Lester Higata's 20th Century by Barbara Hamby
I don't normally seek out collections of short stories to read, though perhaps I should. What caught me about this title as I read a review in ... some review journal, was that all the stories are interconnected and take place in Hawaii. I like Hawaii and will read pretty much any fiction set in Hawaii. So, Lester Higata's 20th Century made its way onto my reading pile. I really enjoyed it.
This was one of those stories that just happen--it's not about action and chases and moving quickly from one point to the next, but about snapshots in the lives of these characters that move backwards in time. Which was pretty cool and unexpected.
The first story begins shortly before Lester's death. And I mean shortly as in a matter of minutes, not days or months, but as soon as he finishes talking to his dead father. Lester's father tells him about the afterlife which is different than what Lester was expecting, so he's a little intrigued by it. The reader is introduced to Lester's wife Katherine and daughter Linda. Son Paul is not around, but pops up in other stories. It's just a very comfortable story and sets up a great place for Lester's past to be told.
The brilliant thing is the stories are not all about Lester and not all from Lester's point of view. Family members, neighbors, acquaintances are the protagonists in the various stories, each finding a way to weave in with the previous stories and the ones following. More than just the stories happening, there's usually one powerful but brief moment in the story that reveals something about each of the characters and those are great moments. The stories are like our lives--days go on and on but there are moments and days and interactions with people that we remember always, even though the rest of our lives become clouded blurs. The stories are quietly powerful and give the reader plenty to think of. If you need a break from fast paced or plot-driven stories, Lester Higata's 20th Century is a fantastic foray into characters and how the stories of people's lives all have their intriguing moments.
This was one of those stories that just happen--it's not about action and chases and moving quickly from one point to the next, but about snapshots in the lives of these characters that move backwards in time. Which was pretty cool and unexpected.
The first story begins shortly before Lester's death. And I mean shortly as in a matter of minutes, not days or months, but as soon as he finishes talking to his dead father. Lester's father tells him about the afterlife which is different than what Lester was expecting, so he's a little intrigued by it. The reader is introduced to Lester's wife Katherine and daughter Linda. Son Paul is not around, but pops up in other stories. It's just a very comfortable story and sets up a great place for Lester's past to be told.
The brilliant thing is the stories are not all about Lester and not all from Lester's point of view. Family members, neighbors, acquaintances are the protagonists in the various stories, each finding a way to weave in with the previous stories and the ones following. More than just the stories happening, there's usually one powerful but brief moment in the story that reveals something about each of the characters and those are great moments. The stories are like our lives--days go on and on but there are moments and days and interactions with people that we remember always, even though the rest of our lives become clouded blurs. The stories are quietly powerful and give the reader plenty to think of. If you need a break from fast paced or plot-driven stories, Lester Higata's 20th Century is a fantastic foray into characters and how the stories of people's lives all have their intriguing moments.
Labels: fiction, historical fiction, short stories
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