivid I can feel its atmosphere if I stop to think about it, even two years after reading. It's long, so it took me a long time (short attention span!), but my god it was worth it
Heartbreaking. Was not fond of the last quarter or so of the book.
challenging
inspiring
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:
Yes
I flipped back and forth with ratings in my mind as I read, primarily because the story itself is absolutely beautiful, the characters are perfectly flawed, and the writing style is so unique and poetic that it really captivated me. I adored the story of three broken people inextricably tied to one another through shared suffering. I adored the explicitly asexual and aromantic protagonist and the apparent inclusion of a queer platonic relationship. I learned some about Maori language, culture, and story telling. My only complaint, the only thing that made me go back and forth between 4 and 5 stars is that the prose can be dense for my taste and at times difficult to follow with regard to who is speaking and whose thoughts are being portrayed through text. I definitely misunderstood entire segments for this reason.
However, I ended up finding everything else about the novel compelling enough to rate it a 5/5. The Bone People is TRULY a work of art.
However, I ended up finding everything else about the novel compelling enough to rate it a 5/5. The Bone People is TRULY a work of art.
I first read this book about twenty or so years ago and absolutely adored it. When I picked up a New Literatures class to teach, this was my obvious choice to represent New Zealand. It was so good to revisit the book, although I had forgotten how violent and graphic the child abuse was. Due to my own issues, I don't think it bothered me as much when I was in my early twenties, but now it was pretty rough going. I still really like the book, though, and she is playing around with so many things in it, from post-colonialism to braiding Jungian symbols throughout to the mythic spiritual world and all at the same time also creates these three fully human characters of the child, Simon, Kerewin and her firm asexuality, and Joe with his passions of deep love and deep rage and violence. That all said, my students were mostly all pretty meh about it, because of the violence and the ending. But I think I talked a few of them around on the ending.
This was a really tough read for me partly because of the sections about dreams or people's thoughts interspersed with action, but more because it made me so angry. It won the Booker Prize in 1985, and I remember a friend in college really liked it. Also, it has Maori elements which I am interested in. It is the second novel by New Zealand authors that I have read, and I got a sense of geographical and psychological isolation in both novels, but love emerging after struggle. The novel will stick with me, but I am not sure if I can really recommend it more strongly than a 2 1/2. Now you should stop reading if you want to read this book.
The biggest problem is the brutality that was shown to the boy and the fact that it ends up with a happy ending. That is cheap if you ask me. Also, why was Joseph's role of deep significance shown to him if he is just going to abandon it? Also, why do author's make endings so vague? The ending could be much more clear since she reunites the family anyway. I know the author is suggesting that the boy won't be harmed again and it is clear that he wants to be reunited with them, but they just don't deserve him after what they did to him.
The biggest problem is the brutality that was shown to the boy and the fact that it ends up with a happy ending. That is cheap if you ask me. Also, why was Joseph's role of deep significance shown to him if he is just going to abandon it? Also, why do author's make endings so vague? The ending could be much more clear since she reunites the family anyway. I know the author is suggesting that the boy won't be harmed again and it is clear that he wants to be reunited with them, but they just don't deserve him after what they did to him.
Well I was warned about this book and it is true. It is a book that is different, at times weird, stunning and not always a nice easy.
Writing style:
Different, very unusual. It can come across as bits and bobs and it may do to some, but it also flows as life flows. It has a flow easiness that follows tidal currents. People and scenes takes the foreground as needed or wanted. The tides follow the story.
Initially three storylines that start to mix but are separate, then toward the climax of the book the three main story and character lines are completely intertwined and sometimes hard to separate. A whirlpool of story, emotions and main characters dazzling off the pages. The three become as one unit just like in the story.
The climax is painful mesmerising and stunning to read. The story breaks down into the different storylines again to the point where chapter headings are used. The whole one becomes three separate stories as the energy in the whirlpool flings them apart.
To some extend it mends itself but just as with a shattered porcelain the cracks remain visible. It does not become whole again despite the mystics scenes that glue it together.
Hulme has a style that makes it possible for the reader to have colliding emotions at the climax scene. Without giving too much away. It is incredibly uncomfortable reading, it is heart wrenching, but it is not written in a raw manner. The cruelty and pain is tangible, you want it to stop. You want to shout “stop now!” at the pages. Step in and make it stop or go away..
Yet....., it is written so beautifully and poetic that feelings of horror and beauty on the page collide. The prose describing this cruelty is of a beauty seldom seen. Emotions clash…….It brought tears to my eyes.
The story:
it is described as a love story and in a way it is. It never quite gets to the bottom of the mystery central to the story. It never quite finishes. It never is.... just a story. It tells the story of three people, three damaged people. Damaged in their own unique way. They come together and unlike most stories these days, they do not heal each other. Their path of self destruction, self abuse and mutual abuse continues and intensifies. They develop a kind of co-dependency that is destruction seeking.
The love story comes to an explosive ending it seems. Healing seems to start and with it a certain amount of Maori mystic things and legends and stories, that have been lurking on the side, enter. From then story then looses it’s lustre, the writing is still beautiful, but the story is no longer enthralling and does not sway. The story becomes a little puddle, away from the tides flows. The ending is in my opinion not good. As if a finish was needed and given, too reluctantly, to please the editor/publisher
My opinion
To be honest I am not a big fan of the ending. Just does not feel as real as the main part.
I know NZ and I know the hard drinking and (domestic) abuse that is written in the book does exist. It is something that is a known problem in NZ. I see the Maori legends, stories and thinking that I know and love seeing them shine through.
I am so glad I read this book as it had been on my to read list ever since I have known about it (20 years) I will have to re-read it as it has so much in itself that I think I missed parts.
I give it 4.5 stars rounded down and that is because of the ending, the not finishing some of the story (even not leaving it open) and the weird mystic ending that to me does to feel to be part of the main story.
Writing style:
Different, very unusual. It can come across as bits and bobs and it may do to some, but it also flows as life flows. It has a flow easiness that follows tidal currents. People and scenes takes the foreground as needed or wanted. The tides follow the story.
Initially three storylines that start to mix but are separate, then toward the climax of the book the three main story and character lines are completely intertwined and sometimes hard to separate. A whirlpool of story, emotions and main characters dazzling off the pages. The three become as one unit just like in the story.
The climax is painful mesmerising and stunning to read. The story breaks down into the different storylines again to the point where chapter headings are used. The whole one becomes three separate stories as the energy in the whirlpool flings them apart.
To some extend it mends itself but just as with a shattered porcelain the cracks remain visible. It does not become whole again despite the mystics scenes that glue it together.
Hulme has a style that makes it possible for the reader to have colliding emotions at the climax scene. Without giving too much away. It is incredibly uncomfortable reading, it is heart wrenching, but it is not written in a raw manner. The cruelty and pain is tangible, you want it to stop. You want to shout “stop now!” at the pages. Step in and make it stop or go away..
Yet....., it is written so beautifully and poetic that feelings of horror and beauty on the page collide. The prose describing this cruelty is of a beauty seldom seen. Emotions clash…….It brought tears to my eyes.
The story:
it is described as a love story and in a way it is. It never quite gets to the bottom of the mystery central to the story. It never quite finishes. It never is.... just a story. It tells the story of three people, three damaged people. Damaged in their own unique way. They come together and unlike most stories these days, they do not heal each other. Their path of self destruction, self abuse and mutual abuse continues and intensifies. They develop a kind of co-dependency that is destruction seeking.
The love story comes to an explosive ending it seems. Healing seems to start and with it a certain amount of Maori mystic things and legends and stories, that have been lurking on the side, enter. From then story then looses it’s lustre, the writing is still beautiful, but the story is no longer enthralling and does not sway. The story becomes a little puddle, away from the tides flows. The ending is in my opinion not good. As if a finish was needed and given, too reluctantly, to please the editor/publisher
My opinion
To be honest I am not a big fan of the ending. Just does not feel as real as the main part.
I know NZ and I know the hard drinking and (domestic) abuse that is written in the book does exist. It is something that is a known problem in NZ. I see the Maori legends, stories and thinking that I know and love seeing them shine through.
I am so glad I read this book as it had been on my to read list ever since I have known about it (20 years) I will have to re-read it as it has so much in itself that I think I missed parts.
I give it 4.5 stars rounded down and that is because of the ending, the not finishing some of the story (even not leaving it open) and the weird mystic ending that to me does to feel to be part of the main story.