Bess Press: Oriental Faddah and Son

"Oriental Faddah and Son delivers Da Pidgin Guerrilla's most entertaining yet poignant work to date through a combination of lamenting and humorous poems. As you read, you will journey with author Lee A. Tonouchi through childhood and adolescence into adulthood. You will laugh out loud, sometimes cry, and maybe even discover things about yourself along the way. Awardwinning author Tonouchi delivers a captivating, semi-autobiographical tale through his mastery of the Pidgin language. Tonouchi intricately weaves life's most basic human elements love and loss, birth and death with uncovering the identity of one's true self. In the Guerrilla's case, it's the essence of being an Okinawan in Hawai'i."

Da Pidgin Guerrilla Lee A. Tonouchi is one full-on 100 percent Uchin'nchu yonsei born and raise in Hawai'i. Him da writer of da award-winning book of Pidgin short stories Da Word (Bamboo Ridge, 2001), author of da Pidgin essay collection Living Pidgin: Contemplations on Pidgin Culture (Tinfish, 2002), compiler of Da Kine Dictionary: Da Hawaići Community Pidgin Dictionary Projeck (Bess, 2005), and editor of Buss Laugh: Stand Up Poetry from Hawai'i (Bess, 2009). Da guy's also one accomplished playwright. Da Honolulu Theatre for Youth wen do his play Three Year Swim Club (2010). An'den Kumu Kahua Theatre wen stage his plays Gone Feeshing (2004), Living Pidgin (2007), and most recently Da Kine Space (2011). Dis his firstest poetry collection."

Da Pidgin Guerrilla strikes again. Locals know that we are Orientals, not Asian Americans which is why we could never speak of ejaculation, losing a mother, or enemas to our Oriental Faddah. Tonouchi speaks what we never said but wished we had to our own father, mother, and grandparents. His work is more than a confessional, a treatise on Okinawan pride, or just a tribute to his ancestors. This crafty humorist captures the innocence and wonderment of our youth trying to explain the world in the kind of twisted logic that seemed to make so much sense at the time. Check out his explanation of why Spam is the SUPER Okinawan food. The sophistication of his storytelling illuminates our lives in unexpected, passionate, and touching ways. Read dis one and laugh. Den read um again and cry. And come to understand that this Oriental son speaks for us all.

Darrell H.Y. Lum, co-editor, Bamboo Ridge

Lee Tonouchi is one gifted, funny, honest brother. His book is a small miracle in the voice of a young boy to a young man who takes you by the hand and heart into da real Hawaićiůto the folks who truly make these islands unique a must for any reader who wants to know the truth behind the fantasy. An important contribution to Asian Pacific American literature and a true gift to all Hawai'i locals to be able to see themselves reflected so beautifully in this work. Amen.

Ishle Yi Park, author, The Temperature of This Water

Each poetic episode, when read in one sitting, becomes a significant moment in Lee Tonouchi's moving book. He retains the spirit of Aloha and the Uchinanchu soul in each of his poems. His level of perception and insight into people is astonishing. Funny, tearful and heartfelt. All poignant, delightful and entertaining. Tonouchi, da bugga, ter'riifr'ic ear for story-telling. He show pidgin got one place in american stories. Read his Significant Moments. You find out.

Jon Shirota, author, Lucky Come Hawaii