Ribbons of Grace

by Maxine Alterio

A gripping story of love and deception on the Otago Gold Fields of nineteenth-century New Zealand.Arrowtown, a goldfield settlement with an explosive mix of inhabitants, is the scene of an unlikely love story.Ming Yuet, a young Chinese woman seeking riches disguises herself as a male miner and comes to the goldfields, where she meets Conran, an Orcadian stonemason escaping a family tragedy. A secret love affair develops amidst suspicion, fear and hostility, culminating in an act of violence that irrevocably shatters the lives of those involved.Maxine Alterio's beautiful novel about love, forgiveness, alienation and friendship moves between past and present, homeland and adopted country, and from the living to the deceased . . .

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Maxine Alterio is a novelist, short story writer and academic mentor. She has a MA from Otago University and a PhD from Victoria University of Wellington, where she studied the memoirs of First World War nurses. Penguin NZ published Maxine’s first two novels Ribbons of Grace (2007), and Lives We Leave Behind (2012), which Editions Prisma (France) issued in 2013. Penguin Random House NZ published Maxine’s recent novel The Gulf Between in 2019. Steele Roberts NZ released Maxine’s collection Live News and Other Stories in 2005. Several of her short stories have won, or been placed in, national and international competitions. Others have been broadcast on NZ Radio National or appeared in anthologies. Maxine also co-authored an academic text that links learning with reflective storytelling. She was the 2013 recipient of the Seresin Landfall/Otago University Press Writing Residency, and co-recipient of the inaugural Dan Davin Literary Foundation Writer in Residence in 2019.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this - NZ author, setting Arrowtown in late 1870's/early 1880's. Basically a love story with a couple of twists. Story told in three voices - a young Chinese gold-miner, a stonemason originally from Orkney, and an English settler's wife. All different backgrounds, living in the same area, and all heavily involved in the plot. That's not giving much away......Definitely worth reading - not sure why this didn't make headlines a few years ago when it was first published.

[Bachyboy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost gave this 5. I really enjoyed this tale of Ming Yuet, the Chinese girl who went to the goldfields of Arrowtown, disguised as a male. She encounters hardship and prejudice but along the way falls in love with a Scottish stonemason. Written in three parts, with three different narrators. Moving and beautifully crafted.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely opportunity to read a historical fiction set nearby. The three distinct voices were a creative way to tell the story, but I did get caught up in the grammer and poor English of the first two characters.

[Esther van Praag · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet yet tragic story! This book is set in Arrowtown, a historic gold mining town in New Zealand near Queenstown, and I bought this book in Arrowtown while I was visiting so that made this book just that little bit more special to me.

I flew through this book! It was divide into three parts, each narrated by a different character, and I basically read the book in three sittings. Each character had a very distinct voice and personality that shone through their perspective, though I personally found the spelling out of each character’s accent to be a little much.

I thought the love between Ming Yuet and Conrad was incredibly sweet. They showed their love to each other in such thoughtful ways, through cooking, or playing music. They learned about each others cultures in such an inquisitive and respectful way, and Conrad was so thoughtful with how he talked to Ming Yuet about her past trauma.

The ending of the book is obvious, as it is given away in the first chapter of the book, but I did find I could pretty easily tell how the events were going to unfold and ultimately lead to that inevitable point.

I definitely had the old waterworks going on in the last third of the book. Not just a tear or two, but some proper face scrunching, streams of tears rolling down the cheeks chin and into my neck creases, so we love that! 😂

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I loved the book, I did find it hard to follow in a few areas. This story was told by three people, Ming Yuet, Conran and Ida, so we had the story told from three points of view across time. I did feel disconnected and cut off from Ming Yuet as her last chapter was #6 and her POV never returned until the last chapter where I finally had some closure. I would have really liked to have gone into her head when she suspected her pregnancy, how she hid it and discovering of Conran's death. Her thoughts and fears interested me but were never really dived into.
I visited Arrowtown exactly one year almost to the date when I began reading this book. I read the back of the book where I found it at a second hand store and never placed it to the same Arrowtown in my country. Since the visit where I panned for gold and walked through the town I became obsessed with the history and read all articles that I could regarding the town, history and the people.
This book was well written and painted beautiful imagery in my head. The first page there is a line "Sometimes my memories of those years feel heaver than a load of wood on tired shoulders", I knew I was in for a great read with that single line.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It puzzles me, just like other readers, why this book is not available in most libraries. Lucky me having my local library purchased and reserved it for me, after City of Sydney library declined me request.
I read it with a heavy heart, while in the meantime I absolutely enjoyed reading it. I admired the courageous Little Wind surviving a world she does not belong to, then transforming to Ming Yuet along the unusual path crossed with the Orkney man. A history full of shame and love displayed by human beings. I trust it happens in most parts of world when a new comer arrives, not necessarily the gold rushes era only. Can Australia be the one embracing all humankind with harmony? Looking at the increasing news coverage and political views about invasion by foreign countries government, I feel shamed again.

[Karen Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

great NZ story

[Deanne Harvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting story but the writing style is a bit problematic in 2024.

[Lauren Roche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeously written.
Great characters and sense of time and place.
I loved it.

[Tracy Bedford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Portrayed the hardships of life of the impoverished, both in China and Arrowtow, intwined into a beautiful love story. Lovely but sad story. Great read.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book while visiting Arrowtown. A beautiful and memorable story, made even more magical by the connection to the town itself.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially it took me a while to get into this book as I tended to keep seeing aspects (such as framing and structure) from the short fiction writing course. Tended to see Maxine instead of the book. Had to laugh in one section as there was material clearly from Pamela Wood; (close friend of Maxine) relating to dirt in early Dunedin. By the time I got to the second section spoken in Conran’s voice I was hooked. Wonderful story, tenderly told, very moving. I had to keep reading to find out what happened next – essentially read it in one day.
Beautifully written, well-developed characters within a strong and heartbreaking yet heartwarming tale supported with great historical knowledge and it creates clear imagery.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it and passed it on to friends. Arrowtown was my playgroung as a child, so the historical side of this well written book was intresting.

[Kim]

love this book

[grace rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO INTERESTING AND BEAUTIFUL

[Tess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about Chinese gold miners in Arrowtown, and a love story.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.