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The Godwits Fly
The Godwits Fly | Robin Hyde
5 posts | 2 read | 3 to read
A reissue of a New Zealand classic novel, with an extensive introduction by Patrick Sandbrook, one of the group of scholars working on the Hyde project. Strongly autobiographical, The Godwits Fly vividly evokes the complexities of family life and the intensely felt world of a single-minded young woman in Wellington in the 1930s.
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LeahBergen
The Godwits Fly | Robin Hyde
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Amazingly enough, my IRL bookclub has picked a Persephone book for our current read (after 27 years together). And no, it WASN‘T my pick. 😆

I was going to ask you, @Centique , if you‘d read this classic New Zealand coming-of-age novel but I see you are the only other person to post about it on here! I‘m really enjoying it.

Ruthiella You have strong Persephone vibes! Your IRL book club has sensed them. Use your powers for good, Leah! 😜 1w
Tamra You lucky book clubber! 😃 1w
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LeahBergen @Tamra I am! But I hope the rest of the club actually likes it or it may be our last. 😆 1w
Tamra @LeahBergen bahahaha Why do I doubt that? 🤔 1w
Cathythoughts 27 years! That‘s one strong bookclub ❤️ book sounds good ! 1w
LeahBergen @Cathythoughts It‘s a great bookclub with a mix of women and men! 1w
Centique Im so glad youre enjoying it. She was an incredible woman. I recall it being quite a long read and - being so close to her real life - a bit messy and complicated - but so beautifully written 😍 1w
LeahBergen @Centique It really rambles along quite beautifully, if that makes sense! 1w
CarolynM Ooh, interesting, she says, immediately adding it to her pending #PersephoneClub order 😆 1w
LeahBergen @CarolynM 😆😆 I‘m working on my order, too! 1w
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Centique
The Godwits Fly | Robin Hyde
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I picked this because I'm trying to read more books written by NZers and also because Iris Wilkinson's life fascinates me - it is so tragic. This novel is close to her life and the narrative is overwhelmed at times by dream and memory and poetry. But that's why it's so special. She writes so beautifully, so originally. Hugely descriptive and thoughtful - a lot about the tragedy of being a woman and not fitting the mold of the time.

Centique An important note - it's sad that like most books written by white NZers in the 1930s, Maori are almost invisible in this novel. There are a couple of instances of racist language too. Necessary to know that as a portrait of NZ in the 30s, this is lacking in that respect. 8y
LeahBergen #PersephoneBooks. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
Centique @LeahBergen yes they're great aren't they? I can feel a collection coming on for my bookshelves! 8y
quirkyreader I got this one as a Christmas gift to myself. 8y
Centique @quirkyreader oh I hope you love it. I think it makes it special knowing how close to her own life it is 😍 8y
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