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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Domestic abuse
A beautiful book written by Albert Wendt (one of my favourite Pacific scholars) which focuses on a young Samoan man who moves to New Zealand in the 1970s, the racism he endured and the cross-cultural romance with a white woman set in a world of differing views. Wendt writes simply and beautifully - focussing on the protagonist's struggle with his identity as a Samoan-New Zealander and the world he finds himself in. The book itself weaves through time and touches on the importance of cultural traditions, oral histories, genealogies/mythologies and themes relating to family, the past and the present as a part of one's future. It's an absolutely gorgeous book which I thoroughly enjoyed. Given that the book is told from a Samoan perspective towards the experiences of racism in seventies New Zealand, it was moving for me to read Wendt's writing and how he was able to evoke the feelings of his protagonists and their inner thoughts. A line I felt was most impactful to me was this: "We forget too easily what we are, and - most of all - the beauty we are capable of if we heal ourselves." This harks to the characters in the book who are haunted by the deeds of their ancestors and the consequences that persist - further emphasising the notion that one's history is never over. Five stars! A poignant and thought-provoking read!
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have mixed feelings about this book. for starters, I knew of Albert Wendts literary status among the Pacific community long before I read any of his work (this being my first) and I felt this default need of having to like his stuff. I wanted to like it before I tried it. which is a weird prejudice...
i don't know what I expected but for the lost part, I was disappointed. I felt that he third person narration didn't contain Free Indirect Discourse so much as it was wholly F.I.D. It was an uncomfortable way to read a story, which then grew on me in the last five chapters. The use of third person narrative indicated a discomfort with retelling a story one is ashamed of, which is something the characters were going through.
I also felt like this book played the role of a history text book that didnt add much to the story. But then, I'm assuming the target audience is for Kiwis who don't know much about the daily life in Samoa (even Samoan kiwis). It was only tiring to me cos it would be the equivalent of describing about to catch a Wellington bus using Snapper.
I couldn't tell the difference between what the characters were saying and what the author was saying: cos it felt quite personal at times, the critique of Samoan culture. Maybe that's a flaw, or maybe that's the point. I don't know.
I understand this was his first book so I doubt its his best. I want to try another one, maybe Pouliuli next..
i don't know what I expected but for the lost part, I was disappointed. I felt that he third person narration didn't contain Free Indirect Discourse so much as it was wholly F.I.D. It was an uncomfortable way to read a story, which then grew on me in the last five chapters. The use of third person narrative indicated a discomfort with retelling a story one is ashamed of, which is something the characters were going through.
I also felt like this book played the role of a history text book that didnt add much to the story. But then, I'm assuming the target audience is for Kiwis who don't know much about the daily life in Samoa (even Samoan kiwis). It was only tiring to me cos it would be the equivalent of describing about to catch a Wellington bus using Snapper.
I couldn't tell the difference between what the characters were saying and what the author was saying: cos it felt quite personal at times, the critique of Samoan culture. Maybe that's a flaw, or maybe that's the point. I don't know.
I understand this was his first book so I doubt its his best. I want to try another one, maybe Pouliuli next..