She sings her words
Siri and I have wanted to go to New Zealand since the Lord of the Ring trilogy came out, mainly to see the Shire and Middle Earth on horseback. Since she has learned to snowboard this summer, we have started racking up more and more activities that New Zealand would be perfect for, however, amazingly enough, this post is not about my sister and I planning a trip to New Zealand. It is about this lyrical novel: The Bone People by Keri Hulme.
Keri Hulme is a Kiwi author and her book won the Booker Prize in 1984. The Bone People is a story about three individuals, who are each fighting their own battles and have been thrown together unexpectedly. Kerewin is a solitary painter, musician, living in her tower by the sea. Joe is a Maori man who picked up Simon the orphan, raising him alone after losing his wife and child. Simon, the ocean nymph with his bleach blond tresses, is mute and a troubled, complex child. The story is as much about solitude as it is about family and love. It is honestly written and unflinchingly addresses such topics like racism, alcoholism and child abuse. The always haunting and temperamental landscape of New Zealand and the ocean provides an unstable backdrop. The author's stream of consciousness, rhymes and rhythms that Kerewin uses to describe her every day solitary life is as accurate a description as I can find to what goes on in my noggin during my days alone.
I came across these photographs by Cuba Gallery, a New Zealand based design and photography firm, that really illustrate the images that were constant in my head while reading this book. So maybe our LOTR horseback ride will also have to take us ocean side...
Keri Hulme is a Kiwi author and her book won the Booker Prize in 1984. The Bone People is a story about three individuals, who are each fighting their own battles and have been thrown together unexpectedly. Kerewin is a solitary painter, musician, living in her tower by the sea. Joe is a Maori man who picked up Simon the orphan, raising him alone after losing his wife and child. Simon, the ocean nymph with his bleach blond tresses, is mute and a troubled, complex child. The story is as much about solitude as it is about family and love. It is honestly written and unflinchingly addresses such topics like racism, alcoholism and child abuse. The always haunting and temperamental landscape of New Zealand and the ocean provides an unstable backdrop. The author's stream of consciousness, rhymes and rhythms that Kerewin uses to describe her every day solitary life is as accurate a description as I can find to what goes on in my noggin during my days alone.
I came across these photographs by Cuba Gallery, a New Zealand based design and photography firm, that really illustrate the images that were constant in my head while reading this book. So maybe our LOTR horseback ride will also have to take us ocean side...
Photos via here
I think you just added another book to my must read list!! New Zealand does sound like a beautiful place and great area to visit.
ReplyDeleteOhhh gorgeous photos! My friend was in New Zealand for Christmas and she said it was actually way cooler than Australia! (even though I wouldn't complain either way)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that book so much! I recommend it to people all the time.
ReplyDeleteWhich reminds me...I read Ready Player One on your rec and really enjoyed it.
I have never gotten around to reading The Bone People - but your description has made me determined to. And the images you found of New Zealand are stunning - they make me even more homesick (in a good way). I hope your sunburn has healed - your Ironman description made me laugh :) Have a wonderful week. Annie x
ReplyDeletesounds like such an interesting read! and i have heard that new zealand is just beautiful, would love to visit someday too ;)
ReplyDeletexoxo
i enjoyed the bone people. very sad and mournful, but lyrical.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally gonna add this book to my to-read list! And yes, New Zealand...sigh....I'm a huge huge fan of LOTR so I feel ya! Can't wait to see The Hobbit!
ReplyDeleteThose images are gorgeous--the book sounds wonderful too, though I fear it will have to wait. It's been a year--so I'm trying to hold off on mournful.
ReplyDeleteI, too, would like to explore New Zealand more. I visited Auckland and the surrounding areas years ago. I'll never quite forget partaking in the traditional Maori nose-to-nose greeting. :)
Ive been to NZ! One day I'll post my pics.
ReplyDeleteAmazing photos, amazing scenery. Yep, NZ is one of the places I'd most like to visit one day. And now I'm off to pick up this book at the library. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images. Hope you get to plan that trip soon!
ReplyDeleteSuch amazingly beautiful photos
ReplyDeleteOh, those pictures are breathtakingly beautiful! New Zealand is also on my list of places to visit and snowboarding and horseback riding sounds like my kind of trip. Will put the book on my reading list...
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