Frangipani

Frangipani

by Célestine Hitiura Vaite (Author)

Synopsis

Love, life, families...Tahitian style! Materena Mahi, champion professional cleaner and best listener in all of Tahiti, is usually the one solving the problems. But right now she's that close to throwing her daughter Leilani into the street. 'It doesn't matter what I do,' she confides to Mama Teta, to Cousin Rita, to Mama Loana and to the Virgin Mary Understanding Woman, 'it's always the wrong thing. I'm going taravana!' And if that wasn't enough there's a boy on the horizon. Or so the relatives are saying. When everything around her is changing, and the traditional Tahitian rules no longer seem to be enough, Materena realises it's going to take more than the Welcome into Womanhood talk to deal with the next generation of Mahi women...

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 352
Edition: New e.
Publisher: Arrow
Published: 06 Jul 2006

ISBN 10: 0099490080
ISBN 13: 9780099490081
Book Overview: INTRODUCING CELESTINE HITIURA VAITE - AN IRRESITIBLE TAHITIAN STORYTELLER TO RIVAL ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH Frangipani was longlisted for the 2006 Orange Prize What a gorgeous, evocative novel! It charmed me from beginning to end. - Sophie Kinsella

Media Reviews
A feast ... bursting with vitality and charm * Sydney Morning Herald *
A fond evocation of Tahitian life. Vaite now lives far from her homeland ... but with Frangipani she conjures up more than a taste of her island upbringing * Vogue (Australia) *
A funny, heartfelt portrait of a mother-daughter relationship * Marie Claire *
A memorable story about big dreams on a small island * Kirkus Reviews *
Charming ... This story of love, gossip and growing up (even at 40) has all the irresistible freshness of a warm breeze. * Publishers Weekly *
Author Bio
Celestine 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. Frangipani was also shortlisted for the 2005 NSW Premier's Literary Awards. Celestine now lives with her family on the south coast of New South Wales, Australia.