Wednesday, April 29, 2009







I truly loved this book and read it in 3 days. I feel that the author so captured the time period well.
It is a heartbreaking story of love and loss and what being a family truly means. It shows in great detail what ones Ohana is and that often it isn't your blood relations.Rachel found hers in so many of those that she lived around such as Sister Catherine, Hina, Lailaini.It also shows that a mother and fathers love never dies.It shows how hatred and prejudice can breed violence and have very life changing results. The sotry the character Lailani made me think that often when our worlds seems to be falling apart it is those that we least expect with whom we find friendship and kinship.

Rachel despite her disease exhibits the strength that we all should hope to have in the face of adversity.She through this character shows that she isn't conquered by the disease but that she overcomes it Her character and those who she lives with on the island exhibit true beauty a beauty that age and disease never changes and that could serve to teach us a lot in our youth obcessed culture.
I cried a several places in the story and it made me think about those today that society views as unclean.
This story also makes me see how a chronic disease of any type affects not just the person but the whole family and in some way shapes all their lives for better or worse.

I think it fitting that the place she once saw as her prison is in fact the place she goes to to die .

This is what a truly good book should be made moreso because it was set againts the actual history of the time and these islands .

It is truly a 5 star book. *****

""God didn't give man wings; He gave him the brains and the spirit to give himself wings. Just as He gave us the capacity to laugh when we hurt, or to struggle on when we feel like giving up. "I've come to believe that how we choose to live with pain, or injustice, or death...is the true measure of the Divine within us."" — Alan Brennert

15 comments:

Char said...

I always love good book recommendations

Willow said...

Thanks for the book recommendation1

I love your 'pocket joys'. I'll look forward to hearing where your 'simple abundance' thoughts take you.

SandyCarlson said...

That sounds like a marvelous book. I enjoy your recommendations.

Marg said...

Thanks for sharing your reads. I'm about to travel and I love to have a good read. This looks awesome.
Have you read Three Cups of Tea?
I could not put it down.

Cloudia said...

Yes. I loved this book, as well as his follow up Honolulu VERY much - and I'm a Hawaii writer; in fact I've blogged praise before.

So glad you enjoyed it! Please swing by amazon and have a look at my little Hawaii novel: "Aloha Where You Like Go?"
'More informative than a guidebook - more intimate than a diary' Amazon Review

'I loved this book. I laughed, I cried, I got chicken skin.' Robert Cazimero

Thank, Yolanda. Aloha

Unknown said...

I always love getting ideas of books from other bloggers. :) thanx for the review!

Jane said...

I'm definitely going to check this book out! I've been back on a reading jag lately.

I started a new blog for everyday writing and I'm keeping my "old" blog for my artwork.

jane

Olivia said...

I read this too, Yolanda; I love to read fiction about Hawaii, my favorite. This truly was a wonderful book. Glad to be reminded of what a wonderful time I had with it and of my beloved, Hawaii Nei. Blessings, Olivia

Carolynn Anctil said...

Sounds like a very good read. I love the quote!

Oh said...

I must say, I might get this book simply for the gorgeous cover!

tipper said...

Sounds like a good book!

Girlplustwo said...

now i have to read this book!

Joni said...

This sounds like a good read when life slows down...oh, in about 33 days....phew! Can't wait!

Paula said...

I just read the back of this book at Freddie's yesterday, but put it back on the shelf. Going to have to go back and get it now. Your review is very good.

Unknown said...

This sounds like a great book.
I'm sure I would cry.