Reviews

“Every Drop is a Man’s Nightmare” by Megan Kamalei KaKimoto
In this beautiful, brilliant, and darkly visceral collection, Megan Kamalei KaKimoto has crafted kaleidoscope of womanhood through the lens of Hawaiian tradition. Each of these stories drips with a certain sense of uncertainty and yearning through the frame of both contemporary and historical indigenous cultures of the island. KaKimoto is especially gifted in writing about the experience of being in a body, her encapsulation of existing in the female form less romantic and more folklore, a narrative steeped in imagery which represents a fundamental truth.

This is a brilliant collection that I cannot fault; it is not like anything I have read before. No story weakens the collection, but I was especially taken with Story of Men; Temporary Dwellers; Ms. Amelia’s Salon for Women in Charge; Aiko, the Writer; Touch Me Like One of Your Island Girls; and The Love and Decline of the Corpse Flower. And yes, that is over half of the stories because that is how strong this collection is. I will definitely be back for whatever KaKimoto has in store next; hers is a unique talent that I hope she graces us with for a long time.

leftyjonesq's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

allison_jane_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

carabee's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.25

pompomegrantes's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

This short story collection was hauntingly beautiful. So full of life and mythology, I was captivated from the very beginning. All the stories and the characters within them were so unique and stood on their own. With all short stories, there were some that I preferred more than others, but I felt this collection was very coherent and consistent in its prose and lyricism. I loved it.

emjayknocks's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective sad medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

I read this collection of short stories on a trip to Hawaii, hoping to further immerse myself in the culture. I appreciated that the author used non-English words and didn’t go out of their way to define them… it added an element of authenticity. I realised as I was reading that I had picked up some of the language and pronunciations while on my trip, which was cool! The narrator was quite flat and low-energy, which felt appropriate for some of the stories and out of place for others.

Overall the tone of the collection was reflective and unexpectedly melancholy; I think I’d have enjoyed reading it more if there were one or two stories that were hopeful or positive, but I guess that’s not the stories the author wanted to tell, so that’s fair enough. I’m glad I read it, and I was glad when it was over.

whatsallyreadnext's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

More...