Moloka'i (Moloka'i, #1) in Reading with Style

May 24, 2011 Connie G rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-club, historical-fiction, around-world-80-books-group-read, hawaii

In 1891, Rachel Kalama shows the first signs of leprosy as a seven-year-old. She is quarantined by the Inspector of Health and banished to the Hawaiian island of Molola'i. This is the story of her life, historical fiction based upon the actual settlement of lepers at Kalaupapa.

The story shows the horror of the infected person being ripped from a family, and the shame that was brought on the family that remained behind. Devoted nuns and brothers selflessly cared for the children of Kalaupapa, try ...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Karen Michele Burns rated it really liked it

Many years ago I read Hawaii by James A. Michener and was moved by the plight of the leper colony. Moloka'i was a well written and poignant story that allowed me to get a better look at the mysterious life of exile lived on that island over time. Rachel's removal from her family and the life she had known at such a young age was gut-wrenching. As a mother, I can imagine nothing more horrific than seeing my children suffering and being separated from them like that. I had no idea how things were ...more

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Oct 26, 2013 Jayme(theghostreader) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: library-books-read, 5-star-books, hfu2015ba

I really got into this book. I liked Rachel and I really felt for her. To have contracted leprosy at such a young age and having to leave her family. Molokai has its own culture. Rachel built a life for herself. She lived on that island for fifty-five years.

Of all her friends, I liked Leilani the best. She was an interesting character and a strong character. I liked her personality.

I liked Haleola, her surrogate aunt. I really liked her as a character. I was happy when Rachel met and married K I really got into this book. I liked Rachel and I really felt for her. To have contracted leprosy at such a young age and having to leave her family. Molokai has its own culture. Rachel built a life for herself. She lived on that island for fifty-five years.

Of all her friends, I liked Leilani the best. She was an interesting character and a strong character. I liked her personality.

I liked Haleola, her surrogate aunt. I really liked her as a character. I was happy when Rachel met and married Kenji. Their love shone through strongly. It was bittersweet when Rachel found out she was pregnant and forced to give up the baby. I cried when Kenji died and the circumstances of how he died. I was happy when she was finally released and allowed to leave Molokai. She survived in less than ideal living conditions.

I really liked Sister Catherine who worked at the orphanage on Molokai. She was an important person in Rachel's life. Rachel named her daughter after Sister Catherine, well given name. I was pleased to see that Sister Catherine got to visit her own family and get to meet her nieces and nephews. It was a heartwarming part of the book.

What was also clear in this book, is the prejudice towards people with leprosy. I understand it is a serious disease but I think the victims of this disease could have been treated with a little more decency instead of just being shipped off somewhere to a remote island. At least the nuns and doctors on Molokai tried to help. Even after Rachel was paroled, aka released, she had to hide her past from her employers when she tried to get a job. I don't liked that the book referred to her release from Molokai as paroled because it makes her sound like a criminal. She even said it in the book. It isn't her fault she contracted the disease.

I was pleased to see that Rachel was able to reconcile their differences with her sister Sarah. They were able to reconnect after a long separation from each other. I am glad Rachel made the effort to contact her daughter, the one she gave up for adoption. At least she made the effort and family was important to Rachel. Overall, it was a great book.
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May 28, 2014 Debra rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, hawaii, 19th-century

I picked Moloka’i off the library shelf because it was a “national bestseller” and I am grateful that I read it. In the first place, I had no idea that Moloka'i actually existed and as I was reading the book shared my impressions with a friend. Turns out, she knew about Moloka'i and mentioned several people who were famous for their work among those suffering from Hanson's disease (so-called "lepers"). Based on what she told me, this work of historical fiction is quite accurate. But, regardless ...more

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