Célestine Hitiura Vaite's writing is deeply rooted in the rich oral traditions of her Tahitian upbringing, where storytelling was an integral part of daily life. Growing up within a large, extended family, she absorbed the spirit of women who faced adversity with resilience, humor, and determination. This vibrant cultural backdrop infuses her narratives with a unique energy and perspective, exploring themes of family, heritage, and the enduring strength of the human spirit against the backdrop of island life and diaspora.
He has never impressed the family, and now the children are grown-up and she has her own successful radio show, even Materena is beginning to wonder why she still puts up with him. When baby Tiare is literally abandoned on the doorstep of her bewildered grandparents, Materena has some very new ideas about who's going to be left holding the baby...
'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.