Eleanor Bassett

“Reading, for me, is a way to explore ideas, perspectives and worlds that I wouldn’t normally think about or be exposed to…

It offers a breadth of ideas to ponder and incorporate into my understanding of reality. Books and their content also give me a starting point for great discussions with important people in my life!

I write book reviews, something I started when my Mum sent me an application form for Read NZ Te Pou Muramura’s Hooked on NZ Books review programme. I was keen to give it a go off the back of other recent positive experiences of saying “yes” to New Zealand teen/young adult opportunities.  When I read to review a book, I read more slowly; and often take notes in my journal. I write down questions, tangents, concepts, critiques, commentaries … all the things I might have thought of a particular part of a book, or things that come up for me when I pause my reading.

Recently, I enjoyed reading and reviewing The Calling by Wellington author Fleur Beale. I’ve read and liked many of this author’s previous books. This one is historical fiction, set in 1890s New Zealand and deals with religious bigotry. It’s the first of Fleur Beale’s books I’ve read in which the religion of the characters is overtly identifiable to me as a New Zealand reader. Historical figure Mother Mary Joseph Aubert is a character and one thing I particularly noted and appreciated was the detail around Mother Aubert’s mission working with Māori and reference to indigenous culture and te reo Māori in this context.  

I think New Zealand books and authors, especially in Young Adult fiction, are working to carve their own niche – writing stories and characters that are identifiable for New Zealand readers – and don’t just follow international publishing trends (I’m thinking here, for example of all the supernatural novels written overseas that followed the success of Twilight). When I read The Calling, because it’s set in New Zealand, the location names were recognisable and felt familiar; but I think more compelling for me was that I was able to reference my own knowledge as well as see my experience with some real-life counterparts in the characters in the book.” 

Eleanor Bassett is a university student and Hooked on NZ Books reviewer for Read NZ Te Pou Muramura.