Picture of author.

Epeli Hau'ofa (1939–2009)

Teoksen Tales of the Tikongs tekijä

12+ teosta 151 jäsentä 5 arvostelua

Tietoja tekijästä

Includes the name: Epeli Hau'Ofa

Tekijän teokset

Associated Works

Nuanua: Pacific Writing in English Since 1980 (Talanoa) (1995) — Avustaja — 19 kappaletta

Merkitty avainsanalla

Yleistieto

Syntymäaika
1939-12-07
Kuolinaika
2009-01-11
Hautapaikka
Wainadoi, Fiji
Sukupuoli
male
Kansalaisuus
Fiji
Syntymäpaikka
Papua New Guinea
Kuolinpaikka
Suva, Fiji
Asuinpaikat
Wainadoi, Fiji
Papua New Guinea
Tonga
Fiji
Ammatit
lecturer
writer

Jäseniä

Kirja-arvosteluja

Tales of the Tikongs is a collection of 12 short stories set on the fictional island of Tiko, somewhere in the South Pacific. Tiko and its inhabitants, the Tikongs, are probably based on the island nations of Tonga and Fiji, where writer Epeli Hau'Ofa (1939-2009) lived and worked for much of his life.

Like Tonga and Fiji, Tiko is an isolated archipelago. The nearest major countries are Australia and New Zealand, which are pouring out a torrent of development aid over their small distant neighbour, without really understanding the people and their needs. That is one of the recurring themes in the stories: fishermen who get (free) cows without knowing exactly how to take good care of them. Or a man who needs a typewriter but is forced to start a foundation first and officially ask for thousands of dollars.

Another recurring theme is the double standard of the islanders themselves: to sit in church all day on Sunday and then indulge in all possible sins for six days. Nepotism and government corruption. The somewhat half-hearted work ethic.

The stories are clearly intended to be humorous and somewhat ironic. The trouble with humor is that you can't always understand it in all its finesse if you don't know anything about the context. And I knew absolutely nothing about the islands of the South Pacific. So I was left with a somewhat unsatisfied feeling of often missing the punchline. This was especially true for the stories in which the local population is ridiculed. Still, it was nice to read something from such a (to me) unknown region, where, incidentally, very few books come from.
… (lisätietoja)
½
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
Tinwara | 3 muuta kirja-arvostelua | Mar 3, 2022 |
I can't remember much about this book of short stories by Tongan/Fijian/New Guinean author Epeli Hau'ofa. I borrowed a copy from the San Francisco library, who borrowed it from another institution, and I wasn't able to renew it, so I found myself scrambling to finish it the day it was due and didn't take any notes. But two of the stories are also printed in Lali: A Pacific Anthology, which I have been slowly reading as I work my way through the South Pacific. So I read those two stories again a couple of days ago and...I still can't remember much. There's some very cute and hilarious bit about government corruption and laziness, and some cute and hilarious bit about people in Tiko (a fictionalized version of Tonga) not liking new things (be they vehicles or people) so they break them in quickly and then care for them lovingly for decades. The rest of the book, to my memory, went along much the same way, lots of little winsome anecdotes that are probably very insightful about island life, and perhaps if I hadn't read it sandwiched in among a bunch of other works that are also very insightful about island life, it might have left more of an impression on me. As it is I mostly remember the tone, which is one of fond condescension--along the lines of Tortilla Flat, or The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency--and entirely too cute for my taste.This review is part of a longer review on my blog, Around the World in 2000 Books.… (lisätietoja)
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
Dunaganagain | 3 muuta kirja-arvostelua | Jun 27, 2017 |
No rating for this book, because I did not finish it.
It's absolutely not my cup of tea. The text on the back cover sounded ibteresting enough, but unfirtunately for me that did not come true.
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
BoekenTrol71 | Jul 23, 2015 |
Fiji; it could also serve for Papua New Guinea depending what else I find.

A very funny collection of loosely related short stories and sketches. Affectionately cynical, the author skewers both islanders (who are lazy, sly, rationalize using religion, and rationalize religion itself) and development efforts (which are misguided, bloated, idiotic, and clueless). A really fun book for anyone with a sense of humor about the sometimes-agonizing clash of indigenous and former colonial cultures.… (lisätietoja)
 
Merkitty asiattomaksi
OshoOsho | 3 muuta kirja-arvostelua | Mar 30, 2013 |

Palkinnot

You May Also Like

Associated Authors

Tilastot

Teokset
12
Also by
1
Jäseniä
151
Suosituimmuussija
#137,935
Arvio (tähdet)
½ 3.4
Kirja-arvosteluja
5
ISBN:t
15
Kielet
2

Taulukot ja kaaviot