The Bone People

The Bone People by Keri Hulme, or to use the author's preferred capitalisation, the bone people, is a literary novel that was published by a small press in 1984 and famously went on to become the only New Zealand novel ever to win the Booker Prize. It is the story of a painter, Kerewin Holmes who is 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.

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 to anyone who likes a challenge.

Keri Hulme is currently famous for having spent over twenty-five years promising that a follow-up novel is about to come out.

Trope Featured:


 * Abusive Parents
 * Asexual: Kerewin, in a suprisingly accurate portrayal. The author herself identifies as Asexual as well.
 * Author Avatar: Kerewin Holmes is a clear one for Keri Hulme. Kerewin is a reclusive artist 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.
 * The Alcoholic: Kerewin.
 * Big Fancy House: Kerewin lives in a tower.
 * Bilingual Bonus: the book is full of te reo Maori, only some of which is translated in the appendix.
 * Break the Cutie:
 * The Danza: Kerewin Holmes for Keri Hulme. People even call her 'Kere' for short.
 * Dead Little Sister: Joe's backstory., which supposedly justifies his
 * Defrosting Ice Queen: Kerewin after becoming friends with Joe and Simon.
 * Easily Forgiven: Simon forgives Joe for.
 * Food Porn: The author is clearly a foodie and New Zealand cuisine such as oysters and muttonbird feature prominently.
 * Hermit Guru: The old man Joe meets after.
 * I Know Karate: Kerewin is an Aikido master.
 * Kuudere: 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.
 * Magic Realism
 * The Messiah: Simon
 * Mysterious Waif: Simon is a mute orphan who was literally washed in from the sea.
 * What Have I Done?:
 * Orphan's Plot Trinket: Simon's expensive rosary seems to be this, but subverted in
 * Paedo Hunt:
 * Reclusive Artist: Kerewin, at the start.
 * Redemption Quest:
 * Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness: Kerewin's dialogue is like this at times.
 * The Voiceless: Simon.