Set in the 1920s and 1930s, honolulu explores the stark contrast between the image of the glamorous hawaiian paradise portrayed to. A gritty story of love and survival in a hawaiian leper colony. I thought i would love learning more about the history of honolulu because i was born there in 1947, and i knew all the hawaiian words brennert used. Set in the 1920s and 1930s, honolulu explores the stark contrast between the image of the glamorous hawaiian paradise portrayed to the mainland and the harsh reality of life on the island. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. I hope youll enjoy some more of the good books on the tq list as well as molokai. The story of a young immigrant bride in a ramshackle town that becomes. The book has a lot to offer to the reader making it one that you can never regret reading. Feb 02, 2010 alan brennert is the author of molokai, which was a 20062007 booksense reading group pick and won the 2006 bookies award, sponsored by the contra costa library, for the book club book of the year over my sisters keeper, by jodi picoult. Molokai is a haunting story of tragedy in a pacific paradise. In honolulu, alan brennart has done his considerable research proud, and woven a fictional story in with historical events to create a seamless, very readable tale of a korean woman of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and her many family connections, both by blood and friendship. It was also a 2012 one book, one san diego selection. Honolulu by alan brennert book club discussion questions. Compellingly original in its conceit, brennerts sweeping debut novel tracks the grim struggle of a hawaiian woman who contracts leprosy as a child in honolulu during the 1890s and is deported.
Honolulu book by alan brennert half price books marketplace. His career as a screenwriter starts way back in 1978 where he did several scripts for the renowned wonder woman series. Brennerts second novel molokai, 2003 explores hawaiis golden age through the eyes of korean immigrants. Alan takes you through diversity and history through the story driving a lot home which is a great path to understand the past and the consequences of decisions no matter how small or big they are to a society. The book follows young ruth from her arrival at the kapiolani home for girls in honolulu, to her adoption by a japanese couple who raise her on a farm in. As the tale begins, readers meet young regret, whose name speaks volumes of her value in turnofthe20thcentury korea. Honolulu is the story of a korean girl who runs away from the rigid role for women in her home country to become a picture bride in hawaii. Honolulu by alan brennert 2010, paperback for sale online. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading honolulu.
She builds a new life for herself through the history of honolulu in the early twentieth century. Backstory honolulu grew out of alan brennert s research for his previous novel, molokai. Honolulu by alan brennert 2010, paperback for sale. Alan brennert is a remarkable author in developing events themed to the present human society.
As a lover of the hawaiian islands, ive been so happy to discover alan brennerts novels. Once she arrives in honolulu she finds out that hawaii and her new husband were not what she expected. Molokai is the story of people who had much taken from them but also gained an unexpected new family and community in the process. The 1954 born author is also a screenwriter and television producer. Alan brennert born may 30, 1954 in englewood, new jersey is an american author, television producer, and screenwriter. Its a companion tale that tells the story of ruth, the daughter that rachel kalamaquarantined for most of her life at the isolated leprosy settlement of kalaupapawas forced to give up at birth. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Brennert s mostly successful followup to his book club phenomenon, molokai, chronicles the lives of asian immigrants in and around hawaiis early 20thcentury glamour days. With characters as vivid and richly descriptive as the history of hawaii itself, this. Feb 19, 2019 alan brennert is the author of honolulu, palisades park, and molokai, which was a 20062007 booksense reading group pick. Palisades park by alan brennert and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
He lives in southern california, but his heart is in hawaii. Alan brennert books list of books by author alan brennert. When i read novels about hawaii, i look for the untruths that perpetuate in many books about our culture. From the bestselling author of the dazzling historical saga the washington post, molokai, comes the irresistible story of a young immigrant bride in a.
Alan brennert audio books, best sellers, author bio. 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 molokai, 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. Honolulu honolulu is the rich, unforgettable story of a young picture bride who journeys to hawaii in 1914 in search of a better life. Alan brennert was born in englewood, new jersey, and grew up in the towns of cliffside park, palisades park, edgewater, and haledon. Alan brennert is the author of honolulu, palisades park, and molokai, which was a 20062007 booksense reading group pick. Brennerts mostly successful followup to his book club phenomenon, molokai, chronicles the lives of asian immigrants in and around hawaiis early 20thcentury glamour days. Young rachel kalama, growing up in idyllic honolulu in the 1890s, is part of a big, loving hawaiian family, and dreams of seeing the faroff lands that her father, a merchant seaman, often visits.
Brennerts first work in the comics industry was conducting. Buy a cheap copy of honolulu book by alan brennert. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read honolulu. Backstory honolulu grew out of alan brennerts research for his previous novel, molokai. Alan brennert is the author of the bestselling historical novels molokai and honolulu, both favorites of reading groups across the country. Apr 02, 2009 buy molokai new edition by alan brennert isbn. Veteran hollywood writer alan brennert scored a bookclub hit with molokai and has. Palisades park bestseller alan brennerts spellbinding story about a family of dreamers and their lives within the legendary palisades amusement park.
Honolulu is the richly imagined story of jin, a young picture bride who. This book spans decades and continents and cultures and does it all beautifully. From the bestselling author of the dazzling historical saga the washington post, molokai, comes the irresistible story of a young immigrant bride in a ramshackle town that becomes a great modern city in korea in those days, newborn girls were not deemed important enough to be graced with formal names, but were instead given nicknames, which often reflected the parents feelings on the. Dec 15, 2015 alan brennert draws on historical accounts of kalaupapa and weaves in traditional hawaiian stories and customs. This was a lush, satisfying read that i devoured in a day. I loved the characters in this book and the real historical inspiration for the events. Mar, 2009 bestselling author alan brennert blends history and fiction to showcase hawaiis dynamic past in this captivating novel. This is a moving, multilayered epic by a master of historical fiction, in which one immigrants journey helps us understand our nations becoming.
A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. Molokai was a 2012 one book, one san diego selection and honolulu was named one of the best books of 2009 by the washington post. Honolulu by alan brennert a great good place for books. Brennerts mostly successful followup to his book club phenomenon, molokai, chronicles the lives of asian immigrants in and around hawaiis. Bestselling author alan brennert blends history and fiction to showcase hawaiis dynamic past in this captivating novel. Compellingly original in its conceit, brennerts sweeping debut novel tracks the grim struggle of a hawaiian woman who contracts leprosy as a child in honolulu during the 1890s and is deported to the island of molokai, where she grows to adulthood at the quarantined settlement of kalaupapa. The chronicle of leprosyinfected rachel kalama begins in 1891 in honolulu and ends in the late 1960s on isolated molokai, site of the kalaupapa leprosy settlement. One of the most colorful periods of modern hawaiian history was the socalled glamour days of the 1920s and 1930s, alan explains.
Robert morgan, author of gap creek alan brennert draws on historical accounts of kalaupapa and weaves in traditional hawaiian stories and customs. Mar 05, 2010 alan brennert is the author of molokai, which was a 20062007 booksense reading group pick and won the 2006 bookies award, sponsored by the contra costa library, for the book club book of the year over my sisters keeper, by jodi picoult. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. He has done it again in honolulu, which focuses on the asian immigrant experience in hawaii, specifically that of korean picture brides. The story told in honolulu came out of brennerts research from molokai. I agree with blbl and deb, brennerts honolulu is not very good, but i read it all for the history. I learned a lot from both books, but somehow the unique story of how lepers were treated and the setting of molokai grabbed and sustained me more that the story of early honolulu and oahu. This companion tale tells the story of ruth, the daughter that rachel kalama. The highly anticipated sequel to alan brennerts acclaimed book club favorite, and national bestseller, molokai alan brennerts beloved novel molokai, currently has over 600,000 copies in print. I is the highly anticipated sequel to alan brennerts acclaimed book club favorite, and national bestseller, moloka. I dont have the knowledge to comment on the historical or cultural accuracy. Apr 15, 2020 honolulu by alan brennert this book spans decades and continents and cultures and does it all beautifully. With its passionate knowledge of people and places in hawaii far off the tourist track, honolulu is a spellbinding story of the triumphs and sacrifices of the human spirit that is sure to become another reading group favorite.
Alan brennert is a novelist time and chance as well as an emmy awardwinning screenwriter l. In turnofthecentury korea, a young woman named regret is bound to a veiled, subservient life by strict confucian dogma. Alan brennert draws on historical accounts of kalaupapa and weaves in traditional hawaiian stories and customs. Honolulu has 4 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. Since 1973 he has lived in southern california, where he received a b. Alan brennert is the author of molokai, which was a 20062007 booksense reading group pick and won the 2006 bookies award, sponsored by the contra costa library, for the book club book of the year over my sisters keeper, by jodi picoult.
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