Auē a Striking Tapestry of Fierce Love

Coming-of-age novels set among the Métis community in Canada, the Māori population in New Zealand and the Crow Nation in Montana were recently reviewed by The New York Times. According to Gregory Brown writing for the newspaper’s ‘Shortlist’ column, Becky Manawatu’s acclaimed book Auē, is a “beautifully written tale imbued with Māori culture and language”.

“Manawatu excels at enriching her characters and story lines with heartbreaking detail … ‘Auē’ is the Maori word for a howling cry, and this layered work weaves a striking tapestry of fierce love and unflinching violence worthy of its poetic title,” Brown writes.

Nelson-born Manawatu, 40, is of Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe, Waitaha, and Pākehā background. In 2020, she won two Ockham New Zealand Book Awards for Auē and Best Crime Novel at the 2020 Ngaio Marsh Awards. She also won the 2021 Robert Burns Fellowship to work on her next novel, titled Papahaua, in Dunedin.

Original article by Gregory Brown, The New York Times, May 27, 2022.