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carson_lommers's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Old Paniolo Way and parts of The Road to Hāna were by far the best this book had to offer. I am better for reading the entire collection though.
alchemyst's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-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? No
4.5
daumari's review against another edition
4.0
The Biere Library Storytime Book Club picked this for April/May 2023, a suggestion by Thomas because one of our proposed themes was the PI part of AAPIHM (Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, though I've also seen people put the acronym as AANHPI to add Native Hawaiian as a distinct group). I'm including my Asia-Asian America tag on here because of brief intersections in "Wanle" and "The Portrait of a Good Father".
Overall, an excellent debut and short stories are such a great entry point into an author's work. Use of pidgin linguistically sets the scene and code switching between different groups. No explanatory commas here because it wouldn't make sense for characters to define words and concepts that are everyday to them!
Individual story thoughts:
"This is Paradise"- the titular story, from the perspectives of three different groups of women in Waikiki who all briefly cross paths with a white tourist from the mainland. It's she who utters, "This is Paradise" only for things to go sideways. It took me a moment to realize there were three distinct views and not say, the same women but at different parts of their lives.
"Wanle"- A daughter, seeking revenge and closure in her father's chosen hobby, cockfighting, and how that influences her relationships with her lover and her "uncles" in the hobby.
"The Road to Hāna"- A soon-to-be-engaged couple go camping and find a dog. This one muses on a question I think about a lot, identity and how do we qualify "native"- is there a length of time you need to be from somewhere? And how does that interplay with Native identity? (see also, why I haven't gotten around to watching Yellowstone yet because I'm pretty sure it grapples with the Montana rancher variation).
"Thirty-Nine Rules for Making a Hawaiian Funeral into a Drinking Game"- second person perspective, and felt very autobiographical but who knows? Felt familiar, for going to a large family gathering with all sorts of extended family that you pick up with where you left off even though it's been years.
"Portrait of a Good Father"- primarily from Sarah's perspective though we get Grace and Joon's perspectives. The women in a man's life view him through, well, his fatherhood because of and in spite of their own relationships with him.
"The Old Paniolo Way"- the reason for my queerreads tag, a man returns from San Francisco to his familial ranch (paniolo = cowboy) as his father is in hospice, being cared for by the man's sister and an attractive male nurse. Plays with some fears of not wanting to disappoint family (especially with so many hours) versus being your whole true self (and if they're really family, do they know already?)
Overall, an excellent debut and short stories are such a great entry point into an author's work. Use of pidgin linguistically sets the scene and code switching between different groups. No explanatory commas here because it wouldn't make sense for characters to define words and concepts that are everyday to them!
Individual story thoughts:
"This is Paradise"- the titular story, from the perspectives of three different groups of women in Waikiki who all briefly cross paths with a white tourist from the mainland. It's she who utters, "This is Paradise" only for things to go sideways. It took me a moment to realize there were three distinct views and not say, the same women but at different parts of their lives.
"Wanle"- A daughter, seeking revenge and closure in her father's chosen hobby, cockfighting, and how that influences her relationships with her lover and her "uncles" in the hobby.
"The Road to Hāna"- A soon-to-be-engaged couple go camping and find a dog. This one muses on a question I think about a lot, identity and how do we qualify "native"- is there a length of time you need to be from somewhere? And how does that interplay with Native identity? (see also, why I haven't gotten around to watching Yellowstone yet because I'm pretty sure it grapples with the Montana rancher variation).
"Thirty-Nine Rules for Making a Hawaiian Funeral into a Drinking Game"- second person perspective, and felt very autobiographical but who knows? Felt familiar, for going to a large family gathering with all sorts of extended family that you pick up with where you left off even though it's been years.
"Portrait of a Good Father"- primarily from Sarah's perspective though we get Grace and Joon's perspectives. The women in a man's life view him through, well, his fatherhood because of and in spite of their own relationships with him.
"The Old Paniolo Way"- the reason for my queerreads tag, a man returns from San Francisco to his familial ranch (paniolo = cowboy) as his father is in hospice, being cared for by the man's sister and an attractive male nurse. Plays with some fears of not wanting to disappoint family (especially with so many hours) versus being your whole true self (and if they're really family, do they know already?)
princesslegacy's review against another edition
4.0
it was good but some of the stories rubbed me the wrong way but it was written good. i really loved the writing.
alicebme's review against another edition
5.0
I googled native Hawaiian Pidgin to see what it sounded like. These stories are worth a read for sure. People are stupid about Hawaii.
lizmart88's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
4.0
Beautiful set of short stories set in "paradise" aka Hawaii. The one about the Indian has stayed with me - it was just beautiful. I also loved/hated the very first story which shows the dark side of paradise. Beautifully written and gorgeous stories, every one of them. Definitely recommend!
nickynickynicky's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
kmariek's review against another edition
I liked these, particularly Wanle since I hadn't known cockfighting was going on in Hawaii or anywhere else in the world right now, and because of the relationship conflicts the main character is navigating. The author is Hawaiian and grew up in California, and the stories are all set in Hawaii. Some interesting themes that come up a lot like what it means to belong to a place ("haole" is a new word for me).
lermaline's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
britbreeze's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
Excellent. Beautiful and stunningly profound. These stories have had a great emotional impact on me.
While I am not Hawaiian, I easily found myself in each of the characters, in their struggles and emotions. Each story is so different and each speaks so intimately to the universal human experience.
Highly recommend and absolutely see myself returning to these stories.
While I am not Hawaiian, I easily found myself in each of the characters, in their struggles and emotions. Each story is so different and each speaks so intimately to the universal human experience.
Highly recommend and absolutely see myself returning to these stories.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Moderate: Murder, Alcohol, Death, Child death, Death of parent, and Racism
Minor: Car accident, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Cancer, Dementia, and Transphobia