The Bone People by Keri Hulme

How hard is The Bone People to read?

The Bone People scores 76 out of 100 for difficulty on ReadingRate, making it very challenging. The score is a weighted composite of nine measures: four of how hard the prose is to parse, five of how hard the meaning is to extract.

Vocabulary: 82 out of 100

The text frequently incorporates untranslated Maori words and phrases (e.g., 'whanau,' 'kina roe,' 'kia ora,' 'pounamu,' 'hongi,' 'whakapapa'), which are explicitly noted as having a translation section. This requires significant effort from non-Maori readers, akin to specialized terminology. Additionally, the narrative employs literary vocabulary like 'exigencies,' 'intermittent,' 'hypotaxis,' and 'soporific,' elevating the overall lexical challenge beyond standard literary fiction.

Sentence structure: 75 out of 100

Keri Hulme employs a fluid, often stream-of-consciousness style with long, complex sentences that frequently feature multiple clauses and parenthetical asides, such as 'She is a writer and painter and has published short stories in a wide variety of magazines and anthologies, and also a book of poetry.' The narrative also shifts perspectives and internal monologues abruptly, demanding close attention to track the speaker and thought process. While not reaching the extreme hypotaxis of Henry James or the unpunctuated flow of 'Ulysses,' the sustained complexity places it well above average.

Abstraction: 70 out of 100

While grounded in a physical setting and character interactions, the novel frequently delves into philosophical and psychological abstraction, particularly through Kerewin's internal monologues. She muses on identity, purpose, the nature of reality, and the meaning of symbols (e.g., 'The spiral made a useful thought-focus, a mandala'). The narrative often uses symbolic imagery and dreams (e.g., 'An explanatory dream,' 'The Waste Land' is a good anchor for pure abstraction) to explore deeper themes, requiring readers to interpret underlying meanings rather than solely following concrete events.

Information density: 78 out of 100

The text is dense with cultural references, internal reflections, and rapid shifts between dialogue, action, and Kerewin's philosophical musings. Readers must process untranslated Maori terms, interpret non-verbal communication from Simon, and track complex character relationships and backstories revealed through fragmented anecdotes. This constant demand for active interpretation and synthesis of diverse information streams creates a high cognitive load, similar to the layered narratives of '2666' or 'War and Peace'.

Narrative indirection: 78 out of 100

The text relies heavily on Kerewin's fragmented internal monologues and Simon's non-verbal communication, requiring readers to constantly infer meaning. Simon's muteness forces interpretation from gestures, written notes, and expressions, making direct communication rare. Joe's detached recounting of Simon's traumatic past also leaves emotional implications and deeper truths for the reader to piece together, similar to the thematic reconstruction required in 'Flights'.

Symbolic density: 85 out of 100

The novel is rich with symbolic objects and concepts, including Kerewin's Tower (hermitage, prison), Simon's rosary (family, faith, mystery), and his 'music hutches' (connection to nature, inner world). Maori myths and Christian symbols are explicitly invoked and woven into the narrative, such as the kowhai tree as an emblem for a 'sea-people' and Simon's 'soul-shadows.' These elements consistently carry meaning beyond their literal presence, deepening the interpretive challenge, placing it higher than 'To the Lighthouse'.

Ironic distance: 72 out of 100

Kerewin's internal voice is marked by sardonic self-awareness and dry wit, often contrasting her stated feelings with her actions or the reader's perception of events. Joe's 'forced cheerfulness' and the Tainuis' polite but probing questions create a subtle gap between surface interactions and underlying tensions. The narrative frequently uses understatement and juxtaposition to highlight societal hypocrisies or character flaws, requiring the reader to discern the author's implicit critique, akin to the unreliable charm in 'Lolita'.

Resolution withholding: 75 out of 100

The novel deliberately leaves many questions unanswered, particularly regarding Simon's traumatic past, the full extent of his abuse, and the precise nature of his relationship with Joe. Kerewin's own personal history and the 'peculiar frisson of wrongness' she feels about Joe's narrative remain largely unresolved within the excerpt. The ending of the provided text leaves the future of the characters' relationships and Simon's well-being ambiguous, resisting easy closure, similar to the sustained uncertainty in 'Crying of Lot 49'.

Structural complexity: 70 out of 100

The narrative employs a non-linear structure, integrating flashbacks (Joe's account of Simon's discovery) and shifts between Kerewin's first-person internal monologue, third-person narration, and dialogue. Simon's primary mode of communication through gestures, written notes, and finger snaps introduces a unique layer of interpretive effort. The inclusion of prefaces and reviews before the main story, along with the integration of Maori language without immediate translation, further fragments and enriches the reading experience, exceeding the complexity of 'Midnight's Children'.

How The Bone People is regarded

The Bone People holds a literary regard score of 63 out of 100, weighing its place in the canon, its critical reception, its influence on other writers, and the standing of its author. Regard is measured separately from difficulty: a demanding book is not necessarily an admired one.

About the author

Keri Hulme