欧宝娱乐

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鬲賷賵

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乇賵丕賷丞 毓賳 毓丕賱賲 丕賱丨乇亘 貙 鬲丿賵乇 兀丨丿丕孬賴丕 賮賶 丕賱毓賯丿 丕賱禺丕賲爻 賲賳 丕賱賯乇賳 丕賱毓卮乇賷賳 貙 賵 賰丕賳鬲 丕賱賲丐賱賮丞 亘丕鬲乇賷卮賷丕 噩乇賷爻 " 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丕賱賳賷賵夭賷賱賷賳丿賷丞 " 賮賶 丕賱 7 賲賳 毓賲乇賴丕 毓賳丿賲丕 丕賱鬲丨賯 賵丕賱丿賴丕 亘丕賱賰鬲賷亘丞 28 丕賱賲丕賵乇賷丞 賵 賴賶 賰鬲賷亘丞 丕賱鬲毓夭賷夭 賮賶 丕賷胤丕賱賷丕 毓丕賲 1944 貙 賵 鬲乇賰 丕亘賵賴丕 賲賮賰乇丞 氐睾賷乇丞 賵 亘毓囟 丕賱氐賵乇 丕毓鬲賲丿鬲 毓賱賷賴丕 賮賶 乇賵丕賷鬲賴丕 賰賲丕 乇噩毓鬲 賱賱丕乇卮賷賮丕鬲 賵 丕賱賲鬲丕丨賮 賵 賲賰鬲亘丕鬲 丕賱賲賵爻賷賯賶 賵 丕賱丕睾丕賳賶 丕賱卮毓亘賷丞 賱鬲氐賵睾 賱賳丕 乇賵丕賷丞 賳丕亘囟丞 亘丕賱賲卮丕毓乇 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳賷丞
鬲鬲賳丕賵賱 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丕賱丨乇亘 賮賶 賴夭丕卅賲賴丕 賵 丕賳鬲氐丕乇丕鬲賴丕
賲丐賰丿丞 賮賶 賰賱 爻胤賵乇賴丕 兀賳 丕賱丨乇亘 卮乇禺 賮賶 丕賱丨賷丕丞 丕賱胤亘賷毓賷丞 貙 賮賱丕 卮卅 賷毓賵丿 賲胤賱賯丕 賰賲丕 賰丕賳 賯亘賱 丕賱丨乇亘 .

賰乇賲鬲 亘丕鬲乇賷卮賷丕 賰兀賷賯賵賳丞 丨賷丞 賱賱賮賳 丕賱賳賷賵夭賷賱賳丿賶
賵 丨氐賱鬲 乇賵丕賷鬲賴丕 " 鬲賷賵 " 毓賱賶 賲賷丿丕賱賷丞 " 丿賷賵鬲賷夭 " 賱賱乇賵丕賷丞 毓丕賲 2004 貙 賵 噩丕卅夭丞 賲賵賳鬲丕賳丕 賱賱乇賵丕賷丞 毓丕賲 2005

472 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

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1034 people want to read

About the author

Patricia Grace

59books165followers
Patricia Grace is a major New Zealand novelist, short story writer and children鈥檚 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.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
Profile Image for Michelle Boyer.
1,794 reviews25 followers
October 19, 2016
Te Hokowhitu-a-Tu is named after the Maori god of war, and thus it makes sense that he follows his brothers Pita and Rangi into the midst of WWII and joins the Maori Battalion. His story begins with a letter, and with enclosed journal entries from overseas, and "there are details in them that none of us ever speak about" (12). In many senses, this story could belong to any solider of WWII. Yet this story is uniquely different, as it follows three brothers and uncovers deeper secrets than those harbored in the war.

When Tu's family relocates to Wellington, they plan that Tu will be the brother that goes off to school and takes on the task of being a lawyer--they've put their hopes in him. It is already clear that Pita and Rangi are going to join the war efforts, and thus is becomes even more significant for Tu to remain at home with his mother and sisters. Yet, Tu wrote that "At seventeen I just didn't want to be a boy any longer and felt a need to break out of the family protection that has always coated me" (25). There are many Maori men and youths that joined in the war effort, and because "casualties have been extremely high and replacements are needed" recruiters were signing the Maori up at high numbers, even without proof of age (33). Even though there were cases where "younger brothers could be sent home in cases where they are more than two from the same family," Tu himself talks about knowing "of where there were five but three have died already" (35). Undoubtedly, the conditions of WWII were awful, but the one thing the brothers have going for them is that they all found each other, at one point, in the same company. They also meet up with several cousins and other important Maori chiefs.

There are many culturally specific moments in the text, including the art of the taiaha, that are discussed and add unique dimensions to the story. The authenticity is something Patricia Grace should be praised for, and in a bleak novel about war, it is good to see some of the positive attributes of Maori culture shining through. The chiefs Hemi and Gary are seen carving into their rifles, as well as painting their faces, with ornate Maori art. They are also seen showing traditional warriorhood; "We heard him shout, telling us to charge -- saw the arms splayed, the dropped tongue, the whites of eyes as we burst out from the room at a crouching run, firing our guns and making as much noise as we could" (193). Hoki atu ra' is also talked about in terms of giving "you leave so you can march out and go off to join the ancestors in that other dimension" (203).

Yet, be warned that like most novels about war, there will be many characters that you connect with (on various levels) that are killed. Three notable deaths are . And, towards the end you uncover a family secret that Tu has been keeping. Throughout the novel there are different stories and different narrators speaking, including a 3rd person omniscient that gives background to the family's life in Wellington. It is in Wellington that the brothers meet Jess, who later drops off a baby that belongs to one of the brothers. .

The end of the novel takes on an anti-war sentiment, one that is both heartbreaking and reaffirming. I will post this brilliantly written passage(s) below, but will leave it as a spoiler in case you would like to be surprised:


This is a beautiful narrative, one that can speak to those of us that have/have not been to war, those of us that are/are not Maori. It has a rich culturally inclusion of Maori specific content and context, but also allows for outsiders to come and read more about the Maori Battalion. Simply put, one of my favorites, despite its moments of sadness.
Profile Image for Mohmed Abd el salam.
45 reviews34 followers
March 25, 2013
丕爻鬲賮夭賳賷 丕賱毓賳賵丕賳 丕賵賱 卮卅 .. 鬲賷賵 .. 孬賲 賴賷 乇賵丕賷丞 毓賳 丕賱丨乇亘 賮賴賷 廿匕賳 賲賳 丕賱賳賵毓 丕賱賲賮囟賱 賱丿賷 丨賷孬 氐丿賯 丕賱賲卮丕毓乇 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳賷丞 賵鬲噩乇丿 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賲賳 賰賱 卮卅 爻賵賶 賵噩賵丿賴 貙 鬲賵賯毓鬲 賮賷 丕賱亘丿丕賷丞 兀賳 兀噩丿 賮賷賴丕 毓亘賯 " 賰賱 卮卅 賴丕丿卅 毓賱賶 丕賱亘乇 丕賱睾乇亘賷 " 賵丕賱鬲賷 賯乇兀鬲賴丕 賲賳匕 兀毓賵丕賲 .

賱賰賳 賲毓 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 丕賱兀賵賱賶 鬲賮丕噩卅賰 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 亘丕賱胤乇賷賯丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賳馗乇 亘賴丕 廿賱賶 丕賱丨乇亘 貙 鬲氐賵乇 亘鬲乇賷卮賷丕 噩乇賷爻 丕賱丨乇亘 賲賳 賲賳馗賵乇 丕賱卮丕亘 丕賱賲乇丕賴賯 丕賱卮噩丕毓 丕賱匕賷 賷乇賷丿 廿孬亘丕鬲 匕丕鬲賴 亘丕賱廿賳鬲賲丕亍 廿賱賶 賰鬲賷亘丞 噩賳賵丿 丕賱賲丕賵乇賷 丕賱卮噩毓丕賳 丕賱匕賳 禺乇噩賵丕 賷丨賲賱賵賳 乇爻丕賱丞 鬲丨乇賷乇 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賮賷 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷丞 !

賵丕賱噩賳賵丿 賵賯鬲 丕賱乇丕丨丞 賷睾賳賵賳 賵賷乇賯氐賵賳 賵賷爻賰乇賵賳 貙 賱丕 賷賵噩丿 賲丕 賷毓賰乇 氐賮賵賴賲 .. 賵賱丕 丨鬲賶 兀賳賴賲 賯丿 兀賱賯賷 亘賴賲 廿賱賶 丕賱賲賵鬲 丿賵賳 鬲禺胤賷胤 噩賷丿 賱賱賲賴丕賲 貙 兀賵 賴匕丕 賲丕 賷卮毓乇 亘賴 丕賱噩賳賵丿 賵賯鬲 丕賱賲毓乇賰丞

賴賲 賮賷 賲賴賲丞 賳亘賷賱丞 貙 賱丕 賷賲賰賳賴賲 丕賱鬲禺賱賮 毓賳賴丕 貙 毓丿賲 丕賱賵噩賵丿 賮賷 丕賱丨乇亘 賮賷 丕賱賵賯鬲 丕賱匕賷 鬲鬲胤賵毓 賮賷賴 丕賱賳爻丕亍 賱禺丿賲丞 丕賱噩賳賵丿 毓丕乇 賱丕 賷爻鬲胤賷毓賵賳 丕賱鬲毓丕賷卮 賲毓賴 貙貙 賱丕 卮卅 賷毓賰乇 氐賮賵賴賲 丨鬲賶 賷毓賵丿賵賳 廿賱賶 丕賱兀賴賱 ... 賱丕 賷毓乇賮 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賲毓賳賶 丕賱丨乇亘 廿賱丕 亘毓丿 丕賱毓賵丿丞 賲賳賴丕 貙 兀賵 亘丕賱丕丨乇賶 兀賳 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賷賮賯丿 廿賳爻丕賳賷鬲賴 廿賱賶 丕賱兀亘丿 賮賷 丕賱丨乇亘 .. 賴賵 賷毓賵丿 亘賯丕賷丕 賲賳 廿賳爻丕賳 兀賵 卮亘丨 賱丕 賷爻鬲胤賷毓 丕賱毓賷卮 賲毓 丕賱丕禺乇賷 貙 孬賲 賱丕 鬲毓賵丿 廿賱賷賴 丨賷丕鬲賴 賲乇丞 兀禺乇賶



丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賯氐丞 孬賱丕孬丞 兀噩賷丕賱 貙 乇丕丨 丕賱兀亘 囟丨賷丞 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱兀賵賱賶 丨賷賳 兀氐賷亘 賮賷 丕賱賲毓乇賰丞 賵毓丕丿 亘毓丿 卮賮丕亍賴 賲乇賷囟丕 亘丕賱氐乇毓 賷爻亘亘 丕賱賲毓丕賳丕丞 賱賰賱 賲賳 丨賵賱賴 丨鬲賶 賱賯丿 賮乇丨賵丕 亘賲賵鬲賴 .

孬賲 孬賱丕孬丞 賲賳 丕賱兀禺賵丞 貙 廿賳禺乇胤 兀賰亘乇賴賲 賮賷 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷丞 貙 賵賰丕賳 毓賱賶 兀禺賵賷賴 丕賱丕賳禺乇丕胤 賮賷 丕賱丨乇亘 兀爻賵丞 亘兀禺賷賴賲 丕賱丕賰亘乇 貙 孬賲 賰丕賳 毓賱賷賴賲 丕賱孬賱丕孬丞 丕賱亘賯丕亍 賮賷 兀乇囟 丕賱賲毓乇賰丞 賱丨賲丕賷丞 丕賱兀氐睾乇 " 鬲賷賵 " 丕賱匕賷 氐賲賲 毓賱賶 鬲乇賰 丕賱賲丿乇爻丞 賵丕賱丕賳禺乇丕胤 賮賷 丕賱賯鬲丕賱 賱賲 賷賰賳 亘廿賲賰丕賳賴 鬲丨賲賱 賳賯賷氐丞 鬲禺賱賮賴 毓賳 丕賱賲毓乇賰丞 賮乇丕丨 兀禺賵賷賴 囟丨賷丞 賴匕丕 丕賱睾乇賵乇 .

賱賲丕匕丕 匕賴亘賵丕 廿賱賶 丨乇亘 賱賷爻 賱賴賲 亘賴丕 賳丕賯丞 賵賱丕 噩賲賱 .. 賴匕丕 丕賱爻丐丕賱 賷胤丕乇丿賰 毓賱賶 賲丿丕乇 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賵賱丕 鬲噩賷亘 毓賱賷賴 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 貙 乇亘賲丕 賰丕賳鬲 丕賱丨乇亘 賯丿乇賴賲 丕賱匕賷 賱賲 賷爻鬲胤賷毓賵丕 丕賱賴乇賵亘 賲賳賴 .. 賱賰賳 賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賷禺鬲亘乇 " 鬲賷賵" 丿乇爻 丕賱丨乇亘 賵丨賯賷賯鬲賴丕 .. 亘毓丿 丕賳 毓丕丿 賲丿賲乇丕 賲賳 兀乇囟 丕賱賲毓乇賰丞 賷丨匕乇 丕賱噩賷賱 丕賱孬丕賱孬 賲賳 丕賱丕賳禺乇丕胤 賲乇丞 兀禺乇丞 賮賷 丨乇賵亘 丕賱賯丕丿丞 丕賱丕賳鬲賴丕夭賷賷賳 貙 乇亘賲丕 毓丕丿 賲賳 丕賱丨乇亘 亘賴匕賴 丕賱乇爻丕賱丞 丕賱鬲賷 毓噩夭 兀亘賵賴賲 賵兀禺賵賷賴 賲賳 賯亘賱 賮賷 廿賷氐丕賱賴丕 .. 賵乇亘賲丕 亘賴匕賴 丕賱胤乇賷賯丞 賷氐亘丨 賱賳噩丕鬲賴 賲毓賳賶 !


兀賲丕 賴賷 貙 賮賱賲 鬲賰賳 賱賴 賵賯鬲 丕賱丨乇亘 貙 賵賱賲 鬲賰賳 賱賴 毓賳丿賲丕 鬲丨乇乇 丕賱毓丕賱賲 !
Profile Image for Kelly.
151 reviews24 followers
February 27, 2016
Tu relates the experiences of three brothers who join the Maori Battalion in World War II and end up fighting together in a nightmarish campaign in Italy. In some ways it's a typical horrors-of-war story. But it is couched in an exploration of the Maori people's struggle to find a place in 20th century New Zealand.

The story is told in a largely non-linear fashion, interspersing Tu's memories and diary entries from the war with third-person narration of the family's pre-war life in Wellington. Grace uses the different settings as foils for each other, so that we can see the differences in the brothers' attitudes to war echoed in their experiences in the city, and especially in the different ways in which they relate to a white woman, Jess, who becomes a key figure in all of their lives. Sometimes this juxtaposition is handled more deftly than others; though the backstory feels crucial, it is not as engaging as the war scenes. The Wellington scenes sometimes feel like a lot of set-up that could have been either shorter or more exciting (or, possibly, both).

But it's a really good book. The research is meticulous and well-incorporated, and the story itself is deeply affecting. I didn't even know about the existence of the Maori Battalion before I picked up this book, and I finished it feeling heartbroken and outraged and wanting to learn more. Highly recommended for all readers.

This review has been condensed from a that I published on my blog, .
Profile Image for Lisa.
3,651 reviews486 followers
July 6, 2016
Tu is the sixth novel of M膩ori author Patricia Grace, and it鈥檚 quite different to her other novels I鈥檝e read, which have all been firmly grounded in New Zealand. It鈥檚 the story of three brothers who go away to war, and of a girl who matters to all of them.

Most of the novel is narrated by Tu, responding in his later years to the questions of his nephews Rimini and Benedict. The novel is bookended by his letters to them, with his war diary set in Italy in between, along with the back story of his brother Pita in New Zealand.

Tu is much younger than his brothers Pita and Rangi, and he bears the burden of being the chosen one. When their father returned from WW1 he was a damaged man, and his violence blighted their youth. Pita stayed home from school to protect his mother, making his employment prospects even more difficult in a society where discrimination against the M膩ori was the norm. Quiet, thoughtful and an intensely private man, Pita is nothing like his knockabout brother Rangi, but both of them are determined that Tu will win a native scholarship, get an education and become the hope of the family. This sense of family responsibility amongst the M膩ori is a motif which recurs after their father dies and the family moves to Wellington: the boys share their earnings to augment their mother鈥檚 war widows pension, a pension which was inexplicably half the amount paid to Pakeha women.

To read the rest of my review please visit
Profile Image for 卮賷賲丕亍 賮丐丕丿.
145 reviews34 followers
February 10, 2013
丿禺賱賵丕 丨乇亘丕 賱賷爻鬲 丨乇亘賴賲
丨丕賱賲賷賳 亘丕賱賲噩丿 賵 丕賱賲爻丕賵丕丞
丿賮毓賵丕 丕賱孬賲賳 亘丕賴馗丕 賱賳賷賱 丨賯賵賯 丕賱賲賵丕胤賳丞 賵 丕賱卮乇賮 賮賶 亘賱丿賴賲 丕賱兀賲
賮賴賱 鬲丨賯賯 賱賴賲 賲丕 兀乇丕丿賵丕 責

" 丕賱丨乇亘 賮賶 賴夭丕卅賲賴丕 賵 丕賳鬲氐丕乇丕鬲賴丕 鬲丨丿孬 卮乇禺丕 賮賶 丕賱丨賷丕丞
亘丨賷孬 賱丕 鬲毓賵丿 賲胤賱賯丕 賰丕賱爻丕亘賯 " 亘丕鬲乇賷卮賷丕 噩乇賷爻

毓乇囟賶 賱賱賰鬲丕亘 賮賶 賲賵賯毓 賲丨賷胤
賮賷 乇丕卅毓丞 亘丕鬲乇賷卮賷丕 噩乇賷爻 "鬲賷賵" .. 賱丕 卮卅 賷毓賵丿 賰賲丕 賴賵 亘毓丿 丕賱丨乇亘
Profile Image for Deborah Pickstone.
852 reviews94 followers
June 20, 2016
3.5 stars

This account of the Maori Battalion in Italy is well-written and constructed and I liked very much that it was presented as a diary/memoir written at the time but being addressed by the next generation with the survivor. I just somehow never properly engaged with the book - I have no idea why; perhaps I just wasn't in a reading mood? (Last time that happened I was approximately 2 years old). So, a good book, well-constructed and a believable account of wartime experience. As New Zealand authors go, this was one of the better books I have read.
Profile Image for Mohamed Gamal.
704 reviews102 followers
October 16, 2018
丕卮鬲乇賷鬲 賴匕丕 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 亘丕賱氐丿賮丞 丕賱亘丨鬲丞 賵 亘丕爻鬲毓噩丕賱 卮丿賷丿 丕賱鬲賯胤鬲賴丕 賵 匕賴亘鬲
乇賵丕賷丞 賲鬲賵爻胤丞 鬲鬲丨丿孬 毓賳 丕賱丨乇亘 丕賱毓丕賱賲賷丞 丕賱孬丕賳賷丞 貙 賱賲 賷氐賱 廿賱賷 丨賯賷賯丞 丕賱丕丨爻丕爻 賵 賱丕 丕馗賳 丕賳 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丕爻鬲胤丕毓鬲 爻亘乇 丕睾賵丕乇 賳賮爻 丕賱亘胤賱 賰賲丕 丕賳賳賷 卮毓乇鬲 亘亘毓囟 丕賱丨卮賵 貙 賮賷 丕賱賲噩賲賱 賲鬲賵爻胤丞
Profile Image for Andrew.
1,261 reviews24 followers
August 11, 2019
This was a book recommended on a favourite podcast of mine and it did not disappoint. It is a brilliant depiction of an aspect of the second world war which does not get the story telling it deserves, namely the battle for Italy, from the perspective of a young maori man who follows his two brothers into the maori battalion.
The novel starts as Tu begins to write his memories of his two older brothers for his nephew and niece.
His brothers are two very different men whose lives have been dominated by managing the trauma and violence of a father returned from the first war. Tu is lucky not having experienced much of his father's response to his own demons. When the family move to Wellington, Tu who goes to a fee paying school is destined for great things and his brothers are determined that he will not then get drawn into ww2 as his oldest brother, a man who enjoys risk joins up straight away. We follow the other brother and his relationship with a vibrant young woman to whom he struggles to express his feelings. The story of the family and brothers before they enlist is told with tenderness and having read the authors history that this is based on her father's life it is understandable.
The picture then of the war is a brilliant depiction of the horror of war. The writing here is perfect as it is written in the words of a soldier, there is no flowery description of the horror but that is the beauty as the soldier becomes deadened to the horror he experiences, that in itself becomes incredibly moving. This is a front which seemed impossible to win as the three brothers sit in mud faced with a battle to take the monte cassino monastery.
The final part of the book is so poignant as the rest of Tu's life is shaped by what he has gone through and the losses he has the come to terms with, though as part of a generation spared serving in war I cannot imagine how an individual ever would be able to cope with the sights sounds and losses of battle, thus I put the book down overwhelmed by a truly magnificent piece of work.
Profile Image for Ngaire.
325 reviews22 followers
March 16, 2011
This book broke my heart. Tu, Pita and Rangi are brothers who join the Maori Battalion during WWII and end up fighting mostly in Italy, which I think is where a lot of New Zealand soldiers saw most of their action (although one of my grandfathers spent most of the war in the Solomon Islands which I think was even more godawful than the war in Europe). Tu explores the experience of army life as well as the family's life before the war - the damaged father who never recovered from the trauma of World War 1, Pita's experience as the oldest child responsible for protecting his mother and siblings from his father, the family's decision to leave Taranaki and move to Wellington to seek out a better life.

At first, the switches in perspective between Tu, the happy-go-lucky youngest brother, and Pita, the reserved, angry brother, are jarring, but as you get used to them, each begins to feed into the other so that you have a much richer understanding of the boys' reasons for going to war and their experiences of it. I loved being reminded that many Maori joined up partly as a way to prove to Pakeha (white) New Zealanders that they, too, wanted to serve their country.

Grace captures the stoic male New Zealand voice perfectly in Tu's diary sections - it reminded me of my grandfather, although he wasn't Maori. I don't know how easy this would be to read if you weren't a New Zealander - there are a few passages in Maori, and some of the cultural context might be a bit mystifying if you don't know anything about NZ history, but I would recommend giving it a try anyway.
Profile Image for Annabelle.
11 reviews2 followers
February 24, 2015
Honestly, I don't have a lot to say about this book. I didn't love it, I didn't hate it. It was just okay. Up until about 60% of the way through, it held very little interest for me. Even though half of it was written in diary form, I still felt as though I barely knew any of the characters. As for the plot, I've never read a war novel, but I certainly expected it to be a bit more...gripping. Tu, the author of the diary, says at the end that he mostly wrote while he was waiting or resting, basically just sitting around - and really, that's sometimes all I felt like I was reading about. I don't think Patricia Grace conveyed the action or horror of war in a compelling way at all, unfortunately. Her writing was better suited to the chapters describing life before the war, although even then I think writing about a character who seems to have little understanding of his own emotions, or how to convey them (Pita), is setting yourself up for a challenge.

I guess maybe I just didn't quite get it. I saw the "twists" (if that's what they were supposed to be) coming a mile off, and even if I hadn't, the lack of emotion I felt for any of the characters meant such revelations had little impact. It was an interesting look into the effect of two world wars across the generations of a family, but fell a bit flat.
Profile Image for Ferris.
1,505 reviews23 followers
September 9, 2014
I know, I know.....another war novel. No it is not. This is a story set during WWII, featuring the Maori Battalion of New Zealand. This is more than a war story. This story is told via the protagonist's journal kept during the war and afterwards. This is the story of brothers and cousins bound together by blood and culture. This is the story of loves found and lost. This is the story of the cost of war. This is the story of a culture which was used and manipulated. This is the story of a proud culture with rich, joyful traditions. This story is about being a Maori warrior, a Maori man, a lover, a son, a brother, a cousin, an uncle, and ultimately about being a human being whose life is battered and broken and then tries to heal.

The author's prose is lyrical, joyful and profoundly moving. The narrator for the audiobook was fantastic!! I learned a lot and loved Tu's courage, joy, and attitude. READ THIS!
Profile Image for Joshua Demello.
38 reviews1 follower
September 16, 2017
Probably my favorite book from Patricia Grace, Tu provides a fictional firsthand account of the ww2 battles in Italy by the Maori Batallion.. Not only that but the intermixing of a first person and third person storytellimgballows the reader to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of war then take a breather through flashbacks. The story inspired me to read more on the 28th Batallion and their role in the war. But its not just the war that made me like it.

The story of the effects of PSD on not just a family but a native family, adjusting to life in the city, and the coming of age all had me enthralled with the reading.. I especially enjoyed the struggle of some of the characters to live in both worlds but not being accepted in either.

I thought the diary entry formula would seem more realistic as the later entries seemed too good for a 17 year old to write..
Profile Image for Linley.
502 reviews9 followers
December 7, 2014
It's taken me a while to build up to a Patricia Grace, however I finally picked up a book (war was a random choice, not my favourite genre) and settled in. If you are looking for a wide read across authors I would recommend this book to you. Her detail, her ability to conjure up the scenes and the way she weaves in and out and around are very skilled. The story (read the other reviews for more info) is heartbreaking and so real. It made me rant against the futility of war, the waste caused by other people's disputes and the way sadness can pass through generations. Highly recommended to all Y9-13 students and adult readers.
58 reviews3 followers
August 1, 2008
This is a mostly fictional account of the Mauri Battalion during WWII. Prior to picking up this book, which I found on a friends bookshelf, I had no idea that there was a Mauri Battalion. Patricia Grace does a great job of sharing the thoughts and feelings of those fighting--apparently she did lots of research and her father was a member of the Mauri Battalion. Tu, the main character, writes a journal in which he records where they are, what he is feeling, memories of home and much more. It is a quick read-easy, interesting and thought provoking.
Profile Image for Trina.
827 reviews15 followers
November 22, 2014
This is a touching story of Maori culture in New Zealand and the Maori Battalion in World War 2. I found the Maori traditions at their homes in the countryside fascinating, as well as the chants, dancing and songs which they continued to practice even after moving to the city, and of course also in the war, which was in no way theirs--the seemed to feel they should join for glory. It reminded me a bit of "Three Day Road" by a Canadian First Nation native. The author is a well-known Maori writer.
1 review11 followers
August 12, 2009
I did not like this book, to me it had no plot and seemed to drag on and on. I do not recommend this book for anyone under the age of 30.
It is also only good if you are interested in war and Maori culture as there are many words that you need to know in order to understand it properly.

It only got semi okay at the end when there was the scandel of the jess love triangle. That's it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
165 reviews11 followers
May 27, 2011
A wonderfrul book. I learnt so much about the battles in Crete in WW2 and also about life in Wgtn in the 40s. How patricia Grace can confidently and deftly speak with a man's voice is beyond me, but she does. Definiely one of NZ's greatest writers.
Profile Image for Jeremy.
86 reviews3 followers
August 5, 2011
it's not necessarily a bad book, but i couldn't stay interested in it for the life of me. good luck should you choose to read it, or any other of patricia grace's books for that matter. they are all fairly similar.
Profile Image for Jessie.
160 reviews15 followers
April 13, 2008
Great novel, based on the NZ Maori battalion in WWII. Patricia Grace writes good.
Profile Image for Justin Paul.
129 reviews5 followers
January 12, 2011
Read for work as it will be a teaching text at Year 12 for us (hi Victoria, Averill and Simonetta....). It's prob a 2.5 stars...
Profile Image for Lawrence.
174 reviews7 followers
July 30, 2011
"The Maori Saving Private Ryan" - well, no, not really. But an excellent novel based on the exploits of three brothers in the Maori Battalion in WWII.
Profile Image for Bronwyn.
Author听13 books59 followers
May 18, 2013
Different from Patricia Grace's novels, but just as rewarding. And the writing is excellent.
Profile Image for Tara Hughes.
3 reviews
July 1, 2013
Great history lesson, beautifully written as always with P Grace. So much respect for the Maori Battalion.
Profile Image for Lizie.
40 reviews5 followers
November 1, 2014
An inspiring book about family love and loyalty and the awfulness of war.
Profile Image for Kookie.
783 reviews12 followers
March 16, 2015
3.8. I couldn't really get into this until the last third of it. So 3 stars for the majority and 4 stars for the end.
Profile Image for Mallee Stanley.
830 reviews6 followers
March 2, 2016
This was a great insight into not only Maori life, but the war experience and the after effects.
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