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elvire's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
attytheresa's review
3.0
We here are given a close look at Tahitian life through the eyes of Materena and her man Pito, their children, extended family and friends. It is a relaxed and lighthearted collection of vignettes connected by a loose thread of Pito's first drunken proposal to her (after years of a de facto marriage), and Materena's hopes and plans of marriage over subsequent months though Pito never acknowledges having proposed. You are charmed rather than engaged as you read. Yes, you learn a great deal about the relaxed daily life of Tahitians, the coconut radio, the proper way to drop by and visit, the day to day rhythms, what is taboo. However, it never left me yearning to visit and experience Tahitian life for myself.
emmamrt's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Je n’ai pas accroché avec le style d’écriture et il y avait trop peu de rebondissements à mon gout
baxgirl's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
shinydiscoballx's review
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
clarereadstheworld's review
4.5
While baptisms are very common on the island of Tahiti, weddings are not. Materena is therefore quite happy with her de facto living arrangement with Pito, the father of her three children. She's rather taken aback by his drunken marriage proposal, but quickly warms to the idea.
This is a very character driven book, and I absolutely loved following Materena around as she goes about her everyday life making discret inquiries about possible wedding plans. Vaite captures beautifully the joys and struggles of life in her native islands, Materena's extended family, and how they both help and hinder her. I also loved the 'coconut telephone' to describe how gossip is passed through the family, a Polynesian rumour mill, and sympathise with her struggles with her Mother-in-law who just can't take a hint!
This is a love story at heart. The blurb describes it as 'Jane Austen Tahitian style'. I was worried at first that this was going to be a book where weak female characters existed only to talk about their husbands, lovers and baby daddies. But just as Jane Austen writes love stories which are full of strong, interesting female characters, and poignant social commentary, so Celestine Vaite creates a strong, vibrant, predominantly female novel, full of pertinent social commentary. Tahitian culture and ways of life shine out through the dynamic cast of Materena's extended family.
Serious problems are explored in the book, such as the heartbreaking chapter dedicated to cousin Tepua who was tricked into giving her baby up for adoption. There are also more light hearted anecdotes, such as cousin Rita's sexy time with Coco. Vaite get this delicate balance between the more important issues facing her native island, and the more humorous, endearing side of Tahitian culture just right. It's not hard to understand why this book won the Prix Littéraire Des Etudiants in French Polynesia when it was translated to French.
An absolute gem. The first book in a Trilogy, I've already ordered the other two!
This is a very character driven book, and I absolutely loved following Materena around as she goes about her everyday life making discret inquiries about possible wedding plans. Vaite captures beautifully the joys and struggles of life in her native islands, Materena's extended family, and how they both help and hinder her. I also loved the 'coconut telephone' to describe how gossip is passed through the family, a Polynesian rumour mill, and sympathise with her struggles with her Mother-in-law who just can't take a hint!
This is a love story at heart. The blurb describes it as 'Jane Austen Tahitian style'. I was worried at first that this was going to be a book where weak female characters existed only to talk about their husbands, lovers and baby daddies. But just as Jane Austen writes love stories which are full of strong, interesting female characters, and poignant social commentary, so Celestine Vaite creates a strong, vibrant, predominantly female novel, full of pertinent social commentary. Tahitian culture and ways of life shine out through the dynamic cast of Materena's extended family.
Serious problems are explored in the book, such as the heartbreaking chapter dedicated to cousin Tepua who was tricked into giving her baby up for adoption. There are also more light hearted anecdotes, such as cousin Rita's sexy time with Coco. Vaite get this delicate balance between the more important issues facing her native island, and the more humorous, endearing side of Tahitian culture just right. It's not hard to understand why this book won the Prix Littéraire Des Etudiants in French Polynesia when it was translated to French.
An absolute gem. The first book in a Trilogy, I've already ordered the other two!
caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review
4.0
Loved this! So funny. Oddly enough though it's set in contemporary Tahiti, it reminded me of Anne of Green Gables. It does have a lot in common with that book actually. It takes place in a rural place, the kind of town where 1/2 the population are your cousins and everyone knows everyone's business. It's also very domestic- and women-focused but issues related to larger political structures like colonization came up many times. Told in episodes that are almost short stories, the main narrative push is whether Materena will marry her long-term partner with whom she has 3 kids, although there are plenty of side stories as you get a glimpse of the lives of other characters. There are also some cool legends and stories told by older folks within the novel. I was pleasantly surprised to see some casual inclusion of both queer and trans characters! The only thing I didn't understand was that her eventual husband was mostly a useless lazy bozo although he did love her. But he doesn't really take up much narrative space.
scapula's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.5
mjmbecky's review
3.0
After reading Vaite's first novel Frangipani, I had high hopes and expectations for her second in this group on novels. Where the first seemed to follow a linear storyline and mode of telling the story between mother and daughter, this felt more like a series of short stories. Each is leading to Materena's real desire for Pito to be serious in his proposal to her, not to mention her hope that this means that he really loves her in a truly romantic sense. This romantic hope threads through each story nicely and lends to the whimsical look at Matarena's Tahitian culture all the more.
The book is very light-hearted and warm, which makes it easy for readers to love Matarena and hope for her best. Having felt a connection with her first book because of the time I'd spent in Hawaii and how similar some of the cultural references and relationships seemed, I enjoyed watching each character develop. The story unfolded in these shorter chapters, but I'll admit that sometimes this lost my attention, as I wanted each story to tie directly to Matarena's desire for Pito to marry her. The stories didn't necessarily all have to do with the relationship, per se, but built around them to show us the community and family they lived among. Although it didn't grab me in the same way as the first book, I still really enjoyed the novel and feel that Vaite has an important voice in telling stories that show us Tahitians and their vibrant and amazing culture.
The book is very light-hearted and warm, which makes it easy for readers to love Matarena and hope for her best. Having felt a connection with her first book because of the time I'd spent in Hawaii and how similar some of the cultural references and relationships seemed, I enjoyed watching each character develop. The story unfolded in these shorter chapters, but I'll admit that sometimes this lost my attention, as I wanted each story to tie directly to Matarena's desire for Pito to marry her. The stories didn't necessarily all have to do with the relationship, per se, but built around them to show us the community and family they lived among. Although it didn't grab me in the same way as the first book, I still really enjoyed the novel and feel that Vaite has an important voice in telling stories that show us Tahitians and their vibrant and amazing culture.