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The Bone People

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The Bone People

By: Keri Hulme
Narrated by: Ruby Solly
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About this listen

Available in audio for the first time is Aotearoa New Zealand's first Booker Prize-winning novel, The Bone People by Keri Hulme.

With narration and original taonga puoro music by Ruby Solly, this powerful and mesmerising book tracks the complicated relationships between three outcasts: Kerewin, an artist estranged from her family and art; a mute boy called Simon, who tries to steal from her; and his tender but brutal foster father Joe.

©1984 Keri Hulme (P)2024 Penguin Random House New Zealand Audio Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Small Town & Rural
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I didn’t read this book when I was a young feminist in the 80s, and now I wish I had. It did not land well for me 40 years later, in fact I felt irritation at the poor editing and rage at the handling of severe child abuse. While there are some moments of delicious writing, mostly it leaves a bad taste.

I just couldn’t keep going

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I like this book so much I read it every few years. It was a great pleasure to listen to poet and musician Ruby Solly read the Bone People.

A great reading of a favourite novel.

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.