Talk Story: Three Tales of Hawai’i by Paul G. Bens

Title: Talk Story: Three Tales of Hawai’i
Author: Paul G. Bens
Publisher: Smashwords
Length: Collection / 80 pages
Buy the book: Ebook

Blurb:

A Christmastime erotic journey through the streets of Waikiki…Life-long friends share an unexpected New Year’s Eve…and the last Halloween between boyhood friends. Award-winning author Paul G. Bens, Jr. takes us on a trip through the Hawaiian Islands in this trio of short stories featuring the acclaimed erotic novella “Mahape a ale Wala’au.” So, pull up a chair and let’s Talk Story.

Review:

Paul G. Bens new collection of stories left me breathless. I’ve never read anything by this author before and I now want to read everything they’ve written. This collection of three stories is really incredible, unique, and so beautiful that I easily recommend it to all readers. The progression of stories is clever and intuitive which lets you read it in one absorbing, enticing sitting. Each story has a completely different feel and tone yet the emotion of the narrators and beauty of the setting comes through in its own unique way. For those unfamiliar with this author, like I was, this is a great introduction to his skillful, lyrical writing.

This collection contains four stories. The first is Mahape a ale Wala’au, a previously published and much acclaimed short story. It tells about an erotic encounter between two men, one on vacation and the other a Hawaiian local. The two men only spend one day together but it’s magical and the writing takes your breath away. Following visitor Toshi as he first sees Kristopher to their highly charged sexual encounter, the first person narration is simply stunning.

While a lot of short stories struggle in their length, this offering is the perfect size. Following along with Toshi as the Hawaiian atmosphere gently takes away who he thought he was and reinvigorates him with new life. The gentle sway of the hot, sticky breeze and lap of the ocean is so vivid that I had the sense of being alive and on the shore. The story has breath catching beauty, wonderful romance, and an incredibly steamy encounter. Toshi’s thoughts and actions have a melancholy ease which lets you see into his romantic heart and soul yet through subtly and nuance so much that you don’t realize how much you know Toshi until the very end.

This is above all, erotica at its best but the story and characters are still incredibly romantic. The setting is not only vivid but intimate, the whole encounter a secret shared for enjoyment and enticement. A memory that readers can’t help but be affected and moved by. There is no traditional happy ending, but I doubt anyone could walk away from this story unsatisfied.

From that incredible piece of lyrical poetic writing, the collection then flips and offers Kristopher’s point of view from growing up on the island in the story Me Ka Hau’oli Makahiki Hou. Here he talks about his long time friendship with his best friend and brother by choice, Ka’eo. The story about the beginning of their friendship to Kristopher’s growing love for Ka’eo is beautiful and moving in an entirely different tone and manner than the first story. Kristopher’s narrator understands that Ka’eo is not gay like he is, and that’s ok for the two best friends. There are moments of hurt and anger, but their close bond transcends that.

This story is very moving and in fact, I shed a few tears at the end during the New Year’s Eve moment. The intense friendship between the two men shows how close and important brotherhood is, but also heritage. This is partly a love letter to their culture and why it’s important to remember who they are. The culture and setting is again beautiful and seen through different eyes, but no less moving. The writing impressed me with the ability to convey a range of emotion in quiet ways while changing style.

The next story, Ka Heleui Hope, is all new for readers (another reason to get the collection if there weren’t enough already). This delightful and entertaining short is from Ka’eo’s point of view as he remembers a pivotal Halloween night. As young men growing up, Halloween was always important to Kristopher (also called Kili) and Ka’eo and this particular one is maybe the last night the best friends will go out cruising for candy. Ka’eo is starting to discover girls while Kili is nursing a crush on Ka’eo. This glimpse into Ka’eo’s mind offers a fun and insightful look at the bond between friends and brothers.

Again the first person narration allows you immediately to understand and sympathize with the characters. That edge of childhood and growing up is filled with yearnings, missteps, angst, and indecision. That moment is depicted incredibly well between Ka’eo’s thoughts as they bounce from one thought to the next, worrying about the future, girls, his friendship, and the separation that happens naturally. This short is engaging, interesting, well written, and fits incredibly well with the progression of the entire collection from Toshi’s perspective to Kristopher/Kili’s, and finally Ka’eo’s.

The final addition is Kili’s Tour of the Islands in which the narrator offers a guided tour to the beauty and wonder of the islands. This reads very much like a tour guide book and is interesting on its own – made me want to visit Hawai’i honestly – but also there are personal touches as Kili relates friends, family, and memories.

Overall the collection is wonderful and offers a look at three incredible characters. Their connections and relationships are engaging, interesting, and the writing offers something truly stunning and memorable. If you’re not familiar with this author, these stories are a great introduction and you won’t be disappointed. In fact you may find yourself rereading these immediately as I did. The first two stories are easily 5 stars on their own and the entire collection it is very impressive.