Chappy
Grace, PatriciaDaniel, a young man needing to find his place in the world, travels to New Zealand to reconnect with his whanau. He becomes immersed in the story of his Maori grandmother Oriwia and his Japanese grandfather Chappy. Played out against the changing backdrop of the 20th century, theirs is a love story fraught with cross-cultural misunderstandings and peppered with the challenges of racial discrimination.
Set in Japan, rural New Zealand and Hawaii, this is an absorbing novel of the Pacific steeped in the mystery and nature of family. [Larger font]
Pages
252
252
Year
2015
2015
Reviews
01-11-2023
Our group was unanimous: this was a gem of a book. We all felt Patricia Grace's beautiful writing created a compelling set of stories cleverly braided together to form an emotionally engaging novel. The way in which she developed her wonderful characters helped to deepen our appreciation of cultural identity and gave us a better understanding of the forces of racial discrimination. We felt that the author's skill lies, in part, in the way her gentle style converts to such powerful story-telling.
02-10-2023
This was a book we all enjoyed, and as New Zealanders it made us think about our history, culture and heritage. Beautifully written and excellent character portrayals.
17-04-2023
Wonderful story telling. We all enjoyed discussing the many themes that are woven together successfully, with captivating and absorbing descriptions.
06-03-2023
The reading of Chappy has ignited an interest in many in our group unfamiliar with Patricia Graces work, to read more. This was a story about us. A reminder that in order to feel complete we need to know where we come from. Daniels journey of discovery is one we all understand.
13-02-2023
We all loved 'Chappy' - a must read.
23-11-2022
Everyone enjoyed the book, and felt the story being written through the eyes of the grandson worked extremely well. There was great discussion around racism, Maori tikanga that embraces visitors, and the importance of education, especially for girls.
16-11-2022
A good story told in a confusing way .
17-10-2022
This book was excellent. Patricia Grace has a real skill. All enjoyed.
03-08-2022
Great N.Z. read. Rich in culture, not only Maori but also Japanese and Hawaiian. Loved the family dynamics and the unlikely love stories. We would recommend this book.
19-04-2022
We all really enjoyed this book. We liked how the history was revealed through oral story telling and that we were getting a Maori perspective of the time.
01-11-2021
Mixed reviews, didn't grab some people enough at the beginning to complete reading; nearly everyone agreed the beginning was slow. Some finished and enjoyed, some finished and loved. All appreciated reading Patricia Grace.
22-10-2021
A very well-written book and was highly rated by the majority of the group, with a few having trouble getting into the story and not really enjoying it. A member remarked that it was a relief to have a book with Maori as the main protagonists and yet it wasn't violent or depressing, with a general kindness pervading the story.
01-10-2021
Loved the characters and the Maori history of the story.
02-08-2021
A learning curve for elderly middle class white women. Fascinating story of integration. Enjoyed by all.
04-06-2020
This book was one of our all-time favourites. Well loved, and all appreciated the wonderful writing and inside look at the Maori/Hawaiian way of live of the era. So much wisdom to impart. Her pulling you into the characters' lives at that time we thought was magical. We have ordered another of her books for the new year!
12-12-2018
Generally enjoyed, although it took some a little while to get into it. Loved the character development, felt that we really got to know them. Generated a good discussion.
24-08-2018
All people in the group thought that the book was well written and full of interesting detail. Patricia Grace writes with a Maori perspective in a way that includes all readers. We all thought she is a wonderful writer. Some in the group felt that the book never gripped them, despite its many admirable qualities.
24-08-2018
All really enjoyed the setting of the book and learning more about our country's history/way of life. Well developed characters and written in an intriguing way. Great discussion had!
24-08-2018
Wonderful.
24-08-2018
We enjoyed reading Patricia Grace's story of a Maori family's life from around WWII, interwoven with life in Hawaii, and the effect of events in Japan on the family who have embraced a Japanese member. Quite intricate and absorbing. We liked the ending with Chappy making a Japanese garden, and had a very good discussion.
30-04-2018
100% enjoyment of this book. Highly recommended by all of us.
30-04-2018
Patricia Grace's books are always a joy to read and "Chappy" is no exception. The book is full of interesting NZ Maori characters, and we love the way Patricia Grace depicts their lives.
27-04-2018
A window into a different world - we really enjoyed it.
27-04-2018
We enjoyed the vehicle of the grandson's visit to tell the story - this resonated with our members who have children living abroad. We want to read more by Patricia Grace, having also read 'Tu' some time ago.
27-04-2018
This book was a hit with our group. We have a huge admiration for Patricia Grace's writing. It promoted excellent and wide-ranging discussion.
27-04-2018
Chappy was generally well loved by the group. We enjoyed the intimate insight into Maori and Hawaiian culture.