BLACK EARTH WHITE BONES by Chris Else Vintage NZ$28.00
Chris Else is a bookman through and through. He is a novelist and short story writer, this is his seventh book, he has been both a bookseller and a publisher's sales representative, he has taught creative writing, he is an activist within the NZ Society of Authors, and with his novelist wife, Barbara, he runs a literacy agency and manuscript assessment service.
Whew, that is quite a pedigree. Not surprising then that the crowd at the launch of BLACK EARTH WHITE BONES at Unity Books in Wellington earlier this month attracted scores of authors and other folk from the book world.
His new novel is a rich, brooding and thoughtful work in which we meet Kit Wallace and whom we follow through his life, in which he is somewhat adrift, on the Pacific island nation of Ventiak.
This nation, although appearing a little like Nauru in terms of the ruthless exploitation of its phosphate beds, is entirely the creation of Else and I have to say I am full of admiration for his achievement. He has created a language, flora and fauna, and a full scale culture including customs, rituals, legends and food.
Wallace, who has his demons and is a lot better man than he gives himself credit for, lives with a bunch of slightly crazy ex-pats, on the top floor (no air conditioning) of the Royal Albert Hotel.
The funds on which he has been living all these years are almost exhausted and when the opportunity arises to invest modestly in a get-rich-quick scheme to exploit the island he is initially tempted and then apalled at the idea, his own loyalty to Ventiak taking him somewhat by surprise.
Get inside this book, get to know the locals and their customs and you'll find it a good read.
There are some especially fine pieces of flashback to Wallace's early life in small-town New Zealand.
I was a tad disappointed with the novel's conclusion, the last two chapters I felt needed expansion, but then I always prefer good clear cut endings whether they be in a book or a movie.
Chris Else is a quiet, fairly serious, thoughtful man and in BLACK EARTH WHITE BONES he has delivered us a quiet, fairly serious and thoughtful novel.
Chris Else is a bookman through and through. He is a novelist and short story writer, this is his seventh book, he has been both a bookseller and a publisher's sales representative, he has taught creative writing, he is an activist within the NZ Society of Authors, and with his novelist wife, Barbara, he runs a literacy agency and manuscript assessment service.
Whew, that is quite a pedigree. Not surprising then that the crowd at the launch of BLACK EARTH WHITE BONES at Unity Books in Wellington earlier this month attracted scores of authors and other folk from the book world.
His new novel is a rich, brooding and thoughtful work in which we meet Kit Wallace and whom we follow through his life, in which he is somewhat adrift, on the Pacific island nation of Ventiak.
This nation, although appearing a little like Nauru in terms of the ruthless exploitation of its phosphate beds, is entirely the creation of Else and I have to say I am full of admiration for his achievement. He has created a language, flora and fauna, and a full scale culture including customs, rituals, legends and food.
Wallace, who has his demons and is a lot better man than he gives himself credit for, lives with a bunch of slightly crazy ex-pats, on the top floor (no air conditioning) of the Royal Albert Hotel.
The funds on which he has been living all these years are almost exhausted and when the opportunity arises to invest modestly in a get-rich-quick scheme to exploit the island he is initially tempted and then apalled at the idea, his own loyalty to Ventiak taking him somewhat by surprise.
Get inside this book, get to know the locals and their customs and you'll find it a good read.
There are some especially fine pieces of flashback to Wallace's early life in small-town New Zealand.
I was a tad disappointed with the novel's conclusion, the last two chapters I felt needed expansion, but then I always prefer good clear cut endings whether they be in a book or a movie.
Chris Else is a quiet, fairly serious, thoughtful man and in BLACK EARTH WHITE BONES he has delivered us a quiet, fairly serious and thoughtful novel.
Photo of author courtesy Random House NZ.
1 comment:
I share your admiration for Else's creativity in inventing not only an island nation but a language and culture as well.The book moved a bit slowly for me and while the protagonist was a decent self-effacing sort of chap I felt he need a swift kick up the arse at times!
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