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What Members Thought
I admit that this is not usually the type of book I enjoy reading. Too sad and heartbreaking. I read this for a challenge and honestly learned a lot about Hawaii itself as well as how people with leprosy were treated in the early 1900s. How the afflicted were treated was horrifying and just inhumane, especially the boat travel to the island where they were treated no better than cattle. I was amazed at the number of unafflicted people who stayed on the island to care for the victims. I loved tha
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Jan 28, 2009
Book Concierge
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
19th-century,
nature,
own,
medicine,
survival,
library,
concierge,
strong-women
Wonderful historical fiction about the Kalupapa leper settlement. I had read Tayman's "The Colony" last year and I could tell that Brennert really did his research for this novel.
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Very interesting and touching; at times, depressing.
Great fictional story based on real people dealing with leprosy and all that goes with it from 1890s to 1950s. We get to know Rachel and everything she goes through during her lifetime --many things which are truly heart breaking. Excellent read!
A powerful and engaging story. I confess to having been completely ignorant about leprosy. I thought it existed in Biblical times and then died off. I have been enlightened through this novel. Reading through the author's notes, I learned that it was only 1969 when lepers did not have to be completely separated from society. I also learned that Moloka'i exists today and there are still a few lepers living on the island. Wow.
There were many emotional ups and downs as the story progresses. I kept ...more
There were many emotional ups and downs as the story progresses. I kept ...more
Mar 11, 2009
Marla
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
catholic,
ghosts,
asian,
made-me-cry,
with-reservations,
lgbt,
adult,
book-about-books,
book-club,
historical-fiction
Great story - it made me laugh and cry. Though I thought it would have been more about Fr. Damien.
Likes:
* Rachel Aouli Kalama is quite the spunky girl
* Henry Kalama and his devotion to Rachel
* Sr. Catherine and her dedication and service
* Learning about life in Kalaupapa and the leper colony
(view spoiler) ...more
Likes:
* Rachel Aouli Kalama is quite the spunky girl
* Henry Kalama and his devotion to Rachel
* Sr. Catherine and her dedication and service
* Learning about life in Kalaupapa and the leper colony
(view spoiler) ...more
3.5 stars
This is the sweeping story of Rachel, a young girl who contracts leprosy and spends her life on Moloka'i being an outcast with others who have Hansen's disease. It is filled with fascinating history about Hawaii and the colony in particular. It traces the important events that occur on the island as seen through Rachel's eyes and her reactions to those events. It is a sad, yet ultimately life-affirming story of love and the will to survive no matter the odds. ...more
This is the sweeping story of Rachel, a young girl who contracts leprosy and spends her life on Moloka'i being an outcast with others who have Hansen's disease. It is filled with fascinating history about Hawaii and the colony in particular. It traces the important events that occur on the island as seen through Rachel's eyes and her reactions to those events. It is a sad, yet ultimately life-affirming story of love and the will to survive no matter the odds. ...more
Oct 26, 2011
Jane(Janelba)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
books-read-in-2012,
fiction
A very poignant and thought provoking book. I absolutely loved the writing style and its a real page turner. Rachel is such an amazing character and pleased that it had a good ending. Frightening to think that Leper Camps were still in existance into the 1950's and people were still resident in 1970 !
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Aug 21, 2009
Juliana Philippa
marked it as to-read
Oct 17, 2011
Heather
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Jul 11, 2012
Angela
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Jul 19, 2013
Nancy Brady
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Dec 05, 2013
Melissa (ladybug)
marked it as to-read
Jan 09, 2015
Martha
marked it as to-read
Jan 03, 2016
Jim Townsend
marked it as to-read
May 16, 2016
Delitealex
marked it as to-read
May 17, 2016
Teddie
marked it as to-read
Dec 01, 2016
Amber
marked it as to-read
