Mutuwhenua : the moon sleeps

by Patricia Grace

Mutuwhenua: The Moon Sleeps (1978), tells the story of the love and marriage of a young Maori woman and Pakeha man, the first time this had been done from the Maori perspective and by a Maori writer. It is focused on the effort of Ripeka/Linda to find identity as well as love, as increasingly she commits herself to her Maori being, family and name.

Genres: Fiction, Indigenous

155 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

About the author

Patricia Grace is a major New Zealand novelist, short story writer and children’s writer, of Ngati Toa, Ngati Raukawa and Te Ati Awa descent, and is affiliated to Ngati Porou by marriage. Grace began writing early, while teaching and raising her family of seven children, and has since won many national and international awards, including the Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize for fiction, the Deutz Medal for Fiction, and the Neustadt International Prize for Literature, widely considered the most prestigious literary prize after the Nobel. A deeply subtle, moving and subversive writer, in 2007 Grace received a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to literature.

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The full title of this 1978 novel is Mutuwhenua: When the Moon Sleeps, and is by Maori author Patricia Grace. It was her first full length novel - albeit only a short 155 pages long. Mutuwhenua is the Maori name for the last day of the cycle of the moon. Typically it is thought of a day of particularly bad luck.

Some spoilers below, but the bulk is mentioned in the blurb on the book, and in the GR listing.

The book tells the story of the life and then marriage of Ripeka, a young Maori woman to a Pakeha (white New Zealand) man - Graeme. Ripeka has chosen a European name for herself - Linda.

The novel explores identity and sacrifice in relationships. Having this written from a Maori perspective was unique at the time of publication (and perhaps still is).

Ripeka/Linda has to stand up to her family in order to pursue her relationship with Graeme, but they eventually understand they need to evolve their views in order that they don't drive her away, in the same way her cousins have all left the family and live elsewhere, unwilling to return. After they are married, the must move for Graeme's work (as a school teacher), and when Linda falls pregnant she re-evaluates the European way she is living, away from her family support, and is tormented by nightmares. Through all this her love for Graeme and his love for her remain strong, but she struggles to share her inner fears and thoughts, despite her mothers urging to discuss it with him.

In the final act of the book Ripeka/Linda leaves her baby with her mother to be raised by the extended family, and it is clear that to is Graeme who must make the cultural adjustment, not her. Typically in novels (and life) we see the Maori making the cultural adjustment towards Pakeha life, so this is a novel that turns that on its head.

This is a novel that leaves gaps the reader has to fill in. It jumps to a new situation which is alluded to but not explained. I found myself flicking back a couple of pages at times to check what I missed, only to find I had missed nothing. This was clever, as there was enough context, but there were a couple of leads in the story not pursued (or I didn't pickup the explanation) - at one point a twin is mentioned, and I expected explanation of this later in the novel, but if it was there I missed it. Notwithstanding this, it was a quick and thought provoking read.

4 stars

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, easy narrative, where much of the story lies beneath the surface. As interesting for what is said as for what remains unsaid. According to the cover jacket of my edition, this was the first novel published by a Maori woman, so it's also an interesting bit of New Zealand history.

[Missy J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very original and unique novel. Many thanks to my GR friend Daren who brought this book to my attention. Currently I'm on a mission to read more female authors and this little book really fit the bill. This novel tells the story of Linda (formerly known as Ripeka), a Maori woman and how she married a Pakeha (white European) man Graeme, how her family adjusted to this relationship and how she feels leaving her community. At first, the writing style of the story caught my attention. The author doesn't go into every detail and every chapter moves into a different part of the story. We gradually learn how Linda wants to adapt to modern times and "join" the mainstream society by changing her name to Linda (which is easier to pronounce for the mainstream), she had plans to leave her family and go to school (but she abandoned these plans while losing courage during a tournament trip, where she couldn't bear being apart from her family) and through her relationship with Graeme. Linda's grandmother is against this relationship and wishes for her granddaughter to find a Maori husband. Most of her family members repeat grandmother's opinion, but then we find out that there are several relatives who have left the family and moved elsewhere because they married outside of the community. Linda struggles with this and at times, she also feels ashamed (for instance, whenever Graeme visits, she hopes her family won't act too Maori). However, Graeme turns out to be a lovely guy who accepts Linda and her family. They get married and move to the city. That is when Linda starts having second thoughts and homesickness. The house that they move into sounds like a haunted house. Linda cannot explain to Graeme what is happening to her but her family reminds her that there's love between the couple. The ending of the book took me by surprise but was at the same time understandable too. Will Graeme accept what Linda did? Can he truly understand her culture? Even though I was at first worried by the writing style and whether I would be able to follow along the storyline, it turned out to be a very nice narration. It felt like human story-telling, gradually revealing how things evolve. This was definitely an eye-opening book into the Maori community.

"My early days had been spent in an enclosure of people and their love, and an enclosure of land and its love - because I've always known that land can love its people and always understood the reciprocity between people and land. But it is not easy to be content with everything that is familiar and safe. My life before I met Graeme was not enough for me, yet I'd lacked the courage to make it different."

[Daniel Haines · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the anxiety the protagonist faced when trying to navigate the tension between her heart and her culture. I felt like the protagonist possessed unarticulated feelings about her being Māori that created a gulf between her and her spouse. I felt connected to this in particular.

[Chloe Fergusson-Tibble · Rating 5 out of 5]

More beautiful than the last time I read it

[Leiani Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

[YALO Lit Circle]. Although not technically a YA author, Patricia Grace is an older Maori author whose book Mutuwhenua could easily be categorized as YA. It tells the story of a young Maori girl who decides to marry a Pakeha or white man, which her family, particularly her older grandmother and her father are not happy about. More than just a love story, it is the story of coming to terms with oneself and grappling with your heritage, and at the end of the book she has to do something very hard but chooses to do it because she cannot deny who she is. It is about differences and how love is sometimes about knowing even without total understanding. I absolutely loved this book. It was beautifully written and so relatable and yet new and different. As I read, I realized I have spent my whole life reading books that portray a childhood and family life that does not really reflect my own, yet I strive for those ideals anyhow. Mutuwhenua showed me that I value similar things which the protagonist comes to value as well: the land, her culture, and her family—and her connection to all three. A lovely book I highly recommend.

[Bronwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Patricia Grace, and must read this one again.
Because her books are so rooted in New Zealand, other readers might miss the intent of some cultural references but they'll be rewarded so richly by reading her. An exquisite writer not be missed!

[lucy black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful small book about a young Maori woman and her close relationships with parents and small community. She falls in love with a Pakeha and her axis is tilted. The story carefully follows her courtship and marraige, I thought it was extremely well paced. Patricia Grace doesn't race over events or dwell to long on inner monologues, I loved her plot sructure and of course, as with all her books, her sense of place.

[Nicholas Cavenagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad, confronting, beautiful, a remarkable book. The first novel published by a Maori lady, this story of two cultures says a lot about both.

[Deborah Brunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Suzie Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting representation of te ao maori - a depth that's difficult to grasp regarding connection to the spiritual world. Touched my soul.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read, so descriptive I felt I was watching a Netflix movie. Lovely reflection on early Māori life and challenges with movement to urban areas and marriage into European culture

[Bachyboy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is probably a bit dated now but I enjoyed the story of Ripeka who changes her name to Linda when she marries pakeha Graeme. It is a moving story and the ending took me by surprise. But it shouldn't have.

[Lizie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Deals with cutural differences in a gentle and insightful way. Young Maori woman meets Pakeha school teacher. Parental concern. Flashbacks to childhood in closeknit and supportive community. Touches of humour, great descriptive passages.

[bethanyangharad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this novel. Had to read it for University, and thought that it was a really nice read. It delves into some really deep topics, and makes you think. Happy I read is, at it is quite different to much else I have read.

[Becka · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite New Zealand authors and books, Mutuwhenua explores and illustrates Maori and Pakeha relationships in a really intimate way.

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of her first books, simple yet profound; interracial marriage.

[Becki · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite books of all time. I love the entire story with all of the cultural issues that arise and the conflicts.

[Kehaulani · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really enjoyed this story the best and sad thing was that she had her baby but then her dad died

[BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book although not quite as accessible at Patricia Grace's other books.