Quote by Keri Hulme: “Silence is a chosen language.”

This quote implies that choosing not to speak can be a deliberate and meaningful form of communication, just like words. It suggests that silence isn't just an absence of sound, but an active decision that conveys emotions, thoughts, or intentions.

The characters in 'The Bone People' often communicate non-verbally or through periods of silence, reflecting the complexities of trauma and identity in a bicultural setting, where unspoken feelings carry profound weight, mirroring nuanced social dynamics.

New Zealand novelist of Māori, Scots, and English descent, best known for her debut novel The Bone People, which won the Booker Prize in 1985. Her work draws deeply on Māori spirituality, mythology, and the New Zealand landscape. She lived most of her life in Okarito on the South Island's West Coast.