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A review by mnboyer
Potiki by Patricia Grace
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).
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).