The bone people

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the bone people

Written by:	Keri Hulme
Central Theme:
Synopsis:
Genre(s):	Mystery
First published:	February 1984

the bone people (the author's preferred capitalisation), by Keri Hulme, 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.

Tropes used in The bone people include:

• Abusive Parents Joe.
• 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: Simon. By the end he's suffered permenant brain damage as a result of the abuse.
• The Danza: Kerewin Holmes for Keri Hulme. People even call her 'Kere' for short.
• Dead Little Sister: Joe's backstory. His wife and son died, which supposedly justifies his abusive behaviour.
• Defrosting Ice Queen: Kerewin after becoming friends with Joe and Simon.
• Easily Forgiven: Simon forgives Joe for beating him into a coma.
• 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 his suicide attempt.
• 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 book gets this way at the end. Maori spirituality is a big theme.
• The Messiah: Simon
• Mysterious Waif: Simon is a mute orphan who was literally washed in from the sea.
• What Have I Done?: Joe.
• Orphan's Plot Trinket: Simon's expensive rosary seems to be this, but subverted in it never comes to anything.
• Paedo Hunt: Binny Daniels.
• Reclusive Artist: Kerewin, at the start.
• Redemption Quest: Joe goes on one after nearly killing Simon.
• Sesquipedalian Loquaciousness: Kerewin's dialogue is like this at times.
• The Voiceless: Simon.