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A review by inkdrinkerreads
Sharks in the Time of Saviors by Kawai Strong Washburn
5.0
2020 has thrown up yet another remarkable debut novel in the form of Kawai Strong Washington’s Hawaiian family saga. Combining the mythology of Hawaii with magical realism, this stunning novel tells a powerful and bittersweet story of family dysfunction, destiny and finding one’s purpose.
When Nainoa Flores falls into the ocean on a boat trip, only to be brought back to safety in the mouth of a shark, his parents understandably expect special things from their boy, believing him to be blessed by the Gods. The novel explores the weight of these expectations not just on Noa but on his two siblings, as they grow up together and ultimately head into adulthood, apart and distanced from their homeland and one other. Written in a hypnotic and musical prose, rhythmic with the cadences and vocabulary of Hawaiian, Washington tells the story of the Flores family as they struggle with the ramifications of Noa’s blessing/curse and with their own burgeoning desires, dreams and insecurities.
Despite the magical realism, Washington’s focus is very much on the drama found in the pull and push of family, the ways in which we depend on and provide for one another, offering hurt and salvation in equal measure. Each of the flawed characters is vividly drawn and I felt right there with each of them in their grief, guilt and growth. It’s a moving and poignant story that goes to some highly surprising places, forcing readers into a similar position as Noa’s parents: awaiting and expecting his narrative ascendency. To say any more here would be to stray into shark-infested spoiler territory so allow me to swim back to safer shores...
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything set in Hawaii before and I learned so much here, both about the history and culture of the islands, but also about the contemporary reality for native islanders, often made to feel like outsiders in their own home. Though the book is steeped in legend and myth, it is very much modern in its depiction of the poverty cycle and the changes in Hawaiian economy and demographics.
In short: a beautiful and absorbing book for those who don’t mind a bit of magical realism and slow-paced character-driven drama. For those wanting relentless shark action, you may wish to look elsewhere.
When Nainoa Flores falls into the ocean on a boat trip, only to be brought back to safety in the mouth of a shark, his parents understandably expect special things from their boy, believing him to be blessed by the Gods. The novel explores the weight of these expectations not just on Noa but on his two siblings, as they grow up together and ultimately head into adulthood, apart and distanced from their homeland and one other. Written in a hypnotic and musical prose, rhythmic with the cadences and vocabulary of Hawaiian, Washington tells the story of the Flores family as they struggle with the ramifications of Noa’s blessing/curse and with their own burgeoning desires, dreams and insecurities.
Despite the magical realism, Washington’s focus is very much on the drama found in the pull and push of family, the ways in which we depend on and provide for one another, offering hurt and salvation in equal measure. Each of the flawed characters is vividly drawn and I felt right there with each of them in their grief, guilt and growth. It’s a moving and poignant story that goes to some highly surprising places, forcing readers into a similar position as Noa’s parents: awaiting and expecting his narrative ascendency. To say any more here would be to stray into shark-infested spoiler territory so allow me to swim back to safer shores...
I don’t think I’ve ever read anything set in Hawaii before and I learned so much here, both about the history and culture of the islands, but also about the contemporary reality for native islanders, often made to feel like outsiders in their own home. Though the book is steeped in legend and myth, it is very much modern in its depiction of the poverty cycle and the changes in Hawaiian economy and demographics.
In short: a beautiful and absorbing book for those who don’t mind a bit of magical realism and slow-paced character-driven drama. For those wanting relentless shark action, you may wish to look elsewhere.