Tales of the Tikongs

In this comical critique of decolonization, the new elite, bureaucracy, and the manipulation of the system in "Anywhere Polynesia," (in this case, the mythical "Tikongs') scholar/writer/artist, Epeli Hau'ofa will have those who know the Pacific and her people roaring with laughter at this parody of decolonization in the Pacific Islands.Although this little book is an easy read, it is chock full of insight into colonization, decolonization, reconstruction, the new elite, and everything involved it takes to "build a national identity." This book is a keeper. Not only will you want to share it, you will want to read it again and again.

I read this book a few years ago in college and recently bought it again because it is a satire that is based on the reality of Pacific Islands' politics. Plus, I love the characters and the humor the author gives each of them... :) If you want to know the social evolution of Pacific societies, the impact Asian money has on local politics, and the failure of the cultural political transition seen in the Pacific years over the years, this is a good book for your to read. Sometimes, truth can only be adequately told satirically.

Portrays an accurate picture of the culture in the South Pacific Islands. Unfortunately, It is also too true of current western cultures to be funny. Hopefully you can laugh at yourself rather than cry as you read. Well worth a read. This book was banned for years in Tonga because it is too vivid a portrayal of much of their culture, along with Fiji, Vanuatu, The Solomon Islands , Papua New Guinea, etc. etc.

This is OK as a satire written by an insider, but gets to be tiresome reading after the first few chapters. It also may be somewhat dated.

Good tales from an indigenous perspective.

A Must read for Pacific Islanders

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This is a mildy amusing and fairly interesting book of stories written by a native islander from his point of view. I recommend this read for somebody interested in the way of life on a Pacific Island.

Hau'ofa's selection of comic stories is a little gem. Easily readable at 98 pages and with each story no more than about ten, we're presented here with a selection of snapshots of life on the tiny island of Tiko in the Pacific.Each tale focuses on a different character and a different set of comic problems while juxtaposing traditional island life and customs with international development. So, we have the collector of regional oral histories, who seeks out international funding to enable him to type them up and instead ends up having to organise a committee and a newsletter to appease those allocating money. We have the farmers given cows and bulls from New Zealand, losing them to other islanders who feel they're due a feast. A man given no sick pay entitlement because he is evidently healthy etc.Each story is beautifully written, beautifully structured and quietly funny. To read it is to look at international development differently, to look at the arrogance and dominace of the West differently and to enjoy another side of the world for what it is. A great little read.

Each of the 12 discrete chapters in this book was dedicated to the story of an offbeat character, all of whom are male. The female characters amounted to a couple of grandmothers here, a wife there, some secretaries and a group of local gossips. I liked the humor to begin with, but the tone never changed, so it got old quite quickly.

The best description of life in Tonga - ever!