What do you think?
Rate this book
Afakasi Woman
The joys, the trials, the tragedies, and the sensibilities of being a woman of Samoa are highlighted in this superb collection. Afakasi Woman is a collection of 16 short stories, written by 2018 Pacific Laureate Lani Wendt Young. Originally released as a digital collection that won the University of the South Pacific fiction prize, this revised edition includes previously unpublished stories.
Each story is brimming with emotion, offering a unique, engrossing glimpse into the lives of women of the Pacific, as Wendt Young takes readers from tears of laughter to tears of sorrow from one story to the next.A 2020 winner of a Notable Book Storylines Award and shortlisted in the 2020 New Zealand Book Awards (NZCYA).
Each story is brimming with emotion, offering a unique, engrossing glimpse into the lives of women of the Pacific, as Wendt Young takes readers from tears of laughter to tears of sorrow from one story to the next.A 2020 winner of a Notable Book Storylines Award and shortlisted in the 2020 New Zealand Book Awards (NZCYA).
117 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 27, 2012
About the author
Lani Wendt Young
28 books445 followersLani Young is an international bestselling author of YA fantasy, contemporary romance and literary fiction. The 2018 Pacific Laureate, her work is inspired by the diverse mythology of Oceania and the richness of her cultural heritage as a Samoan and Maori woman.
When she's not writing (or reading), she's baking cookies, talking to dogs, and trying to do triathlons.
She lives in Samoa and New Zealand with her Ironman husband and four children.
When she's not writing (or reading), she's baking cookies, talking to dogs, and trying to do triathlons.
She lives in Samoa and New Zealand with her Ironman husband and four children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 12, 2023
As a part of my own personal read around the world challenge, i'd randomly choose to read books from countries either countries that i am unfamiliar with, or am interested to know more of and even visited someday. Why you asked me? Because i love travelling of course!. and learn about others' culture and way of life. What better way to do so than travelling through books! "Reading is travelling without moving your feet!". I didn't set any particular criteria in searching for these books, just any books that i can find that are convenient for me to read. So for that, i chose this book whose existence i found out by coincidentally,as shared by one of the bookish communities on Instagram.
The previous book that i read was a story set in the Mauritius, another one of those exotic islands that i find very interesting (besides the Maldives) which i hoped to be able to travel to someday as i am a thalassophile, someone who is fond and obsessed with the ocean!. Anything related with the ocean mesmerizes me. Coincidentally,this book here is also set in another exotic island and country which is Samoa, a country that i knew nothing much about except for its beautiful beaches and 'The Rock' Dwayne Johnson!.
This book is a collection of short stories set in Samoa written by a Samoan author,which mostly covers stories about the Samoan women,particularly the 'Afakasi' women!. Afakasi here refers to the mixed-blood Samoan women or the half-caste!. One of the interesting and new foreign term that i learned from this book besides a whole lot of other unfamiliar Samoan terms and languages use in this book (which i wish the author would be so kind as to provide us the ignorant readers with some glossary or footnotes for the meanings of those words! as google for those meani
ngs isn't always fruitful and resulting in vain).
This collection of short stories is pretty interesting i would say and very much relatable as most of these stories touch on the lives of women, their plights and their struggles, their sadness and their joyfulness, their pain and their sweat particularly in living in a patriarchal society and culture which is a culture and a society that i myself is living in and coming from and enduring almost the same familiar kind of unequal treatments by men just like the women in this story, which i am sure women in other countries and culture pretty much is suffering from this gender discrimination and patriarchy in their culture and society.
The collection of short stories in this book from the way i see it can be categorised into two kinds; the first half of the stories is what i called the super short,short stories (that covers about 3/4 pages in length,though i wish some were longer coz they end so abruptly before i could internalise and feel attachment and some emotions to them, the next i know, poof! the story has ended!). All of these super short stories cover some kind of theme and culture that is prevalent in the Samoan society especially pertaining to the Afakasi women.
One of my favourite stories would be Lua,a story about how a young girl from a mixed-race family was ridiculed and made fun of by her elderly women neighbours when she was serving them food during the new year's day at her home. All because she didn't serve them their traditional delicacies, pagi vige and puligi (raisin buns and Samoan pudding). Instead, she served them the 'western' food (sliced breads spread with Anchor butter and apricot jam). Then, the elderly women started making cynical remarks about her 'palagi' (White race) mother calling her 'stupid white woman' (Afakasi valea) for not teaching the daughter how to cook and serve the food to guests the Samoan kind of way especially on their special occassion and festivities like new year's day when the neighbour's were the ones at fault for coming unannounced so early in the morning in the first place!. Yeah, this is pretty much common even in my own culture as i come from an Asian country and Asian culture where people basically simply come visit without making an appoinment or informing us beforehand and most importantly women are taught to serve the guests the right kind of way and with the right kind of food especially on special festivities day or end up being mocked and ridiculed for being ignorant and incompetence in doing domestic chores!. Then, the lists of berated and insults would go on and on such as "Who'd want to marry such a lazy and incompetent woman like you? who doesn't know how to cook? or whose cooking is terrible?! who doesn't know how to manage and run a household?!".Back to this story again, what i liked is how the girl's older aunt later on stood up for her young niece by giving a dose of their own medicines to those fouled mouth elderly women neighbours by making cynical remarks back to them!. But in the most subtle ways, "forgive us, we have no other food to give you besides bread and jam. This is a poor house (mativa), we've given you everything we have, even the food meant to feed our children's hungry mouths. To show you honour and respect. To welcome you as distinguished visitors, to thank you for your New Year's wishes and prayers. It doesn't matter to us if we go hungry as long as our guests are cared for". Yes, this is how we were taught in my culture that is hospitality to our guests by serving them well with whatever we have even just a tiny piece of bread and jam as the point is to celebrate their visit and make them feel 'welcomed'!.
There other short short stories that appeal to me as well for being relatable (infact too many of them for me to list and elaborate extensively here one by one) so i am going to generally touch on them here. The other common and relatable aspect would be on the acceptable standard of beauty (white and fair skinned is prettier and more acceptable than black or darker skinned!) in which some of these stories touches on this and the body shaming culture, on how the women (even men) is discriminated,segregated and made fun of by society for merely having darker skin!. "Fiti, how many times do we have to tell you to stay out from the sun?!. You're ruining your palagi skin. Do you want to be black like a meauli?! Do you want to be ugly?!". Again something common and relatable in most culture and society which a certain kind of beauty standard is imposed on society that is acceptable in the society which is being fair skinned is better and more beautiful than darker skinned, being thin is better and more beautiful than being fat). Looking young and having youthful skin is better than looking old and wrinkly.So, basically society and culture is telling us the way we should look like in order to be accepted as part of the group!
The other aspect would be about patriarchy. How women is expected to be excellent and competent in serving their husbands but also please their in-laws! (especially mother-in-laws) because when women marry they are actually marrying the whole family and marrying into the family and culture as well!. Again, another common and relatable culture. They say a woman's place regardless of mixed-blood or not or how high her education level would end up in her home and her kitchen. So, these stories also touch on how these Afakasi women is expected to fit in into their husband's family and served and pleased his families especially the mother-in-laws (which are usually were very hard to please!) Or end up being socially alienated or ridiculed with social contempt!. Men on the other hand, would be the boss or the king of the family who had all the say while women were expected to obey and be silent! There is this one super short story where there is this father who told her daughter to switch off the kitchen light all because the father does not want the others to see him washing the dishes in the kitchen! All because in patriarchal society, men are not supposed to do any kind of housework and leave it all to women to do it for them. Or they'd end up being ridiculed by society simply for doing household chores!.
Most of my favourite stories belong in the other section of the book that is the longer short stories which to me impacted me the most. Among my favourite stories in this section would be this story about a young woman who was raped by her step-father who instead of getting the help and the moral support and trust that she needed the most from her family, she ended up being the usual subject of blame,contempt and alienation from her own
family for bringing shame to the family and tarnishing their honour and reputation! Again, the usual and common struggle faced by a woman in the society where the victim suffers a great blow for not being able to protect and safeguard their chastity well instead of blaming and punishing the perpetrator and the rapist!. As portrayed through this story on how the rapist step-father's family and society easily accepted him and did not put any blame or criticises him,sending a message here that "it is okay to rape, to ravage and destroy a woman's chastity and womanhood. After all the damage is done already. Nothing could be done about it but to forgive,to forget all about it and move on with lives as normal, as if nothing happened!". Meanwhile, on the otherhand, the victim has to suffer constant humiliation, blame, guilt imposed on her (even though she isn't the guilty one or to be blamed), contempt, rejection,isolation and alienation from her own family and society for the rest of her lives!. This other story has a similar issue with this only in different nature which is about suicide and pregnancy out of wedlock. The story tells about how a young school girl with an older twin sister has to live with forever feeling of guilt and blame of herself after her older twin sister died from commiting suicide. All because of she was the one who told their father about the sister's pregnancy out of wedlock as she thought the father could help her pregnant sister get all the support she would need. Only in reverse, instead, their father ended up being very angry and ashamed therefore he insulted his daughter for bringing shame to the family. Especially since he was putting high hope and expectations on the daughter who is the smarter and more excellent academically in the family.
Again,another common and relatable culture where women is expected to be smart and excell in order to safeguard the family's honour and reputation and to be accepted in the family and if they don't they'd end up being the constant subject of ridicule and contempt! Especially if we live with a narcissistic head of the family like i do, where my older brother is the head of my family to replace our father that has already 'gone'. I am expected and pressurised to be not only competent in managing the household but also in the financial as well as to be very smart in all matters! Otherwise, i'd suffer from the constant abuses (physical and verbal) and harsh treatments from my own older brother. He'd torture me constantly and bossing and ordering me around to do things perfectly and according to his tastes and wants. I have to cook for him all the food that he likes in the perfect way that he likes, i have to wash his dirty plates and cups, i have to hang out his washed laundry and pick them out when dry, i have to keep the house neat and tidy the way he wants it, and basically i had to do everything in the house (even going to the groceries stores and tending to our ailing elderly mother) while he does nothing! Except for being the 'head/themaster' and 'the brain' of the family,helping to solve all the problems in the family that require more of the brain than the brawn. For all the works that i have done for him, Yet, i was the one who is always put to blame,ridiculed,name calling (monkey and stupid are his favourite words for me) if i failed to perform any of these things and for being incompetence and for making a mistake,even a tiny stupid mistake. A tiny stupid mistake can be deadly for me,if i am unlucky, i end up getting the physical attacks abd abuse from him (such as getting hit, him throwing things and food on the floor where i had to pick up and clean up all the mess, even punching and kicking on things,my things or even on me until they are broken!)
Basically in short, the plights and the struggles faced by these Afakasi women are common things which women in other culture and society are facing every day especially those living in patriarchal society like i did. In the end,what we can do as a woman is to fend for ourselves and our families and fight for our rights. And do not ever let anyone dehumanize you,define you or bring you down. Just do our best according to our own abilities and someday hopefully justice shall prevail for us and freedom and happiness shall be attained. Just like the story of Sina in one of the longer short stories on how she who was at first afraid and fear snakes and centipedes (who wouldn't?) which led her to be the constant victim of ridicule and mockery by her husband and mother-in-law where she is being called a coward! In the end, she earned the respect and the acceptance of her husband and her mother-in-law (more like monster in law to me) all because she finally had the courage to kill a giant snake! (the thing she was so terrified of!). And the other story i loved is this fairytale named Hibiscus about how a grandmother protects the right and dignity of her grandchild from becoming the victim of the lustful pastor by killing him! (in the form of shape-shifting or ghostly figure of course!). So, whatever you do, do not let society to define you. We are the master of ourselves and our own minds,so do not let anyone to dictate us on how we should look like, what we should do or how we should behave or how/what we should think!
The previous book that i read was a story set in the Mauritius, another one of those exotic islands that i find very interesting (besides the Maldives) which i hoped to be able to travel to someday as i am a thalassophile, someone who is fond and obsessed with the ocean!. Anything related with the ocean mesmerizes me. Coincidentally,this book here is also set in another exotic island and country which is Samoa, a country that i knew nothing much about except for its beautiful beaches and 'The Rock' Dwayne Johnson!.
This book is a collection of short stories set in Samoa written by a Samoan author,which mostly covers stories about the Samoan women,particularly the 'Afakasi' women!. Afakasi here refers to the mixed-blood Samoan women or the half-caste!. One of the interesting and new foreign term that i learned from this book besides a whole lot of other unfamiliar Samoan terms and languages use in this book (which i wish the author would be so kind as to provide us the ignorant readers with some glossary or footnotes for the meanings of those words! as google for those meani
ngs isn't always fruitful and resulting in vain).
This collection of short stories is pretty interesting i would say and very much relatable as most of these stories touch on the lives of women, their plights and their struggles, their sadness and their joyfulness, their pain and their sweat particularly in living in a patriarchal society and culture which is a culture and a society that i myself is living in and coming from and enduring almost the same familiar kind of unequal treatments by men just like the women in this story, which i am sure women in other countries and culture pretty much is suffering from this gender discrimination and patriarchy in their culture and society.
The collection of short stories in this book from the way i see it can be categorised into two kinds; the first half of the stories is what i called the super short,short stories (that covers about 3/4 pages in length,though i wish some were longer coz they end so abruptly before i could internalise and feel attachment and some emotions to them, the next i know, poof! the story has ended!). All of these super short stories cover some kind of theme and culture that is prevalent in the Samoan society especially pertaining to the Afakasi women.
One of my favourite stories would be Lua,a story about how a young girl from a mixed-race family was ridiculed and made fun of by her elderly women neighbours when she was serving them food during the new year's day at her home. All because she didn't serve them their traditional delicacies, pagi vige and puligi (raisin buns and Samoan pudding). Instead, she served them the 'western' food (sliced breads spread with Anchor butter and apricot jam). Then, the elderly women started making cynical remarks about her 'palagi' (White race) mother calling her 'stupid white woman' (Afakasi valea) for not teaching the daughter how to cook and serve the food to guests the Samoan kind of way especially on their special occassion and festivities like new year's day when the neighbour's were the ones at fault for coming unannounced so early in the morning in the first place!. Yeah, this is pretty much common even in my own culture as i come from an Asian country and Asian culture where people basically simply come visit without making an appoinment or informing us beforehand and most importantly women are taught to serve the guests the right kind of way and with the right kind of food especially on special festivities day or end up being mocked and ridiculed for being ignorant and incompetence in doing domestic chores!. Then, the lists of berated and insults would go on and on such as "Who'd want to marry such a lazy and incompetent woman like you? who doesn't know how to cook? or whose cooking is terrible?! who doesn't know how to manage and run a household?!".Back to this story again, what i liked is how the girl's older aunt later on stood up for her young niece by giving a dose of their own medicines to those fouled mouth elderly women neighbours by making cynical remarks back to them!. But in the most subtle ways, "forgive us, we have no other food to give you besides bread and jam. This is a poor house (mativa), we've given you everything we have, even the food meant to feed our children's hungry mouths. To show you honour and respect. To welcome you as distinguished visitors, to thank you for your New Year's wishes and prayers. It doesn't matter to us if we go hungry as long as our guests are cared for". Yes, this is how we were taught in my culture that is hospitality to our guests by serving them well with whatever we have even just a tiny piece of bread and jam as the point is to celebrate their visit and make them feel 'welcomed'!.
There other short short stories that appeal to me as well for being relatable (infact too many of them for me to list and elaborate extensively here one by one) so i am going to generally touch on them here. The other common and relatable aspect would be on the acceptable standard of beauty (white and fair skinned is prettier and more acceptable than black or darker skinned!) in which some of these stories touches on this and the body shaming culture, on how the women (even men) is discriminated,segregated and made fun of by society for merely having darker skin!. "Fiti, how many times do we have to tell you to stay out from the sun?!. You're ruining your palagi skin. Do you want to be black like a meauli?! Do you want to be ugly?!". Again something common and relatable in most culture and society which a certain kind of beauty standard is imposed on society that is acceptable in the society which is being fair skinned is better and more beautiful than darker skinned, being thin is better and more beautiful than being fat). Looking young and having youthful skin is better than looking old and wrinkly.So, basically society and culture is telling us the way we should look like in order to be accepted as part of the group!
The other aspect would be about patriarchy. How women is expected to be excellent and competent in serving their husbands but also please their in-laws! (especially mother-in-laws) because when women marry they are actually marrying the whole family and marrying into the family and culture as well!. Again, another common and relatable culture. They say a woman's place regardless of mixed-blood or not or how high her education level would end up in her home and her kitchen. So, these stories also touch on how these Afakasi women is expected to fit in into their husband's family and served and pleased his families especially the mother-in-laws (which are usually were very hard to please!) Or end up being socially alienated or ridiculed with social contempt!. Men on the other hand, would be the boss or the king of the family who had all the say while women were expected to obey and be silent! There is this one super short story where there is this father who told her daughter to switch off the kitchen light all because the father does not want the others to see him washing the dishes in the kitchen! All because in patriarchal society, men are not supposed to do any kind of housework and leave it all to women to do it for them. Or they'd end up being ridiculed by society simply for doing household chores!.
Most of my favourite stories belong in the other section of the book that is the longer short stories which to me impacted me the most. Among my favourite stories in this section would be this story about a young woman who was raped by her step-father who instead of getting the help and the moral support and trust that she needed the most from her family, she ended up being the usual subject of blame,contempt and alienation from her own
family for bringing shame to the family and tarnishing their honour and reputation! Again, the usual and common struggle faced by a woman in the society where the victim suffers a great blow for not being able to protect and safeguard their chastity well instead of blaming and punishing the perpetrator and the rapist!. As portrayed through this story on how the rapist step-father's family and society easily accepted him and did not put any blame or criticises him,sending a message here that "it is okay to rape, to ravage and destroy a woman's chastity and womanhood. After all the damage is done already. Nothing could be done about it but to forgive,to forget all about it and move on with lives as normal, as if nothing happened!". Meanwhile, on the otherhand, the victim has to suffer constant humiliation, blame, guilt imposed on her (even though she isn't the guilty one or to be blamed), contempt, rejection,isolation and alienation from her own family and society for the rest of her lives!. This other story has a similar issue with this only in different nature which is about suicide and pregnancy out of wedlock. The story tells about how a young school girl with an older twin sister has to live with forever feeling of guilt and blame of herself after her older twin sister died from commiting suicide. All because of she was the one who told their father about the sister's pregnancy out of wedlock as she thought the father could help her pregnant sister get all the support she would need. Only in reverse, instead, their father ended up being very angry and ashamed therefore he insulted his daughter for bringing shame to the family. Especially since he was putting high hope and expectations on the daughter who is the smarter and more excellent academically in the family.
Again,another common and relatable culture where women is expected to be smart and excell in order to safeguard the family's honour and reputation and to be accepted in the family and if they don't they'd end up being the constant subject of ridicule and contempt! Especially if we live with a narcissistic head of the family like i do, where my older brother is the head of my family to replace our father that has already 'gone'. I am expected and pressurised to be not only competent in managing the household but also in the financial as well as to be very smart in all matters! Otherwise, i'd suffer from the constant abuses (physical and verbal) and harsh treatments from my own older brother. He'd torture me constantly and bossing and ordering me around to do things perfectly and according to his tastes and wants. I have to cook for him all the food that he likes in the perfect way that he likes, i have to wash his dirty plates and cups, i have to hang out his washed laundry and pick them out when dry, i have to keep the house neat and tidy the way he wants it, and basically i had to do everything in the house (even going to the groceries stores and tending to our ailing elderly mother) while he does nothing! Except for being the 'head/themaster' and 'the brain' of the family,helping to solve all the problems in the family that require more of the brain than the brawn. For all the works that i have done for him, Yet, i was the one who is always put to blame,ridiculed,name calling (monkey and stupid are his favourite words for me) if i failed to perform any of these things and for being incompetence and for making a mistake,even a tiny stupid mistake. A tiny stupid mistake can be deadly for me,if i am unlucky, i end up getting the physical attacks abd abuse from him (such as getting hit, him throwing things and food on the floor where i had to pick up and clean up all the mess, even punching and kicking on things,my things or even on me until they are broken!)
Basically in short, the plights and the struggles faced by these Afakasi women are common things which women in other culture and society are facing every day especially those living in patriarchal society like i did. In the end,what we can do as a woman is to fend for ourselves and our families and fight for our rights. And do not ever let anyone dehumanize you,define you or bring you down. Just do our best according to our own abilities and someday hopefully justice shall prevail for us and freedom and happiness shall be attained. Just like the story of Sina in one of the longer short stories on how she who was at first afraid and fear snakes and centipedes (who wouldn't?) which led her to be the constant victim of ridicule and mockery by her husband and mother-in-law where she is being called a coward! In the end, she earned the respect and the acceptance of her husband and her mother-in-law (more like monster in law to me) all because she finally had the courage to kill a giant snake! (the thing she was so terrified of!). And the other story i loved is this fairytale named Hibiscus about how a grandmother protects the right and dignity of her grandchild from becoming the victim of the lustful pastor by killing him! (in the form of shape-shifting or ghostly figure of course!). So, whatever you do, do not let society to define you. We are the master of ourselves and our own minds,so do not let anyone to dictate us on how we should look like, what we should do or how we should behave or how/what we should think!
November 1, 2023
I loved it! Such good short stories. Way more special reading having actually been to Samoa now - like an understanding that only comes with seeing and connecting with the land and soil of ur own home 🥰🥰🥰🥰 take me back
November 11, 2024
Excellent and mostly heartbreaking.
I'll be reading more books by this author soon.
I'll be reading more books by this author soon.
September 1, 2026
Read around the world - Samoa
August 13, 2024
Lani Wendt Young’s fabulous collection of short stories deserves a wide audience. Taking us behind the scenes of Sāmoan women’s lives, these are in turn sardonically sharp, funny, elegantly ironic, brutally critical of an oppressive gender order, and tragic. Focusing on ‘Afakasi women, those elsewhere we’d call ‘mixed race’, Young unpacks the everyday and the ordinary, along with the extraordinary and outrageous. In places the punch creeps up on us – in ‘Moana’s Tears’ and more so in the grim events of ‘Don’t Tell’ and more so ‘A Sister’s Story’. Elsewhere, there are delightful moments of self-assertion that reorders the world – in ‘Sina the Snake Killer’, ‘High School is a Jungle’, and ‘Red Hibiscus’ – as well as the delightful contempt of ‘We Love the Sāmoan People’. More known for her young adult work, this collection has me wanting more, please….
April 8, 2012
A collection of short stories from typical life experiences in Samoa that took me from belly-aching laughter in one instance to broken hearted in the next. Finally a female contemporary voice from the South Pacific that draws awareness to sensitive cultural issues, laced with hilarious tales, and a realness that brings it all too close to home.
April 13, 2026
I really need to need to read more short stories! I knew absolutely nothing about Samoa before reading this book, but the tales got me really interested in the country and sent me down a wikipedia rabbit hole which i loved.
There is a nice mix of stories, from the tragic ones that deal with all the worst things women face to funny ones, to revenge and self-discovery.
My three favourites have to be: the one about the woman who is terribly afraid of snakes, the one titled Hibiscus about a grandmother who takes revenge on the pastor that raped her granddaughter, and the really short but tragic one about a tsunami.
There is a nice mix of stories, from the tragic ones that deal with all the worst things women face to funny ones, to revenge and self-discovery.
My three favourites have to be: the one about the woman who is terribly afraid of snakes, the one titled Hibiscus about a grandmother who takes revenge on the pastor that raped her granddaughter, and the really short but tragic one about a tsunami.
January 31, 2025
This is my first introduction to Samoan and Oceanian literature. I love it! It's lighthearted, fun, and vibrant at the beginning, heartbreaking, and sadly realistic at the later part, and relatable throughout. Afakasi is a term for people born to Samoan and Palagi (Caucasian) parents. This book highlights Afakasi's experiences trying to fit in between the two worlds, as well as the joyous and painful experience of being a woman, especially in the ever-oppressing patriarchal culture for the latter part. At first, I struggled with the use of unfamiliar Samoan words which I had to google every so often in the middle of reading. But the writer did a good job giving a clear and wide-scoped picture of Samoan life in a mere 128 pages that such a new world for me ended up so close to home.
There are a lot of memorable short stories. Many parts made me smile. They remind me of mudik to a noisy, close-knitted, and warm village full of extra caring relatives, neighbours, and childhood friends. It could be vexing but also lovely. It's not all sunny, though. "Don't Tell" absolutely caught me by surprise. I commend Wendt Young who can skillfully use the simple and raw narrative to capture how unfair the system is against women, and deliver a powerful and poignant story. Long story short, the piece is pure pain, especially for the fact that the sexual violence victim is a child, and even though her case got processed to a degree, society still fails to give her the safe place she deserves. I was gutted to see how 'don't tell' that is enforced on her becomes the words she believes and chants herself. The avenging Teine Sā tale at the end of the book is awesome. It also stings, tho, because not everyone has a shapeshifting spirit grandma with a slasher. It's a consoling empty dream in a world full of lonely victims. If only everyone has a Teine Sā :(
So yeah, this book has been a vivid and colourful experience, a loudspeaker for the silenced, and a precious homage for women. I'd recommend it for everyone, but do check the trigger warnings!
There are a lot of memorable short stories. Many parts made me smile. They remind me of mudik to a noisy, close-knitted, and warm village full of extra caring relatives, neighbours, and childhood friends. It could be vexing but also lovely. It's not all sunny, though. "Don't Tell" absolutely caught me by surprise. I commend Wendt Young who can skillfully use the simple and raw narrative to capture how unfair the system is against women, and deliver a powerful and poignant story. Long story short, the piece is pure pain, especially for the fact that the sexual violence victim is a child, and even though her case got processed to a degree, society still fails to give her the safe place she deserves. I was gutted to see how 'don't tell' that is enforced on her becomes the words she believes and chants herself. The avenging Teine Sā tale at the end of the book is awesome. It also stings, tho, because not everyone has a shapeshifting spirit grandma with a slasher. It's a consoling empty dream in a world full of lonely victims. If only everyone has a Teine Sā :(
So yeah, this book has been a vivid and colourful experience, a loudspeaker for the silenced, and a precious homage for women. I'd recommend it for everyone, but do check the trigger warnings!
June 12, 2012
I loved these short stories. They were a delight to read.
June 7, 2020
WOW. Deceptively simple stories with loud powerful voices of Pasifika women and their life. This should be prescribed reading by all. Sometimes challenging and uncomfortable but always insightful.
December 15, 2018
One of the recurring revelations on my literary journey around the world ìs the pleasant discovery of how easy it actually is to relate to stories about and wtitten by people living on the other side of the Earth from me under apparently totally different material, geographical, political, social, and cultural conditions. Yes, sometimes you can get a feeling that something is lost in translation, but what strikes me the most is actually the universality of the human experience.
A case in point is Afakasi Woman by Samoan writer Lani Wendt Young, a collection of 24 (most of them very short) short stories. A few of them reflect on Samoan specific circumstances, but most of them is simply about humans (mostly girls and women in the stories) in situations that could occur everywhere in the world.
Many of the stories and the language seemed a bit unpolished to me, and a tougher editor could (and probably should) have halfed the number of stories. But Lani Wendt Young nevertheless writes with a certain impulsive freshness that all in all made this collection an enjoyable and recommendable read.
Full #bookreview at bognoter.dk (in Danish): https://bognoter.dk/2018/12/15/lani-w...
A case in point is Afakasi Woman by Samoan writer Lani Wendt Young, a collection of 24 (most of them very short) short stories. A few of them reflect on Samoan specific circumstances, but most of them is simply about humans (mostly girls and women in the stories) in situations that could occur everywhere in the world.
Many of the stories and the language seemed a bit unpolished to me, and a tougher editor could (and probably should) have halfed the number of stories. But Lani Wendt Young nevertheless writes with a certain impulsive freshness that all in all made this collection an enjoyable and recommendable read.
Full #bookreview at bognoter.dk (in Danish): https://bognoter.dk/2018/12/15/lani-w...
March 29, 2022
🌎 Reading around the world - SAMOA 🌎
Review and blog post will follow soon.
The stories included in this book are:
1. Afakasi woman
2. The beast that came from the sea
3. A real Samoan woman
4. Again
5. Sina the snake killer
6. Don’t tell
7. The coconut seller
8. We love the Samoan people
9. A sister’s story
10. When a Palagi wants to date a Samoan woman
11. Remember me
12. Stone throwing assassins
13. Moana’s tears
14. Still born
15. Red hibiscus, a fairytale
In 2022 I'm reading (at least) one short story a day.
You can discover more about it here.
The stories in this book were #34 till #48.
February 2022 was when I decided to take on the challenge to read at least one book of every country in the world (and one of every state of the USA too).
First I'm going to see how far I get by reading bundles of short stories.
After that (or in the meanwhile) I'll also add novels and novellas to my reading pile.
To see which countries I already visited, click here.
October 12, 2023
A collection of short stories about Samoan & Samoa. My first read on this geographical area.
It started with short stories on Afakasi people, a mixed-race between Samoan and non-Samoan. A hafu as the japanese said. Samoan words were used abundantly here and there in every stories. I like these insertions even if it means I need to look them up.
I read before that the author wrote this book as representation of the Pacific people, especially so that the young ones can read relatable stories about them. But some stories are dark & some only have despair in it especially the one entitled Don’t Tell (tw: rape). Sometimes it felt like the author kept mentioning on and on about palagi (non-Samoan) as well. That kind of stories felt like someone is on rage and pour that emotion into writings. Could it be because that is what the author feels about the happenings in her country? The hopelessness that are felt in some short stories.
Nonetheless, some of the stories left some impressions on me especially on the traditions of Samoans including When a Palagi Wants to Date a Samoan Woman, Remember Me & Moana’s Tears.
It started with short stories on Afakasi people, a mixed-race between Samoan and non-Samoan. A hafu as the japanese said. Samoan words were used abundantly here and there in every stories. I like these insertions even if it means I need to look them up.
I read before that the author wrote this book as representation of the Pacific people, especially so that the young ones can read relatable stories about them. But some stories are dark & some only have despair in it especially the one entitled Don’t Tell (tw: rape). Sometimes it felt like the author kept mentioning on and on about palagi (non-Samoan) as well. That kind of stories felt like someone is on rage and pour that emotion into writings. Could it be because that is what the author feels about the happenings in her country? The hopelessness that are felt in some short stories.
Nonetheless, some of the stories left some impressions on me especially on the traditions of Samoans including When a Palagi Wants to Date a Samoan Woman, Remember Me & Moana’s Tears.
February 6, 2021
This was a finalist in the NZ book awards for children and young adults, but to be honest, it is a collection of stories to suit any age.
The author is of Samoan/Maori descent which makes her Afakasi ... I learned a whitey like myself is Palagi.
I enjoyed the writing, and the tales which varied from the mundane to the supernatural. There was an obvious fondness of Samoa, but it was not all rose-tinted by any means, and it felt to me that the author, via her characters, was very often searching for a sense of location.
I think all of the stories were written from a female perspective, and I did feel that the 'sexist' traditions of Samoan culture were being called out or at least questioned. Ditto religion.
My favourite stories were Sina the snake killer, the one about the twin sisters and Red Hibiscus. My least favourite was the pregnancy one ... I wanted to tell that character, "you don't need more babies!"
The author is of Samoan/Maori descent which makes her Afakasi ... I learned a whitey like myself is Palagi.
I enjoyed the writing, and the tales which varied from the mundane to the supernatural. There was an obvious fondness of Samoa, but it was not all rose-tinted by any means, and it felt to me that the author, via her characters, was very often searching for a sense of location.
I think all of the stories were written from a female perspective, and I did feel that the 'sexist' traditions of Samoan culture were being called out or at least questioned. Ditto religion.
My favourite stories were Sina the snake killer, the one about the twin sisters and Red Hibiscus. My least favourite was the pregnancy one ... I wanted to tell that character, "you don't need more babies!"
May 4, 2025
I think Ms. Young is very brave for writing her collection here. I enjoyed her fresh talent and her ability to tell stories that take place in Samoa. They all seemed original and in alignment with the Samoan culture and people. My favorite was the one with the taulasea and the faifeau and the taulasea's daughter. So spooky and so uncanny I was impressed like: how did Ms. Young come up with it? Good short story collection and those in Oceania can vouch to its elements and themes.
June 8, 2020
I can't believe it took me so long to read this book.
I loved it. So. Much. So relatable on so many levels. This book made me feel all the feels. Its short but its a roller coaster of emotion (the good kind of course).
I loved it. So. Much. So relatable on so many levels. This book made me feel all the feels. Its short but its a roller coaster of emotion (the good kind of course).
October 16, 2021
Beautiful, joyful, relatable, heart-breaking and hopeful.
The writing is accessible and the stories were a joy to read. Even when the tough topics were investigated, Lani didn't leave you in despair, or ignorance.
The writing is accessible and the stories were a joy to read. Even when the tough topics were investigated, Lani didn't leave you in despair, or ignorance.
May 30, 2022
wonderful stories
I would give this 4.5 stars. I loved this glimpse into the life and world of Samoan women. The stories made me laugh and cry. It allows us to see that we as women have some of the same struggles, dreams, and fears.
I would give this 4.5 stars. I loved this glimpse into the life and world of Samoan women. The stories made me laugh and cry. It allows us to see that we as women have some of the same struggles, dreams, and fears.
November 24, 2024
I recommend this if it intrigues you.
note: GR has this tagged with "young adult" and "polyamory" for reasons unknown. I know the author has written some YA work, but this isn't it, and polyamory isn't present in this text.
note: GR has this tagged with "young adult" and "polyamory" for reasons unknown. I know the author has written some YA work, but this isn't it, and polyamory isn't present in this text.
December 15, 2019
Review to come
January 15, 2020
Powerful, precious and painful.
The difficulty of negotiating identities and places.
The difficulty of negotiating identities and places.
November 30, 2021
4.5
incredible short stories that seem so simple yet communicate the intricacies and unspoken rules of samoan culture <3 amazing
incredible short stories that seem so simple yet communicate the intricacies and unspoken rules of samoan culture <3 amazing
February 5, 2022
Reading around the world: Samoa
April 27, 2022
Beautiful stories, although most of them are quite dark with triggers for primarily sexual assault, rape, and suicide.
May 25, 2025
An collection of short stories about the life of diverse woman in Samoa. From the horrifying to the funny, to the magical, and to the mundane! A must read to know about Samoan and Polynesian culture
June 2, 2026
reading around the world: samoa 🇼🇸
June 20, 2026
⭐️3.75
I had nice time when I was reading this book. I imagine the beauty of Samoa.
I had nice time when I was reading this book. I imagine the beauty of Samoa.
July 26, 2026
Reading around the world: Samoa
April 13, 2016
Vivid and realistic
This book made me laugh out loud, cry and have small moments of fear. Each story was so vividly described that I could easily picture each person and scenario as if I was a fly on the wall. Being an afakasi woman I deeply appreciated most of these stories, and how they tell the story from a woman's point of view. I also appreciated the variety of stories. Not two stories were alike in any way other than they told the truth. I highly recommend this book to other women who are not only afakasi, but have any relation to the Samoan culture.
This book made me laugh out loud, cry and have small moments of fear. Each story was so vividly described that I could easily picture each person and scenario as if I was a fly on the wall. Being an afakasi woman I deeply appreciated most of these stories, and how they tell the story from a woman's point of view. I also appreciated the variety of stories. Not two stories were alike in any way other than they told the truth. I highly recommend this book to other women who are not only afakasi, but have any relation to the Samoan culture.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews