Talking to the Dead

by Sylvia Watanabe

First published 1993

In a small Hawaiian village, residents navigate the pull between ancestral customs and contemporary life. The stories follow various villagers as they encounter moments where the spiritual world intersects with daily existence. A woman seeks guidance from those who have passed on. Families struggle to preserve cultural practices while adapting to changing times. Neighbors witness events that blur the line between the mystical and the ordinary. Each character faces choices about which traditions to honor and which to leave behind. The village itself becomes a character, holding memories and secrets that shape every interaction. These connected tales reveal how people create meaning when caught between two worlds, finding ways to honor the past while embracing an uncertain future.

Genres: short-stories, family-life, contemporary, magical-realism, cultural

Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking

Tropes: found-family, magical-realism

Setting: Hawaii

Period: Contemporary

144 pages · Paperback · Anchor

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