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Cast two shadows
The place is Bastion Point.
The time is May 1978.
Maori Land Rights protestors are about to be evicted after squatting on the Point for months.
Emma is on the periphery, taking her first slow steps towards accepting the Maori in her.
A visit to Bastion Point triggers memories of her childhood. Her mixed Maori/Yugoslav blood has always made her feel out of place - her Maori relatives call her "the Pakeha bastard" and her Yugoslav relatives didn't know she existed.
This novel traces her life through from her traumatic childhood and teenage years to her adult strivings to be accepted as white and middle-class, until the final crisis point in her life when, as her marriage is dissolving and her sense of self identity is crumbling, she comes to terms with her dual heritage.
Cast Two Shadows is a strong and compelling novel, a passionate portrayal of one woman's life from childhood to middle age, and one of the first novels to deal honestly with the complex question of mixed Pakeha/Maori ancestry.
The time is May 1978.
Maori Land Rights protestors are about to be evicted after squatting on the Point for months.
Emma is on the periphery, taking her first slow steps towards accepting the Maori in her.
A visit to Bastion Point triggers memories of her childhood. Her mixed Maori/Yugoslav blood has always made her feel out of place - her Maori relatives call her "the Pakeha bastard" and her Yugoslav relatives didn't know she existed.
This novel traces her life through from her traumatic childhood and teenage years to her adult strivings to be accepted as white and middle-class, until the final crisis point in her life when, as her marriage is dissolving and her sense of self identity is crumbling, she comes to terms with her dual heritage.
Cast Two Shadows is a strong and compelling novel, a passionate portrayal of one woman's life from childhood to middle age, and one of the first novels to deal honestly with the complex question of mixed Pakeha/Maori ancestry.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 8, 2012
I did not know what to expect with this book - the blurb does not do it justice. I was unprepared for the depth of character and feeling conveyed. However, this is not simply a moving, emotive read; the imagery, historical context and animated qualities of the supporting characters each combine to create a plausible world.
If you know a little about Maori culture then you might be forgiven for thinking that the author may have portrayed a negative picture, however, when one delves deeper, it turns out that the life of Emma, our protagonist, is based on a true story; no embellishment required.
Without giving too much away, this story takes us on a journey through Emma's life, written beautifully through a young Emma's eyes. The vulnerability is striking, I wanted to scoop her up and take her home for a good feed! Then, periodically we move between the past and present where Emma is coming to terms with some life decisions. At first I enjoyed being back in young Emma's world but as the book progressed I felt equally as engaged with the 'present' Emma. As her life unfolds we become familiar with other characters - each with their own charm or lack thereof (loathing in some cases!). But the key is, they were all plausible...you'll never love Tui folks!
For me the book stood out mainly because of its ability to portray complex inner feelings as well as entertain with colourful events and its ability to deal with difficult subjects without over-glorifying or over-indulging - they are touching enough.
In summation this book deals with past pain and reconciling it with how we choose to live our lives TODAY, it made me think about my own past and how I choose to let it influence me now, it made me feel lucky that my mother isn't Tui! It made me look again at how Maori identity, indeed any cultural identity, may be more involved than first meets the eye. And finally it made me want to read more novels by Joan Rosier-Jones!
If you know a little about Maori culture then you might be forgiven for thinking that the author may have portrayed a negative picture, however, when one delves deeper, it turns out that the life of Emma, our protagonist, is based on a true story; no embellishment required.
Without giving too much away, this story takes us on a journey through Emma's life, written beautifully through a young Emma's eyes. The vulnerability is striking, I wanted to scoop her up and take her home for a good feed! Then, periodically we move between the past and present where Emma is coming to terms with some life decisions. At first I enjoyed being back in young Emma's world but as the book progressed I felt equally as engaged with the 'present' Emma. As her life unfolds we become familiar with other characters - each with their own charm or lack thereof (loathing in some cases!). But the key is, they were all plausible...you'll never love Tui folks!
For me the book stood out mainly because of its ability to portray complex inner feelings as well as entertain with colourful events and its ability to deal with difficult subjects without over-glorifying or over-indulging - they are touching enough.
In summation this book deals with past pain and reconciling it with how we choose to live our lives TODAY, it made me think about my own past and how I choose to let it influence me now, it made me feel lucky that my mother isn't Tui! It made me look again at how Maori identity, indeed any cultural identity, may be more involved than first meets the eye. And finally it made me want to read more novels by Joan Rosier-Jones!
January 4, 2021
What an incredible story, Emma’s life was amazing. What a strong, determined person she was after such a lonely childhood.
I felt this story very touching, it is based on my nana and I felt so proud reading this book ❤️
I felt this story very touching, it is based on my nana and I felt so proud reading this book ❤️
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews