Thursday, May 21, 2009

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert...book review


With summer quickly approaching I like to have a list of good books to toss into my beach bag. I recently read the historical novel Moloka'i and want to share this book with you. The story is set in Hawaii more than a century ago. It is the story of a young girl, her family, and community all effected by leprosy and their human spirit to overcome so many obstacles. This book is beautifully written and the author did his homework researching documents of this time period in Hawaii. This story will touch your heart as you walk along with these characters on their journey to a normal life.

You can order this book and check out more reviews online. I would like to leave you the following sentence from this book to entice you to read this amazing story:

" The ache she'd felt for fifty years was gone and she could feel again what life was like without it: sweet, like a slice of cake from Love's Bakery, or a cold glass of Tahiti lemonade on a hot day."

I hope you put this book into your beach bag this summer and enjoy this book as much as I did. Remember to pass along your copy to a dear friend when you finish this wonderful book.

What books do you plan to read this summer?
Inquiring minds want to know.

18 comments:

  1. thanks for the book review! I need a good summer read!

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  2. I am going to try and get this book for our up coming vacation to the beach.
    thank you for the recommendation.
    blossom

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  3. I read that book last year and I loved it!!

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  4. Sounds like a great book.

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  5. Dear Joyce,

    Thank you for stopping by and looking at my teapots. It was nice to have you over, come by again soon. Upon leaving you this comment, I realize you have a soldier too. Our oldest son is in Iraq right now. I would like to ask you about baking to support our troops. Please let me know what I can do to help.

    Have a wonderful day,
    Mrs. Teapot

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  6. Do you know Cloudia of http://comfortspiral.blogspot.com/?

    She knows Mr Brenert and has been raving about this book for a while .. you should check out her blog .. and say Aloha to her ..

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  7. The buzz on Goodreads is that this book is really good. I knew the history already and this will be in my beach bag this summer for sure ! Thanks !

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  8. This sounds like a good book! I have a friend that would love it, I'll let her know about it too. Seems like all I have been reading lately are cookbooks. I really need to get a good book!

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  9. I'll put it on my list. Right now I am reading The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan

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  10. Joyce,

    Almost all of my book purchases are based on reviews so I really appreciated this post. I think I will pick this book up next time I am at the bookstore with my LONG list! And it was very cool to give an excerpt from the book~I really did get a feeling for it from that.

    I am in a reading group that Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.blogspot.com hosts. You might want to check out her blog...

    Thanks again, Joyce!!

    By the way, the "save the pets" picture on your sidebar is so touching. I donate to a few animal welfare charities and would love to have this on my sidebar. Can I copy it???

    xoxo
    Jane

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  11. I might have to throw this one into my beach bag, too! Sounds like a great read! :) Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog...and yes! Please bring over the cake!! :)

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  12. By the way, I think your Blog Name is the cutest thing I have seen. Love it!

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  13. I am just reading Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates. It is a gritty story of a young couple's struggles in the fifties. I have purposely not seen the movie until I finish the book, but it has Kathy Bates in it..so I am sure to enjoy it.

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  14. I read pretty much anything that falls in my lap! I love the blog header photo...is that your garden? outstanding! welcome to my blog list!

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  15. Found you via Daryl "on the M104"

    As a Hawaii writer, I loved this book! I met Alan Brennert and her is a great guy as well.

    Kindly check out my Hawaii "taxi cab" novel: "Aloha Where You Like Go?" on Amazon!
    Aloha!

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  16. Thanks for coming by my blog and saying hi. I have been reading the Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. A fairy tale with some modernizations. I am surprised at how much I like it. There are 3 books in the series. Enna Burning and River something or other. They are young adult fiction. I highly recommend them. Mimi

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  17. Dear Joyce,

    Thank you for your response. I look forward to your viewing your blog this weekend. Please forward your e-mail to me, and I will give you my son's address. I am not signed up on any support sites; please share with me if you know any.

    My e-mail address is blossomingwhereiamplanted@yahoo.com

    Thank you for your kindness.
    Mrs. Teapot

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  18. Joyce girl, thank you for stopping by and your sweet comment...I've got to tell you. Three months ago Mr. Wonderful and I started walking 3-4 miles a day and eating healthy. I'm going on a cruise next Feb. with some girlfriends from high school and well you get my drift....
    Can I tell you every time I get on your blog I start salivating!!! Love your recipes, and your whole blog...for now I'm going to READ your blog, after Feb. I'll start eating my way through it I'm sure...Ha! xoxo~Kathy~ sweet up- north mornings...

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Thanks for peaking in at my blog! Come back and visit again.