- This book was given to me by an English professor of mine this past semester – it’s a Booker prize winner, which we had been discussing in class.
I also recommend:
- The Colour by Rose Tremain
- The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
Summary from GoodReads:
At once a mystery, a love story, and an ambitious exploration of the zone where Maori and European New Zealand meet, Booker Prize-winning novel The Bone People is a powerful and unsettling tale saturated with violence and Maori spirituality.
My Review:
Honestly, I do not feel in any way worthy to review this book. It was handed to me in a classroom, starting a semester-long tradition of “Free Book Friday”, in which books were brought in and given away to the class at large, and this title was specifically chosen to be given to me – due to an expressed interest in the Booker prize books. When it was handed to me, I read the first page, and that led to me not wanting to put the book down.
Unfortunately, my reading schedule didn’t allow for me to read it right away. However, I fit it in as soon as I could, and sure enough – I was sucked right back in.
Normally, I read quickly. I’m able to easily digest stories without having to read and re-read parts to understand what was happening. However, The Bone People begged to be read slowly, something that was both exhilarating and maddening all at once. I needed to know what happened, but oh how I wanted the journey to last.
The style of writing in this book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. The strange customs, language, and traditions had me feeling out of my depths until the characters drew me in. I was fascinated by each voice, but never felt as if I was fully welcome – which made me feel a longing to be part of the story.
All in all, this was a reading experience unlike any other I’ve had. And when you consider the 1000+ books I’ve read in recent years, that really tells you something.
Check out these reviews!
Oooh, I love this book. It was a bit hard to get into at first but then I was enthralled. I’ve read it three times, and want to get to it again this year.
I felt so lost at first, but the kind of lost that inspires curiousity, you know? Enthralled is a good word for it. It’s on my re-read list, I’m gonna have to read it many times I think.
Never heard of this one before. Between the brilliant cover and you review, I think a trip to the store is coming up soon.
Oh man, I think you would LOVE this one, Ryan. It’s so brilliantly written, and the characters are so compelling.