Welcome to Litsy!

Just starting this New Zealand classic (for the first time). The prologue is giving me Hereaka‘s Kurangaituku vibes. I guess it would have been the opposite if I‘d read the two books in publication order.

I was unable to finish this story - I got to P160. It was for my book group so I did try to persevere with it. I just don‘t like how it‘s written - the New Zealand lingo and the inner monologue/poetry. I also dislike the subject matter - it contains child abuse. Life is too short to read books you‘re not enjoying. It has some fabulous reviews but, sadly, it‘s not for me. It‘s very rare I don‘t finish a book, too. ☹️

#AlphabetGame Letter K

In Dutch the tagged book is called Kerewin after the unforgettable main character. It‘s one of those books that will stick with me forever. I read it a lifetime ago and still remember it all. Heartbreakingly good.

Stay cool folks

Keri Hulme‘s debut literary novel won the Booker Prize in 1985 and it‘s easy to see why, given the fluid, lyrical writing that draws on Māori beliefs. However, this story of three deeply broken people is not easy to read, especially the scenes of child abuse, and it‘s a book that leaves open a number of questions, including Simon‘s background and Kerewin‘s break with her family, while driving towards a happy-ish ending that didn‘t feel deserved.

Under promoted women of Oceania

https://youtu.be/DYBkIioY5Gs

A playlist of all episodes in the Bite-sized Book Chat series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU-61cZp1pQdBH5V0Zb9q-2ujl4PY8nhf

Chat #1: with Elena from San Diego

Period Piece by Gwen Raverat

Virginia Woolf & the Raverats: A Different Sort of Friendship by William Pryor (Editor)

Found on the shelf of the rural centre where I was doing peace work in Northern Ireland in the 90s: it's been one of my faves ever since.
@chasingom
#IntegrateYourShelf

This took me just over 3 weeks to finish. Not because it was boring, but because I wanted to take my time and focus on what I was reading. The book was amazing, with 3 main characters that could have been unlikeable but instead won my heart. A 5 star read for me.

Just showing off my new book sleeve I bought from LibroLoveCo on etsy. I bought a size small. It is a little snug but still fits this 450 page book. I love the pattern and the fabric is so soft.

This is my first post on here so hope I get it right! I have been thinking of reading challenges for #2021 and decided to read the Booker Prize shortlist from the year I was born. The Bone People was the winner (do you know which year it without Googling?) so I intend to kick off my reading year with this. What are your reading challenges for 2021?

Day 2: #3books that made me cry

▪️History of the rain because of this very sick but optimistic girl and her lovely boyfriend
▪️The Bone People because of what happens. I wanted to jump in and intervene but of course I couldn‘t
▪️House of Sand and Fog because I felt for the Iranian family and wished them a so much happier future

This was an easy one! New Zealand.

This is already on my TBR stack. And I know I‘ve already been there. But I want to go back so badly. It was so beautiful. The people were so friendly. And I enjoyed every moment of my two weeks there. The memories I have of NZ are some of my happiest memories. ❤️

#BookHunt #ScavengerSaturday @ShyBookOwl

#7days7books day two Books that left an impression on me.

After an initial adjustment I came to love the writing style of this book where mid-event the perspective constantly and unpredictably flits between the three main characters and created what felt like a ‘surround sound‘ stream of consciousness.

I just arrived home to 3 packages! Thanks @Centique for the tagged book, I'm keen to read a book about NZ and Maori culture.
Thanks @LapReader for the #Litsylove Package of On the come up, DVD and pencils it finally got here! The Literary Listography is gorgeous. I'm both excited and nervous to write in it!
Thanks @thegirlwiththelibrarybag for the cute bookmarks, chocolate and book Carry on. I hope it amuses me as much as it did you! ⬇️

#ChillingPhotoChallenge #TeamSlaughter #Bones @Clwojick I love Dia De los Muertos so here are some 🦴! Happy Wednesday littens!

Today I made a short stop in New Zealand on my literary-culinary world-tour. I made Southland Cheese Rolls, even though it was only one and my bread refused to be rolled 😂

The according book is The Bone People, which was a DNF, but I still got curious and wanted to try New Zealand food.

Even though this book is considered to be an important one for New Zealand I just didn't want to spend another 800 pages with those characters. The woman appeaares to be able just to do anything abd and everything and the child is upper annoying.

#wondrouswednesday

Thanks for the tag @batsy
1) The Bone People - studied it in both high school and Uni
2) Wuthering Heights - read it maybe four times now?
3) I keep a notes page on my phone - not very high tech of me!
4) autumn leaves from my walk yesterday
5) wanna have a go @youneverarrived @Kdgordon88 @Ericalambbrown 😊👍

Youth needs juice neither for longevity nor aphrodisiac

This is an amazing book. First time I‘ve read something form NZ and definitely the first Maori book. Fascinating glimpse into their culture and situation. It‘s amazing that it was written in 1984 and features a strong, asexual female main character. Probably another reason it was hard for Hulme to find a publisher. It was tough reading through the child abuse but I‘m glad this book was written and glad to read it. And a Maori lexicon as well!

Ha‼️

Trying to quell my outrage at people but otherwise very much enjoying this one so far...

A penguin ink edition !

This book sounds strange and I'm curious !!🤓

#bookmail

We took a walk and ended up here. Fresh mint tea and beautiful colors and I NEED TO FINISH THIS BOOK!!

Clean-out-the-fridge Sunday breakfast meant hummus + greens + pita today!

We have just binged Escape at Dannemora in fewer than 12 hours. It‘s so good! Hopefully going to finish this book today before I head to Sacramento for a school counseling conference.

This was a #BlameItOnLitsy book that has been on my shelf for a couple years now. What a strange, wonderful, distressing book. The character of Simon will stay with me for a long, long time.

Wednesday mornings I have off so, after I went to apply for my China Visa (!!!), I went here with my mom and step-dad. Beautiful salad and one of those books I don‘t want to finish because it‘s truly an original.

Vibes right now 💕.

Ohhh this book is breaking my heart 💔.

But, this meal was so good! Vietnamese-style pork patties with vermicelli and butter lettuce and lots of lime and fish sauce and herbs!

Unexpected sunny day + morning bike ride + lunch tacos 🌮 (1 salmon, 1 black bean and plantain) = pretty wonderful Sunday so far. Fighting the Sunday scaries with this book for the rest of the day ☀️.

All ready for New Zealand! Ready to start with this book to help me enjoy a 13 hour flight, but if this doesn‘t do the trick I have many others loaded up on my kindle to go! Litsy, any New Zealand recommendations or comments!?

I have no idea what (if any) #readingchallenges or #resolutions I made for this year. But I'm looking into a couple challenges for 2019 and I really like this one by the Reading Women podcast!
My tagged book The Bone People is an excellent book I read in college that is by a New Zealand author (#3)

#ReadingWomenChallenge #Bookolutions

One of NZ literatures classic novels. Booker prize winner from 1984. It‘s a finely crafted beautifully written thing but I almost bailed at 200 pages because it‘s portrayal of child abuse just didn‘t sit well with me and seemed entirely dated in approach. The ending devolves into weird mysticism. Not my choice as a Booker winner nor does it feel like a book I would select to represent NZ particularly although she does landscape and language well.

Finally time to read The Bone People! Been waiting for this for years! This little fella moved in yesterday 🙂 New reading companion. Currently snoring on top of me 😃

Here I am wishing it was time to read this book, because it would go so well with this excellent cucumber and juniper saison. Unfortunately, I still have to wait a bit before it‘s time for #newzealand #readingtheworld #readtheworld

Gut wrenching and raw. This was part of my Read the World challenge. Its set in New Zealand 🇳🇿 with beautiful imagery of the land and the descendants of the Maori people. 5⭐️s

Beach, books and beverage 💕

A brilliant example of NZ literature. 😊 @Redheadrambles @ClairesReads @Redwritinghood

I shouldn‘t have looked at Book Outlet ‘s current deal, but I did anyway 😜! Excited because three of these are #1001books AND are Penguin Ink covers 😍. I could have easily ordered more books (don‘t we all feel that way?), but limited myself.

Ok I did another bad thing BUT the husband has seen and he laughed at me so I THINK I am off the hook. Lol #bookoutlet #blameitonlitsy #beautifulbookcovers #ihaveholesinmyundiesbutlotsofbookstoread

I used to participate in #ThrowbackThursday on FB, and I thought it would be a great way to highlight some of the books I read pre-Litsy!

The Bone People takes place in New Zealand, and is one of my favorite Booker Prize winners. It is powerful, emotional, and raw. I love the main character Kerewin, and the relationship she develops with the young boy, Simon, who enters her life in unexpected ways.

Read in 2007. #ManBooker

In Atlanta for a TMBG show with @Dempsey . Took some time to stop by the Emory #barnesandnoble , where I found this lovely Penguin edition.

This book is a masterpiece. Absolutely harrowing but so nuanced and powerful. #family #quotsynov17

Picked up The Bone People by Keri Hulme today at Dead Souls Bookshop in Dunedin, NZ. I‘m sooo happy that we went back there after walking past last night after they‘d closed. Honestly one of the best little shops I‘ve ever been in. The shopkeep was binding/letterpressing. And it was the perfect tight maze of old books.

Oh, my heart. It broke so many times over the course of this book.
Written in a way I‘ve never encountered before, Hulme tells the story of three people trying to figure out what love is, means, and does.
The prose is very accessible, and yet it was still sometimes hard to read because of the rawness of the characters.
I recommend this, for sure. Just prepare your heart. You will have quite the time with your feelings with this one.

I joined up for #LitsyAroundTheWorld and I am very happy with my itinerary, so happy I already picked out my books, some I own, some are new to me. 🇰🇮🇫🇲🇳🇿🇦🇹🇸🇽

I was tagged by @TheGhastlyGrimoire for #fivestarpredictions 😁

I cheated a bit and included one current read with 3 tbr books... I'm pretty stingy with my 5 stars... but based on what I've heard about these three I think they will get all the stars.

I'm currently reading Bone People and loving it.

I'll tag @Redwritinghood @Andrew65 and @Ash.on.the.line if y'all are so inclined 😃