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Alan Brennert

Goodreads Author

Born

Englewood, The United States

Website

http://www.alanbrennert.com/

Genre

Fiction

Influences

Victor Hugo, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ray Bradbury, Jonathan Strong, John ...more

Member Since

January 2010

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Alan Brennert is the author of the historical novels Palisades Park, Honolulu (chosen one of the best books of 2009 by The Washington Post), and Moloka'i, which won the 2006 Bookies Award, sponsored by the Contra Costa Library, for the Book Club Book of the Year (and has sold over 600,000 copies since publication). It was also a 2012 One Book, One San Diego selection. He has won an Emmy Award and a People's Choice Award for his work as a writer-producer on the television series L.A. Law, and his short story "Ma Qui" was honored with a Nebula Award. His new novel, Daughter of Moloka'i, will be published by St. Martin's Press on February 19, 2019. Follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/alan.brennert.

http://us.macmillan.com/palisad ...more

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When you researched Moloka'i were you able to meet with any residents or their decedents of Kalaupapa? If so did it change the story for you as you initially imagined it?

Alan Brennert I visited Kalaupapa as part of the official tour, which is very closely escorted and is designed, rightly, to protect the privacy of the residents; I …moreI visited Kalaupapa as part of the official tour, which is very closely escorted and is designed, rightly, to protect the privacy of the residents; I met one or two people in passing, but there was no opportunity for a long exchange. Later I contacted the authorities at Kalaupapa about returning for a visit on my own, but I was told that any visitor outside the tour had to have a sponsor who could escort him/her, and they didn't have anyone to sponsor me. So I had to make do with what was in the public record. This turned out to be quite a lot: aside from fine biographies like Mel White's MARGARET OF MOLOKAI and Olivia Breitha's OLIVIA: MY LIFE OF EXILE IN KALAUPAPA, I read dozens of oral histories of patients as well as every file about the settlement in the Hawai'i State Archives. The latter went all the way back to 1866, and included letters sent by some of the very first exiles sent to (at that time) Kalawao. The archives held letters, journals, logs of incoming patients--a staggering amount of information that in toto presented a vivid picture of the history of the settlement. What I found in my research did inevitably change the story from my original conception, but always for the better; if a fact or incident surprised me, I figured it would surprise readers too, and I wove it into the story. But my biggest takeaway from the research were the people themselves, some of whom, like Ambrose Hutchison, became characters in the story...and some inspired fictional characters (there is more than a little of the amazing Margaret Kapuni in my protagonist Rachel). And even though I didn't get that personal visit to Kalaupapa, I'm moved and humbled to be told that today, in the Kalaupapa museum and gift shop, there's a big stack of MOLOKA'I for sale...the best kind of validation I can imagine.(less)

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The way you captured Hawaii-based characters was so real. Did you spend much time on O'ahu and Moloka'i? Do you have family connections to any of the residents of Kalaupapa? Will we see any other Hawaii-based books in the near future?

Alan Brennert No family connection, but I fell in love with Hawai'i on my first visit in 1980 and developed a passionate interest in its history, its people, its cu…moreNo family connection, but I fell in love with Hawai'i on my first visit in 1980 and developed a passionate interest in its history, its people, its culture and mythology. I've spent considerable time on O'ahu doing research at the State Archives, the Public Library, the Bishop Museum, et al, and have also made several trips to Moloka'i, a lovely island that's unique even for Hawai'i. And yes, I do have another novel I'm researching that will be set (at least partially) in the islands. Thanks for the question.(less)

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Alan Brennert’s books

Average rating: 4.12 · 141,670 ratings · 14,509 reviews · 58 distinct works • Similar authors

	Moloka'i (Moloka'i #1) 4.17 avg rating — 103,155 ratings — published 2003 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Honolulu 4.05 avg rating — 20,747 ratings — published 2009 — 16 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Daughter of Moloka'i (Moloka'i, #2) 4.06 avg rating — 8,172 ratings — published 2019 — 14 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Palisades Park 3.75 avg rating — 5,690 ratings — published 2013 — 8 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Batman: Holy Terror by Alan Brennert (Goodreads Author), Norm Breyfogle (Illustrator) 3.48 avg rating — 517 ratings — published 1991 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Time and Chance 3.63 avg rating — 295 ratings — published 1990 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tales of the Batman: Alan Brennert by Alan Brennert (Goodreads Author), Jim Aparo (Illustrations) 4.37 avg rating — 62 ratings — published 2016 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Hawaii Novels: Moloka'i and Honolulu 4.57 avg rating — 44 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Kindred Spirits 3.32 avg rating — 40 ratings — published 1984 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Her Pilgrim Soul 3.88 avg rating — 33 ratings — published 1990 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Alan Brennert answered Hugh Woodson's question: How did you come up with Palisades Park? The story is like love story even thought it all about the park. You're right, it is a love story, a love letter to a place that was a large part of my childhood as well as thousands of other people who grew up in New Jersey and New York in the past century. It's also a love letter to the people who made the park See Full Answer
May 19, 2020 09:11AM · 3 likes · like
Alan Brennert answered Candy Ogden's question: Hawaii was not an American State till 1960 ish So why do you in your book call it America, it was not.? Actually, Candy, Hawai'i became an American territory on April 30, 1900, and from that point on anyone born in the Territory of Hawai'i was automatically an American citizen. It became a state on August 21, 1959.
May 11, 2020 10:08AM · 3 likes · like
Alan Brennert made a comment on Cat Ellington’s review of Daughter of Moloka'i (Moloka'i, #2) " Very much appreciate your thoughtful and flattering review, Cat. It's always nice to hear kind words from a fellow author. I've posted a link to your ...more "
Dec 16, 2018 11:57AM · see review
Alan Brennert and 5 other people liked Cat Ellington's review of Daughter of Moloka'i (Moloka'i, #2): "Featured at the Review Period with Cat Ellington from 2018-12-12 - 2018-12-26, Daughter of Moloka'i by Alan Brennert has been archived for its place in the Reviews by Cat Ellington Complete Anthology book series. Also, I extend a very special thank y" Read more of this review »
Dec 16, 2018 11:53AM · see review
Alan Brennert made a comment on Alan is a friend of Stephanie " My pleasure, Stephanie! "
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Alan Brennert and 1 other person liked Natalie's review of Honolulu: "One of my all-time favorite books. Transformed me to old days in Honolulu. This story is written so vividly I feel like I grew to knew the main character. A captivating book that I couldn't put down (and I don't even like to read all that much!). "
Nov 03, 2017 09:30AM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Honolulu by Alan Brennert. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Honolulu by Alan Brennert <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Alan Brennert made a comment on his review of Moloka'i (Moloka'i #1) " Mahalo for reading, Aurora! "
Aug 20, 2015 10:14AM · see review
Alan Brennert and 2 other people liked Erin's review of Palisades Park: "www.quixoticmagpie.blogspot.com I love an amusement park, all of them and any of them. I even love fairs and festivals and those local fly by night carnivals. Midways, games of chance, rides, French fries, the squeals of excitement, fear, and laughter" Read more of this review »
May 07, 2014 07:56PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Palisades Park by Alan Brennert. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Palisades Park by Alan Brennert <iframe id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Alan Brennert liked a quote “A personal journey is part of the generational relay. Live your legacy then pass it on.” Jo Ann V. Glim
May 07, 2014 05:16PM · like · more quotes by Jo Ann V. Glim

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Quotes by Alan Brennert

“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.”
― Alan Brennert, Moloka'i

84 likes

“Surrounded by darkness yet enfolded in light”
― Alan Brennert, Moloka'i

tags: darkness, darkness-and-light, light

62 likes

“She already felt dead in everything but name. What remained to be taken from her? She longed to be enfolded, welcomed, into the earth - to breathe no more, love no more, hurt no more”
― Alan Brennert, Moloka'i

tags: death, earth, lost, sleep, suicide

47 likes

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What would you like to read for July's group read? The theme is summer holiday.

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

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The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Sisterhood, #1) by Ann Brashares

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

17 votes 16.2%

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

15 votes 14.3%

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

14 votes 13.3%

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

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Tomato Girl by Jayne Pupek

10 votes 9.5%

The Drive by Tyler Keevil

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Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel

4 votes 3.8%

A Turn in the Road (Blossom Street, #8) by Debbie Macomber

A Turn in the Road by Debbie Macomber

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Operation Mom: How I got my Mother and Life and a Man by Reenita Malhotra Hora

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“A personal journey is part of the generational relay. Live your legacy then pass it on.”
― Jo Ann V. Glim

tags: family-relationships, genealogy, legacy

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