Book Loving Kiwis discussion

Use this thread to discuss So Brilliantly Clever: Parker Hulme and the murder that shocked the World by Peter Graham.

Please leave a message below if you are intending to read this book during August/September.

Participating:
Angie
Heather
Kathleen
Sweetp-1

Sign me up for this book. This story has always facinated me. Will be mid-August before I can get a copy.

Hi,

I've read So Brilliantly Clever: Parker Hulme and the murder that shocked the World twice and I recommend it to anyone interested in the case. There's also a biography on Anne Perry (Juliet Hulme) by Joanne Drayton released in these days called The Search for Anne Perry. Since this group focus on Peter Graham's book I've added an interview with him in the author section.

There's also an interview with Anne Perry on 60Minutes, TV3 tomorrow night.

I will definitely be reading (it was my nomination) - have interloaned a copy but it wont be in till mid August.

Thanks for the info. I'm not in New zealand so I can't watch it. I do hope for some comments from Peter Graham on the biography. Would be interesting to hear his opinion.

Here is the Anne Perry interview link (ondemand) for anyone who missed it. There's a link to what aired, and also 40min of extended interview.

http://www.tv3.co.nz/July-29th---Murd...

Many thanks for the link!

I am at home sick today so started this book this afternoon. I was initially put off by its size but I'm already four chapters down and finding it an engrossing and fascinating read.

It's ready for me to pick up from my library. Must do that tomorrow.

I picked up my copy today from the library. :)

And I am halfway through already. Very interesting indeed, particularly the Christchurch references. As a student I attended quite a few events at the staff club which was the Hulme home in Ilam.

One thing I am finding quite glaring at this point, is that there is a lot more focus on Juliet's family. I know that there is more historical record for researchers - with both Dr and Mrs Hulme being prominent and active members of society. Also with them (particularly Mrs Hulme) being the type of people who got their photos taken for the paper etc.

There is no photo of Honorah, (or of Pauline's father) in the book. Not a single one. Lots of Mrs Hulme but none of the mother who was murdered. Maybe there simply wasnt any which I understand given the time period. I'm just coming up to the trial part of the book - the girls have been charged and there is a lot of focus on what the Hulmes, were and weren't doing at the time. All I keep thinking is what about the Reipiers ??! A father coping with the loss of his wife in the most brutal of circumstances, two sisters losing her mother - and their sister - what was happening with them?

In a way the almost lopsided view is a strange kind of echo of the lives the girls - with Juliet being the one who was always in the limelight, the lead role, and Pauline in the shadows. Even now, Juliet has a successful career, is a 'somebody' who gets interviews and there is a modern day publicity shot of her in the book as Anne Perry - compared to one fuzzy bad shot of Hillary Nathan (Pauline Parker).

It's not necessarily detracting from the book per se, but it is definitely something I am finding quite obvious.

I'm done :) Here is my review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Such a fascinating read. I stand by my comments re the lopsided viewpoint in favour of the Hulmes, but other than that found the book very engrossing.

I particularly enjoyed one of the later chapters about modern psychology and what might have been the diagnosis if the girls had been seen in this day. I actually think I might rewatch the Anne Perry interview again, now knowing some of the things that happened to her in her childhood and some of the comments made about her in the book. Drayton's autobiography is a definite to read for me at this point.

I also had heard the theory from a local kaumatua re koukourarata and the girls stumbling upon a wahi tapu up there and it was interesting to see that this was referenced in the book (though a 2nd hand account that was treated with some derision).

All in all a thoroughly interesting read. Such a fascinating and tragic case.

In an interview with Peter Graham he said that before he set out to write the book he made a promise that out of respect he shouldn't contact the Parker/Rieper family or Pauline. Maybe that's the explanation for excluding a photo Honorah. As you know they do not talk to media about the case. From what I've learned in a discussion forum a photo of Honorah does appear in the documentary "Reflections of the Past" by Alexander Roman. I'll post a link to the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVaqw-...

Of course. That makes a lot of sense - thanks.
(I wish he'd said that in the author's note!).

I had the pleasure of interviewing Peter Graham late last year about the research and writing of So Brilliantly Clever: Parker Hulme and the murder that shocked the World. If you'd like to read the feature article that resulted from our interview, please feel free to do so here: http://www.nzlawyermagazine.co.nz/Get...

Oh the Minnie Dean one sounds interesting. Not sure Im ready to read the Bain one yet - like you say, maybe sometime in the future. I met Joe Karam once and he was very approachable. At the time I was an impressionable young University student and I think hearing him speak has forever swayed my opinion on that one.

The other book in this kind of category (though not murder) is Hood's A City Possessed A City Possessed: The Christchurch Civic Creche Case

Thanks for the link. Nice interview!

What a great book! I have been facniated with this murder since arriving in New Zealand. I cannot believe with the relationship these two girls had they did not even try to contact each other later when they became adults.

I use to read a lot of murder non-fiction in the States mainly because my family is connected to one serial killer and two murderers. Two of these people have been featured in books.