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A rare case of “I think the movie did it better.” Whale Rider is a powerful story, but I found it cinematically more moving (which is a rare take for me). I listened to the audio on this reread and think that perhaps it would have benefited from not being read by the author. Not my fave Ihimaera.

Beautiful story

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Maybe I was set up by the author‘s note at the beginning talking about how he wanted to write a story for his daughters where a girl is the hero, but our hero had a disappointing lack of agency. I‘d love to know what was driving her besides, apparently, being the fulfillment of a prophecy.

Picked a new #ownvoicesOceania book for #readharder2019 (the most obvious choice, I know) and it is short! 🙌

3.5/5
Short YA novel about the Maori people that does a great job of weaving mythology with reality. Writing isn‘t perfect and there isn‘t much character development, BUT it‘s really about the legend and its message – both of which are beautiful. I‘ll need to pick up more books about and written by people of Oceania.

#ReadHarder2019

I picked this up for my #ownvoices book set in Oceania for the #ReadHarder challenge - it was a great YA book that provided an introduction to Maori folklore and world view. There were a few scenes that were very difficult to read, and the grandfather‘s attitude was awful, but it was worth it.

I mean this can‘t have been too bad because I picked it up off the bookshelf and read it in one sitting. Parts of it I really enjoyed. If you‘re familiar with Witi Ihimaera and you like his style then 1) you‘ve probably already read this and 2) you probably enjoyed it. Personally, although I think his writing is good enough he‘s not like, my FAVE.

Sorry about the long delay in posting there's been a lot of strikes at the postal service here I finally got my #fallingforfallswap package thank you @jhod 💝

@Avanders 💝

There‘s a new episode up! We talk about Witi Ihamaera‘s novel The Whale Rider and about New Zealand 🇳🇿. Pictured here are the books I bought for myself while I was there. A Pocket Guide to New Zealand Birds, The Whale Rider, and The Bone People by Keri Hulme. Also pictured is a cute letterpress bookmark from The Dead Souls Bookshop, which is a great place.
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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts!

I‘m currently in New Zealand 🇳🇿 , which of course means I‘ll be checking out the local shops. This one is McLeod‘s Booksellers in Rotorua where I picked up The Whale Rider by Witi Ihamaera. We‘ll have a mini about the book and New Zealand when I get back home.

The melding of the rational world and the world of maori mythology is well done. The famous legend of Paikea who travels to NZ on the back of a whale is lovingly reimagined. I liked the mythical, majestic whales right up until the point they started considering the genetic effects of oceanic radiation from Moruroa - which seemed an anthropomorphism too far. On the whole I thought the storytelling ham-fisted but it did make a beautiful film.

I loved the movie and tried to love the book. It took me six days to read six pages. Sorry for the blurry image.

A great example why the book is so much better than the movie.

I loved this novel #SetInSouthernHemisphere. Since seeing Moana, I need to reread this empowering Maori novel. #JuneBookBugs

Witi Ihimaera is believed to be the first published Maori novelist. I read and watched this for my movie/bookclub.

@NataliePatalie
#junebookbugs #indigenousauthors

I struggled to think of an #indigenous author aside from Alexie and Erdrich until I thought outside the Americas. Either way, I think I need to do some research to find more. #JuneBookBugs

#JuneTanz #BeYourself

I'm fascinated with the question of identity, both personal and cultural. Maybe this is why l read so many authors belonging to traditional cultures, who address the relationship between tradition and modernity.
I like to believe one doesn't exclude the other.

#longlongwayfromhome

The farthest I've been from home was my post-University trip to Australia and New Zealand. I went with one of my closest friends and we spent three months seeing as much as we could.

#lyricalapril @Cinfhen

#bookhaul from the sale table at my local library. $2 for all these goodies!

The story of Kahu who struggles with being a first born female to a patrilineal family. Vividly told, wonderfully written. I feel that the book is more graphic than the movie but it shines just as bright.

I wonder if it will make me cry like the movie...

A page in and I'm already loving this. Oh my poor sweet wallet, I have a suspicion I'll be ordering a few of Witi Ihimaera's books soon.