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The Blowpiper: A Hunter's Son
The Blowpiper: A Hunter's Son takes readers through Kanto's experiences of hunting, making blowpipes, knives, and fights, and his sojourns through the jungle environment. He excelled as a hunter who wielded and forged blades with equal expertise. He handles his spear with finesse and traversed the dense jungle with ease. Yet. it was his lightning speed and agility in wielding his blowpipe as a fighting staff, a spear, and a dart-spewing weapon that put him a cut above the rest.
Kanto's home life and the larger natural environment that his life revolves around give readers glimpses of rural life in which the forests are an integral part of.
Then there are anecdotes and stories of Bontug, a master stick-fighter, and Ginsuab, the wizened blacksmith, both of whom complimented early up=-bringing by Kanto's father and grandfather. Aside from the portrayal of Kanto as a humble man who lives by his father's adage to hunt only for sustenance and necessity, there is also Kanto as a friend and mentor to his young son, Woyo'on.
Kanto's home life and the larger natural environment that his life revolves around give readers glimpses of rural life in which the forests are an integral part of.
Then there are anecdotes and stories of Bontug, a master stick-fighter, and Ginsuab, the wizened blacksmith, both of whom complimented early up=-bringing by Kanto's father and grandfather. Aside from the portrayal of Kanto as a humble man who lives by his father's adage to hunt only for sustenance and necessity, there is also Kanto as a friend and mentor to his young son, Woyo'on.
212 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2020
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February 1, 2022
I read the Iban Dream series by Golda Mowe and I absolutely love them. The books took me to an adventure filled with deep spiritual belief and customs. They were magical. I couldn’t help but hope that there will be a Sabah story told such way.
Until one day I saw a ‘tribal novel from the land below the wind’, The Blowpiper: A Hunter’s Son at the Sabah Museum. It was quite a surprise really. Why were there no publicity for this book? I couldn’t find it on the internet as well.
First impression. The cover could be more exciting. Back cover doesn’t say anything about the book at all. It was just empty. Since it was shrink-wrapped, you have to be very keen and curious to get a copy as the synopsis is inside of the book! It is quite heavy for a 200 page novel since the whole book was printed on art paper. A type of paper that you would normally see in a picture or coffee table book. It felt uncomfortable in my hand and even more uncomfortable to read due to the reflections.
The story. It’s about Kanto, an expert, skillful blowpiper who rarely misses his target. A great fighter. A father, a husband. A man who was raised well.
That’s it. The whole book is about how great he is with his blowpipe. The stories were sort of anecdotes on his treks, his hunts, how he learned martial arts and blacksmithing. A minor conflict. Very monotonous. The hero’s journey is just…. Mundane. Kanto must be a very fortunate person cause everything, I mean absolutely everything went his way. Overly descriptive, repetitive, less dialogue and stiff which made it so tiring to read.
A lot of missed opportunities since the author was inspired by legendary tribal warriors among the indigenous communities of Sabah. He could’ve written a more exciting story. Usage of words could make it more Sabahan. Instead of grandpa, why not use the word aki or moing? Mamai for uncle. Or wakid, sinaging or barait instead of ‘rattan backpack’? These words matter cause it’s representation. They’re educational. As a Sabahan, I want to read those words when I read a book.
I wished there was more spiritual depth, richer customs, practices, taboos which are important to indigenous communities. The wisdoms you read in this book sounded like there were influenced by modern day, colonization, post-colonial mindset, rather than what the characters think themselves. You are reading the opinions and thoughts of the author, instead of the characters.
Did I expect to read something similar to Iban Dream? No. These stories are from the same island but very different characters and identities. But with The Blowpiper, there’s a lot to explore. Again, it’s a really missed opportunity.
Until one day I saw a ‘tribal novel from the land below the wind’, The Blowpiper: A Hunter’s Son at the Sabah Museum. It was quite a surprise really. Why were there no publicity for this book? I couldn’t find it on the internet as well.
First impression. The cover could be more exciting. Back cover doesn’t say anything about the book at all. It was just empty. Since it was shrink-wrapped, you have to be very keen and curious to get a copy as the synopsis is inside of the book! It is quite heavy for a 200 page novel since the whole book was printed on art paper. A type of paper that you would normally see in a picture or coffee table book. It felt uncomfortable in my hand and even more uncomfortable to read due to the reflections.
The story. It’s about Kanto, an expert, skillful blowpiper who rarely misses his target. A great fighter. A father, a husband. A man who was raised well.
That’s it. The whole book is about how great he is with his blowpipe. The stories were sort of anecdotes on his treks, his hunts, how he learned martial arts and blacksmithing. A minor conflict. Very monotonous. The hero’s journey is just…. Mundane. Kanto must be a very fortunate person cause everything, I mean absolutely everything went his way. Overly descriptive, repetitive, less dialogue and stiff which made it so tiring to read.
A lot of missed opportunities since the author was inspired by legendary tribal warriors among the indigenous communities of Sabah. He could’ve written a more exciting story. Usage of words could make it more Sabahan. Instead of grandpa, why not use the word aki or moing? Mamai for uncle. Or wakid, sinaging or barait instead of ‘rattan backpack’? These words matter cause it’s representation. They’re educational. As a Sabahan, I want to read those words when I read a book.
I wished there was more spiritual depth, richer customs, practices, taboos which are important to indigenous communities. The wisdoms you read in this book sounded like there were influenced by modern day, colonization, post-colonial mindset, rather than what the characters think themselves. You are reading the opinions and thoughts of the author, instead of the characters.
Did I expect to read something similar to Iban Dream? No. These stories are from the same island but very different characters and identities. But with The Blowpiper, there’s a lot to explore. Again, it’s a really missed opportunity.
Displaying 1 of 1 review