I got this book because the title makes me smile. Go ahead, say it: Frangipani. See?
This book, by Celestine Hitiura Vaite, made me smile, too. There’s really not much of a plot. It’s about a mom (Materena) in Tahiti, and her daughter Leilani. It’s about her hopes and fears for her daughter (and two sons, though she doesn’t really have many hopes for her oldest). It’s about her changing relationship with her daughter from infancy (I liked how she “welcomed the baby into her womb” and spent hours talking to her and telling her all about the world she was going to be born into.) through teenager (God help me: I’ll have four!) and into adulthood.
The picture Vaite (who herself is Taihitian) gave of Tahiti is simultaneously hopeful and depressing. Why is it that islander men are always portrayed as slackers? Are they, really? The common sense wisdom in Tahiti is not to marry a man until you’ve had at least one child with him because there’s less of a chance he’ll up and walk out on you. In fact, Materena’s man, Pito, walks out on her because she collects his pay so he won’t spent it all at the bar. And so they can have something to eat. The women are strong, though (they have to be, they say), and passionate, and wise, and, well, wonderful.
I loved the island lilt to the book (“girlfriend, eh?” “oh, bon cherie” — the French scattered throughout was fun). I loved Materena. She’s a wonderful character. I even liked Leilani, though not as much. And it had a good, satisfying ending.
A good read.
The Book Nut 
I felt just about the same when I read Frangipani– I liked it, but was a little let down on the story arc. I kind of wished there could have been a little more about the feminist “awakening” part of the story. But it did make me laugh- I especially loved the use of the word “cranky” which I wrote about over on my blog. And anything that makes me laugh is worth a read or two in my book!
Oh and- yes the whole Tahitian men and slacker-ness, this made me nervous too. Since Mexican men are often portrayed as such as well, leading to generally negative stereotypes, etc etc etc
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