From the acclaimed author of Snow Mountain Passage comes this richly evocative novel that follows a half-Indian, half-Hawai'ian woman and he...
read full description
reviews
Dec 13, 2007
Ann
rated it: 
A lovely historical novel about a half-Hawaiian, half-California Indian woman who becomes the paramour of David Kalakaua, the last king of Hawai'i. In alternating chapters, it also tells the story of her great-grandson, who is currently living in the Bay Area and struggling to understand himself and where he fits into the world. That format is often annoying, but in this case it (more or less) works. Both halves of the story are interesting and I like the way they finally intersect.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
May 13, 2009
Susan
rated it: 
Dan Brody, a young Northern California radio host becomes focused on discovering the legacy of his great-grandmother, Nani Keala, a half Hawaiian-half California Indian who became the mistress of Hawaii's last king, David Kalakaua. Through his grandmother’s stories and Nani’s diaries, a picture of Dan's family history emerges along with the fate of Hawaiian sovereignty. The story is split between the past and present and tied together by the search for a wax cylinder with Kalakaua's last words
More...
Sep 10, 2008
Weslyn
rated it:
I like traveling to different times and places; this suits my goals with trips to the Gold Rush, turn of the century San Francisco and Hawaii. Plot is unveiled as a NPR like broadcaster discovers his family history from an unexpected caller. Precolonial Hawaii and US history seem to reflect accurately in a well woven fabric of events.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Nov 26, 2007
Lori Korleski
rated it:
An interesting historical fiction... I loved reading about the Valley, the foothills, San Francisco and Hawaii, all intertwined, past and present. It felt a bit truncated, but it gave the reader a good bit to chew on. Its air of spirituality and mysticism was appealing and it was written well.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Nov 22, 2008
Judy
rated it:
Bird of Another Heaven, a historical novel, contains multiple "dual" story lines: Time and location (Hawaii, SF and Sacramento in mid 1890's and today's Bay Area); Cultures (Hawaiian and CA native Indian); and Societial (Missionary and Monarch) to name just a few. The present is narriated by "Danny" whose search for his family history leads us back through four generations of his ancestors to Keala, a native Hawaiian who comes to Sacramento with John Sutter; and Keala's daug
More...
Dec 14, 2008
Susy
rated it:
After attending a book reading by this author I was intrigued with the story concept - told both from the past and the present. The narrator who is a Bay Area talk show host learns of a great grandmother with Native Indian & Hawaiian roots and tells both his story as well as that of Nani, his great grandmother who was a companion to the last king of Hawaii. Since I love Hawaii but didn't know enough about its history I was hooked from that story line alone, but the author is an accomplished wr
More...
Nov 28, 2010
Sandy
rated it:
There is so much about this novel that captivated me. I've lived in northern California more than half my life, but I saw its history and topography in a whole new way through the eyes of the characters. The emphasis on honoring and saving cultural heritage through storytelling resonated brilliantly, with elegantly drawn connections between and among native cultures (Hawaiian and Native Americans -- fascinating!). The characters were believable and memorable, and the plot built and sustained ten
More...
Aug 05, 2011
Naomi
rated it:
Sheridan Brody, a radio talk show host is contacted on air by a woman who thinks she is his grandmother. They become acquainted and he finds unknown to him, a rich family background revealing his Hawaiian ancestry. This is an historical work of fiction which includes the real last King of Hawaii, Kalakaua. The overthrow of the king by the American business community in Hawaii is also detailed. The flipping back and forth of the early part of Sheridan's history and the present day was confusin
More...
Jan 23, 2011
Greg
rated it:
The early days of John Sutter's settlement on the Sacramento River, political intrigue in the last years of the Hawaiian monarchy, a missing wax cylinder recording--odd corners of history which come to life when Shendan Brody, radio talk show host, takes a call from a woman who claims to be his grandmother and who sets him on a path to recovering his own family history. If Hawaiian or Californian history interests you, try this!
Jan 04, 2009
Sherry
rated it: 
I love well written historical fiction! Most specially about early California. This book fit the bill and got me on a James D. Houston 'kick'.
I didn't know, at the time of reading it, of the early connection between Hawaii and California (Kaliponi). Mr Houston makes the 'real life' characters come alive, rather than writing about them in a 'dry, historical' sense.
I didn't know, at the time of reading it, of the early connection between Hawaii and California (Kaliponi). Mr Houston makes the 'real life' characters come alive, rather than writing about them in a 'dry, historical' sense.
Sep 12, 2009
Pamela
rated it:
Look! I actually finished a book.
I very intentionally dusted off this book from my to-read pile last week, because I was going to Hawaii. I knew this book dealt with the final days of King Kalakaua, so I thought my vacation would enhance the reading experience and vice versa—and I was right. The experience of being in Hawaii was ineffably heightened by reading this historical novel. Though the story of Kalakaua and his thoughtful consort is fiction, James Houston immerses us in the s More...
I very intentionally dusted off this book from my to-read pile last week, because I was going to Hawaii. I knew this book dealt with the final days of King Kalakaua, so I thought my vacation would enhance the reading experience and vice versa—and I was right. The experience of being in Hawaii was ineffably heightened by reading this historical novel. Though the story of Kalakaua and his thoughtful consort is fiction, James Houston immerses us in the s More...
Feb 16, 2011
Jeri
rated it:
Center character is a California woman who is half-Indian and half Hawaiian and becomes the consort of the last King of Hawaii. This story is of her great grandson's search for her truth as well as finding himself. Good read; amost gave it 4 stars.
Jan 18, 2010
Fortunate enough to read while in Hawaii. A bit simplistic at first, and I never knew about Hawaiians at Sutter's Fort in my home town, but still very good. Better than a book I read at the same time, Honolulul
Dec 21, 2011
Debi
rated it:
The story line is about the history of Hawaii and the ties to California. Look on pg 111 for the description of dancing the hula "all of our stories must be told."
Sep 08, 2010
Louis
rated it:
A rather delightful historical fiction set in Hawaii and a little of California, intersecting with modern day San Francisco. Very soothing and mildly seductive.
Mar 01, 2011
Mariposa
rated it:
Fascinating to learn about the Hawaii/CA link in the 1800's. I subsequently read Two Years Before the Mast, a first-person account of 1800's CA, which also described the Kanakas working in CA. I did not quite finish Bird of Another Heaven, got bored near the end.
My father grew up in the Sacto River Delta south of Sacramento. His great grandfather came to CA for the Gold Rush and stayed to farm. Dad just told me the other day that the Kanakas helped build the levees in the Delta More...
My father grew up in the Sacto River Delta south of Sacramento. His great grandfather came to CA for the Gold Rush and stayed to farm. Dad just told me the other day that the Kanakas helped build the levees in the Delta More...
Dec 31, 2008
Madeleine
rated it:
I was hoping this would be sort of the anti- Molokai, and it was to the extent that it showed it is in fact possible for a white guy to write a book about Hawaii without turning it into a bunch of exotifying ridiculousness. That said, annoyingly Molokai was a more gripping read.
James Houston likes librarians though.
James Houston likes librarians though.
Jan 25, 2012
Diana
rated it:
This book combined two of my favorite things: Hawaii and historical fiction. This was a really engaging book and I tore through it quickly. I was disappointed that it ended - which is my favorite way to feel when I'm done... like there's so much more to be explored.
Jul 11, 2008
Kim
rated it:
i really liked this book, more the history part of it than the current day part of it. i was sad to think back to the time of the Hawaiian monarchy and how it was lost with Hawaii becoming settled and developed.
Apr 07, 2008
Virginia
rated it:
a story of a modern san francisco man's relation to the last of california's native americans and the last king of hawaii. a search for ancestors. beautiful prose.
Apr 21, 2009
Coral
rated it:
What a fascinating book about early California, the last king of Hawaii, and the tribes of the Sacramento valley. A pleasant read full of historic facts.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 04, 2008
Kara
rated it:
This book was a nice combination of fictional story based on real facts.
Jan 30, 2012
Jan 26, 2012
Nov 23, 2011
Nov 15, 2011
