Philip Matthews reviewed Gorse is Not People for the Fairfax magazine Your Weekend (Christchurch Press 8 September 2012) p33:
"While Night at the Opera, Gorse is not People and the longest story, The Big Money are the obvious stand-outs, the child's point of view in stories like Gavin Highly is hugely appealing."
"apart from the historical interest and biographical gossip, this book puts you back in touch with Frame the writer, whose genius you might have taken for granted. And she was not just an original writer. She was also, and this is much rarer, an original thinker."
"beside the human tragedy, these [the mental hospital stories] and other stories also have Frame's sense of humour, ingenious word play and a fascinating blend of perspectives."
The Lydia Wevers review of Gorse for the New Zealand Listener (25 August 2012) is now archived online (click link to read the review online).
Some of my favourite snippets from that review are:
'fairy tales for adults'
"Frame's storytelling explodes off the page with the felt intensity that characterises her as a writer."
"It is impossible not to be enchanted by stories like 'Between My Father and the King' and 'The Plum Tree and the Hammock'."
"Is there anyone after Frame who gets into the minds and hearts of children as she does?"
"These stories are sharp, freshly colloquial, funny and poignant."
"Gorse is Not People is a valuable and welcome addition to the Frame canon, reminding us what we already know - how good she was, and how much we need her."
"It is impossible not to be enchanted by stories like 'Between My Father and the King' and 'The Plum Tree and the Hammock'."
"Is there anyone after Frame who gets into the minds and hearts of children as she does?"
"These stories are sharp, freshly colloquial, funny and poignant."
"Gorse is Not People is a valuable and welcome addition to the Frame canon, reminding us what we already know - how good she was, and how much we need her."
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