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1[[quoteright:254:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/460635.jpg]]
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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.
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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.
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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.

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