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Materena Mahi #2
I kloka kvinnors sällskap
Först utgiven i Australien och nu i Kanada, USA, Holland, Italien, Spanien, Storbritannien och Sverige samt Norge och Finland. Idén till I kloka kvinnors sällskap fick Celestine när hon såg sin egen dotter växa upp men också hennes egen mamma inspirerade henne till boken. Hon var singelmamma med fyra barn, mycket fattig men också mycket stolt. Celestine menar att berättelser är så viktiga på så många sätt - att hålla de döda levande, att komma i ihåg, att sprida visdom vidare och att skapa ett fundament för kvinnor att stödja varandra.
Här får vi möta en helhjärtad ny berättarröst, Vaite kryddar sin berättelse med charmiga stycken av tradition från Tahiti och gammal klok visdom. Hjältinna som du önskar var din bästa vän heter Materena. På Tahiti är det allmänt känt att kvinnor är klokast och mödrar vet bäst. Men det är faktiskt så att det är Materena som vet allra bäst. Alla tycker så, alla utom Materenas dotter. Charmig, känslosam berättelse om Matarena som väljer att följa och att leda sitt eget liv trots en motsträvig machokultur. Vi får följa henne och hennes familj under tjugo år. En underbar roman om kärlek - till sina barn, sin man, sin släkt, de kvinnliga traditionerna och att finna sin väg i livet. En bok fylld av livsvisdom, glädje och två av de envisaste kvinnor du någonsin kommer att hitta.
Här får vi möta en helhjärtad ny berättarröst, Vaite kryddar sin berättelse med charmiga stycken av tradition från Tahiti och gammal klok visdom. Hjältinna som du önskar var din bästa vän heter Materena. På Tahiti är det allmänt känt att kvinnor är klokast och mödrar vet bäst. Men det är faktiskt så att det är Materena som vet allra bäst. Alla tycker så, alla utom Materenas dotter. Charmig, känslosam berättelse om Matarena som väljer att följa och att leda sitt eget liv trots en motsträvig machokultur. Vi får följa henne och hennes familj under tjugo år. En underbar roman om kärlek - till sina barn, sin man, sin släkt, de kvinnliga traditionerna och att finna sin väg i livet. En bok fylld av livsvisdom, glädje och två av de envisaste kvinnor du någonsin kommer att hitta.
301 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
52 people are currently reading
1298 people want to read
About the author
Célestine Hitiura Vaite
7 books86 followersCélestine Hitiura Vaite was born in Tahiti. The daughter of a Tahitian mother and a French father who went back to his country after military service, she grew up in her big extended family in Faa'a-Tahiti, where storytelling was part of the every day life and women overcame obstacles with gusto and humour. Célestine now lives with her family on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
September 3, 2016
Jedna od knjiga koja me je ludo zabavila... Ovo je druga knjiga trilogije... Slučajno sam naletela na nju pre mnogo godina u jednoj knjižari u Torontu, pronašla vlasnika prava i tu knjigu trebalo je da objavi Laguna... Čekali smo australijskog izdavača da nam pošalje ugovor gotovo godinu dana... A onda sam ja otišla iz Lagune pre nego što je ugovor stigao, i Laguna je otkazala celu priču... Ja još ne gubim nadu da ću za ove tri sjajne, zabavne i duhovite knjige naći izdavača... Otkačene knjige koje će vas nasmejati do suza... :)
January 7, 2016
3.5 stars
Frangipani is a pleasant read. It focuses on the relationship between Materena, a hardworking, family-oriented Tahitian woman, and her brilliant, headstrong daughter Leilani. The book begins before Leilani’s birth and follows the family until she’s an adult. It is not a plot-driven sort of novel; short chapters explore various incidents in the family’s life, as well as that of the community.
As I said, I enjoyed this. It is a sweet book, Materena and Leilani are strong characters, the story stays interesting even without a single driving plotline, and it provides a fun way to learn about Tahiti and its culture. Distinctive word usage and speech patterns make their way into the text, giving the novel a feeling of authenticity (which makes sense, since the author is Tahitian). I have to admit that while other readers have found the supportive relationships amongst the women of the extended family heartwarming, my enjoyment was somewhat counterbalanced by irritation with the men. Materena’s husband, Pito, is presented as a typical Tahitian man, and has almost nothing going for him – he’s unsupportive, lazy, self-absorbed, and drunk half the time. There are a couple better examples of men in the story, though.
Overall, this book is nothing earth-shattering, but it is certainly pleasant. Though this was apparently the first of Vaite’s books to be published in the U.S., it has both a prequel (Breadfruit) and a sequel (Tiare in Bloom). While I can’t claim much interest in the prequel, about Materena and Pito’s romance, the sequel sounds sweet and I may check it out one day.
Frangipani is a pleasant read. It focuses on the relationship between Materena, a hardworking, family-oriented Tahitian woman, and her brilliant, headstrong daughter Leilani. The book begins before Leilani’s birth and follows the family until she’s an adult. It is not a plot-driven sort of novel; short chapters explore various incidents in the family’s life, as well as that of the community.
As I said, I enjoyed this. It is a sweet book, Materena and Leilani are strong characters, the story stays interesting even without a single driving plotline, and it provides a fun way to learn about Tahiti and its culture. Distinctive word usage and speech patterns make their way into the text, giving the novel a feeling of authenticity (which makes sense, since the author is Tahitian). I have to admit that while other readers have found the supportive relationships amongst the women of the extended family heartwarming, my enjoyment was somewhat counterbalanced by irritation with the men. Materena’s husband, Pito, is presented as a typical Tahitian man, and has almost nothing going for him – he’s unsupportive, lazy, self-absorbed, and drunk half the time. There are a couple better examples of men in the story, though.
Overall, this book is nothing earth-shattering, but it is certainly pleasant. Though this was apparently the first of Vaite’s books to be published in the U.S., it has both a prequel (Breadfruit) and a sequel (Tiare in Bloom). While I can’t claim much interest in the prequel, about Materena and Pito’s romance, the sequel sounds sweet and I may check it out one day.
August 4, 2008
Vaite is wild, outspoken, vivacious, and colorful. I adored this book about a Tahitian mama and the trials of motherhood in a male-dominated culture. I adored every piece of folk wisdom. Even more, though, I fell in love with the author herself while seeing and hearing her talk at a literary festival. As other authors conducted traditional book talks, she took charge of the stage, constantly tossing her untamable dark hair and speaking with complete humor and candor about Tahiti, womanhood, motherhood and so much more.
April 16, 2012
This book was a "wild card" I found at the library book sale. It's bright cover and setting in Tahiti intrigued me. A universal story of girlfriends, wives, mothers, unfulfilling men set in Paradise. HILARIOUS! Easy to see why it is an international bestseller. Mostly a story of moms and daughters, mainly one loving mom and one strong willed daughter, it hits very close to home. I will look for another from this author. I loved Materena, the story's Tahitian Mama, and the news on the Coconut Radio. :-)
October 10, 2023
Look at this story as a reminder to call your mom and tell her you love her - if she’s not like mine and actually picks up.
↠ 4 stars
↠ 4 stars
November 29, 2024
(Review November 2024)
I read this book for the first time twelve years ago in English (the original version). Now I read it in French for practice and I just added one more star to the book. I somehow remembered Rose's story the most but she isn't even a main character. I somehow thought that Rose was Materena's daughter but that's not true at all. Having just finished the first book of the trilogy - Breadfruit - this book somehow goes back in time again and tells again about Materena's early marriage and pregnancies. But then it becomes clear that this book is focused on Materena and her daughter Leilani's relationship. On the one hand, Materena is very traditional, demure, undemanding, a "pick me" (her husband displays a lot of toxic traits) but somehow she manages to raise a daughter who is very independent, decisive, smart and knowledgable. I don't know what influence her father had on Leilani. In general, this book seems to highlight a generational change and how women gain a stronger foothold in society. Perhaps also how education can impact the life of women. At times, Leilani really annoyed me and I don't know how a 17 year old high school student can just do a little work after school and rent her own place, where she lives together with her 23 year old boyfriend, who happens to be a perfect dentist. Also Materena's career change seemed impossible. However, Materena's struggle with her children leaving her were real, I guess. But this book is cheesy and all about happy endings. At least, the author was truthful when she mentioned how Leilani can speak fluent French, English and Spanish, but only so-so Tahitian, even though it's the local language on the island. Times are changing.
"Il faut savoir ce que tu veux, et aller de l'avant."
(Review July 2012)
Finishing this book feels like I just had McDonald's. The writing was easy to understand and I devoured it in two days (fast food - fast book), but it wasn't original. It reminded me of Sophie Kinsella. The reason I picked this book was to learn more about Tahiti and Tahitian culture. But I got absolutely none of it. The main character isn't a typical Tahitian mother. I wish there was more information on Tahiti. The author touches upon a few subjects, such as independence (here she described the different views of the various family members, some are for independence, some against) and the French influence (did the French colonize Tahiti or what? Are there still French soldiers stationed on the island?). There's a brief mention of Duke Kahanamoku and then nothing. Some details were placed very oddly and predicted the ending. Though I applaud the author for shedding light on the role of women in society, women supporting each other and domesticity, this book made me depressed. It's like a typical Hollywood blockbuster comedy movie. There are parts where you laugh. The characters get into a lot of trouble. But there's always a happy ending. I recommend this book to those who want to read something easy by the pool. This book isn't satisfying. Later you can go swimming.
I read this book for the first time twelve years ago in English (the original version). Now I read it in French for practice and I just added one more star to the book. I somehow remembered Rose's story the most but she isn't even a main character. I somehow thought that Rose was Materena's daughter but that's not true at all. Having just finished the first book of the trilogy - Breadfruit - this book somehow goes back in time again and tells again about Materena's early marriage and pregnancies. But then it becomes clear that this book is focused on Materena and her daughter Leilani's relationship. On the one hand, Materena is very traditional, demure, undemanding, a "pick me" (her husband displays a lot of toxic traits) but somehow she manages to raise a daughter who is very independent, decisive, smart and knowledgable. I don't know what influence her father had on Leilani. In general, this book seems to highlight a generational change and how women gain a stronger foothold in society. Perhaps also how education can impact the life of women. At times, Leilani really annoyed me and I don't know how a 17 year old high school student can just do a little work after school and rent her own place, where she lives together with her 23 year old boyfriend, who happens to be a perfect dentist. Also Materena's career change seemed impossible. However, Materena's struggle with her children leaving her were real, I guess. But this book is cheesy and all about happy endings. At least, the author was truthful when she mentioned how Leilani can speak fluent French, English and Spanish, but only so-so Tahitian, even though it's the local language on the island. Times are changing.
"Il faut savoir ce que tu veux, et aller de l'avant."
(Review July 2012)
Finishing this book feels like I just had McDonald's. The writing was easy to understand and I devoured it in two days (fast food - fast book), but it wasn't original. It reminded me of Sophie Kinsella. The reason I picked this book was to learn more about Tahiti and Tahitian culture. But I got absolutely none of it. The main character isn't a typical Tahitian mother. I wish there was more information on Tahiti. The author touches upon a few subjects, such as independence (here she described the different views of the various family members, some are for independence, some against) and the French influence (did the French colonize Tahiti or what? Are there still French soldiers stationed on the island?). There's a brief mention of Duke Kahanamoku and then nothing. Some details were placed very oddly and predicted the ending. Though I applaud the author for shedding light on the role of women in society, women supporting each other and domesticity, this book made me depressed. It's like a typical Hollywood blockbuster comedy movie. There are parts where you laugh. The characters get into a lot of trouble. But there's always a happy ending. I recommend this book to those who want to read something easy by the pool. This book isn't satisfying. Later you can go swimming.
January 27, 2008
Frangipani by Célestine Vaite is a delightful and entertaining book about the relationship between mother and daughter. Set in Tahiti, the culture and language of the people is woven into the story, making it a quite enjoyable book to read. From the book, I assume that the Tahitian people are very laid-back and happy. They have some customs that are just wacky, but don’t all cultures? I loved the relationship between the mother, Matarena and her daughter, Leilani. When Leilani got her period, Matarena gave her the Welcome to Womanhood talk. She started off by giving her daughter compliments- telling her why she’s a great girl. I loved that she did that for her daughter. Can you imagine how empowering that would be to a young woman for her mother to tell her why she’s great?! She then bestows to her daughter all the wisdom that a Tahitian woman needs. Some of this wisdom includes, “Don’t get married before you have at least one child with your man. Children are the hardest part in a couple’s life. When there are no children, everything is easy, everybody wants to get married. Once there are children, everything changes.” Interesting! True, everything changes. But don’t get married? She also tells her daughter not to fall for a foreigner because he will either leave her to go back to his country or make her leave Tahiti to go with him to his country. But then immediately after telling her to avoid foreigners, she tells her all the things that are wrong with typical Tahitian men. One of the things she says about a typical Tahitian man is, “A typical Tahitian man believes that it is beneath his dignity to show his woman affection. You ask a typical Tahitian man, “Am I beautiful, chéri?” he answers, “You’re not ugly.”” Her advice about men was amusing! One piece of advice that she gave was simply beautiful- “When we die it doesn’t mean that we don’t exist anymore. True, we are buried, we become skeleton, then we become soil, but all that we have left behind is still there. Whenever people talk about us, well, we come alive again.” And the last piece of advice in the Welcome to Womanhood talk is priceless- “Don’t start thinking you know more than I do.” There were parts of the book that might make some people blush, such as referring to sex as “sexy loving.” But it just made me smile. Another blushable moment is when Matarena saw her daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend having sex. But it was also set in a funny moment. So I just laughed at the moment and thought of how awkward that would be to have my mom walk in on that.
I loved the tone of the writing. I could hear the Tahitian accent throughout the book. I don’t know if I’ve ever even heard a Tahitian accent. But the writing was such that I could imagine how it would sound. Frangipani was a fun, easy read. My V author (Mario Vargas Llosa) still hasn’t come in from the library, so I looked on the V shelf and found Frangipani. I would say that it was a good find.
I loved the tone of the writing. I could hear the Tahitian accent throughout the book. I don’t know if I’ve ever even heard a Tahitian accent. But the writing was such that I could imagine how it would sound. Frangipani was a fun, easy read. My V author (Mario Vargas Llosa) still hasn’t come in from the library, so I looked on the V shelf and found Frangipani. I would say that it was a good find.
February 6, 2016
Quand un enfant naît, on doit planter un arbre dans le jardin. Toute leur vie durant, l'arbre et l'enfant seront liés : si l'arbre est en bonne santé, c'est signe que l'enfant va bien ; si l'arbre est malade, l'enfant va mal également. C'est pourquoi il est très important de faire attention à l'arbre qu'on a planté lorsque l'enfant est né. Si jamais il est sec, si ses feuilles tombent, il faut réunir la famille de toute urgence pour prier pour la bonne santé de l'enfant.
Ou alors, il faut que la cousine Georgette, DJ transexuelle de son état, ait la présence d'esprit de balancer un seau d'engrais sur les racines, pendant que tout le monde a le dos tourné, histoire de calmer les esprits.
Le frangipanier, c'est l'arbre que Materena a planté à la naissance de sa fille, Leilani. Ce deuxième tome, après l'Arbre à pain, s'axe plus sur les relations entre Materena et sa fille, que sur les histoires des habitants en général - et, a contrario d'une bonne partie de lecteurs sur Goodreads, ce côté moins décousu, plus linéaire, ne m'a pas aidé à apprécier davantage les aventures de Materena. L'aspect contes me manquait, finalement.
Si on parle d'une mère et de sa fille, on parle forcément de la féminité aujourd'hui, et de la féminité à Tahiti. Comment vivre le machisme au quotidien ? Le racisme social ? Comment trouver un mari, qu'est-ce qu'un bon mari ? Comment élever sa fille, quand on n'a soi-même pas eu une vie satisfaisante ?
C'est autour de ces questions que Célestine Hitiura Vaite brode, une fois encore, un récit léger, coloré, tendre et drôle. Les chapitres se suivent et ne se ressemblent pas ; se suivent mais ne se répondent pas forcément. La vie de tous s'entrelace pour former un monde d'histoires.
Je ne sais pas si je vous l'ai déjà dit (non, en fait je sais, je ne vous l'ai jamais dit), mais mon grand-père faisait partie de la marine, dans l'armée. Toute sa jeunesse, il a parcouru les pays, et quand j'étais petite, je feuilletais les albums de famille pour le voir devant l'Alhambra, le Sphinx, à Hollywood, à Madagascar, à Singapour, et - oui - sur les plages tahitiennes, débarquant torse nu, les jambes dans l'eau, alors que de magnifiques vahine avec des fleurs dans les cheveux lui passaient des colliers de coquillages au cou.
Ces français, qui ont pris l'île, qui l'ont dépouillée, qui sont partis en y laissant leurs enfants, puis leurs petits enfants, laissent les traces de leur passage, dans Frangipanier. Et ces petits enfants à l'air un peu plus "farani" que les autres tahitiens, ce sont peut-être mes cousins, qui sait ?
La couverture de Frangipanier, édité dans une petite maison en France, précise : "best seller international". C'est tout de même étonnant, que les lecteurs venant d'un pays ayant autant marqué la culture d'une île, soient les premiers à bouder la littérature et la culture de Tahiti.
Poétique, drôle, rafraîchissant. C'était ce que j'avais besoin de lire en ce début d'année. Lisez-le.
Ou alors, il faut que la cousine Georgette, DJ transexuelle de son état, ait la présence d'esprit de balancer un seau d'engrais sur les racines, pendant que tout le monde a le dos tourné, histoire de calmer les esprits.
Le frangipanier, c'est l'arbre que Materena a planté à la naissance de sa fille, Leilani. Ce deuxième tome, après l'Arbre à pain, s'axe plus sur les relations entre Materena et sa fille, que sur les histoires des habitants en général - et, a contrario d'une bonne partie de lecteurs sur Goodreads, ce côté moins décousu, plus linéaire, ne m'a pas aidé à apprécier davantage les aventures de Materena. L'aspect contes me manquait, finalement.
Si on parle d'une mère et de sa fille, on parle forcément de la féminité aujourd'hui, et de la féminité à Tahiti. Comment vivre le machisme au quotidien ? Le racisme social ? Comment trouver un mari, qu'est-ce qu'un bon mari ? Comment élever sa fille, quand on n'a soi-même pas eu une vie satisfaisante ?
C'est autour de ces questions que Célestine Hitiura Vaite brode, une fois encore, un récit léger, coloré, tendre et drôle. Les chapitres se suivent et ne se ressemblent pas ; se suivent mais ne se répondent pas forcément. La vie de tous s'entrelace pour former un monde d'histoires.
Je ne sais pas si je vous l'ai déjà dit (non, en fait je sais, je ne vous l'ai jamais dit), mais mon grand-père faisait partie de la marine, dans l'armée. Toute sa jeunesse, il a parcouru les pays, et quand j'étais petite, je feuilletais les albums de famille pour le voir devant l'Alhambra, le Sphinx, à Hollywood, à Madagascar, à Singapour, et - oui - sur les plages tahitiennes, débarquant torse nu, les jambes dans l'eau, alors que de magnifiques vahine avec des fleurs dans les cheveux lui passaient des colliers de coquillages au cou.
Ces français, qui ont pris l'île, qui l'ont dépouillée, qui sont partis en y laissant leurs enfants, puis leurs petits enfants, laissent les traces de leur passage, dans Frangipanier. Et ces petits enfants à l'air un peu plus "farani" que les autres tahitiens, ce sont peut-être mes cousins, qui sait ?
La couverture de Frangipanier, édité dans une petite maison en France, précise : "best seller international". C'est tout de même étonnant, que les lecteurs venant d'un pays ayant autant marqué la culture d'une île, soient les premiers à bouder la littérature et la culture de Tahiti.
Poétique, drôle, rafraîchissant. C'était ce que j'avais besoin de lire en ce début d'année. Lisez-le.
February 17, 2008
Frangipani is Viate's second offering in her Tahitian trilogy. Although the first-person narrative seems to float along on the surface quite innocently, Vaite uses her main character Matarena's seeming simplicity as a guileless mirror with which to reflect the effect of colonization on the native Tahitian psyche. The various Tahitians populating the novel suffer a loss of identity in which they are neither really Tahitian nor assimilated to French ways.
Understanding Woman is Matarena's endearing way of saying The Virgin Mary. When Matarena has really got the blues, she sits in the church and pours out her troubles to that omni-compassionate being. The Virgin was also one of the most powerful weapons Europeans used to conquer and "civilize" the Tahitians, as well as most of the South Pacific, which they then turned around and used as testing grounds for their atomic weapons. However, by all accounts, the Tahitians at first European contact were a healthier, happier and prouder lot than they have become under European domination.
In Frangipani Matarena transcends her identity crisis by finding her voice and becoming transformed into a form of Understanding Woman. She becomes a being who wisely comes to an understanding of the French and of the Tahitians.
The citizens of the Pacific atolls have lived in relative harmony with their very fragile and resources-limited natural environment for 2,000 years. They were aware of the dangers of over-population and that the meagre resources they owned needed to be preserved, for their very survival. Thus, they have thrived for two millenia in a situation in which the entire human population now finds itself. It is we--the "civilized ones" who should learn from the South Seas Islanders while we can. After all, some island nations are slated, under current projections, to soon disappear under the waves.
Understanding Woman is Matarena's endearing way of saying The Virgin Mary. When Matarena has really got the blues, she sits in the church and pours out her troubles to that omni-compassionate being. The Virgin was also one of the most powerful weapons Europeans used to conquer and "civilize" the Tahitians, as well as most of the South Pacific, which they then turned around and used as testing grounds for their atomic weapons. However, by all accounts, the Tahitians at first European contact were a healthier, happier and prouder lot than they have become under European domination.
In Frangipani Matarena transcends her identity crisis by finding her voice and becoming transformed into a form of Understanding Woman. She becomes a being who wisely comes to an understanding of the French and of the Tahitians.
The citizens of the Pacific atolls have lived in relative harmony with their very fragile and resources-limited natural environment for 2,000 years. They were aware of the dangers of over-population and that the meagre resources they owned needed to be preserved, for their very survival. Thus, they have thrived for two millenia in a situation in which the entire human population now finds itself. It is we--the "civilized ones" who should learn from the South Seas Islanders while we can. After all, some island nations are slated, under current projections, to soon disappear under the waves.
February 22, 2008
This book by a Tahitian woman radiates warmth & light--an excellent winter read! The main character is a strong, wise, generous mother. The story is set in a small island community where people know and (mostly) care about each other. The relationships between women in the story are inspirational.
June 12, 2008
Read the whole series, was sad when I finished it because it meant that I had to let go of the story. I love Materena, to me she reminds of so many women around the world, that in their own little way are trying to make the world a better place by making the people around them happy.
October 7, 2021
Materena is the main character in this book that follows “Breadfruit” also by Vaite. All of a sudden Materena’s kids are grown up and leaving home. The book didn’t go in quite the direction that I expected, but I still loved it. I know already that the minute I finish the next book in this series I will want to read all three books again.
April 27, 2022
ended up being better than expected.
March 19, 2019
this is great fun and very engaging/involving, for anybody going to, been to, related to or interested in Polynesia, pacifica islands around there or the Ma'ohi/maori (ethnic-cultural group extending from Samoa or is it Tonga? to New Zealand and Hawa'i (the ' is a glottal stop and one of their only nine consonants), i would make this a solid five out of five. I loved it. I started thinking it was much better than you'd expect for a quite-talented daughter of the islands and it's fun and it really captures life there, but i got more and more impressed. It's not a "great" novel but it's as good as can be. It's virtues are just really capturing the island and the people and the life. If you're going on holiday or honeymoon there and want to see a little behind the curtains of a very shy and retiring people, pack this for your reading. (Your other option is The Moon and Sixpence, which i haven't read.)
January 16, 2012
An enjoyable story of Tahitian culture and the conflict between mothers and daughters. I have the sense it won't stick with me for long, which is why I only gave it three stars, but I didn't have to struggle to get through it.
Longer review with quotes on my blog (also music recommendation and link to dessert!)
Longer review with quotes on my blog (also music recommendation and link to dessert!)
July 10, 2016
A beautiful story of a woman, a mother and a wife.
The story focuses mainly on the relationship between Materena, a hardworking, family-oriented Tahitian woman, and her headstrong daughter Leilani.
For me this really encapsulated the candour of Tahitian womanhood and was a really enjoyable read.
The story focuses mainly on the relationship between Materena, a hardworking, family-oriented Tahitian woman, and her headstrong daughter Leilani.
For me this really encapsulated the candour of Tahitian womanhood and was a really enjoyable read.
June 28, 2008
These are wonderful books in a series about South Pacific culture and modern issues. Great, lovable characters and a truly South Pacific setting. Really recommended.
October 29, 2020
Tahiti is home to Materena Mahi and she wouldn't have it any other way. Sure, the father of her children spends too much time with his friends. Sure, her relatives are always in her business but also sure, she loves her family, her island and their traditions. Now, when her daughter is old enough to talk, though, she asks SO MANY QUESTIONS! What does a mamie do with such a child? This is a story of the love and turmoil between mothers and daughters in a world that is figuring out how to meld traditional ways with more modern ones. It's a classic story but with a Tahitian style and vibe that made it so much fun to read!
I really love how this story immersed me a culture that was completely unfamiliar to me - how did I NOT KNOW that Tahiti was a French colony? I mean, that's embarrassing, right? But now I know! And it is interesting how France, its language and ways, are a part of Tahitian life. For me, though, this was a story about Materena's heart, about her adoration of and exasperation with her children and spouse, about finding her own way to manage all the parts of her life that truly matter to her. It made me chuckle, it made me teary, I felt connected to this vast village of people who love each other and drive each other crazy. Really fun read.
I really love how this story immersed me a culture that was completely unfamiliar to me - how did I NOT KNOW that Tahiti was a French colony? I mean, that's embarrassing, right? But now I know! And it is interesting how France, its language and ways, are a part of Tahitian life. For me, though, this was a story about Materena's heart, about her adoration of and exasperation with her children and spouse, about finding her own way to manage all the parts of her life that truly matter to her. It made me chuckle, it made me teary, I felt connected to this vast village of people who love each other and drive each other crazy. Really fun read.
April 12, 2022
This was just lovely, like a warm bath or a long chat with a good friend. I was worried at first that it was going to be all about the hard life of the downtrodden eternally pregnant woman with the man who drank too much, so she never had any money, as this was the theme of the first chapter. However, whilst this may in some ways be the fate of the main character Materena, she is strong and optimistic and although her life is sometimes hard, she is too busy worrying about others to really notice. There is a joy to Materena that suffuses this book, without it becoming maudlin or too sweet (well perhaps a little in the second last chapter, but I think it saved itself), and I felt her relationship with her daughter, which is the core to the book, was very realistic. I didn't fly through this book as I do others, as it didn't draw me in in the same way, but I always enjoyed returning to it, and each time left it feeling a bit happier. I will have to seek out the other books by the author, especially those featuring Materena.
February 21, 2022
Un romanzo sul rapporto tra una madre e una figlia. All'inizio del romanzo siamo proprio al concepimento di Leilani e il libro, benché corto, andrà avanti per altri 20 anni nella vita di queste due donne eccezionali anche se normali. Intorno a loro ci sono ovviamente tanti altri personaggi: il padre Pito, gli altri due figli Tamatoa e Moana, Mama Teta, Hotu, Vahine, i parenti e tanti altri... Ma le protagoniste restano Materena e sua figlia Leilani. L'ambientazione tahitiana è molto interessante. Il libro sembra a tratti comporsi di aneddoti, ma sono tutti collegati l'uno all'altro a formare una grande storia. Un bel libro.
August 8, 2021
I really enjoyed this unassuming and emotional tale about a mother-daughter pair growing up on the island of Tahiti! I picked up this book because, all too often, it seems the voices of Pacific Islanders are subsumed in the broader “AAPI” category, and I’m so glad I found Célestine Vaite! I liked learning more about Tahitian customs, flora, and food, and the character-driven story is sure to resonate with any mother or daughter.
December 29, 2021
This story is written by a Tahitian author and it also is set in Tahiti in the French Polynesia. It’s not a place I’ve often - or have ever ? - read about before. I loved the beautiful spirit of the book and the woman power displayed throughout the book through each female character. Despite the impact on their lives regarding colonial and misogynistic and cultural history and events.
May 20, 2014
I loved Frangipani. It took me weeks to finish it because I haven't exactly been in a reading mood. But books I read during such phases usually end up getting tossed because they don't hold my attention long enough. But Frangipani was always a delight to come back to. It felt very authentic and Tahitian, with adorable characters, and a very easy-going narrative style.
Frangipani is mostly told from Materena Mahi's perspective. When the book begins, Materena is moaning her partner, Pito's, negligence with money. They already have a little baby boy and Materena just found out that she was pregnant with a second baby. She wants Pito to let her collect his pay but that is out of the question because then he will be made the laughing stock by his friends. He will not see the end of questions like "Who's the man and who's the woman between you and your woman? Who's the noodle? Who wears the pants? Who wears the dress?" if he lets Materena collect his pay. But she does anyway and then doesn't see him at all for a long time, he having decided to leave her.
They reunite weeks later under very humorous circumstances but Materena goes on to take a job as a professional cleaner (very different from just a cleaner, as she reminds us often) to get some extra money. However, her hands are soon going to be tied down once her daughter, Leilani, is born. (She knew it was a girl because she did the needle trick). Much of Frangipani focuses on this mother-daughter relationship and I like to say that the author, Célestine Vaite, got it right. As a child, Leilani worships her mother, but as she steps into her teen years, there is much animosity directed at her mother. Through the years, their relationship evolves, but the sentiments expressed may as well be universal.
There is a lot of Tahitian delight sprinkled through the book. Did you know that Tahiti is not a country but one among many islands part of French Polynesia, and part of France? The people there speak French and Tahitian. Materena says that a woman and a man should not marry until they have been together for a long long time and have had kids together. She also happens to have a very large family, including immediate family and all the many cousins she has. They all live very close to each other so any time she has to go to the Chinese store to buy something, she is sure to meet quite a few of her relatives on the way. As you read the book, you get the feeling that you are meeting almost everyone in Tahiti and they all know each other. It takes only about 2 hours to drive around the island; of course, with traffic that can be more. The "public bus" in Tahiti is called a truck and that's what most of the people there use for transport.
Frangipani is actually book one in a three-book series, all focusing on Materena. I cannot wait to read books two and three now. The narrative style of Frangipani is a little unique - it read more like a chronological series of essays than a continuous narration of a story. It worked well for this book because of its very quirky narration and humorous tone. The author has definitely drawn the picture of her hometown very well - it is hard not to picture the characters or their circumstances in your head. It has scored all the points in my book - storytelling, story, characters, voice, and culture authenticity.
Frangipani is mostly told from Materena Mahi's perspective. When the book begins, Materena is moaning her partner, Pito's, negligence with money. They already have a little baby boy and Materena just found out that she was pregnant with a second baby. She wants Pito to let her collect his pay but that is out of the question because then he will be made the laughing stock by his friends. He will not see the end of questions like "Who's the man and who's the woman between you and your woman? Who's the noodle? Who wears the pants? Who wears the dress?" if he lets Materena collect his pay. But she does anyway and then doesn't see him at all for a long time, he having decided to leave her.
They reunite weeks later under very humorous circumstances but Materena goes on to take a job as a professional cleaner (very different from just a cleaner, as she reminds us often) to get some extra money. However, her hands are soon going to be tied down once her daughter, Leilani, is born. (She knew it was a girl because she did the needle trick). Much of Frangipani focuses on this mother-daughter relationship and I like to say that the author, Célestine Vaite, got it right. As a child, Leilani worships her mother, but as she steps into her teen years, there is much animosity directed at her mother. Through the years, their relationship evolves, but the sentiments expressed may as well be universal.
There is a lot of Tahitian delight sprinkled through the book. Did you know that Tahiti is not a country but one among many islands part of French Polynesia, and part of France? The people there speak French and Tahitian. Materena says that a woman and a man should not marry until they have been together for a long long time and have had kids together. She also happens to have a very large family, including immediate family and all the many cousins she has. They all live very close to each other so any time she has to go to the Chinese store to buy something, she is sure to meet quite a few of her relatives on the way. As you read the book, you get the feeling that you are meeting almost everyone in Tahiti and they all know each other. It takes only about 2 hours to drive around the island; of course, with traffic that can be more. The "public bus" in Tahiti is called a truck and that's what most of the people there use for transport.
Frangipani is actually book one in a three-book series, all focusing on Materena. I cannot wait to read books two and three now. The narrative style of Frangipani is a little unique - it read more like a chronological series of essays than a continuous narration of a story. It worked well for this book because of its very quirky narration and humorous tone. The author has definitely drawn the picture of her hometown very well - it is hard not to picture the characters or their circumstances in your head. It has scored all the points in my book - storytelling, story, characters, voice, and culture authenticity.
March 30, 2021
Materena Mahi, a professional cleaner and the best listener in all of Tahiti, has a problem. That problem is her daughter Leilani. No matter what she does, Materena can’t seem to get through to her and now there’s rumours there’s a boy who has a motorbike in Leilani’s life. Everything is changing and Materena is beginning to realise that the traditional Tahitian ways no longer apply and she’ll have to adapt to deal with the next generation of women in her family.
Frangipani is lovely. It’s a delightful, and it might sound weird but it’s almost like comforting hug of a read. It is such an easy, chilled out read. Yes there’s arguments between characters and family scandals but they all seem so tame and you just have a feeling these characters will work through it and be OK.
Frangipani is about Materena and her family, and more specifically, about her relationship with her daughter. The story spans about twenty years and over that time you really get to know Materena and understand her. The great thing about Materena is that she adapts. She learns with the changing times; her daughter may confuse her to begin with but she never stops loving her nor wanting the best for her. Seeing Materena and Leilani’s relationship is wonderful. They feel real like a real mother and daughter and so many times I could see echoes of interactions with my own mother in them.
You meet a lot of Materena’s extended family, there’s so many aunties and nieces and boyfriends, that it’s hard to keep up with who’s who at times but that never really bothered me. They are all larger than life characters who often end up in funny situations but there’s still sadness and drama, just like in any family over the years.
Frangipani is well written with a smattering of French words in the dialogue which makes them feel more real and the story grounded. I’ve never been to Tahiti but the way the island and its people are described is now so incredibly vivid in my mind. The setting was just as much a character in this book as Materena and Leilani.
The thing with Frangipani, is that in the grand scheme of things not a lot happened. There were no big twists or huge family secrets revealed, it’s just a woman’s life with her family. It showcases what a strong woman Materena is and it also features so many more interesting and vibrant female characters. Frangipani is about the strength of women and the strength of their relationships. How they support and love one another, are always there to listen or offer words of advice. It’s an uplifting story with a mother and daughter relationship at its heart.
I adored Frangipani. It’s well written, has so many interesting characters that you can’t help but be pulled into their lives. It’s just a wonderful read.
Frangipani is lovely. It’s a delightful, and it might sound weird but it’s almost like comforting hug of a read. It is such an easy, chilled out read. Yes there’s arguments between characters and family scandals but they all seem so tame and you just have a feeling these characters will work through it and be OK.
Frangipani is about Materena and her family, and more specifically, about her relationship with her daughter. The story spans about twenty years and over that time you really get to know Materena and understand her. The great thing about Materena is that she adapts. She learns with the changing times; her daughter may confuse her to begin with but she never stops loving her nor wanting the best for her. Seeing Materena and Leilani’s relationship is wonderful. They feel real like a real mother and daughter and so many times I could see echoes of interactions with my own mother in them.
You meet a lot of Materena’s extended family, there’s so many aunties and nieces and boyfriends, that it’s hard to keep up with who’s who at times but that never really bothered me. They are all larger than life characters who often end up in funny situations but there’s still sadness and drama, just like in any family over the years.
Frangipani is well written with a smattering of French words in the dialogue which makes them feel more real and the story grounded. I’ve never been to Tahiti but the way the island and its people are described is now so incredibly vivid in my mind. The setting was just as much a character in this book as Materena and Leilani.
The thing with Frangipani, is that in the grand scheme of things not a lot happened. There were no big twists or huge family secrets revealed, it’s just a woman’s life with her family. It showcases what a strong woman Materena is and it also features so many more interesting and vibrant female characters. Frangipani is about the strength of women and the strength of their relationships. How they support and love one another, are always there to listen or offer words of advice. It’s an uplifting story with a mother and daughter relationship at its heart.
I adored Frangipani. It’s well written, has so many interesting characters that you can’t help but be pulled into their lives. It’s just a wonderful read.
September 6, 2011
I got this book based on the title, and was pleasantly surprised at how I didn't want to put this book down. The book follows Materena, a young Tahitian woman and her family: Pito, her husband; Leilani, her daughter; and her two sons, Moana and Tamatoa. It is a brilliantly written novel about the connection between mothers and daughters. Leilani is smart and stubborn, but her mother wants her to be better than a 'professional cleaner' as she has been. Materena does anything for her family, and practically raises her children alone, since her husband does very little in terms of child rearing. Materena gets practical wisdom from the other aunts and cousins, as well as her own mother, Loana. Materena's children all end up doing well for themselves, one ending up going to France for the military, one an executive chef, and the other to become a doctor (a woman doctor at that). This book weaves superstitious and ancestral beliefs in Tahitian culture as well as mixing in a modern outlook. This book is definitely NOT a 'chick book', and I recommend it to anyone who loves to read about other cultures and customs. It is a very pleasant read, and I find myself wanting to get the two other books in the series, 'Breadfruit' and 'Tiare'. I haven't been this hooked on reading a series since Harry Potter!
November 18, 2013
Frangipani is the second novel by Tahitian author, Celestine Hitiura Vaite and the second book in the Materena Mahi series. Materena is a champion professional cleaner whose forte is her discretion. This instalment describes the highlights (and lowlights) of Materena’s life from her twenties to her forties, in a series of vignettes of everyday Tahitian life. Vaite includes many traditional Tahitian rules in the form of Materena’s Welcome to the World and Welcome to Womanhood for her daughter, Leilani. Much of the advice is practical and wise; some of it pointless and baseless if, nonetheless, amusing. Secrets for the grave are explained; confessional detectives feature; words that can cut you are elucidated. Materena’s Rules for Being a Visitor, when her son Tomatua goes overseas, are both sage and sensible. With the support of family and friends, Materena goes from professional cleaner to a position where she can facilitate women to help, warn and encourage other women. Vaite’s personal experience is obviously drawn on for this uplifting novel which was shortlisted for the 2005 NSW Premier's Literary Awards and longlisted for the 2006 Orange Prize. Funny and inspirational.
December 10, 2023
I’ve got a challenge where I’m trying to read one book from every country. Now I’ve read one from French Polynesia: “Frangipani” (”I kloka kvinnors sällskap”) by Célestine Vaite.
It’s a feel good story, I’d say, about the relationship between a mother and her daughter. They love each other very much, sometimes they’ve got a hard time understanding each other and talking to each other but in the end they’re always there for each other and believing in one another.
Materena is the mother. Struggling to make a living and support her children even though her man, the father of the children, is leaving her and not putting an effort to help. That’s very stereotypical throughout the book. The women are the providers and the ones caring for children while they men are in the background not doing much.
It was a nice story but I found it quite boring to be honest and it took me lot of time to finish it.
It’s a feel good story, I’d say, about the relationship between a mother and her daughter. They love each other very much, sometimes they’ve got a hard time understanding each other and talking to each other but in the end they’re always there for each other and believing in one another.
Materena is the mother. Struggling to make a living and support her children even though her man, the father of the children, is leaving her and not putting an effort to help. That’s very stereotypical throughout the book. The women are the providers and the ones caring for children while they men are in the background not doing much.
It was a nice story but I found it quite boring to be honest and it took me lot of time to finish it.
January 22, 2008
not that great, kind of a B or a B+. its sort of a nice "feel good" novel about mothers and daughters. the one thing that pulls it up from being completely trite is the fact that it is located in tahiti, and it feels accurate. the author talks about the poverty from french colonialism, tahitian culture, generation gap between traditional tahiti parents and their assimilated children who scoff at tahitian customs, prayers, etc. so the lifestyle and location part was cool. kind of reminded me of paul gaugin's paintings of tahitian people.
July 18, 2008
I really adored this book and the main character and her daughter. The bonus of learning a little bit about Tahitian culture was also nice, and I love the phrase "sexy loving" in place of sex. It's just those small, quirky things that make this book so fun to read. There were portions of the book that were a little drawn out and I would have liked to see the daughter appreciate her mother more gradually then kind of all of a sudden at the end, but in general, most enjoyable. Looking forward to reading Breadfruit.
October 9, 2013
I had just finished reading two very depressing books and desperately needed to read something more upbeat. I found this one on WhichBook when I did a search for something happy and optimistic, and it definitely filled my requirement! In spite of the difficulties that come with being a woman in Tahiti (yes, there are difficulties in paradise) Materena, the main character, kept a wonderful positive attitude that infected me while I read. I recommend this to all mothers of daughters, especially teen daughters or daughters about to leave home.
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