Natalya Newman
“I love to read. It lets me experience the world from perspectives that I would never have dreamed of…
Reading has the power to make my heart both light and heavy at the same time. Books and stories offer fragments of other people, their thoughts or experiences, they allow me to inhabit people throughout time, and find pieces of myself embedded in their writing.
Recently, I read Tim Te Maro and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues by New Zealand author H.S. Valley. It’s an incredible book, set at a magical boarding school underneath Fox Glacier. When I began reading it, I found myself immersed in the book’s LGBTQIA+ youth story and magical world. Reading it felt like coming home. I felt so emotionally connected to the LGBTQIA+ characters and, while lately I’ve been reading more modern, realistic, young adult books, I grew up reading fantasy – so this book’s combination of regular life and magic felt like greeting an old friend.
I would love to read another book by this author! I loved how genuine the story was and the way it followed an LGBTQIA+ storyline that didn’t centre on rejection of members of this community but instead wove a tale of personal growth. I think that this positive representation is vital, it offers hope in place of the violence of the past. Considering this is the author’s debut novel, I’m excited to see what the future holds for their writing. Plus, I love experiencing how authors explore writing styles, messages, plotlines, and characters across their novels.
I think books set in New Zealand, or written by New Zealand authors, can offer joy and comfort in their familiarity. Recognising places, words, and experiences can help readers connect to characters and the plot and ideas in a book – it can also make it easier to see yourself and to engage with a book.
I write book reviews for Read NZ Te Pou Muramura’s Hooked on NZ Books, something I was introduced to by the incredible Northland author Donna Blaber. At school, I am definitely an English and creative oriented student. When Donna suggested I try writing a review, my odd perfectionist-procrastinating brain went into overdrive. I started overthinking it and, at first, I decided it wasn’t for me. In hindsight, I am so grateful that I went ahead, because reviewing books has grown to be something I absolutely love. It pushes me to reflect on what I’m reading and I love finding new things out as I write, whether it’s an interesting piece of symbolism or a curious character trait. Also, I enjoy being able to share my thoughts and give authors the appreciation that they deserve, because I think writing a book is a daunting and admirable feat.”
Natalya Newman is a high school student and Hooked on NZ Books reviewer for Read NZ Te Pou Muramura