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The Tattoo
Book by Chris McKinney
280 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
November 29, 2008
I wanted to love this book, I really did. I was born and raised on Oahu's north shore and went to UH. McKinney's settings in Honolulu and on the windward side are my old stomping grounds. In addition, I've taught in prisons (and taught prison lit), and working-class and prison issues are among the themes I'm most interested in seeing dealt with in fiction. Based on the (overly) positive reviews here, I ordered a copy because I was anxious to see how a writer had combined those elements.
Unfortunately, this is not a great book, and it's not a great book because Chris McKinney is not yet a great writer. His weak points significantly mar *The Tattoo.*
First, McKinney's "framing device" - the felon, Ken Hideyoshi relates his life story to the "haole" tattoo artist, Cal, who can no longer speak because he "got his throat cut." Fair enough. If what we are reading is Ken's story, as related to (and presumably, later written down by) Cal, Ken's language should reflect speech. It doesn't. Ken's prose is literary, flowery, and sometimes even a little on the purple side. So why the expedient of Cal, who remains a silent, smiling, and essentially addle-brained cipher?
One answer is the rather heavy-handed symbolism of "silencing" the haole so the "local" can speak. It's interesting, but the effect is the opposite of the one intended: Ken is permanently "mediated" by Cal--that is, he speaks always through the hated haole. But why can't Ken speak for himself? Why does the story require Cal to "deliver" Ken's memories when Ken is perfectly capable of doing it for himself?
As a corollary, McKinney's narrative choice necessarily means that we are "told" everything in the past tense and can never experience anything in the book's fictional present tense. (The only thing that's in the book's present is the creation of Ken's tattoo.) The result flattens and mutes the drama and tension. We know the important events are all in the past; we know that Ken came through them. The emotion that's recounted takes on a second-hand veneer.
Second, there's Kinney's rendition of pidgin, which is painful to read when it isn't simply odd. As a writer, I'll be the first to say that it is a devilish task to put Hawai'ian pidgin on paper in a way that isn't incomprehensible or that doesn't make it sound like baby talk. But McKinney (and his editors) needed to find a better way. The lexical system that McKinney hits on is neither phonetic, consistent, nor logical: "hea" for "here" (when heeah might make more sense) or "stranga" for strange-ah, in which the soft "g" sound is lost. In addition, McKinney's ear is sometimes tin, and there are half-pidgin, half "standard" English sentences that I'll wager McKinney never heard anyone say. For example, "You must be from da mainland," in which the speaker uses "da" for "the," but pronounces the "must" of "mus' be" correctly; or "I went arready put mine," in which the "arready" is accurate, but the "wen'" is lost in that grammatical "went." In the end, all of this becomes a huge distraction.
Third, there's a point-of-view problem that lurks in the background throughout the text but which stands up and shouts in the epilogue whose events neither Cal (nor Ken) can possibly know. Insisting on staying with Ken (or with Ken-through-Cal), in fact, means a limitation of POV that's a shame, and it creates situations in which Ken must explain, rather awkwardly, why he knows something that he didn't witness. Since the voices of the women in this story, especially that of Claudia, are as interesting as Ken's, the novel would have been opened up considerably via the use of alternating chapters or some other device that would have made her POV available.
Though Ken's story is certainly intriguing, the reader is left with the sensation that he's not the most interesting character (Koa, for that matter, is). In addition, his last-chapter philosophizing--which the novel's shape essentially requires--rings an extremely false tone.
The prizes and accolades that McKinney has garnered for *The Tattoo* come in part because he has written about something that no one else has. Perhaps he deserves them for that reason alone. We're anxious to see ourselves named in fiction in the islands, and not by outsiders but by our own. On the other hand, the arts scene in Honolulu is so inbred and so affected by "small pond" syndrome that it's difficult to know where merit truly lies. There was much in *The Tattoo* that resonated in my experience, but that could just as well be said about the scrapbooks I keep. Meanwhile, the great book about Hawai'i by someone who is of the culture and who knows it intimately is waiting to be written.
Unfortunately, this is not a great book, and it's not a great book because Chris McKinney is not yet a great writer. His weak points significantly mar *The Tattoo.*
First, McKinney's "framing device" - the felon, Ken Hideyoshi relates his life story to the "haole" tattoo artist, Cal, who can no longer speak because he "got his throat cut." Fair enough. If what we are reading is Ken's story, as related to (and presumably, later written down by) Cal, Ken's language should reflect speech. It doesn't. Ken's prose is literary, flowery, and sometimes even a little on the purple side. So why the expedient of Cal, who remains a silent, smiling, and essentially addle-brained cipher?
One answer is the rather heavy-handed symbolism of "silencing" the haole so the "local" can speak. It's interesting, but the effect is the opposite of the one intended: Ken is permanently "mediated" by Cal--that is, he speaks always through the hated haole. But why can't Ken speak for himself? Why does the story require Cal to "deliver" Ken's memories when Ken is perfectly capable of doing it for himself?
As a corollary, McKinney's narrative choice necessarily means that we are "told" everything in the past tense and can never experience anything in the book's fictional present tense. (The only thing that's in the book's present is the creation of Ken's tattoo.) The result flattens and mutes the drama and tension. We know the important events are all in the past; we know that Ken came through them. The emotion that's recounted takes on a second-hand veneer.
Second, there's Kinney's rendition of pidgin, which is painful to read when it isn't simply odd. As a writer, I'll be the first to say that it is a devilish task to put Hawai'ian pidgin on paper in a way that isn't incomprehensible or that doesn't make it sound like baby talk. But McKinney (and his editors) needed to find a better way. The lexical system that McKinney hits on is neither phonetic, consistent, nor logical: "hea" for "here" (when heeah might make more sense) or "stranga" for strange-ah, in which the soft "g" sound is lost. In addition, McKinney's ear is sometimes tin, and there are half-pidgin, half "standard" English sentences that I'll wager McKinney never heard anyone say. For example, "You must be from da mainland," in which the speaker uses "da" for "the," but pronounces the "must" of "mus' be" correctly; or "I went arready put mine," in which the "arready" is accurate, but the "wen'" is lost in that grammatical "went." In the end, all of this becomes a huge distraction.
Third, there's a point-of-view problem that lurks in the background throughout the text but which stands up and shouts in the epilogue whose events neither Cal (nor Ken) can possibly know. Insisting on staying with Ken (or with Ken-through-Cal), in fact, means a limitation of POV that's a shame, and it creates situations in which Ken must explain, rather awkwardly, why he knows something that he didn't witness. Since the voices of the women in this story, especially that of Claudia, are as interesting as Ken's, the novel would have been opened up considerably via the use of alternating chapters or some other device that would have made her POV available.
Though Ken's story is certainly intriguing, the reader is left with the sensation that he's not the most interesting character (Koa, for that matter, is). In addition, his last-chapter philosophizing--which the novel's shape essentially requires--rings an extremely false tone.
The prizes and accolades that McKinney has garnered for *The Tattoo* come in part because he has written about something that no one else has. Perhaps he deserves them for that reason alone. We're anxious to see ourselves named in fiction in the islands, and not by outsiders but by our own. On the other hand, the arts scene in Honolulu is so inbred and so affected by "small pond" syndrome that it's difficult to know where merit truly lies. There was much in *The Tattoo* that resonated in my experience, but that could just as well be said about the scrapbooks I keep. Meanwhile, the great book about Hawai'i by someone who is of the culture and who knows it intimately is waiting to be written.
February 11, 2022
As a mixed race (Filipino/Caucasian) man it was incredibly powerful for me to read a story in which the main character, and many other characters, are some flavor of mixed Asian heritage. The thing is, I’m 100% American. I wouldn’t fit in with Filipinos and my own country often fails to recognize me as one of its own. Ken Hideyoshi is a thoroughly American character who played football and had a military vet father and I can relate to him on so many levels. It was just such a revelation for me to see an Asian-American character be anything other than the sexless flesh robots we’re often portrayed as. Reading this story made me feel that there’s a place where people like me are just a normal part of the population and… I want to go to there haha 😆. Minus the tragedy of course.
I grew up in mainland USA but my mother and grandmother were both born in Hawaii. It’s actually difficult to get any details about their life in Hawaii. They only tell me how poor they were and leave it at that. This story offered me a glimpse of what their life might have felt like and it makes me want to ask more questions and learn more.
As a piece of writing, I have to admit that I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA if the Hawaiian pidgin-English is accurate, so I’ll reserve judgement on overall authenticity. I would honestly say that the writing was good, not great, more than okay, just good. In the end this book resonated with me on so many personal levels I couldn’t help but love it.
I grew up in mainland USA but my mother and grandmother were both born in Hawaii. It’s actually difficult to get any details about their life in Hawaii. They only tell me how poor they were and leave it at that. This story offered me a glimpse of what their life might have felt like and it makes me want to ask more questions and learn more.
As a piece of writing, I have to admit that I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA if the Hawaiian pidgin-English is accurate, so I’ll reserve judgement on overall authenticity. I would honestly say that the writing was good, not great, more than okay, just good. In the end this book resonated with me on so many personal levels I couldn’t help but love it.
January 11, 2022
Kenji “Ken” Hideyoshi was raised by his father in Hawaii after his mother passed away when he was a young boy. Samurai traditions - or at least a version of them - are a part of his father’s life and influence how Ken sees the world. When the novel opens, Ken is in jail and is having his mute cell mate, Cal, tattoo the Kanji symbol for The Book of the Void on his back. During the tattoo sessions, Ken shares the story of his life and what brought him to this point. Those conversations are the framework for a gritty crime novel, a love story, a coming of age tale, and a story of intergenerational trauma - as it has been passed down through the men of several families. I was sitting pretty solidly at a 3 star read on this, and then I thought McKinney did an excellent job pulling the threads together in the final pages. No clean, pretty endings here - but even so, it felt like a triumph.
This is not the touristy version of Hawaii - while there are certainly beautiful beaches and gorgeous scenery - there is also racism, poverty, hard lives, and tough choices. I came across this on a list of top books to read set in Hawaii (or about Hawaii) - and I am so glad I picked it up. I will definitely read more by this author. This was an impressive debut.
This is not the touristy version of Hawaii - while there are certainly beautiful beaches and gorgeous scenery - there is also racism, poverty, hard lives, and tough choices. I came across this on a list of top books to read set in Hawaii (or about Hawaii) - and I am so glad I picked it up. I will definitely read more by this author. This was an impressive debut.
November 10, 2013
I’m a Haole transplant in Hawaii from NY. I read this book so I could tutor an at-risk student here. This was a fascinating read for so many reasons.
Firstly, it is a look into the poor, adolescent culture that teaches boys that survival means being able to fight, and an illustration of how much easier it is to be involved in the drug culture, and how difficult it is to escape the caste system.
Secondly, the book illustrated some reasons why anger and resentment at the dominant white culture erupted. Ken was Japanese and had to defend his racial identity against Haoles, Hawaiians, and other ethnic groups. Claudia was part Korean, and suffered constant racial jibes from Ken’s father. The Hawaiian young people were resentful of how their home was overtaken by foreigners. Koa, Ken’s Hawaiian friend, “hated all of them…They’d taken his land. They killed his culture and therefore they’d taken his humanity.” Cal, the white tattoo artist in prison, who had a Nazi tattoo, thought “I’d been a student of hate, too.”
Thirdly, one must wonder about Ken’s father’s influence and how he might have turned out differently if his mother, and educated Japanese woman, had lived. Her influence was always at the back of his mind, which is probably why he strove to be a better person. Environment won, and he ended up a murderer in prison.
The prison system! A very fair indictment.
Lastly, McKinney illustrated how young people here are brought up to love and respect the ocean and its creatures. Surfing, spearfishing, and diving were all part of those young people’s lives.
I know I will be looking for more of Chris McKinney’s books. I think this should be made into a film. It’s quite a story, one that I loved reading and was sorry when it ended. I taught language arts to adolescents for 32 years. If it were not for the gritty language and brutality, I would recommend it as classroom reading. Parental permission would be required. I promise, students will love it.
Firstly, it is a look into the poor, adolescent culture that teaches boys that survival means being able to fight, and an illustration of how much easier it is to be involved in the drug culture, and how difficult it is to escape the caste system.
Secondly, the book illustrated some reasons why anger and resentment at the dominant white culture erupted. Ken was Japanese and had to defend his racial identity against Haoles, Hawaiians, and other ethnic groups. Claudia was part Korean, and suffered constant racial jibes from Ken’s father. The Hawaiian young people were resentful of how their home was overtaken by foreigners. Koa, Ken’s Hawaiian friend, “hated all of them…They’d taken his land. They killed his culture and therefore they’d taken his humanity.” Cal, the white tattoo artist in prison, who had a Nazi tattoo, thought “I’d been a student of hate, too.”
Thirdly, one must wonder about Ken’s father’s influence and how he might have turned out differently if his mother, and educated Japanese woman, had lived. Her influence was always at the back of his mind, which is probably why he strove to be a better person. Environment won, and he ended up a murderer in prison.
The prison system! A very fair indictment.
Lastly, McKinney illustrated how young people here are brought up to love and respect the ocean and its creatures. Surfing, spearfishing, and diving were all part of those young people’s lives.
I know I will be looking for more of Chris McKinney’s books. I think this should be made into a film. It’s quite a story, one that I loved reading and was sorry when it ended. I taught language arts to adolescents for 32 years. If it were not for the gritty language and brutality, I would recommend it as classroom reading. Parental permission would be required. I promise, students will love it.
December 4, 2010
Although the story line was intriguing and I although I enjoyed the book, I can't bring myself to give it more than 3 stars. The writing just felt like, well, it felt like a writer's first book -- which it was. Still, it could have used a better editor, many transitions felt choppy, the use of the tattoo-ing time to frame the story felt a little bit contrived, and way to often McKinney told rather than showed us what Ken was thinking.
I'm going to give McKinney another chance because I enjoyed the story, wanted to find out what would happen, and found his subject matter interesting (the underbelly, poor, criminal side of Oahu). Hopefully his writing improves with his next few books! Still, if you're interested in Hawaii and/or in Asian American literature, I'd recommend this book.
I'm going to give McKinney another chance because I enjoyed the story, wanted to find out what would happen, and found his subject matter interesting (the underbelly, poor, criminal side of Oahu). Hopefully his writing improves with his next few books! Still, if you're interested in Hawaii and/or in Asian American literature, I'd recommend this book.
March 2, 2019
I had to read and analyse this book for an essay on sociology and violence. While there are many concepts in the book relating to hegemonic violence, socialisation, inter-generational and societal issues, I really enjoyed the book. It’s set in Hawaii and gives you insight to the realities in “paradise” - the real Hawaii. The characters different ethnicities educate you about the islands history and how certain ethnic groups have been effected within Hawaii. I thought the writer did a really good job of portraying this through an engaging novel
May 11, 2012
This was a good story. I disagree with some of the other reviews. It was smart to write the pijin (and yes, I purposely spelled it that way), with some words "un-pijined" in their spelling, because if it was written exactly phonetically, word for word, it would have been difficult to understand for someone who is not familiar with it. The reading would become too much of a chore. I also didn't think it was a mistake to tell the story from one point of view and had no problem with what tense was being used. It's true that everyone is a critic. The truth is that it was told well and the main character was heroic in his own way and easy to like in spite of all the unsavory things he did, the hallmark of a story well told. As for the racism being offensive, no kidding. Racism is always offensive, that's a no-brainer. The story was the complete opposite of glorifying racism though. If you think Hawaii isn't full of racism exactly as the story portrayed, you have your head in the sand or you just never lived here. I see and hear it every day and it is painful that it still exists in the world anywhere to such a degree, but one look at world news makes it obvious that it does, and not just in Hawaii. It's become such a familiarity that some people don't see the ugliness in it clearly, or at all. Holding on to a culture becomes the justification for it, but that kind of feeling changes a culture into something else already. It's a false justification. Anyway, I liked the story, but wished for a happier ending, like I still wish for a healthy, peaceful, joyful world.
March 30, 2019
This book deserves 5 stars - but my own personal enjoyment/appreciation of this book rates lower.
Another review for this book said "what it lacks in craft it more than makes up for in plot" and this definitely stands true. The plot is astounding. However, this book took my over a week to read and 10 pages felt like 100. It is very dense, and hard-hitting. You don't really WANT to keep reading. It's challenging.
I think this book rates 5 in most aspects, even the writing fits the story and the characters. However, I really struggled, because I did not find in enjoyable or something I could relate to or learn from.
It was a drag to read at times, but only in its subject matter.
Another review for this book said "what it lacks in craft it more than makes up for in plot" and this definitely stands true. The plot is astounding. However, this book took my over a week to read and 10 pages felt like 100. It is very dense, and hard-hitting. You don't really WANT to keep reading. It's challenging.
I think this book rates 5 in most aspects, even the writing fits the story and the characters. However, I really struggled, because I did not find in enjoyable or something I could relate to or learn from.
It was a drag to read at times, but only in its subject matter.
June 24, 2012
Read for the second time for a book group. Well written, true to local reality. However, it is not a pleasant book to read. The characters are all flawed and rather unlikeable, though all have their moments and their reasons.
January 27, 2011
This book isn't winning any awards but I have to say that it snuck up on me and I finished it in a day. I think that what it lacks in craft it more than makes up for in plot.
December 1, 2023
Waimanalo Blues by Country Comfort, no other song could represent this book better.
Despite the setting being Oahu, I’m transported to my drive along the windward side of the Big Island from Hilo to Waimea. The descriptions of Kahalu’u and Ka’a’awa, and the ensuing problems, are a statewide issue that Chris McKinney captures perfectly. Poverty, the lack of opportunity, the desires to escape to a better quality of life, and the purchase of Hawaiian land by haoles and corporations who can afford to live there while forcing out native Hawaiians.
I greatly enjoyed McKinney’s use of pidgin and how it clearly authenticates some characters as windward located, while Kenji can code switch depending on his location and who he speaks with. The use of Cal as a silent audience was an interesting choice that I think worked out, especially if you think thematically that he represents the white audience listening to a Hawaiian person’s story. McKinney’s grasp on history helps detail the reasons for many Asian migrants to Hawai’i and also how there is a complex conversation around what “Hawaiian” is as it relates to heritage.
Not a part of the book, Hawaiians are the only indigenous people who do not have self-governance rights recognized by the federal government.
One critique I would say is that the ending felt a bit rushed, but maybe that’s just me wishing we had more time on the windward side towards the end of the book.
Overall, The Tattoo made me laugh, grimace, and feel many many emotions while also making me nostalgic and wanting to visit Hawai’i for a longer period of time. I think it’s essential reading to understand some of Hawai’i’s multifaceted issues, and I highly recommend it.
Despite the setting being Oahu, I’m transported to my drive along the windward side of the Big Island from Hilo to Waimea. The descriptions of Kahalu’u and Ka’a’awa, and the ensuing problems, are a statewide issue that Chris McKinney captures perfectly. Poverty, the lack of opportunity, the desires to escape to a better quality of life, and the purchase of Hawaiian land by haoles and corporations who can afford to live there while forcing out native Hawaiians.
I greatly enjoyed McKinney’s use of pidgin and how it clearly authenticates some characters as windward located, while Kenji can code switch depending on his location and who he speaks with. The use of Cal as a silent audience was an interesting choice that I think worked out, especially if you think thematically that he represents the white audience listening to a Hawaiian person’s story. McKinney’s grasp on history helps detail the reasons for many Asian migrants to Hawai’i and also how there is a complex conversation around what “Hawaiian” is as it relates to heritage.
Not a part of the book, Hawaiians are the only indigenous people who do not have self-governance rights recognized by the federal government.
One critique I would say is that the ending felt a bit rushed, but maybe that’s just me wishing we had more time on the windward side towards the end of the book.
Overall, The Tattoo made me laugh, grimace, and feel many many emotions while also making me nostalgic and wanting to visit Hawai’i for a longer period of time. I think it’s essential reading to understand some of Hawai’i’s multifaceted issues, and I highly recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2024
Local contemporary fiction that feels authentic. You know the author grew up in Hawaii by the minor details in the text, just as the central character Ken did. Complicated social issues and struggles feel authentic in their portrayal. The characters and their flaws feel authentic. ... Everything feels pretty darn authentic.
One minor theme that resonates with me is how the lack of communication creates complications within any relationship. Not everybody learns how to communicate growing up, especially men whose fathers struggle to communicate themselves. Violence, however... Those men do learn violence.
One small detail in relation to communication was... There are two side characters, husband and wife, who are in a toxic relationship. The wife performs a simple action: driving over the overgrown grass in the back of the house when returning to work. The husband thinks that that is her way of pointing out more problems to him, in this case that he better cut the grass. However, at the end of the story, it's shown that that was simply the wife's way of trying to keep the grass short. But because there was no healthy communication going on between the couple, the relationship.... Degrades.
I don't know. The writing isn't perfect, and I have some disagreement with the main character's decision in the conclusion of the story, but I understand him, and the story still feels authentic... I liked this book a lot.
One minor theme that resonates with me is how the lack of communication creates complications within any relationship. Not everybody learns how to communicate growing up, especially men whose fathers struggle to communicate themselves. Violence, however... Those men do learn violence.
One small detail in relation to communication was... There are two side characters, husband and wife, who are in a toxic relationship. The wife performs a simple action: driving over the overgrown grass in the back of the house when returning to work. The husband thinks that that is her way of pointing out more problems to him, in this case that he better cut the grass. However, at the end of the story, it's shown that that was simply the wife's way of trying to keep the grass short. But because there was no healthy communication going on between the couple, the relationship.... Degrades.
I don't know. The writing isn't perfect, and I have some disagreement with the main character's decision in the conclusion of the story, but I understand him, and the story still feels authentic... I liked this book a lot.
July 8, 2023
The Tattoo is a moving. book about how two men end up as prisoners in Hawaii. Tattoos are a just one theme that links these two men together. This book has some violent themes and adult language. The theme of dysfunctional family relationships and the Hawaiian music references are the best aspects of The Tattoo.
There are two main characters in this book. One character is named Ken and the other named Cal. Each man has a dysfunctional relationship with a member of their family. Ken has a dysfunctional relationship with his verbally abusive father, and Cal has a dysfunctional marriage. There is a realism in these relationships, because I could understand how easily these relationships fell into a state of dysfunction.
What I also love about The Tattoo are the Hawaiian music references. Each chapter begins with a quote from a local Hawaiian song. There is a beautiful song entitled "Flying" by the Peter Moon Band. There is another beautiful song entitled Rusty Old Steel Pipes by the Makaha Suns Of Niihau that I never even heard before reading this book.
The realism of the dysfunctional relationships and the Hawaiian songs make The Tattoo a special book to me.
There are two main characters in this book. One character is named Ken and the other named Cal. Each man has a dysfunctional relationship with a member of their family. Ken has a dysfunctional relationship with his verbally abusive father, and Cal has a dysfunctional marriage. There is a realism in these relationships, because I could understand how easily these relationships fell into a state of dysfunction.
What I also love about The Tattoo are the Hawaiian music references. Each chapter begins with a quote from a local Hawaiian song. There is a beautiful song entitled "Flying" by the Peter Moon Band. There is another beautiful song entitled Rusty Old Steel Pipes by the Makaha Suns Of Niihau that I never even heard before reading this book.
The realism of the dysfunctional relationships and the Hawaiian songs make The Tattoo a special book to me.
April 25, 2018
Overall I enjoyed this book because it wasn't a book that was just happiness and sunshine, it seemed real. It seemed like real life problems were involved. The book was about a character named Ken Hideyoshi. Ken Hideyoshi moved to Hawaii when he was younger and experienced abuse from his distant father after his mother died. The story of Ken Hideyoshi goes back and forth from his life when he was younger and the current time where he is serving in a correctional institute. Ken is the new guy at the correctional institute. He soon makes a friend named Cal, a mute tattoo artist that had his wife murdered. Ken quickly noticed that Cal had SYN tattooed on his hand. He asks Cal for a tattoo on his back, in kanji script, of Musashi’s Book of the Void. The story goes on with Cal giving Ken the tattoo while Ken telling him about his life. I did enjoy this book and would recommend this to other people that like books that include real-life problems.
May 1, 2021
Slightly biased since I live on the Windward side of Oahu, but I loved reading this. Though I imagine that reading the pidgin would be hard for anyone who hasn’t lived here, I’m glad he put it in. Makes the book more like-able for me. Story was good, not great...for me it was reading the places that I recognized that really pulled me jn.
August 25, 2018
*Warning* explicit language throughout, adult themes, peril, adult situations and themes
I didn't hate this book. I do hate that my High School children's Engligh teachers are making this required reading.
I didn't hate this book. I do hate that my High School children's Engligh teachers are making this required reading.
July 11, 2021
Really compelling story about the dark side of Paradise, a world that most of us never get to see. The characters are indelible and their world is well and fully realized. Would make a great streaming series.
December 11, 2022
This book is so good, I loved it! Ken tells his story to a mute inmate in a prison in Hawaii. A tale of growing up with an abusive father, trying to do good in life, and how the fate of one horrific night landed him in prison. An unforgettable and heartbreaking story.
August 12, 2018
Read this for my Sociology course, very interesting. However the talking in Pigeon made it difficult to understand, and analyse.
April 8, 2019
An interesting example of how cross cultural dynamics affect interfamilial relationships in Hawaii
August 5, 2020
Well written good plot, knowing Hawaian culture helps
March 29, 2022
The Tattoo is a fascinating read for so many reasons. It depicts the real life of poor rural locals and generational trauma from a variety of cultural and racial backgrounds. All around great read.
August 1, 2022
4.5 rounded up
March 14, 2023
Punchy, honest and gut-wrenching story of Hawai'i. Gritty plot and language. Detailed, emphathetic descriptions.
December 5, 2023
had to teach this to my students per my school's instruction. hated every second
July 14, 2024
Absolutely brutal. So good.
July 20, 2025
Powerful. If you've spent time in Hawaii or are interested in Japanese history read this book.
January 2, 2013
In 2002, I saw this on the shelf at the Hale Koa Hotel's shoppette and grabbed it along with some other books for the long flight back East. I had read some truly awful books earlier that year and when the blurb mentioned that it was a first novel from a junior college English teacher I settled in for what I thought would be a hefty helping of the liveliest pretentious awfulness.
It never materialized. In hindsight I was kind of an asshole to think what I did, but this isn't about me.
The Tattoo is a coming of age story.
It's also a 'Sins of the Father' story.
It's also a gritty crime novel.
It's also a tale of doomed romance.
And a window providing the briefest of glimpses to the Asian and Polynesian experiences in the US in general, and Hawaii (Hawai'i?) in particular.
Okay, so I was right about the pretentious part...sort of, because if you do what you say you're going to do it's no longer pretentious and Mr. McKinney actually does manage to pull it off...sort of.
It reads like a first novel. The voices get muddled. The symbolism is a bit clunky, with Ken at one point actually pausing to tell us what the Tiger Shark symbolizes, and the blue cats thing could have used a bit more work or have just been discarded entirely. The grittiness gets a bit overplayed. Dialogue is a little stilted in places. I actually thought the pidgin in the book was pretty good in that it was apparently phonetic and thus comprehensible. So yeah, gold star for use of dialect.
The story and characters are believable and engaging. The social commentary is there but not obnoxiously so. It drags in spots but picks back up quickly enough. When I got to the end I didn't have to go back and see if I missed something, but I did wind up re-reading the book almost right away. I'm still not sure what I find most appealing about The Tattoo, but I feel confident in saying that it was worth a few hours of my life. Mr. McKinney's later work has steadily improved, which to me confirms my suspicion that they problems with the first book were mostly kinks to be worked out.
So...good story...style problems...generally worthwhile. Give it a try. You could do much much worse.
It never materialized. In hindsight I was kind of an asshole to think what I did, but this isn't about me.
The Tattoo is a coming of age story.
It's also a 'Sins of the Father' story.
It's also a gritty crime novel.
It's also a tale of doomed romance.
And a window providing the briefest of glimpses to the Asian and Polynesian experiences in the US in general, and Hawaii (Hawai'i?) in particular.
Okay, so I was right about the pretentious part...sort of, because if you do what you say you're going to do it's no longer pretentious and Mr. McKinney actually does manage to pull it off...sort of.
It reads like a first novel. The voices get muddled. The symbolism is a bit clunky, with Ken at one point actually pausing to tell us what the Tiger Shark symbolizes, and the blue cats thing could have used a bit more work or have just been discarded entirely. The grittiness gets a bit overplayed. Dialogue is a little stilted in places. I actually thought the pidgin in the book was pretty good in that it was apparently phonetic and thus comprehensible. So yeah, gold star for use of dialect.
The story and characters are believable and engaging. The social commentary is there but not obnoxiously so. It drags in spots but picks back up quickly enough. When I got to the end I didn't have to go back and see if I missed something, but I did wind up re-reading the book almost right away. I'm still not sure what I find most appealing about The Tattoo, but I feel confident in saying that it was worth a few hours of my life. Mr. McKinney's later work has steadily improved, which to me confirms my suspicion that they problems with the first book were mostly kinks to be worked out.
So...good story...style problems...generally worthwhile. Give it a try. You could do much much worse.
December 22, 2010
I liked this book and the subject was interesting in that I've been to Hawaii, but it's not somewhere I'm overly familiar with, so I liked reading about a different culture. I don't think the writing is great, and while the story is looking to show the dark side of the island- I thought some of the plot was overreaching and then slightly not believeable. I did think he did a good job talking about what it feels like to live on an island like Hawaii which is pretty unique and both a part of the US but also very much not- and is very isolated, but has a ton of diversity.
Anyway overall I liked it but didn't think it was excellent.
Anyway overall I liked it but didn't think it was excellent.
April 4, 2016
Three Reasons: The Tattoo by Chris McKinney
This is a solid book, but not necessarily because it's the "best" writing. Instead, it's a solid book for 1) the content that is accessible to the Hawaii Local and the island teen, 2) the nicely developed images especially with respect to the symbolism of the shark, and 3) the way to story lingers with you long after finishing the prose.
That said, there are negatives. 1) there are overly contrived moments that seems born of convenience instead of being character driven, 2) the pidgin is distracting and needed work for authenticity and 3) the point of view needs work.
This is a solid book, but not necessarily because it's the "best" writing. Instead, it's a solid book for 1) the content that is accessible to the Hawaii Local and the island teen, 2) the nicely developed images especially with respect to the symbolism of the shark, and 3) the way to story lingers with you long after finishing the prose.
That said, there are negatives. 1) there are overly contrived moments that seems born of convenience instead of being character driven, 2) the pidgin is distracting and needed work for authenticity and 3) the point of view needs work.
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