Tigers at Awhitu by Sarah Broom

Abstract

I uncover a conspiracy ofthecorrupt government andfollow itscultural andpolitical effects ina crumbling citystillweaklyproclaiming itself a utopia. Thepacingofthisnovelhelps to set it apartfroma quotidian flight of fancy.Valtatthrowshis reader headlong into the New Venetianexperience withoutany kindoflengthy, methodical explanationabouttheregion 'sculture, customs,or local lore. At times thecharacters refer to eventswith suchknowing ambiguity that I was almostconvinced I hadmissedout on a prequel,but everything is explained eventually. Aurorarama also shinesin its ability towalkthefine linebetween science fictionand fantasy.The story is steepedin an exoticsense of shaman-driven mysticism, and thecharacters areconstantly drawingon theirknowledge ofmythic menand creatures to explainthe creepyand bizarre.At the same time, Valtat supplies his audiencewitha wealthofmechanical devices,chemicalstimulants, and powerfulhypnosistechniquesto provideplausiblejustifications for every instance ofsupposedly magical intervention. This technique allowsthereadertochoosehowto viewevents, andtobendthenovel toone'sownparticular taste. Aurorarama inhabits a rich, multilayered worldpopulatedby well-developed,realisticcharacters . Theproseisintricate yetlight, and Valtatis notabove theoccasional ,well-placed pun.Thenovel is an extremely entertaining read, andreaders willno doubtbe hungryforthenextinstallment in the series. Cheryl Mitchell University ofOklahoma Verse Sarah Broom. Tigers at Awhitu. Manchester ,UK. Carcanet. 2010. 73 pages.£9.95. ISBN 978-1-903039-99-1 Tigers at Awhitu is, appropriately forNew Zealand poetry, a collectionengagedwiththesea andwith wateraltogether. The poems here are profoundly engagedwiththe landscapeofNew Zealandanduse thatwaterylandscapeto explore relationships, motherhood, and illness ."So we sat,"one poemsays, "and thewaves / crashedin like gifts, orinsults, / and thechildren played, /digging trenches todefend /against thesea."Inanother poem, "thewindowsaresheets ofwater/ you couldput yourhand through / tofeelthenight." Evenechoesof mortality arefigured as "a slowclear trickle / intopoolsofdarkwater," and luckitself is captured in "the smellofrainin theair."Throughout ,SarahBroom's recent collection presents a watery world,quotidian in its happenings, domestic in its concerns, lovelyand movingin its language andaffect. What ismost moving isitskindnessinthefaceofdeath - deaththat comes"likea trapdoor opening up / underyourfeet/ and a sickening drop."A sense of foreboding is present right at thebeginning of thecollection, whensomeunspecifiedinformation is blurtedout to husbandand children in thesnow, "newsthat slipped/outlikea necklacefrom a sleeve,/ notmeantfor thekids,notmeantforhere."The secondpartof thevolumeopens withincoherent newsfrom doctors claiming "butwecan give youtime," butevenbefore thosepoems,there are darkomensfroma birdwith "eyesblack/ as therotting leaves, and at itsthroat / a hurtled scrap ofsky"orcoughing that presages a coldwinter. Yeteveninthefaceofdeath even in theirdarkestfigures, so remarkably captured in their strikingfigures - thesepoemsoffer the kindnessnot onlyof theirjoyous and accomplished language butthe kindness ofloveinthefaceofdesolation . Thevolume'smostpoignant poem, "becausetheworldcan do that toyou" is addressedtochildren in thepossibility thattheworld"took me fromyou, beforethe time / was trueand right and before we allhadtime/ toseethethings and do thethings and tell/ thethings we needtotell,tosee,todo." This poem,like thetigerin "Tigersat Awhitu," is awashinthedesire and articulation oflife's bounty, "greedy forsun / likebreaddoughleft out torise.""Don'tletthisgo,"thetitle poemadmonishes, and throughout thisbookthebounty and,often, the kindness oflandscape, people,and poetry itself shine through. RonaldSchleifer University ofOklahoma Alvin Greenberg. passionate travelogue : new and collected poetic sequences. Boise, Idaho. Zahik. 2010. 350 pages. $20. isbn 978-0-9823395-0-3 Many poets maybe able to give passionateattention to thethings ofthisworld.Someareabletogive up "thelifelong search/ forthe meaningof things"and "watch, / instead,the thingthemselves, the whatthat simply / was or happened." Some are even able to embody theirvisions in balanced ,reflective, andoften somber butneversolemnlanguagefullof surprising and humorousfigures. 701WorldLiterature Today ...