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New Zealand literature


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Hello,

 

Well, I am new to the forum... but as a New Zealander I think it only prudent that I start a thread based on Kiwi literature. I am familar, and in fact a fan if many British, American, Australian and African authors but as a New Zealander I wonder how many of you are familar with some of our greatest authors. For this purpose I will mention a few that you may or may not know, but that that I feel are worthy of a mention, and for that matter, a good read.

Firstly, and perhaps the most notable is Janet Frame. Nominated for the nobel Prize in Literature twice and a quintessential New Zealand writer, for those unfamilar with this author I would highly reccomend starting with her novel 'Owls do cry'. This novel was cutting edge in its form- but in terms of content, poignantly discusses the way we are bound by family ties and childhood events, as well as the issue of sanity; what is sane? what is sick? and are the lines between the two really that definitive?

 

Anyone interested in a small taster of Kiwi literature without the commitment of embarking on a full length novel? If so.... my personal favourite would have to be Frank Sargeson whose short stories are sparse and direct, but say more about the human psyche in a few short words than a full length novel. Start with 'My Uncle', 'A piece of yellow soap' and the hole that Jack dug'.

 

Well, thats a start, if anyone has any comments of Kiwi literature I would love to hear them!

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Great to hear!

Personally I have gained such insight from reading literature from other cultures, last year I did a paper on African literature and it was not only enjoyable but gave a view to aspects of cultures that I could never have gained from text books etc. i would love to hear your feedback once you have read a bit of Kiwi lit! have fun.

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I'm doing (very slowly!) an Olympic reading challenge - and I've yet to do NZ. I've looked at Owls do Cry (which appears to be out of print but is available second-hand on Amazon) and it sounds good so I'll add it to my wishlist.

 

Thanks for the recommendation. :smile2:

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I've also yet to hit NZ on the Olympic Challenge, and to my knowledge I've never read a Kiwi author to date (although I may have unwittingly done so!). I'll look forward to catching some work from this quarter of the globe. :smile2:

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You should go for it. :smile2: It doesn't matter how long it takes. I'm going very slowly too (only done 4, or maybe 5, countries) but it's hopefully going to make me read things I wouldn't otherwise have picked up.

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Katherine Mansfield is another NZ author.

 

Keri Hulme's Bone People won the Booker Prize in 1985.

 

Some people may be familiar with the film Whale Rider which was based on Witi Ihimaera's book.

Edited by poppy
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  • 7 years later...

Firstly, and perhaps the most notable is Janet Frame. Nominated for the nobel Prize in Literature twice and a quintessential New Zealand writer, for those unfamilar with this author I would highly reccomend starting with her novel 'Owls do cry'. This novel was cutting edge in its form- but in terms of content, poignantly discusses the way we are bound by family ties and childhood events, as well as the issue of sanity; what is sane? what is sick? and are the lines between the two really that definitive?

 

I was just asking poppy about Janet Frame....! I'd never heard of the author, but then I came by a book called Kirkkaus by a Finnish author, Riitta Jalonen. If my memory serves me right, she'd read a few novels by Frame and loved them, and she was sad that none of them have been translated into Finnish. She became fascinated in Frame's life, and then she wrote a fictionalized account of it, and thus Kirkkaus was published. I've heard great reviews of the book and my Boss, for instance, has read it and recommends it. 

 

I've done a little digging and now know that one of Frame's novels is also on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die -book challenge, so all the more incentive to read it :D The Faces in the Water is the one in question. 

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I like David Hair, who writes (YA) fantasy and Willow Scarlett, who is probably entirely unknown to most of you, since he does homosexual romance books that emphasis respectful relationships, consent and gender fluidity. Oh, and sexy times. :P

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That book sounds excellent, Frankie! I'd love to read that, but I guess it's only in Finnish :(  I think I've read An Angel At My Table by Janet Frame, but it was quite a while ago. She was certainly an interesting and very talented writer.

 

I'm really keen on watching the movie on her now :smile2:

 

I'll let you know, should the book be translated into Finnish, by any chance in the miracle that is life :D

 

Edit: Or even into English. :rolleyes::D 

Edited by frankie
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There was a special episode of BBC Radio 4's Open Book over Christmas with literary postcards from around the world, with short three or four minute segments from a correspondent in a particular city, and one of them was from Wellington in New Zealand.  Here's a link to the programme, but I'm not sure if it'll be available outside the UK http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b085pztg.  I'd have to listen again to remember what authors they discussed, but if anyone is interested and can't listen to the programme, let me know and I'll listen and make a list of what they mention. :)

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There was a special episode of BBC Radio 4's Open Book over Christmas with literary postcards from around the world, with short three or four minute segments from a correspondent in a particular city, and one of them was from Wellington in New Zealand.  Here's a link to the programme, but I'm not sure if it'll be available outside the UK http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b085pztg.  I'd have to listen again to remember what authors they discussed, but if anyone is interested and can't listen to the programme, let me know and I'll listen and make a list of what they mention. :)

 

Thanks for the link, Claire. The names of NZ writers I picked up from this and recognise are, Denis Glover, James K Baxter, Bill Manhire, Patricia Grace and Katherine Mansfield. It's interesting walking around windy Wellington's waterfront, as mentioned, reading writer's quotes inscribed in various places.  

This one by James McNeish

post-3715-0-45442500-1485829068_thumb.png

 

My NZ reading has tended to be rural based. Authors like Barry Crump, Mona Anderson, Temple Sutherland, Mary Anne Barker and Steven Eldred-Grigg.  Ngaio Marsh wrote murder mysteries and there are several excellent NZ children's/YA  authors I've enjoyed, Margaret Mahy, Joy Cowley, Joyce West and Lynley Dodds.

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