"OWLS DO CRY"
Sir-Let us agree readily on one thing: that pikelets are made on stoves and not in ovens. And on another point (before someone raises it): that if I, or Messrs Hall, Turner and Vogt for that matter, tried to prepare a dish like Owls Do Cry it would be a good deal more indigestible than Miss Frame’s novel. But the cri de coeur in the closing sentence of her letter raises issues upon which agreement may be sought in vain. Miss Frame seems uneasy with any discussion of her book. We are bidden to eat the pie, simply, I suppose, to enjoy and absorb the book. But haven't we done so? All those who had anything to say in The Listener, the present writer among them, made it reasonably clear that to read this book was to be enlarged and altered. May we not go on to discuss the ingtedients of our enjoyment, and the factors that prevented that enjoyment from being complete? The good eating and the indigestible bits as well? Very rarely does any novel give unalloyed enjoyment. I believe that criticism in New Zealand (and, by the same token, the writing of novels) will be in a healthier condition if we do so. And I cannot see any enmity between enjoyment and discussion.
W. H.
OLIVER
(Christchurch).
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19570906.2.19.2
Bibliographic details
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 943, 6 September 1957, Page 11
Word count
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223"OWLS DO CRY" New Zealand Listener, Volume 37, Issue 943, 6 September 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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