- Hardcover: 450 pages
- Publisher: Louisiana State University Press; U.S. Ed edition (31 Dec 1985)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0807112844
- ISBN-13: 978-0807112847
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.5 x 4.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,146,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'In this novel, New Zealand's people, its heritage and landscape are conjured up with uncanny poetry and perceptiveness' Sunday Times
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
Powerful and visionary, Keri Hulme has written the great New Zealand novel of our times.
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
37 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a story about three people, but it is moreover an account of a culture that has been splintered by colonialism. There were a lot of critical arguments circulating at the time of this novel's publication because there was a heavy debate over what the Maori culture should represent itself as and if this female author was doing it properly. The powerful thing about the novel is that while reading it you are hardly aware of the culture representation because at the heart of the story is the conflicts of the central characters. But likewise, when you stand back to look at the novel you see is that the influence of Maori culture is everywhere present in this novel. Instead of trying to interpret these characters as cultural symbols, perhaps they should be conceived as individuals coming to terms with their own identity like anyone else. Kerewin has all the marking of the stereotypical independent artist. She even lives in a tower by the sea, but she is unable to paint. You will find her overpowering ego annoying, but I think you are meant to. Her rapture with herself is one of the things she must learn to overcome throughout the novel. All of the three main characters have a form of artistic expression that is being suppressed through a division in their identity. They must each overcome a barrier before they can truly express themselves and they can only do this together. The interactions between the characters are a masterful portrayal of the way in which close people, especially family members, can avoid some of the most obvious conflicts in their lives when to anyone else they would be quite evident. Toward the end of the novel the characters sink into an almost mythical state of being where their only hope of survival is through a reinvention of their being. This is a sharp departure from the straightforward story up until this point. But it is gradually introduced through a growing emphasis on the internal processes of the characters by narrating their thoughts.
I found it disappointing that this novel wasn't properly edited before publication. For some reason the author views this as something to boast about, but I found that a rewording of some phrases and maybe slight cuts for some of the superfluously long scenes would have added to the immense pleasure of reading this astounding novel. Still, as you can tell, it didn't detract from my enjoyment of it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Like, I suspect, many readers, I read 'The Bone People' because it is a past winner of the Booker Prize. i had no particular preconceptions or expectations, which was a good thing because as it turned out, this is a beautiful but also bizarre and, I would say, occasionally self-indulgent novel.
The main story involves an asexual, difficult Renaissance woman/recluse/artist named Kerewin (almost certanly a self portrait of Keri Hulme, the author, in her first novel) living (literally) in a tower by the sea. She is lured out of her self imposed isolation by a mute young boy and his foster dad. The rest of the plot I will not hint at, except to say that it has chapters of wonderful poetic writing, some abhorrent violence, and lots and lots of drunkenness.
As other reviewers have said elsewhere, the book is fascinating in the way it interweaves Maori history, culture and beliefs with the western culture of the immigrant population (Hulme herself has Maori, Orcadian and Irish blood), and (having read it while in the south island in New Zealand) the sense of place in the book is superb. Where, for me, 'The Bone People' is less perfect, is in the infuriating personality of Kerewin, who is often selfish and pompous. The author is sometimes prone to what read like bizarre daydreams of public acclaim and recognition of her genius, for example in a cringe-worthy scene where the reclusive woman takes her guitar to the rough local pub and sings her own compositions, to cheers, cries of 'More!' and all round celebration. Moments like this perhaps betray a little naivety about actual human society, as does the way the main story is brought together, which i found deeply unconvincing.
However, this is a book to be read because of genuine moments of genius in the writing, because it is capable of transporting any reader to its remote locations, and because its rambling and sometimes shambling style is like no other. It's definitely a worthy award winner and you will never read anything else like it.
The main story involves an asexual, difficult Renaissance woman/recluse/artist named Kerewin (almost certanly a self portrait of Keri Hulme, the author, in her first novel) living (literally) in a tower by the sea. She is lured out of her self imposed isolation by a mute young boy and his foster dad. The rest of the plot I will not hint at, except to say that it has chapters of wonderful poetic writing, some abhorrent violence, and lots and lots of drunkenness.
As other reviewers have said elsewhere, the book is fascinating in the way it interweaves Maori history, culture and beliefs with the western culture of the immigrant population (Hulme herself has Maori, Orcadian and Irish blood), and (having read it while in the south island in New Zealand) the sense of place in the book is superb. Where, for me, 'The Bone People' is less perfect, is in the infuriating personality of Kerewin, who is often selfish and pompous. The author is sometimes prone to what read like bizarre daydreams of public acclaim and recognition of her genius, for example in a cringe-worthy scene where the reclusive woman takes her guitar to the rough local pub and sings her own compositions, to cheers, cries of 'More!' and all round celebration. Moments like this perhaps betray a little naivety about actual human society, as does the way the main story is brought together, which i found deeply unconvincing.
However, this is a book to be read because of genuine moments of genius in the writing, because it is capable of transporting any reader to its remote locations, and because its rambling and sometimes shambling style is like no other. It's definitely a worthy award winner and you will never read anything else like it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought the book to read for our Book Club as someone had recommended it. I found it quite a hard book to get into with pages of descriptive sequences and poetry, that for me, got in the way of the actual story. The characters are all quite difficult individuals and it does make quite a painful read at times and challenges perceptions about what is right and wrong. Good points - interesting topic, challenging and certainly not one dimensional but on the negative side it is overly long and laden with description/dream sequences. On the whole I enjoyed it and we had great discussion at our group about it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Overwhelmed
The Booker prize loved it and hated it, our book group loved it and hated it, but I loved it, and amongst my friends, they all remember it as being 'that book' that they never knew... Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. S. Harris
The Bone People
This book was recommended to me by my daughter as a "must read" before holidaying in New Zealand. It certainly proved to be the best book I have read in years. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Chris
One of my favourite books ever!
I love this book, and reread it every year. I always find something new in there each time I read it. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Phonics Fan
The Bone People
This book was not for me. It is well written but so depressing. The story dragged on and on and became less and less positive with each step. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Rozlyn
Thought provoking and highly compelling
A wonderfully strange, original, and very compelling novel. It's written in what I consider quite a poetic style - not something I usually enjoy, so for the first few pages I... Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2009 by BookWorm
self indulgent twaddle
I first read this book soon after it won the Booker Prize and at the time I thought it was dull and uninteresting. I re-read it recently and my opinion has changed. Read more
Published on 4 Nov 2008 by Flavius
wonderful
Just amazing from the first page. A language and way of writing all of her own it grips you and wont let go
Published on 29 Dec 2007 by mandy
A deep insight into human nature
As it's been a couple of years since I read this, and my memory for detail is not so great; I can offer a review of the aspects of this book that most struck me at the time and... Read more
Published on 19 Jun 2007 by Wordsworth
truly stunning
I first read this book at sixth form, and whilst the enforced reading I endured there seemed to breed a natural ill will against the titles we were given, the Bone People rose... Read more
Published on 24 July 2006 by Mrs. S. Senior
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