Reviews

Vā : Stories by Women of the Moana by Sisilia Eteuati, Lani Wendt Young

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archytas's review

funny hopeful reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This is a *huge* compilation of stories from across the Pacific and that is all to our benefit. I took it three a day, and read the volume in the course of a month - I would recommend spacing the reading with this one, to ensure each story gets its due and reduce the tendency of old brains to get confused.

Given the size, it is hard to mention all the stand-out stories. Lani Young's Koviti Aikae, however, would win my MVP if I had to choose. It had me laughing out loud, both at the fabulous celebration of Samoan culture and at the universality of the central dilemma - the tensions around your elderly loved ones living their lives normally/recklessly during COVID. "The father frowns. Then gets shifty gleam in eyes. 'The barber is my friend. His shop is downstairs in his house. So I'm not going to a public place. I'm going to visit my good friend Malo. And while I am there having a chat, he can cut my hair.' The father is triumphant at the brilliance of his rationalisation." Tell me, fellow Gen Xers, are there any of you not groaning in sympathy? Also in the very, very funny vein was Sisilia Eteuati's Kalofae/Ka alofa I ai, which did feel a little like two stories in one. Her Snake, later in the volume, was one of my favourite poems in the anthology as well: "We Will watch From waka As you In all your Arrogance try to eat coal ripped from stolen lands." The other was Nafanua PK's Face recognition which beats into your brain.

Steph Matuku's Homesick nicely balanced humour - often sarcastic - with one of the more moving stories in the compendium, and Filofotu Vaai's The Bumble Fumble balances a similar shift between humour and poignancy.

Tanya Chargualaf Taimanglo's Hanbok was beautifully sad and warm without wasting a word. Also in the not-wasting-words was Rebecca Tobo Olul-Hossen's Bad things happen down there, which is one of the most successful "slice of life" pieces. Lily-ann Eteuati's Maunmea was sharp and gripping in all the best ways. "And so they talk, talk, talk about me … Every evening there is a new version of my life. And even I've gotten invested and look forward to hearing the updates."

Lehua Parker's Nana'ue is one of many that tackle more of fable style storytelling. She pulls of creepy suspense, even though, fable style, you know how this is likely to end.

In the devastating story camp, we had Tulia Thompson's Rachieli, which tells a taut, difficult story with compassion and the kind od deep characterisation that is hard to pull off in this short form. Nichole Brown's Shut was the other hard-hitting story I loved, but has a different style altogether.

I thought Stacey Kokaua's Pareu was going the same way, but this turned into a more hopeful story about losses and gains and things you can't lose.

I feel compelled to mention Amy Tielu's The Sei and the Blade, even though I thought it had a few structural issues, but the strong characterisation and capacity to subvert expectations was so strong it remains highly memorable.

Similarly, Aiga Fausiga, a story by both Young and Sisilia Eteauti didn't entirely work for me, but had such a passionate vision and sense of breadth, that I decided I couldn't not mention it.

This volume is a gift. It is appalling that it is so difficult to find the work of so many of these authors (also standard complaint about bios at the end, and not next to the stories, which would also make it much easier to just buy their other work).

snorpy's review

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challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75

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