I loved everything about this (birds! post-modernism! mythological queerness! more birds!) and think it sets a new standard for NZ literary fiction. This is written as two different books, which I get, but I do recommend reading the light one first, as I don't know if the dark one would have made sense otherwise. ( )

(7.5) I am really struggling to rate this book. I feel very out of step with the glowing reviews.
To begin with there is no clear guidance where to start this book, one side is light coloured the other dark. Our library set it up with the dark, which I suspect is wrong, it being promoted by the publisher with the light cover. So after a false start I turned the book around. Yes, you have to invert the book. This proved correct as it starts with the beginning of time and Kurangaituku's advent. The telling is very mythological however once we reach her meeting with Hatupatu the story pace picks up. I enjoyed this section, although it is a very feminist take on the traditional Maori tale. When we reach her demise, the beginning of the traditional tale with Hatupatu and his brothers commences until the brothers leave him for dead. This is told on alternate pages, as the other page is the same story inverted starting from part way in from the rear of the book. when this section is completed you invert the book and start from the back. Kurangaituku is dead and has entered the afterlife intent on seeking revenge on Hatupatu. This section is quite fantastical featuring Maori gods and their progeny in various guises and different dominions. It even comes with a lesbian sexual encounter to spice it up! This aside I was starting to think hurry up, enough already. Finally this section comes to an end and yes we reach the alternative paged retelling of Hatupatu and the Birdwoman. I soon realised it was exactly the same as the inverted alternating pages and I had had enough.
So for me the book was spoiled by trying to be far too clever in format. It was just plain confusing and in my opinion totally unnecessary. I dare say it will be a likely contester to win this years New Zealand fiction prize because of its modern interpretation of a traditional Maori legend and its strong feminist stance. However it is not my favourite by any means. ( )

I learned of this book from a favorite Instagram account, @apparelforauthors, ordered the book from the publisher in New Zealand and I'm so glad I did. When I first started reading it, I worried that I wouldn't be able to follow it with so many words that were foreign to me. But after such an investment in a brand new book + overseas shipping, I kept reading and once I let myself become absorbed, reading this was truly an experience. It is one of those books that probably permanently alters your brain chemistry. ( )