Electric City

by Patricia Grace

These are short stories about ordinary folk leading seemingly ordinary lives. The power of community, extended family and culture are central to all.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

97 pages, Paperback

First published May 3, 1988

About the author

Patricia Grace is a major New Zealand novelist, short story writer and children’s writer, of Ngati Toa, Ngati Raukawa and Te Ati Awa descent, and is affiliated to Ngati Porou by marriage. Grace began writing early, while teaching and raising her family of seven children, and has since won many national and international awards, including the Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize for fiction, the Deutz Medal for Fiction, and the Neustadt International Prize for Literature, widely considered the most prestigious literary prize after the Nobel. A deeply subtle, moving and subversive writer, in 2007 Grace received a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to literature.

Reviews

[Grada (BoekenTrol) · Rating 4 out of 5]

As this is a book with short stories, I will pick out the ones that I liked best for different reasons.
The first, also the first in the book, is called Waimarie. It was a story that made me realize I know hardly anything about the Maori, their language, culture or way of life in general. It was an interesting story and it got me to write down a very common sentence, to try and remember: 'Kei te pai.'

The second in the book, The Geranium, was one that sent the chills doen my spine. While reading it, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. And there was indeed. Very well written!

And then the third was the last one in the book, The Hospital. It was for me the most confusing story, but I kept on reading. Feeling sorry, feeling the sadness, the loneliness and still not quite getting it.
And it stays that was,even after giving it some thought. Well, I did say it was confusing me, didn't I?

A lovely little book. And I think I have more books by this writer on my shelf, so I may be learning some more about the native New Zealanders 😁

[keira haig · Rating 5 out of 5]

poignant and crushing storytelling

[Zachary Ngow · Rating 4 out of 5]

These stories are about life for urban Maaori as they navigate a new world. I particularly liked 'Butterflies' and 'Electric City'. Often these are tragic with incidents of racism from the schoolyard, adults and institutions. The Geranium was heartbreaking. I liked The Hills which started out comical (the flashing bit was very funny) and ended sad. Then the fishing stories bring some relief. I think Hospital did a good job of showing the sort of state you are in when in hospital. Overall I quite liked this. The style was spare and worked best with stories like the two I mentioned at the start.

[Riki Taniwha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will there ever be another writer who can say so much and reveal so many layers in a short grouping of words? The presentation of Māori identity is always affirming, comfortable and concise, holding complexities

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories are so concise, beautiful, and precise. Each bares a different character, but they all convey their truths in a manner that is almost crystalline.

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Martin Genet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful stories beautifully written.

[diana garcía · Rating 5 out of 5]

el libro de mi tfg🫂💘