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Moloka'i

by Alan Brennert (Goodreads Author)

4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 · rating details · 35,508 ratings · 4,689 reviews

Young Rachel Kalama, growing up in idyllic Honolulu in the 1890s, is part of a big, loving Hawaiian family, and dreams of seeing far-off lands. But, at the age of seven, Rachel's dreams are shattered by the discovery that she has leprosy. Forcibly removed from her family, she is sent to Kalaupapa, the isolated leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i. Eventually, she f...more

Kindle Edition, 400 pages

Published April 1st 2010 by St. Martin's Press (first published 2003)

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Apr 30, 2013 Richard rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rating: 3.75* of five

The Publisher Says: Young Rachel Kalama, growing up in idyllic Honolulu in the 1890s, is part of a big, loving Hawaiian family, and dreams of seeing the far-off lands that her father, a merchant seaman, often visits. But at the age of seven, Rachel and her dreams are shattered by the discovery that she has leprosy. Forcibly removed from her family, she is sent to Kalaupapa, the isolated leper colony on the island of Moloka'i.

In her exile she finds a family of friends to repl...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Gaeta1 rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2011, you-had-to-be-there, historical-fiction, gettng-into-mind-of-othr-cultur-not, improbable-in-any-known-universe, fallng-n-love-wth-research, puppet-strings-show-too-much, develpd-healthy-dislike-of-author, emotionl-manipulation-bynd-the-pale, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink, dire-dialogue, foolishly-suckd-n-by-glowing-review, he-is-a-she, heavy-handed-symbolism-pissd-me-off, hobby-horse-riding, hopelessly-out-of-depth-advisory, getting-into-mind-of-other-sex-not, i-give-up-on-this-author, imposing-modern-views-on-historical, just-pile-on-the-tragedy, mary-sue-alert, unreliable-author, head-hopping-headache, bashed-over-head-by-author, not-so-hidden-agenda, feel-good-trauma

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Sometimes a book makes such an error that the reader stops dead in his tracks. I'm not talking about nit-picking a small detail so that the reader can be accused of being pedantic. (In the early years of our marriage my husband would lean over to me in movie theaters and whisper that that guys in war movies were wearing uniforms that were a little out of date but I finally broke him of that habit). No, I'm talking about making a totally dumb factual mistake, like having a regency heroine taking...more Sometimes a book makes such an error that the reader stops dead in his tracks. I'm not talking about nit-picking a small detail so that the reader can be accused of being pedantic. (In the early years of our marriage my husband would lean over to me in movie theaters and whisper that that guys in war movies were wearing uniforms that were a little out of date but I finally broke him of that habit). No, I'm talking about making a totally dumb factual mistake, like having a regency heroine taking a casual stroll to Windsor Castle when the author really meant Buckingham Palace, or misunderstanding a character's world point of view so fundamentally that the reader literally jerks his head from the pages, and even if he does manage to continue the book he never really trusts the author again. I once had a friend fling "Pet Cemetery" aside; no vet, she said, would be against sterilizing dogs and cats, and since she worked as a veterinary assistant she knew what she was talking about, and had no interest in reading a book whose protagonist was so far-fetched. Alan Brennert makes such an error in Moloka'i, only his misstep is even more egregious than Stephen King's since it is an important, though not central part of the plot.

In the beginning, I liked the book well enough. I lived in Hawai'i for some years. I know how deeply skeptical (to put it mildly) people born in the islands view haole mainlanders coming in and writing about their homeland, but I was willing to give it a try. Besides, what did I know about turn of the century O'ahu since I had never lived there, and one brief visit to Molokai and occasional chats about the island with an acquaintance who had grown up there certainly didn't make me an expert. It was a choice for my book group, too, so I thought I'd better get going.

Young Rachel develops leprosy in turn of the century O'ahu and is eventually sent to the colony at Kalaupapa. The description of the symptoms of the disease, and the long bureaucratic process that banishes her to the other island, make for interesting reading. The novel traces the course of her life, and as sometimes happens in this sort of historical novel which covers a long period of time, the author crams in a lot of laboriously-researched events and details that don't quite fit, and it may also be for that reason that the book had a certain emotional distance. I never felt that close to the main character. OK, a great many historical novelists fall into this trap; it's understandable that you want to share all that hard work.

It was at this point the author makes his big mistake.(view spoiler) Shaken, I continued (after all it was a book group choice) but my confidence in the author was gone. I kept wondering... what other facts had Brennert twisted and contrived to suit his purposes? What would a kama'aina reader think of this book? Was the Hawaiian viewpoint misrepresented as well and I wasn't close enough to see it? What else had I missed? Should an outsider even attempt to write about a fundamentally foreign culture? It really made me aware of all the manipulative tricks the author had used; I could barely keep my mind on the last part of the novel.

Now, some readers just read for the fun of reading about an exotic land and they might say I am just being fussy, and that it is OK, or not really important that he misrepresented another culture's mindset. But people, we read historical fiction to learn about other times and cultures. What's the point if the author holds up a mirror instead of a window, and pretends otherwise? It's just a cheat. Brennert's mistake bothered me. It really did. Because when an author breaks faith with his reader...well, what else is left?

Post Script Nov 7th:

I've made some strongly worded criticisms calling Brennert to task for a key implausability in his story, which are concealed in the spoiler. For those who are curious, or who need more convincing, please check the comments, where I've linked to half a dozen articles supporting my views. Any discussion on how important the truth is in historical fiction is welcome (with the caveat that comments along the line of oh-it-is-just-fiction-so-anything goes will not be viewed as a seriously debatable position); disputing the claims from sources such as the L.A. Times/Japan Times/Time Magazine/The Department of State/The American Embassy in Japan/ The BBC/ The Seattle Times/Reuters in favor of personal stories not really relevant to the main topic, or opinions based more on wishful Western feelings rather than facts will not be responded to. Thanks!

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Mar 20, 2013 Lance Greenfield Mitchell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

All because of fear

Unfounded fear, unbounded love, exile, cruelty, death, suffering, prejudice and, most of all, sacrifice. It is all there, in this beautiful story.

There is already enough description of the actual story on the fly leaf and all of the other reviews, but this is a wonderful book. It is well researched, and clearly based on fact. If any aspiring writer wants a lesson in character development, they need look no further than Moloka’i. There are so many prominent characters in this b...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Lisa Vegan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone who can enjoy a well-crafted, engaging, perfect historical fiction-coming of age story

Shelves: fiction, novel, bookclub, historical-fiction, reviewed, favorites, orphaned-and-quasi-orphaned-kids, gr-author, altta

Reading this book contained and gave me absolutely everything I love about reading. It encompasses everything I love about the reading process. I loved it so much I know I won’t be able to write a coherent or worthy review; there’s no way for me to do this story justice, except to recommend it to many, many people I know, something I’ve already started to do.

Not only couldn’t I conceive of not giving it 5 stars, it also easily made my favorites shelf.

It’s an outstanding book. Anything accurate I...more Reading this book contained and gave me absolutely everything I love about reading. It encompasses everything I love about the reading process. I loved it so much I know I won’t be able to write a coherent or worthy review; there’s no way for me to do this story justice, except to recommend it to many, many people I know, something I’ve already started to do.

Not only couldn’t I conceive of not giving it 5 stars, it also easily made my favorites shelf.

It’s an outstanding book. Anything accurate I say will sound like hyperbole, I am sure.

I cried more with emotion than I have for all but another handful of books.

It’s a book to savor. It’s completely absorbing. It’s very hard to put down. Great storytelling!

It’s heartbreaking, heartwarming, there’s lots of pathos, but there is also plentiful humor, including humor that often comes unexpectedly, at least for me; many times during some of the most poignant moments, I'd find something hilarious. I chuckled a lot, and smiled at something on nearly every page. . It broke my heart yet lifted me up. I also learned so much, especially about Hawaiian history and culture and about the settlement on Moloka'i. It’s a fabulous book.

I’m so grateful my book club agreed to read this (okay, I finally bullied them into it) because it had been on my to-read shelf for forever, but having to read it for the group forced me to get to it.

I cared tremendously about so many of the characters, particularly Rachel Kalama, but really most of them are compelling. The settings are so spot on amazing and as I reader I really felt as though I was there, every step of the way.

It’s about a life/lives and never for a moment does the experience of being with them feel less than 100% authentic. Rachel: every moment with her feels genuine, everything about her and how she is makes sense at every stage of her life.

I absolutely loved all the Hawaiian words interspersed throughout, all with their English counterparts right with them so their meaning was always apparent.

And, if this historical fiction book couldn’t be more perfect, there is an author’s note at the end where the author lets the reader know a few real people a few characters were based on and lists the sources used for the research done to in general recreate the time and place. A stellar job was done, as far as I can tell. There are a bunch of books, and information about them, listed in the back of this novel, and I am tempted to read some of them, but honestly, this book sated me; even though it was fiction, I feel I couldn’t have come away with more edification from any non-fiction account; that’s how good this novel is. Every time I thought it was amazing, something else happened that made it even more so. Over and over and over again.

I talked with a friend as I was reading this book, and she reminded me that either our fourth grade teacher or his brother, who at the time was a Christian missionary in the Philippines, had worked on Moloka’i, working with the residents who had Hansen’s disease. That bit of information solved a puzzle for me: I couldn’t remember why when I was nine and ten I was fascinated by and afraid of leprosy, couldn’t remember how I even knew about the disease. And, I’m sure it’s one of the reasons this book appealed to me as soon as I knew about it; I was fascinated. So, yes, I had a predilection for being able to enjoy the subject of this novel. But, I highly recommend this book to anyone who ever enjoys historical fiction novels, coming of age novels, cross cultural stories, stories with child protagonists, anyone interested in Hanesn's Disease or the history of medicine, or anything about Hawaii and/or its history, and all readers who can appreciate a gripping story.(less)

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Oct 31, 2011 Hannah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads, historicals

Disappointing.

Underwhelming.

Squandered potential.

Lacks "soul".

These are a few of the things that immediately sprang to mind after finishing Molika'i. After reading several 2 star reviews here on Goodreads by more gifted reviewers then myself, I really can't add much more without becoming repetitive.

Suffice it to say, this book had so much potential. So much possibility. And although a vast majority of readers thought it met (and exceeded) those parameters, for me it fell flat.

I wanted my soul to...more

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Jun 10, 2011 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Karen by: Minooka Bookies

Shelves: my-5-star-reads

All I can say is that this book broke my heart. Over and over again.

It reminded me of my response to the book The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, as it shed light on a time and place in history in which I was very ignorant. In the course of reading The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, I learned something about the Internment of Japanese Americans (in Seattle area) during WWII.

In the case of Moloka'i, I learned much about the leper colony on this small island of Hawaii in the la...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, highly-recommend, a-through-z-challenge-2010, favorite-authors, favorites, lisa-v

There's nothing quite like finishing a book and knowing that you now have a favorite to add to your list of favorite reads. While the story was as compelling a one as I've read, it was a learning novel for me, too. The absorption of Hawaii by the United States, the disease of leprosy or Hansen's disease, the leper colony of Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai (heck, the island itself), the island of Maui, early aviation. All of these subjects and more were presented in an amazing story by Brenner...more

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Dec 07, 2009 Theresa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Theresa by: Hearless Bitches

Shelves: book-club

In 1891, five-year-old Rachel Kalama is a young and carefree girl living in Hawaii. She spends her days playing with her siblings and friends and looks forward to steamer day – when her father comes home from his work on a steamer boat.

But life will not remain idyllic for Rachel. Soon her favorite Uncle, Pono, is sent away to Moloka’i because he has contracted leprosy and the only way that was known to prevent the spread of the disease was to quarantine the people. It also created an intense sti...more

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Jun 06, 2008 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who wants to be in awe at people's resilience

Honolulu, Hawaii. 1890. Rachel is seven years old. She lives with her mother, father, sister and two brothers. She goes to school. She plays jokes on her sister. She watches her mother in the kitchen. She lives just like any typical seven-year-old. Until the day she is arrested for leprosy. She is taken into custody and sent to Moloka’i, an island where lepers are quarantined, in order to keep the rest of the world safe. The general assumption is that people go to Moloka’i to die. But, as Rachel...more Honolulu, Hawaii. 1890. Rachel is seven years old. She lives with her mother, father, sister and two brothers. She goes to school. She plays jokes on her sister. She watches her mother in the kitchen. She lives just like any typical seven-year-old. Until the day she is arrested for leprosy. She is taken into custody and sent to Moloka’i, an island where lepers are quarantined, in order to keep the rest of the world safe. The general assumption is that people go to Moloka’i to die. But, as Rachel soon discovers, there is so much living to do before that happens! She surrounds herself with a new family; girls and boys, men and women, most of them sent there for the same reason. Though the life she and the others on Moloka’i lead is a trying one, restricted to live with an always present, always looming death, they experience a life that is not so different from the people on the other Hawaiian Islands and on the mainland. A first kiss, a first dance, a first love… And mixed in are also world firsts too! They welcome the 20th century with cars, planes, baseball, silent movies, talking movies, etc... The book follows Rachel, her entourage and their disease, as they grow; through the good and the bad.

I didn’t realize just how much I enjoyed this book until I reached the very last page. As I was reading it, I thought to myself: ‘This is okay, not great, but okay’. But by the time I reached the last page, I had tears in my eyes.

First, there was horror and revolt as I read about the way these sick people were treated. I had to remind myself that this was supposed to be late 19th century and early 20th, and not the year 2008. I understand this behavior came from ignorance, and the lack of science and technology and understanding. Then, the awe at how strong we really are, and how humans can cope with so much physically, and even more emotionally. I had to root for Rachel and her deformed friends, as they are the ultimate underdogs. Another aspect of this book was the author’s wonderful descriptions of the story’s backdrop. It was easy to imagine the sheer beauty of Rachel’s surroundings. I dreamt of traveling to Hawaii while reading this book. And the author definitely did his research. The book includes the historical events of the time, as well as the language of the location.

Definitely a wonderful read. Aloha.
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May 14, 2008 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rachel had the best life in her home in Honolulu, with her sister Sarah, two brothers, and her mother. Her father was a sailor who's gone for most of the time, but was the picture of a great father to his baby Rachel. But at age 7, a rosy mark appears on Rachels skin that would change her life forever.
Banished from her loving family under the pretense of Leprosy, Rachel finds herself living in Moloka'i (a famous leprosy settlement)where you follow her story as she learns that nothing lasts forev...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Ruth Barnes rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-books-2013

Moloka'i was a wonderful, powerful read. I could feel and identify with Rachel as life presented pain and loss over and over again; her sense of wonder, strength and resilience amazed me. We meet her at the age of 6 and grow with her. As her character develops, we shoulder her burdens and feel her hopes and dreams keenly. The lessons and challenges presented in this book can be applied to life everywhere.
Here are some of the quotes I loved:

*And to keep her immune system strong she followed Dr. G...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Regina Lindsey rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

This book can best be summed up in a quote from Sister Catherine, "I've come to believe that how we choose to live with pain, or injustice, or death is the true measure fo the Divine within us...I use to wonder, why did God give children leprosy? Now I believe God doesn't give anyone leprosy. He gives us, if we choose to use it, the spirit to live with leprosy, and with the iminence of death." (pg 307)

Set in Kalaupapa, a "leper colony" on the island of Moloka'i, the story spans the years 1891...more

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May 10, 2013 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I loved this book. All the characters were wonderful, the story itself was captivating, and I loved learning more about Hawaii in the late 1800s/early 1900s. It was also fascinating to learn what those in Hawaii with leprosy had to go through, along with their families. I knew a little bit about Moloka'i because when I had visited Maui they had some info on it, but I wished I had read this book and had all this knowledge beforehand. Guess I'll just have to go for another visit! ;)

Here's one of...more

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Dec 10, 2012 Dolly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of historical fiction

Recommended to Dolly by: Wendy Larson

Shelves: gardens-flowers, 2012, hawaiiana, historical-fiction, japan, ocean-seashore, other-usa, russia, religion-philosophy, china-chinese

It's been awhile since I've read a novel about Hawaii and I thought that Pearl Harbor Day was as appropriate as any to begin this book. It's strange...now that I've been away from the islands for a couple of years, it feels more like a dream than anything. Life there, especially with work and kids and household chores and the minutiae of daily life is about as normal as anywhere else, but there's something about being surrounded by the ocean and seeing rainbows almost every day (especially in th...more

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Feb 29, 2008 Juliana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

One of my favorite books, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, delves into the crazy idea that people don’t have to be miserable when the world around them is. Moloka’i is another such book. The message: life isn’t over until it’s over.

Separated from everything dear to her, the heroine of this book, Rachel, learns at a young age that life can still provide her with simple joys—and profound fulfillment. And though she spends many moments peeking into the abyss of despair, she also spends moments rescu...more One of my favorite books, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, delves into the crazy idea that people don’t have to be miserable when the world around them is. Moloka’i is another such book. The message: life isn’t over until it’s over.

Separated from everything dear to her, the heroine of this book, Rachel, learns at a young age that life can still provide her with simple joys—and profound fulfillment. And though she spends many moments peeking into the abyss of despair, she also spends moments rescuing others from the black chasm of regret.

She encounters those who choose to allow their circumstances to define them, bitterness festering into hatred, until they are a shell of a human. She meets those who allow bitterness to overcome them despite the blessings and freedom she has longed so desperately for. This novel highlights that the human race is endowed with the ability to choose happiness…or to choose despair:

“God didn’t give man wings; He gave him the brain and the spirit to give himself wings,” counsels Rachel’s friend. “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. Some … choose to do harm to themselves and others. Others … bear up under their pain and help others to bear it.”

This historical novel chronicles the lives of those who lived on the island of Moloka’i: a colony of “lepers” who are outcast from their families, friends and the lives that were once commonplace. At times the colony is attended to and kept clean and up-to-date. At times, it is in ruins and neglected by the various governments who fly their flags on it’s shore. And mirroring the settlement are people who can choose whether they have come there to watch their life fall into ruin—or whether they have gone there to discover a new, if unexpected, life.

When Rachel first lands on the shores as a young child, she turns away, sickened, from the people who greet her with smiles. Later she learns to accept and love these people. She also learns to accept herself and the trials that have been handed to her: “Friends called out to her; the surf beckoned to her; her horse, on seeing her, happily nuzzled her neck. This was life, and if some things were kapu [or forbidden], others weren’t; she had to stop regretting the ones that were and start enjoying the ones that were not.”

This novel is also threaded with themes of religion, culture, family life and politics. Each piece flows together seamlessly, making this a novel that I would heartily recommend to others.

First words: "Later, when memory was all she had to sustain her, she would come to cherish it: Old Honolulu as it was then, as it would never be again."

Note: because of several graphic scenes, I would not recommend this book for a young audience. Although frankly, most books I read are not geared toward a young audience...
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Mar 16, 2009 Amy (amyb2332) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, historical-fiction, favorites

I really loved this book. Rachel is such a powerful main character and I felt like she was so well written. I don't really have anything negative to say about the book. The only reason I'm not giving this five stars is that for some reason probably not the fault of the acutal book, I found this for the most part to be a slow read. I'm not sure if it is because of the natural breaks in the story as Rachel ages or if it was the Hawaiian words that added a lot of depth and feel to the story but oft...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Julie Stoehr rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Loved this book.......one of my favorites as it is a historical fiction account of a girl separated from her family when she was sent to a leper colony in Hawaii. Molokai is a beautifully written tale of sadness traced with love and truth. It has all the elements of a good read!

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Jan 29, 2009 Erin added it · review of another edition

I was watching a high speed car chase on television yesterday and something ACTUALLY HAPPENED. This is amazing, because Los Angeles probably generates about 3 high speed car chases a week and they are all INCREDIBLY BORING. This is because there is approximately 2353459845 miles of high way in Los Angeles and all of it is full of cars, all the time, making the general highest speed for a high speed car chase about, ohhhhh.... 20 mph.

(I guess that technically means there's actually about 23534598...more

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Oct 01, 2008 Anthony rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really wanted to like this book. As the story progressed events became more and more labored and contrived. The main character Rachel did not seem to grow up in a believable way and continued to behave as a child might. I don't mind a bleak book but all the tragic events in Rachel's life were telegraphed to the reader well in advance. This book does excel in terms of describing Hawaiian history and appears to have been well researched.

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Sep 11, 2012 Judy Bullard rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a very moving story about the leper colony on Moloka'i. I laughed and I cried. This disease tore families apart, and the victims were sent to the colony. This story is about a seven year old girl who is sent there. This takes place beginning in 1891 in Honolulu, and ends in 1970 on Moloka'i. I highly recommend this read.

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Oct 08, 2012 Brenda Cohen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sophisticated writing, interesting time period. Even though the story (when I first learned about it) was definitely one that raised eyebrows, I read it anyway. It turned to be a fantastic read! I love historical fiction, and this one did not disappoint! It was great learning about the south Pacific and that particular time period and how that became integral to the story and the minds of the characters. Even though the book is by a male author, the main character is a girl, and I kept having to...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

I found this book frustrating because I never thought it delivered on the potential it had. The concept was good - the subject matter of a child deported to a leper colony led me to think it would be richly textured and deeply emotional. And yet...I felt like every time I was close to connecting with the characters, the story would cut short or the author would do too much telling and not enough showing. It wasn't until the end of the novel that I *finally* felt a little bit of payoff on emotion...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Kathy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book started strong, I quickly got caught up in Rachel's story and the history of Moloka'i and leprosy. About halfway through the book I was ready for the story to end. It could have used another pass through an editor. There was a lot of historical technical information about the island itself, which some made it interesting, too much made me want to quit reading. The character development was very good and the isolation, fear, betrayal that these people felt when removed from their loved o...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Debbie Lisman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I bought this for my e-reader for something to read over Memorial Day weekend. I loved it! I haven't read a book in a very long time that moved me to tears as this one did. I was amazed and awestruck at the inner strength of the characters in this book. The main character, Rachel, a native Hawaiian, lives blissfully with her family in Honolulu. The story begins in 1889 when Rachel is just 5-6 years old. Soon it is discovered that Rachel has leprosy. She is placed in a hospital setting in Honolul...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Jasika rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Surely the worst book of which I have ever read half. I kept thinking, "No self-proclaimed best seller can be THIS bad...it's got to get better, its GOT to get BETTER!" But it didn't. I picked it up at the book store after visiting Lana'i, Hawaii for the first time and becoming enraptured by the culture and the land there, and fascinated by what the people must have been like pre-colonialism. From page one I knew there was little hope for this "historical fiction" book to be better than trite, b...more

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Mar 07, 2011 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Bettie, Hayes, Chrissie

Recommended to Laura by: Misfit

Shelves: hawaii, historical-fiction, read-2011, health-issues

This is the story of Rachel Kalama, a girl who got leper with 6-years old and, by consequence, was segregated from her family in O'Ahu and sent to a colony of lepers in Moloka'i. The book tells about her struggle in order to get cured from this horrible disease and have her freedom re-established.

The author wrote a very touching story with a set a very special characters such as: her father who never stop to loved her and was the only family member who often visited her in Kalaupapa; Sister Cat...more

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Aug 28, 2008 Larisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Larisa by: Janice

Shelves: book-club-picks, historical-fiction, foreign-culture, tear-jerker

I stayed up until 2 a.m. finishing the last 100 pages of this book, stifling my tears so as not to wake up my husband. Needless to say this book is heart-breaking at times but also uplifting.

The story follows the life of Rachel, who at the age of 7(?) is suspected of having leprosy and forced to leave her family to live in a hospital under quarantine and eventually shipped to the live out the rest of her days in a secluded leper colony on the island of Moloka'i. Rachel's life on the island, whi...more

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Jul 24, 2008 L rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: gio

Moloka'i . . . what a beautiful sounding name for a culmination of cruelty in health policy. And yet the beauty of the name does fit the essence of th tale,which is one of the strength of ordinary people and the building of community in the face of great difficulty.

Moloka'i was a leper colony in Hawaii, dominated by bureaucrats, repression, and the Catholic church, all mixed together with a devastating and terrifying (at the time) disease, in the context of U.S. imperialism and WWII. The portra...more

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May 13, 2012 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: family, historical-fiction, moral-issues

I bought this book because I ran out of things to read while on vacation in Hawaii and I'm very glad I did. The historical information and setting were significantly enhanced by being there. I finished the novel when I got home and, although I really enjoyed it, I took off one star because the ending felt like a scenario was created just to have it resolved for an emotional, climactic conclusion. Sure, that's what most all literature does, but it doesn't necessarily always read like a fictitious...more

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Jan 03, 2009 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: booksreadin2009

I'd actually give this book 3 1/2 stars. The story was really interesting and a topic not often covered, the leper colony on the island of Moloka’i established in the late 1890s as the epidemic spread across the Hawaiian Islands. There are some richly developed characters and it definitely makes one understand the agony of being sent away and isolated from family, friends and the rest of civilization. My one complaint is that it is a bit long. The author could have told just as compelling a stor...more

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About Alan Brennert

Alan Brennert's newest novel, Palisades Park, comes out 4/9/2013. Alan is the author of the historical novels Honolulu and Moloka'i, which was a 2006-2007 BookSense Reading Group Pick and won the 2006 Bookies Award, sponsored by the Contra Costa Library, for the Book Club Book of the Year. He is also the author of the thought-provoking fantasy novel Time and Chance. In addition to novels, he has w...more

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Quotes from Moloka'i

“Fear is good. In the right degree it prevents us from making fools of ourselves. But in the wrong measure it prevents us from fully living. Fear is our boon companion but never our master.” — 32 people liked it

“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.” — 10 people liked it

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