Our book group chioce for February 2023 is Auē by Becky Manawatu. Taukiri was born into sorrow. Auē can be heard in the sound of the sea he loves and hates, and in the music he draws out of the guitar that was his father’s.
Auē is a 2020 novel by Becky Manawatu. It is a powerful and moving story about family, loss, and redemption. The novel is told from the perspectives of three characters: eight-year-old Ārama (Ari), his adult brother Taukiri (Tauk), and Taukiri’s birth mother, Jade.
The novel begins with Ari being left by Tauk with his aunt and uncle in Kaikōura, New Zealand. Tauk has just survived a tsunami that killed their parents, and he is traumatized and guilt-ridden. He believes that he is cursed, and he abandons Ari in order to protect him.
Ari is left to fend for himself in a hostile environment. His uncle is abusive, and his aunt is too afraid to stand up to him. Ari is also struggling to cope with the loss of his parents. He is withdrawn and silent, and he covers his body in bandages to protect himself from the pain.
Meanwhile, Tauk is trying to outrun his past. He joins a gang and starts using drugs. He is also struggling with his identity as a Māori. He feels like he doesn’t belong in either the Māori or the Pākehā (white) world.
The novel is full of heart-wrenching moments, but it is also ultimately a story of hope. Ari finds a friend in Beth, a neighbor who is also Māori. Beth helps Ari to heal, and she teaches him about his culture.
Tauk also begins to heal. He reconnects with Jade, his birth mother, and he learns about his true heritage. He realizes that he is not cursed, and he begins to embrace his identity as a Māori.
Themes
- Trauma: The novel explores the long-term effects of trauma on individuals and families. Ari and Tauk both suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the tsunami that killed their parents. They both struggle to cope with the pain and the guilt, and they both make choices that are harmful to themselves and others.
- Family: The novel explores the importance of family and community. Ari and Tauk both find healing through their relationships with Beth, Jade, and other members of their community. They learn that they are not alone, and they find the strength to face their past and rebuild their lives.
- Identity: The novel explores the complexities of Māori identity. Tauk struggles to find his place in the world, and he feels like he doesn’t belong in either the Māori or the Pākehā world. He eventually learns to embrace his identity as a Māori, and he finds a sense of belonging in his community.
Discussion Questions
- What were your overall thoughts on the book?
- Do you think the structure of the book – the shifts in time and the relationships between characters only becoming clear later in the book – enhanced or got in the way of the story?
- To what extent do you think this was a distinctively New Zealand novel? Or was it more universal?
- How did you find the teReo Maori (the indigenous language)? Did it add something to the story or get in the way of understanding?
- The story is told through several different voices – some of them children. How successful do you think that was?
- To whom would you recommend this book? Why?
Individual Ratings
Willow's Rating 
Kelby's Rating
Baljit's Rating
Anthony's Rating
Catherine's Rating 