"OWLS DO CRY"
Sir,-Janet Frame’s novel is too good for cliché-ridden comment ("our finest work of fiction to date," etc.). But how splendidly Anton Vogt, in his own graceful way, vindicates the sharpness and zest of Creative Writing: "A great love of life shines through the cruel shackles to fulfilment." His case would be a better one if it were not so shrilly overstated, implying for one thing a mystique of literary nationalism so inbred it can look no further than Sargeson (who should not -any more than Janet Frame-be blamed for his friends). And should he not contemplate his own apt dictum on violence? G. W. Turner’s letter I am grateful for; but I do wonder whether symbolism that requires so much explanation has succeeded. Moreover. in my review I under-estimated the elements of incoherence in Owls Do Cry. I have a great respect for the qualities of this novel, but IT don’t think we should invent _excellencies for it in addition to those it already abundantly possesses.
DAVID
HALL
(Dunedin).
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19570705.2.20.3
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 934, 5 July 1957, Page 11
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172"OWLS DO CRY" New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 934, 5 July 1957, Page 11
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
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