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Into the River Kindle Edition

4.1 out of 5 stars 35 customer reviews

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Product Details

  • File Size: 703 KB
  • Print Length: 404 pages
  • Publisher: RHNZ Children's ebooks (October 18, 2013)
  • Publication Date: October 18, 2013
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00FKE3XUU
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • X-Ray:
  • Word Wise: Not Enabled
  • Lending: Not Enabled
  • Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #319,156 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
The first few chapters grabbed and held my attention. I thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the setting and the richness of the characters in these first few characters. When the man character moves away from home to the school in Auckland the whole book changed - and I guess that's the essence of the story. The boy's character is robbed of his family and home. It's not a happily ever after story but the entire story felt real and while it's not necessarily a feel-good experience I strongly recommend it.
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Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
As soon as I heard on CNN that this book was banned in public libraries in New Zealand, I ordered it. What advanced, liberal democratic country these days bans book? All it does it provide invaluable free publicity.
"Into the River" is a quintessential coming of age story; describing the wonder of boyhood in a community that still has roots in shamanistic traditions. The boy's paradise is shattered when he goes off to school in the city and discovers the huge contradictors that society forces upon its youth in the name of education.
Apparently, the book is banned due to its language and content, but there is nothing here that most youth don't encounter in some way or another, especially in an urban school setting. Indeed, I would think having these experiences articulated in such a good story would be therapeutic and educational for youths who face similar situations.
And a good story it is. It kept my attention and was very believable, even though I have no first hand experience of the Maori experience.
That said, I had some problems with the book. There are a lot of Maori terms which probably brings the story home to those who know the terminology, but for those of not in the know it took time to look up all the new words. Also, all the adults in this book--except for the ones in the Maori community--come across as one dimensional and exclusively negative.
The tender relationship between Devon and Steph is the heart of the story, and I found myself wishing that in spite of the literary necessity of their traumatic and forced separation, that the two had found a way to continue their journey together. But, the ending is such that it calls for a sequel, and I hope the author indulges us with more tales of Te Arepa and his on going relationship with himself, Steph and the world around them.
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Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
This is quality literature aimed directly at the teenage market and a book that might well be read by adults. It will be instructive, especially for those adults who choose to ignore teens or believe their perceptions of the world should be enforced on teens.
The story is set in New Zealand and yes, it contains some sexual material in terms of implying male masturbation and sexual intedcorse between two young teenagers in a social setting. It is neither prurient nor sensationalist, treats the rhythms of life in a natural and normal manner and these events that have drawn such attention to the book are simply part of the side story - not a feature.
This book has obvious literary qualities, is contemporary and should take its place as a study text in english literature classes. The facility to analyse both the writing, the story construction, the language and the nuancing of the author is superb and will add to the formal education of young people.
It is relevant, at least to New Zealand, and quite probably to the english speaking parts of the world, brining Maori culture and issues into some sort of perspective through the eyes of a young teenager.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
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Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
A chilling look at life in NZ Boarding Schools - however a little unbelievable in some respects.

The author does well in showing the struggles Te Arepa has integrating into a foreign world. Sex, drugs, violence and abuse abound but within that there are touching relationships that makes this story almost tender.
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Format: Paperback
I didn't read Ted Dawe's "Into the River" because of the recent controversy over the book's ban in New Zealand. Well, yes I did, but I was going to read it anyway. Dawe's books drew my attention a few years ago as "Into the River" seemed to touch on some themes similar to my first novel, "Redeeming Brother Murrihy". Much more profoundly, the title of his earlier work, "Thunder Road", carries an obvious allusion to the Bruce Springsteen song of the same name. Regardless, I was reminded of my interest when the news broke last month of the Film and Literature Board of Review's decision to ban the book in response to a complaint by the Family First organisation.

The involvement of Family First in the controversy also drew my interest. I used to listen to its founder, Bob McCoskrie, when he aired his morning radio show on Radio Rhema several years ago. I enjoyed listening to Bob, especially in his regular interviews with high profile New Zealand politicians and can say that I subscribed to many of his conservative viewpoints. With that in mind, I was intrigued and challenged by the debate around "Into the River".

One thing we notice when these debates occur - everyone has an opinion on the matter while very few have actually read the book or taken the time to understand the factions involved. It troubled me to hear casual judgments when I discussed the topic with others.
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