This book is like a memoir of three different women. There's the eldest, who is rescued from an abusive father and marries a wealthy man who takes herThis book is like a memoir of three different women. There's the eldest, who is rescued from an abusive father and marries a wealthy man who takes her from China to Hawaii. There's the middle, the poor girl who marries into the wealthy family, rising from a room in a basement that she shares with ten other children. And there's the youngest, pregnant and unmarried in the sixties--who didn't interest me at all because the book took too long to get to her story.
All the stories I did read could have been fascinating, but the narrative style rather ruined it all for me. The fascinating parts were told quickly--such as Hong's tale and the elder's tale of rescue. Hong was the most interesting to me, but she was only briefly there. Her bit was so intriguing, it could be a novel itself. I was disappointed her tale was told and then over so fast.
The problem I had with the narrative is that it goes all over the place, from person to person, China to Hawaii, time period to time period. And it's not always a smooth transition.
Besides that, the first person narratives are more telling than showing. The third person would have worked fine but it was used solely for the present-tense parts, the funeral, which was not interesting. There are secrets, about love, finances, babies, wives...but they are revealed so late, I'd lost interest by that point. The book is longer than it needs to be, more wordy that necessary, and while I appreciated that the novel tries to show bits of different cultures--Chinese and Hawaiian--it was overdescriptive to the point of boredom.
This had an intriguing start. Laura loses her father and her fiance both and goes to live with her aunt in Hawaii. Her aunt suffers ill health, her unThis had an intriguing start. Laura loses her father and her fiance both and goes to live with her aunt in Hawaii. Her aunt suffers ill health, her uncle is a pure evil villain, and the care of her two girl cousins falls into Laura's hands. Laura eventually realizes (not soon enough in my opinion) that she needs to get out from under her controlling uncle Stephen's rule. (She actually has to have this revelation slapped into her.) Oppurtunity arrises when the heir to the Hawaiian throne, a young child at the time, needs a new governess.
So off Laura goes to work for the Hawaiian royal family and into the middle of court intrigue she steps. While a group of conniving, nasty white men constantly sit around coming up with ways to usurp the Hawaiian king (or queen or whoever is sitting on the throne at any time) and take all the power and riches of Hawaii for themselves, Laura is being courted by two potential beaus, Lucien and David. Lucien is the kind of fellow her uncle Stephen would choose for her, white, well bred, rich, educated. David is half Hawaiian and if uncle Stephen and Lucien have their way, out of the picture completely and not in the running for the lovely Laura's hand.
Very rich in Hawaiian history, but considering it is mostly court intrigue and melodrama, I think it would have be better told from Lili'uokalani's point of view or "following" Lili'uokalani and eliminating Laura completely. I didn't like Laura. She was too weak, too submissive, and at times too slow witted for my taste.
I have read quite a few historical fiction novels that take place in Hawaii, but none quite like this. It's not about leprosy or American colonizationI have read quite a few historical fiction novels that take place in Hawaii, but none quite like this. It's not about leprosy or American colonization or even sugar cane plantations, but the natives of Hawaii and their lives, customs, superstitions, and rules before the white man's arrival. It follows a young woman, Wai-nani, the daughter and wife of chiefs. She is a woman of the sea and swims with dolphins and even "converses" with them. Let me be clear about that. She doesn't converse with them like a child would her favorite dog, but has the ability to make the dolphin sounds and clicks to convey her point.
Wai-nani leaves home after breaking a tabu. She literally swims into the arms of Makahu, who becomes her husband. She must now be accepted by his people, tolerate another wife, deal with barreness, and watch her husband deal with the inner turmoil and struggles that often afflict a fighting warrior. The arrival of Captain Cook does not improve matters on the island either. All thru these tribulations, Wai-nani has her own inner turmoils being a strong minded woman in a time when women were not even allowed to eat with the men.
Whenever Wai-nani's life story comes to a "lull" or she is is not swimming with her dolphin family to attain her inner peace, the author manages to interweave stories of the Hawaiian gods and godesses into the primary tale. From Lono's missing wife to waterfalls in love, these "myths" add a nice touch. Not to mention the descriptions... I really felt as tho I was in Hawaii and felt the water around me.
In the author's preface, she asks readers to be the judge. Was Ka'ahumanu (Wai-nani) a forerunner to the modern woman and a daring liberator, or was she a traitor to her times? Having completed this, I have come to my own conclusion. You must come to yours. ...more
The first half of this novel is wonderful! I could not get enough of it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Tahitian runaway bride and the one eyeThe first half of this novel is wonderful! I could not get enough of it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the Tahitian runaway bride and the one eyed whaler and their life in pioneer Hawaii and their children. I learned so much about Hawaii history. Davenport has exceptional talent throwing in historical facts and details without losing the magic of an engrossing storyline. I was overtaken with emotion many times.
A quarter thru the book, Pono is introduced and she proves to be a character the reader will both love and hate. I found her "becoming a shark" a little strange and unbelievable and her behavior such as biting her daughter's face extremely repulsive, but her character is so strong and brave, I was bewitched by her. The love she shares with Duke is so strong and powerful, a love that can truly endure all things.
However, the story started losing me when it began focusing on Rachel, Ming, Vanya, and Jess, Pono's granddaughters. I found them dull and unlikeable with all their drug and sex addictions and basically, I found myself scanning thru the last half of the book to see what became of Pono and Duke. ...more
I love Brennert. He wrote my favorite book of all time, Molokai, and in all fairness, that is going to be a tough book to beat. I found Honolulu a tadI love Brennert. He wrote my favorite book of all time, Molokai, and in all fairness, that is going to be a tough book to beat. I found Honolulu a tad lukewarm tho. By this I mean, a bit boring at times. It felt more like a history of Koreans and their small business ventures in Hawaii. It gave a wonderful look into the lives of Korean women and their struggles, but the main character, Regret, was not a very fascinating woman herself. I think her friend, Beauty, would have been a better main character. Anyway, this novel starts with Regret as a child in Korea and her desire to learn and walk the streets like an uninhibited woman. At fifteen, her and three other women befriend each other on the steamer to Honolulu, where they are to be "picture brides." The rest of the novel covers these four women's lives, consisting of failed and new marriages, business ventures, children, and politics in Hawaii. Not a bad novel, but I never felt particularilly moved as I did with Molokai. Therefore, I know Brennert can do better. ...more
One of the best historical fiction books I have ever read. Beautiful story and highly recommended. Especially to those that have ever had a handicap oOne of the best historical fiction books I have ever read. Beautiful story and highly recommended. Especially to those that have ever had a handicap or disease....more
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