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Aue

Manawatu, Becky

  49 Reviews

When Tauk drops his younger brother Ari off at Aunty Kat and Uncle Stu's in Kaikoura, he's free to head off with his surfboard and guitar to ... well, anywhere really. Ari will have the friendship of Beth and her dog Lupo from the farm next door, and Tauk will be able to get away from everything that has happened that left them orphaned. Interwoven with their diverging lives, is the story of their mother Jade and the gang world she was born into.

Raw and moving, this is a story of the graphic realities of gang life, of intergenerational trauma and the unexpected glimmer of hope on Tauk and Ari's horizons.

This title is also offered as part of the Narrative Muse Book Club View this title on the Narrative Muse website

Pages
323
Year
2019

Reviews

AUCK 385
02-09-2024
We loved this book. So beautifully written and a very captivating story. The characters were so well-written. Quite confronting in places but so well balanced with the voice of Ari, who broke all our hearts with his use of plasters to heal his emotional trauma.
CHCH 558
17-06-2024
Good but hard read. Slow start but the book picks up after the second half. For some members this was a window to a world they were not familiar with (but that exists in New Zealand), while for others it was quite close to home. A member described it as a necessary and powerful read but also difficult.
WESTO 001
03-05-2024
This was a hard read but worthwhile. One member read it twice and found that she got a lot more out of it second time around.
NELS 050
18-04-2024
Powerful, beautifully written; the characters were complex and real and even the violent characters had context to explain their behaviour. A real insight into a world usually glimpsed through news reports. The weaving of the story through time and characters lent it it the feel of a saga or a myth. A difficult read but well worth it for the richness of the telling.
MAPUA 001
16-04-2024
We all loved this book. It was brilliant, sensitive writing, and absolutely compelling. Tragic, cruel, and violent, but with moments of great love and humour.
CHCH 566
16-04-2024
Loved it, bloody good read!
CHCH 509
16-04-2024
A book we were all glad to have read - we recommend.
WHITBY 001
04-03-2024
Some members found the violence a little too much.
TAUR 061
06-11-2023
The haunting call of Aue echoed throughout the reading and subsequent discussion of Manawatus gripping and cleverly crafted novel. Despite feeling confronted by the tales of many of the characters, we treasured the moments of love that were interwoven into the narrative. There was a beacon of hope. There is little doubt life is a lottery: the whanau you are born into; the people you interact with; the happenstance of life events. Its what we do with them that defines who we are. We await expectantly for Manawatus next publication.
WAIKA 008
13-10-2023
We loved this book.
TAUM 003
12-09-2023
A challenging and uncomfortable book for some group members - but so relevant to our community and countless others. Essential reading for all teachers and services dealing with children from this background, and the adults they become.
DOYLE 001
03-08-2023
The comment was made that it would have been good to have a family tree to refer to as some of us were confused with the relationship between some characters. Also Aroha's narrative ( in italics) was not clearly understood until the notes were read. But all enjoyed the read by this talented author!
WAIKA 010
28-07-2023
The majority of the group are away, but of those who read the book, we found it a hard subject but ultimately a very worthwhile book. Well-written.
DUNED 100
27-06-2023
Our group found 'Aue' a beautifully written book, although some found the violence and despair difficult to cope with.
TAIH 002
22-06-2023
This is one of the best books we have had - and by a N.Z. author AND her first novel!! Most of us felt we would like to read it again. It created a great discussion - thanks!
PALMN 040
19-06-2023
We 'enjoyed' the book. Another slice of life.
TEHORO 002
17-05-2023
A very important book, beautifully written. None of the characters are caricatures. We loved how the author wrote with such insight for the children's experience and perspective. A deeply tragic story with a redemptive human depth throughout.
FEILD 001
24-04-2023
Excellent discussion prompted by this book - confronting and poignant and very well developed characters. Highly recommended. Those who re-read 'Aue' found it even more rewarding.
MATAM 003
28-03-2023
No one in the group enjoyed the book because it ( the content) was so graphic, so depressing , sordid but so real. It is so powerfully written that when reading, one could see what was happening and where. A very well-written book which created great discussion. As one member said, we all found it difficult to accept that this was happening in our country, something we did know but put in the back of our minds. This book brought it to the forefront. Scored 3 for enjoyment, but a 5 for how well it was written.
AUCK 414
30-01-2023
Our group felt this book but was well-written, but some found it confronting and sad. Educational too. Votes were split - mostly 2's and 4's.
OMAR 001
30-01-2023
Mixed opinions on this book. Some couldn't finish it - too unpleasant. Others loved it.
MTMA 001
30-01-2023
Interestingly written. A little raw for our group. Chronologically challenging, as were the relationships.
LEVIN 001
30-01-2023
Most people were impressed with the writing but did not find the material comfortable. One didn't finish it because of content and another didn't finish because it was confusing and she was unable to keep track of the characters. Most people commented on the difficulty of this, but generally felt that it was finally drawn together extremely well. Having worked out the characters some felt a second reading would be beneficial.
AUCK 376
25-01-2023
Our members loved this book and found it deeply moving. Two of the group read it twice. One (an author herself) felt that it needed editing, but we al loved the symbolism and the use of the "ghost voice" of Aroha who commented from the next life. Can't wait for her next book!
CHCH 539
01-12-2022
Certainly an uncomfortable read. Two levels of rawness and reality in our own back yard, and the heaviness of a situation that won't go away. Thought provoking text that stirred up memories of stories in our lives. Tricky text format travelling past to present. Created deep thinking and discussion.
WELL 213
17-10-2022
'Aue' is challenging, both in its structure and its content, but those of us who persevered found it worthwhile and appreciated how well it is written.
WHAKA 021
14-10-2022
Tragic story, well written. Most found the violence hard to read, but it is what makes the story so moving.
WHAKA 020
03-10-2022
Most of the group didn't enjoy the content of the book. Reminiscent of 'Once Were Warriors'.
PALMN 029
18-09-2022
Amazing book. Devastating story, almost traumatic, but so beautifully written that you don't feel traumatised by it. We wanted to hug and take care of all of them.
OXF 002
24-08-2022
The views were mixed. Some had difficulty with the violence, and the four different views in the storyline were a little complicated at times. However there was agreement on the quality of the writing which was excellent. The book certainly gave a very strong window into gang life in New Zealand. Well worth the read.
DUNED 029
15-06-2022
An amazing read. A must read for NZers! Beautifully written, tugs at the heartstrings. Difficult subject matter.
DUNED 110
11-05-2022
Good read. A little difficulty with remembering who was who. Great discussion.
PIOPIO 001
28-04-2022
Beautifully written book about a very raw subject revealing a lot about the underbelly of NZ. Most found it a compelling read, enjoyed the lighter moments especially the younger children Beth and Ari, but found it depressing overall. Good discussion and the notes were helpful. One member read most of it a second time, gaining much better understanding, especially the words of the 'ghost'.
AUCK 236
19-04-2022
This book is a must-read. A beautifully-written book with well-defined characters that the reader come to love. The story is haunting and intriguing and the book is so hard to put down. We all loved it!
CHCH 010
09-03-2022
This novel, set in New Zealand, which covers gang relationships and the family life of a particular group of characters of a variety of ages; gave rise to an interesting discussion. While the majority of our group found the violence portrayed hard to read, we generally felt glad we had read it. We felt Manawatu's style was interesting - writing with the different time settings - and easy to read.
CHCH 317
28-02-2022
Our group did not really enjoy this book. While it portrayed the underbelly of N.Z. life, the actual construction of the story was difficult to follow. It jumped around too much and the characters' roles were not clear.
CHCH 430
28-01-2022
Saddest book we have read so far, maybe because it's so close to home. Very cleverly written. An essential read.
AUCK 408
15-11-2021
Compelling read - we all really enjoyed, although it was also harrowing. Some found the family tree difficult to piece together, but all agreed it is a masterful novel.
MOTUE 003
01-11-2021
Mixed opinions - half the group thought it was very well-written, while half started but didn't like it at all.
AUCK 285
14-10-2021
This was an amazing book. Grim reading during lockdown ( some couldn't face it) but gripping reading and cleverly laid out as the narrative voices and storylines slowly start to come together and make sense. Sad and hard for us to understand the mindset of a woman who cannot comprehend love without violence - who stay with violent partners, and can see no escape. Tragic lives. The fact that there are currents of real life events in the book again bring home how fragmented our society is. Really recommended.
TIMAR 022
15-09-2021
Many found this a difficult book to read.
WELL 194
15-09-2021
Some of the group weren't sure about this book, but once they started reading it, they found it to be well-written and thought provoking.
HAMIL 029
11-09-2021
We all agreed this is a very special book, well-written, with excellent characterisation. But it was a very grim read with confronting violence and child abuse as central themes. Lockdown was probably not the best time to be reading it. The narration is complex with shifting points of view and time settings.
PALMN 018
25-08-2021
Mixed reactions to this book. Very sad to think society never improves.
TAUR 005
02-08-2021
Writing style excellent. Several of the group would have appreciated an outline of the relationships to assist in understanding. In addition, about half the group needed to read the novel twice. Wonderful narrative, but complex.
DUNED 004
23-06-2021
Some found the subject matter confronting, and others found it powerful and poignant. Lively discussion.
DANNE 001
23-06-2021
A grim story, very well-written. Some readers wished for a family tree to help follow the story as it moved between generations. For others that was part of the enjoyment of reading and sorting the relationships. Beautiful language and imagery. Hard to read at times but with a cracking pace towards the end.
CHCH 515
09-06-2021
Most really enjoyed it. Very heavy and emotional. Liked the Kiwi connection. Some scenes hard to read. Liked the symbols throughout.
QUEEN 001
09-06-2021
We all thought this was the best book we had read in a long time!