This is a very very good book. Impressive, harsh, cruel in many points but that is what life is to the two protagonists of this little known masterpiece. Little known because it's a New Zealand book and not much comes from that land. Furthermore it is a Maori author of a Maori story. Very unusual in 99% of the world. This made it interesting to us.
We were walking through Auckland city centre and as addicted to books as we are, we could not miss the bookstores. We found many, and all filled up with interesting books we have no chance to get anywhere else. Thus we stocked up! This was among those we bought. I have never regretted buying it. Beware that I was surprised reading the story, I know that the Maori communities in NZ are far more integrated than the indigenous one in Australia, you can physically see the difference, but the story the book tells is of marginalised Maori and makes you think. Especially because it may applies to every society.
The author gives a striking description of the life of two marginalized persons, a couple with their own up and down, their background of pain and hopes. Their disappointment, their turning points missed and not really missed because perhaps they were not meant to be such.
It is structured as a window opening on the life of these two, flashbacks help to frame their tragedies a bit better, but it would have been a powerful story even without.
Who is this for? Everyone who are interested in something socially touching, where hope is and is not too. Disturbing somehow.
I give 
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