Witi Ihimaera’s book a revelation

This bookwas a revelation to me, not just the actual events of coming of age in 60s and 70sNew Zealand but thewayinwhich the storywastold.

In amemoir the expected structure is linear, starting with grandparents, childhood and so forth and progressing in a chronological format. In Native Sonweare introduced to aMa¯ori style of storytelling, one that follows a spiral which weaves in and out of mythology, past history and events thewriter experienced. Weare gently guided into appreciating the importance of tipuna, wha¯nau and the challengesMa¯ori faced at the time.

Witi Ihimaera is well placed to tell this story as he entered the Pa¯keha¯ world of literature at the age of 28, being published as our firstMa¯ori novelist. Native Son is the second book of hismemoir following Maori Boy and they both contain shocking and brave revelations that can be hard to read and must have been difficult to write.

It also includes extracts from someof his early and bestknown stories such asAGameof Cards, Big Brother, Little Sister, The Matriarch and Tangi. The insights into the writing and context for thesenowiconic works is fascinating.

Witi Ihimaera is a remarkable writer and thismemoirconfirms his place as a taonga of Aotearoa.

■ Witi will be talking about Native Son at the Hawke’s Bay Readers and Writers Festival on Sunday, October 18,2pmat Toitoi in Hastings, followed by the launch of hisnewbook, Navigating the Stars: Maori Creation Myths. Book tickets to this special event through hbaf.co.nz

Native Son — Witi Ihimaera (Random House, $40)