Hard Skin

by Melissa Llanes Brownlee

Hard Skin is a short story collection set on the Big Island of Hawaii. Written in Standard American English and Hawaiian Pidgin Creole, these stories are filled with family, myths, legends, magic, ghosts, death as experienced by the main characters growing up in Hawaii. Interwoven throughout these stories are the effects of American capitalism, religious indoctrination, cultural appropriation and multi-generational trauma. "Talking Story about Kilauea '' tells stories of Kilauea Volcano, the current home of Pele, the Goddess of Fire. "Da Pier" follows two sisters as they encounter tourists from a visiting cruise ship. In "Ulu's Gift," another pair of sisters brave the Nightmarchers. "My Kuleana '' shares the main character's difficulties in caring for an elderly grandparent. The title story, "Hard Skin," delves into the consequences of our actions and the resilience of our spirit. Each story offers a unique look into the lives of the main characters as they navigate, literally and figuratively, living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Genres: Short Stories

112 pages, Paperback

Published June 21, 2022

Reviews

[Nina Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember my last visit to Hawai'i over two decades ago. The beauty of the islands, the aloha spirit, and delicious luaus. Superficial exposure to the islands but an unforgettable experience.
Melissa Llanes Brownlee brings me back to those same islands but through a different set of eyes. Her characters are growing up, surviving, and carving out their own space, one story at a time. A whole other insight into Hawai'i life is laid bare throughout their lives. Her prose is dynamic and beautiful, and we see both the richness of the culture, the love and the loss, and the daily struggles that are at once relatable while being decidedly their own. Unlike my vacation, reading this book felt deeper, intense but will still be an unforgettable experience.

[Jan Stinchcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here are the real stories of Hawaii.

[Bronwen Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

A marvellous collection of short stories, many told in colloquial Hawaiian English, which Brownlee, a native Hawaiian, carries off with panache. I particularly liked the way Brownlee has managed to combine the mythology of Hawaii with contemporary culture and life. She also explores how Hawaii has changed over time but she never looks at the past with rose-tinted glasses. The characters in these stories, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents - are ultimately flawed but (mostly) likeable and, more importantly 'real.' We often speak of the author's 'voice' and here is a powerful, fierce and unforgettable voice - which is what we read for.

[Ruben Degollado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Llanes Brownlee has written a wonderful debut book! In Hard Skin, she uses Olelo Hawai'i and Hawaiian Pidgin English. Here is beautiful language and translanguaging. Though these stories are sometimes heartbreaking, they are beautiful too in the way they portray Native Hawaiians’ lives. Here is an author to watch. Get this book!

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this stunning collection by one of my favourite flash fiction writers, and my anticipation was well rewarded. Her stories are fierce and tender, full of mythology and power. These are ancestral stories that offer deep insight into life and family in Hawai’i. Her characters are intensely believable. Exquisite.

[Elliott Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved these stories and excited about the novel