Kisses in the Nederends

By Epeli Hauʻofa

Book Overview

By turns savage and absurdly comic, this brilliant satire allows Hau'ofa to comment on aspects of life in a small Pacific community perched precariously between traditional and modern ways.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0824816854
• ISBN13: 9780824816858
• Release Date: June 1995
• Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.0" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

More than just hilarious, but it IS remarkably hilarious!

According to interviews with the author that I have read, he wrote this novel after suffering from a painful medical condition in the netherends for a few agonizing years. When he was finally cured, he wanted to write the pain out of his system. Of course, he says, he could not tell a story without spinning wildly satirical and outrageous tall tales. The story addresses life in Oceania and life in the wider world through outrageous tales, from a satirical point of view. Because he discusses a medical issue in the novel (relating to pain in the . . . um . . . "keester") some folks might consider bits of the story to be a teensy bit rude, and some folks might be a teensy bit uncomfortable discussing those details. I myself find Rabelais to be a teensy bit rude and I have been a teensy bit uncomfortable discussing the details of his works. If you feel any discomfort, remember these words: "earthy, "humor," and " "Rabelais." This may be one of the funniest novels I ever read, but it is also serious in its sharp satire. It should challenge one's views of Oceania, the world, and of our rather serious condition as mortal beings living on this earth, under heaven. Mr. Hau'ofa and a critic friend have said that it is a moral novel, and that it should be read in Sunday schools. They may have been joking a little (a lot??). But all satire is moral in the final analysis, isn't it? Since he wrote this novel, Mr. Hau'ofa has decided to stop the solitary work of writing literature, and he works with other artists from Oceania, assisting and participating with them in the fine arts and performing arts. In my opinion this is an excellent novel. My only problem with it is that I can't decide if it is better than or "merely" "just" as excellent as his book Tales of the Tikongs. Both deserve a wide readership and the author deserves credit as a world-class writer. I recommend this novel and all of Hau'ofa's works (including the non-fiction!) very, very highly!

great story of island life in the Pacific

A very funny and insightful satire on the social scene and politics of life in the Pacific Islands. I recognized alot of situations and types of people I know, and felt it was told with great humor, a sharp eye, good storytelling and a wonderful sense of humanity.