Gift ideas ... short story keepers from four Hawaii writers
Most of us have way too much on our plate. To make time to read we have to find a personal oasis, a place away from all the modern noise, then turn off all those electronic devices that want to control our lives, put up a large "Do Not Disturb" sign, ignore all but the most urgent interruptions, and finally open that book we've been wanting to read.
And even then ... well, you know, we're only on page 58 of a novel, and we have to put it aside. We won't finish it today, or tomorrow, and we're hunting around for that elusive bookmark and can't find it so we grab a piece of junk mail to save our place at page 58 and then we notice that it's not junk mail but a bill and yikes how old is it and then the doorbell rings and the phone and ... our reading oasis vanishes before our eyes like a mirage in the busy desert of our lives ... we all have to water the camel.
But wait! What if it's not a novel but a collection of short stories? So we're on page 58 and the camel needs to be watered, and we don't mind at all. By page 58 we've read three or four, or more, short stories. We've met intriguing new characters, heard their stories, and experienced their happy (or unhappy, or ambiguous) endings. What an excellent time we've had at our reading oasis!
I have four short story collections to recommend, to give to others and to yourself. All by Hawaii writers. All published locally by Bamboo Ridge Press. Think of the four books as a set. You may have one or two of these already, and now is a great time to complete your set.
I selected these four simply because they are full of stories I have loved reading, and reread from time to time. They all have a strong sense of place, something I value in fiction. And here's a bonus—the four authors all live on Oahu. We can track them down and ask them to autograph the books. Then give them a special place in your oasis. They're all keepers. We give thanks for these four:
Lee Cataluna, Folks You Meet in Longs ... a modern classic, filled with folks telling the stories of their lives, all shoppers or employees of that cultural heart of Hawaii, Longs! These monologues are good fun to read aloud. "Longs will provide," says one of Lee's characters. And this collection of short shorts will provide. Thank you, Lee!
Joe Tsujimoto, Morningside Heights ... as with Lee Cataluna's collection, each story can be read on its own, but to read from cover to cover rewards us with a richer and deeper immersion into the world of the stories. From New York to Japan to Maui to Oahu, Morningside Heights, with its powerful prose, takes us on a journey of the heart and soul. Thank you, Joe!
Lisa Linn Kanae, Islands Linked by Ocean ... this one is an inviting buffet, a delicious spread for your reading oasis. Taste the poignant title story, and the comic desserts like "Sassy" and "Luciano and da Break Room Divas," and everything in between. When I first read the Luciano story I knew early on that this was one that I would love to have written. Thank you, Lisa!
Michelle Cruz Skinner, In the Company of Strangers ... Michelle gives us a quieter world than my first three recommendations. Her stories remind me of that person we were all aware of in high school or college, the one who you suspected had a rich inner life, and if only you got to know them better you would be amazed. The sixteen stories in this collection have that same authentic feel about them. To see what I mean, pick up the book and begin reading "Second Marriage" and "Parenting." Thank you, Michelle!
So there are my four recommendations. Imagine yourself sliding easily into a short story in any of these books, relaxing in your personal oasis, going from beginning to middle to end, uninterrupted. There's time. The camel will wait.
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Coming Wednesday, Dec. 2: We welcome back local teacher and writer Cami Nihipali, with an excellent guide to finding the right gift for young adult readers. And no, it's not all vampires and werewolves.
Tags: Joe Tsujimoto, Lee Cataluna, Lisa Linn Kanae, Michelle Cruz Skinner, short stories
