The Earth Cries Out

Bonnie Etherington's debut novel is the pick of the bunch [the Acorn Fiction Prize longlist]. . . . Etherington's imagery and delicate touch make this an instant classic. I will read this again and again.

Rob Kidd, Otago Daily Times

The Earth Cries Out is a brave, extensive book . . . Always Etherington anchors underlying politics to human story. . . . Cleverly layered, intensely moving. The Earth Cries Out is a profound first novel.

Siobhan Harvey, Sunday Star-Times

Not since Lloyd Jones' Mr Pip has a New Zealand fiction writer informed us so well of life in this turgid country. And just as the island of Bougainville, where Mr Pip was set, is further removed from West Papua than Auckland is from Invercargill, this book is a much more personal account than Jones' book, from someone who grew up among the villagers of West Papua and still thinks of the country as her home.

Diane McCarthy, Eastern Bay Life

I’m getting harder to please in my old age but The Earth Cries Out has done it. It’s a surprising and quite wonderful novel. . . . Life thrums around Ruth – the incredible flora (wonderfully described), the people, the mosquitos – but there’s a stillness to her. She describes scenes so immaculately that, often, it’s almost as if the story isn’t moving forward. It’s compelling, but not because of its action, necessarily; it’s compelling because of how spot-on the author captures childhood’s tiny cruelties and guilts that we never let go of. It’s rounded out by grief and growing up, and a background of politics and history. This is an impressive, moving, often unflinching debut.

Jane Arthur, The Reader, Booksellers NZ

. . . it’s not a grisly story; if anything, it’s more visceral because of her understated, but graceful, style. Ruth’s story is told sensitively and alternates with vignettes about Papua’s flora and fauna. Each is organised around a specific plant, such as an orchid or a breadfruit tree, accompanied by a short story. It’s a skilful way of including information about the region’s politics, history and peoples without putting far-too-grown-up words and thoughts into Ruth’s mouth and brain.

Dionne Christian, Weekend Herald

absorbing and readable . . . rich in sensory detail and atmosphere

Paula Morris, NZ Listener

With an exclamatory title and striking cover, The Earth Cries Out is a bold and thoroughly informed work by first-time novelist BonnieEtherington. . . . The Earth Cries Out is packed with content, and on a personal and broader level speaks of grief and loss. This is a substantial and evocative work that carries the voice of a young writer and first time novelist, but with varied work behind her already, it will be interesting to see what her future directions might be.

Jessie Neilson, Otago Daily Times

Now this is something quite different, from a fresh young Kiwi writer with enormous talent. . . . Etherington's writing is so poetic, her descriptions of life in this strange land evocative and beautiful, that you'll want to reread some sentences. What a delight.

Linda Thompson, Daily Post

The Earth Cries Out, by Bonnie Etherington, was evocative, provocative and about a part of our world we frequently neglect

Dionne Christian, Weekend Herald