The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Whale Rider
Book Review: Taste of Home
Summary: 5 Stars
Witi Ihimaera is one of those authors that at one time I was "made" to read as part of NZ High School English curriculum. I have recently discovered the joy of re-reading his work as an ex-pat Kiwi living in the US."Whale Rider" the movie has certainly made waves with it's wonderful adaptation of this beautiful work.
The book is filled with images plucked from any rural Kiwi up bringing - Maori or pakeha.
Witi's ability to combine Maori and English in a seamless narrative is what made this book the wonderful read it is.
I highly recommend it - and look forward to more of his work being readily available in this country.
Book Review: The Maori and Whales
Summary: 5 Stars
First, go watch the movie first, it's theme is the relationship of the old chief and his granddaughter, how she struggles to earn his love as he fights time to find the new young chief. The book is balanced differently with the relationship of the Maori and nature via the whales as major theme and the young great-granddaughter's position as the descendent of the first WhaleRider the secondary theme.Second, on the theme of women's supposed inferiority to men, see pg 82 where the author writes "'No, you sit down! I am a senior line to yours!' Not only that, but Mihi had then turned her back to him, bent over, lifted up her petticoats, and said, 'Anyway, here is the place where you come from!' That was Mihi's way of reminding the chief that all men are born of women."
Third, in one of the very few diadactic paragraphs pg 116 "'But then,' he continued.'man assumed a cloak of arrogance and set himself up above the Gods. He even tried to defeat Death, but failed. As he grew in his arrogance, he started to drive a wedge through the original oneness of the world. In the passing of Time he divided that world into that half he could believe in and that half he could not believe in. The real and the unreal. The natural and the supernatural. The present and the past. The scientific and the fantastic. He put a barrier between both worlds, and everything on his side was called rational and everything on the other side was call irrational. Belief in our Maori Gods.' he emphasized, 'has often been considered irrational.'" I think this is the author's way of explicitly outlining his theme of the book, his desire is that no one misses the point so he introduces it via this speech. This is the take home message of the book, we'd do well to read the whole book in the light of this short speech Koro Apirana.
The book, like the movie is a tear-jerker. The book would make a nice read outloud to younger kids, it's intended audience.
Book Review: The Whale Rider
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a beautiful work that fills one with the chills of destiny. I decided to read the book after seeing the movie, and though the movie was very good, the book gives a greater flavor of the Maori culture. Koro Apirana is the chief of the tribe but he is disappointed when a girl first-born child comes instead of a boy. His eldest son's first wife dies, sealing the destiny for Kahutia Te Rangi to be the only heir to the chief. Her name also, is the one of the ancestor who was the first to come to their land, and the first whale rider. Koro's wife, Nanny Flowers gets their son to name her that, but afterward everyone says she's gone too far. Kahu proves to be a strong child, who loves her grandfather even though her love is not returned. When she hears the whales calling, destiny is calling her too. Witi Ihimaera's magical tale of Kahu brings a sense of the strength of the Maori culture to her readers. There is more to the book than the movie.
Book Review: The film is certainly better
Summary: 2 Stars
Like most people, I bought the book after watching the film... in fact it took me ages to find the book because here in Spain it was called "the legend of the whales". Anyway, I thought the film was very moving and since when I'm obsessed with a movie I buy also the book, I did.
The first thing that surprised me was that the girl is not called Pai, but Kahu, and second, that it was told from the uncle's perspective rather than the girl. I though it wouldn't be good because on the film the uncle is a rather minor character... and in fact, it isn't.
I found the story dull and had to make myself keep reading. The only good thing I can say is that at least it explained a lot of the myth of Paikea, which in the movie wasn't explained that much. Other than that, there wasn't anything to keep me hokked to the book.
Niki Caro is a great scriptwriter because she made a fantastic film from this rather forgettable book.
Book Review: The modern fairy tale
Summary: 4 Stars
Went to see this movie in town last night and i was waiting for it since my kiwi friend from Auckland mentionned it.God i wasnt disappointed, the story is unique, the fairy tale kind without the fairy aunts help, the photography is amazing , Pai is bound to a great career,
I was moved by the characters connection, strength and weakness, faith in destiny , awaiting the prophet , the tribe leader that turned out to be ... a girl.She then has to fight her grandfather reluctancy , to prove herself wise and strong to be the chief (with the support of Nanny Flowers and her uncle)
I recommend the movie for whom wants to dream for 105min