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Once Were Warriors
Once Were Warriors | Alan Duff
Alan Duff's ground-breaking first novel is one of the most talked-about books ever published in New Zealand and is now the basis of a major New Zealand film. This hard hitting story is a frank and uncompromising portrayal of Maori in New Zealand society. It is a raw and powerful story in which everyone is a victim until the strength and vision of one woman transcends brutality and leads the way to a new life. Alan Duff was born in Rotorua and now lives in Havelock North. He is the author of two novels, Once Were Warriors and One Night Out Stealing and one work of non fiction, Maori, the Crisis and the Challenge.
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CourtSmall
Once Were Warriors | Alan Duff
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161-2020 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Audiobook 36
Quite a controversial movie adaptation in the 90s, I have only just now picked this up. I must say the narration by actor Jay Laga'aia makes it seem like more of a play vs reading a book - he actually becomes the characters of Jake & Beth. If offensive language offends you this will not be for you as 'the C bomb' is as common as the word Maori in the text.

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LittleMummyMe
Once Were Warriors | Alan Duff
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A hard book to read...disturbing but brilliantly written.

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Chavelafab
Once Were Warriors | Alan Duff
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Book group choice. And I won‘t disclose my thoughts.

Rez 🤫 x 5y
2 likes1 comment
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ClairesReads
Once Were Warriors | Alan Duff
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Well. That was (as expected) a full on read. Once Were Warriors is a critically important, confronting story of the colonial legacy of disenfranchisement, victimisation, cultural dislocation, poverty and violence in New Zealand. This novel is an uncompromising portrait of the issues in New Zealand society that are most difficult for us to knowledge, and even harder still to begin to mend. I was immensely moved by this.

Joanne1 Are you from NZ? I listened to this on audio some years ago and it left an indelible mark. The narrator was Jay Laga‘aia. I wondered how far NZ society had come in the years since it was written or if the issues were still the same? In terms of the relationship with and treatment of First Nations people NZ seem so much more advanced than we are in Australia. 5y
ClairesReads @Joanne1 I am! I think, in many ways we have come a long way, but we still battle a number of the issues discussed here, poverty, violence, and cultural dislocation...although improving, these issues are rooted in centuries of discrimination, and won‘t be mended quickly. I think, at least my impression is that NZ is a bit more aware/ willing to address this than Aus 5y
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ClairesReads
Once Were Warriors | Alan Duff
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Colonialism that old bastard.

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ClairesReads
Once Were Warriors | Alan Duff
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💔💔💔💔💔

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ClairesReads
Once Were Warriors | Alan Duff
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November is the month of the #readharder2018 takeover. Starting with this for Task 9: a book of colonial or postcolonial literature

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IamIamIam
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A story about a Maori family living through poverty and sorrow, this was very difficult to get through, mainly because of subject matter. Seriously heavy stuff that had a light at the end but little positive resolution. I'm so glad to hear the culture has found itself and has begun to pull themselves up in the last 30 years. #LitsyPassport #LitsyAtoZ #NewZealand @BookishMarginalia @maximoffs

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IamIamIam
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Getting started on the #PassportLitsy challenge with @maximoffs!!! This is destination 1 of 10!
#NewZeland #Maori

Tera0707 Such a good movie! I didn‘t know it was based on a book. 6y
IamIamIam @Tera0707 I was just told by a friend that it was a movie! I had no idea! Lol 6y
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IamIamIam
Once Were Warriors | Alan Duff
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Hey, have you heard that @steverogers is hosting a reading challenge called #LitsyPassport??? Sign up and pick a number of countries you'd like to use your passport to visit and you'll get a travel itinerary! I'm starting to collect books & this comes from my first stop, New Zealand!

Sign up for your itinerary here & we set off in 2018!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfvA7GhJKyd6rjpuIwddNCOIYimmm697fy9ufKF...

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Redjewel_7734
Once Were Warriors | Alan Duff
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My #topfivefaves
1. Harry Potter
2. Were Warriors
3. Purple
4. Boston Cooler
5. Daisies

I tag @MaleficentBookDragon @Lmstraubie & @Missusb to tell us their #topfivefaves 😊

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ephemeralwaltz
Once Were Warriors | Alan Duff
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#marchintoreading #thistitlegreatbandname
I loved seeing posts for this prompt!
These are so good I wouldn't be surprised if they already were real bands 😂🎶
@RealLifeReading

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SadieRuin
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So sad but so good.

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Joanneds
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This is bleak and heartbreaking tale about a Maori family, struggling with the effects of colonialism. I had a difficult time with the character flaws and where the responsibility was placed, but it should be one of many books read on the subject of colonialism and indigenous peoples.

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JulieAnn
Once Were Warriors | Alan Duff
Bailedbailed

I just need a little happy in my life right now so I'm bailing on this for awhile. Nothing against the writing. I just can't take the subject matter and I already know the ending and just can't face reading it right now.

Lizpixie This is on my list of the most depressing, horrifying books I've ever read. There's just no redeeming qualities at all, I've known kiwis like the ones depicted in this, one threw his partner out of their car whilst going 70km, and it's also one of a handful of movies I've walked out of, along with Chopper, another movie with realistic DV scenes. What some men do to the people they "love" is sickening? 8y
JulieAnn @Lizpixie My husband actually warned me not to buy it. He said you know what happens, you won't be able to read it. I was like, no I've read worse surely. I honestly don't know why this one hit me harder than other scenes I've read or seen. I've seen the movie!! I guess the written word just affects me more than characters on a screen. Also, I have children now and when I watched the movie I didn't. Maybe that makes a difference. 8y
JulieAnn @Lizpixie that is horrible to hear. I hate hearing things like that and even worse it's almost so common that people are becoming almost immune to it! May this world one day be a better place where no one feels they have the right to treat people like that and no one feels that they have to put up with it! 8y
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JulieAnn
Once Were Warriors | Alan Duff

I've seen this movie and I thought I could handle the book but I'm having to take a break from it for a bit. I won't say what's happened but it's hard to read. I'll have to come back to it in a bit.

Lizpixie This is one of the few movies I've ever had to walk out on. Too many triggers.😰 8y
JulieAnn @Lizpixie it was horrible. It was hard to finish. 8y
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