In the Thoughts

When reading a book, you often have only your own thoughts to supplement the plot and narration.  Maybe you read the book with a friend or discussion group and get their ideas as well.  Very rarely will the author regularly include the thoughts of multiple characters.  Keri Hulme includes the thoughts of Kerewin, Joe, and Simon in The Bone People, adding personality and deeper connections to the text in an omniscient third person point of view.       

      

            The third person point of view collides with short paragraphs, indented to indicate that these paragraphs come directly from the main characters.  These thoughts included add invaluable insight to the characters and move the plot along.  They show that Kerewin has a convoluted family life that causes her not to trust anyone.  She chooses to live alone and secluded because her family growing up was not the nicest bunch of eggs.  They show that Joe deeply regrets what he does to Simon.  They show that Simon calls himself Clare, that Clare is his true name but he never speaks nor lets anyone know that name.

            If there was only first person, or the thoughts of one of the main characters, The Bone People would be far less interesting and complex.  The thoughts add layers of intricity, evolving the piece into something more three-dimensional.  Reading their thoughts brings the reader closer to the story, encouraging the reader to become more invested.  The book would certainly not be the same without these indented thoughts to supplement the points of view, to breathe life into the events depicted.