1 | [[quoteright:254:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/460635.jpg]] |
2 | |
3 | ''the bone people'' (as per the author's preferred capitalisation) by Creator/KeriHulme is a literary novel that was published by a small press in 1984 and famously went on to become the first New Zealand novel ever to win the Booker Prize (Creator/EleanorCatton's ''Literature/TheLuminaries'' became the second). It is the story of a painter, Kerewin Holmes who is [[ProdigalFamily estranged from her family]] and lives a reclusive life until she finds a young mute, mystical boy called Simon Peter has broken into her home. A friendship develops between Kerewin, Simon and Simon's adoptive father Joe Gillaley. Just as Kerewin is coming out of her shell and a new family seems to be being formed, Kerewin realises someone has been horribly physically abusing Simon and things get nasty. |
4 | |
5 | ''The Bone People'' is something of a joke in New Zealand as it is widely acknowledged as being a famous novel no one reads, because of its supposedly incomprehensible prose style. It is ultimately a worthwhile read for anyone who likes a challenge. Hulme spent many years promising a follow-up novel; [[WhatCouldHaveBeen unfortunately, it was not to be]], as she died in 2021. |
6 | |
7 | ---- |
8 | !! Tropes in this novel: |
9 | %%* AbusiveParents: [[spoiler:Joe.]] |
10 | * AuthorAvatar: Kerewin Holmes is a clear one for Keri Hulme. Kerewin is a reclusive {{art}}ist with artist's block who lives in the South Island of New Zealand. Keri Hulme is a reclusive writer with writer's block who lives in the South Island. |
11 | %%* TheAlcoholic: Kerewin. |
12 | %%* BigFancyHouse: Kerewin lives in a ''tower''. |
13 | * BilingualBonus: the book is full of te reo Maori, only some of which are translated in the appendix. |
14 | * BreakTheCutie: [[spoiler:Simon. By the end he's suffered permanent brain damage as a result of the abuse.]] |
15 | * CynicismCatalyst: Joe's backstory. [[spoiler:His wife and son died]], which supposedly justifies his [[spoiler:abusive behaviour.]] |
16 | * DefrostingIceQueen: Kerewin after becoming friends with Joe and Simon. |
17 | * DiedHappilyEverAfter: One possible interpretation of [[spoiler:the ending]]. |
18 | * EasilyForgiven: Simon forgives Joe for [[spoiler:beating him into a coma]]. |
19 | * FoodPorn: The author is clearly a foodie and New Zealand cuisine such as oysters and muttonbird feature prominently. |
20 | * HermitGuru: The old man Joe meets after [[spoiler:his suicide attempt]]. |
21 | * IKnowKarate: Kerewin is an Aikido master. |
22 | * MagicRealism [[spoiler:the book gets this way at the end. Maori spirituality is a big theme.]] |
23 | * MysteriousWaif: Simon is a mute orphan who was literally washed in from the sea. |
24 | * WhatHaveIDone: [[spoiler:Joe.]] |
25 | * OrphansPlotTrinket: Simon's expensive rosary seems to be this, but subverted in [[spoiler:it never comes to anything.]] |
26 | * PaedoHunt: [[spoiler:Binny Daniels.]] |
27 | * RedemptionQuest: [[spoiler:Joe goes on one after nearly killing Simon.]] |
28 | * SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: Kerewin's dialogue is like this at times. |
29 | * SugarAndIcePersonality: Kerewin hates hugging and kissing and tends to be a loner. She does care about her estranged family deeply, though, and comes to care about Joe and Simon as well. |
30 | * TheVoiceless: Simon. |
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/context.php
FollowingContext Literature / TheBonePeople
Go To
- Show Spoilers
- Night Vision
- Sticky Header
- Wide Load