*TUDOR^QUEEN* 's Reviews > Moloka'i
Moloka'i
by
by
St. Martin's Press recently offered me the book "Daughter of Moloka'i" for review, which I accepted. However, when I read its synopsis, it hearkened back to its preceding tome, "Moloka'i", which was a huge bestseller originally published in 2003. As of this writing, the original book is on sale for kindle at $2.99 on amazon, so I decided to purchase it and read it prior to reading its sequel. I expected this to be a quality book because of its rave reviews, and I wasn't disappointed. I don't usually gravitate towards books that take place in island settings, but the richness of the story enveloped me regardless.
This story is about a little girl named Rachel Kalama who lived in Honolulu in the late 1800s. She was just seven years old, the favorite daughter of her father Henry. Henry was a sailor who would go on expeditions lasting for months, and would always bring Rachel back a special doll to add to her collection.
Rachel's idyllic life takes a violent turn when the Health Inspector who visits schools discovers that Rachel has leprosy. During this time, anyone found to have contracted leprosy is removed from the island and thus their family. They are taken to a special settlement on another Hawaiian island designated for leprosy patients. Franciscan nuns run a home for the children where they are lovingly cared for. Often times, a person would live the rest of their life at this settlement. There is a church, general store, and rations of food meted out to the settlement's occupants. People are provided homes to live in. The nuns clean wounds and change bandages, but there are also doctors on the settlement who try valiantly to come up with treatments to stave off the advancement of leprosy. At first glance, one could be startled and even horrified to witness some of the facial deformities, but after living amongst these people for awhile, they just became people you were comfortable being around...the new normal. There were varied forms and intensities of this disease; for some people their sores were hidden in discreet places like on a thigh or an ankle; in others, their faces and digits on their hands and feet would be ravaged by the disease. One physician had a theory he explored of surgically removing any sores that would appear. However, it would take decades before a sulfa-based antibiotic was produced that halted the disease in its tracks, much like the "cocktail" of meds AIDS patients take today that return their lives to a modicum of normalcy.
The story of Rachel is an epic one; it follows her from her childhood home and school to her abrupt and frightening transfer to the leprosy colony at Kalawao, and the many milestones her life advances through until her death. It is a story of love, strength, bravery and family. I never knew the nuts and bolts of the medical history of leprosy, and this made for a very interesting / educational topic throughout the story. I am very glad I read this as a precursor to reading the upcoming "Daughter of Moloka'i". Often times you can read a follow-up book as a standalone, but having read the original story "Moloka'i" I will approach the next installment with even more anticipation.
This story is about a little girl named Rachel Kalama who lived in Honolulu in the late 1800s. She was just seven years old, the favorite daughter of her father Henry. Henry was a sailor who would go on expeditions lasting for months, and would always bring Rachel back a special doll to add to her collection.
Rachel's idyllic life takes a violent turn when the Health Inspector who visits schools discovers that Rachel has leprosy. During this time, anyone found to have contracted leprosy is removed from the island and thus their family. They are taken to a special settlement on another Hawaiian island designated for leprosy patients. Franciscan nuns run a home for the children where they are lovingly cared for. Often times, a person would live the rest of their life at this settlement. There is a church, general store, and rations of food meted out to the settlement's occupants. People are provided homes to live in. The nuns clean wounds and change bandages, but there are also doctors on the settlement who try valiantly to come up with treatments to stave off the advancement of leprosy. At first glance, one could be startled and even horrified to witness some of the facial deformities, but after living amongst these people for awhile, they just became people you were comfortable being around...the new normal. There were varied forms and intensities of this disease; for some people their sores were hidden in discreet places like on a thigh or an ankle; in others, their faces and digits on their hands and feet would be ravaged by the disease. One physician had a theory he explored of surgically removing any sores that would appear. However, it would take decades before a sulfa-based antibiotic was produced that halted the disease in its tracks, much like the "cocktail" of meds AIDS patients take today that return their lives to a modicum of normalcy.
The story of Rachel is an epic one; it follows her from her childhood home and school to her abrupt and frightening transfer to the leprosy colony at Kalawao, and the many milestones her life advances through until her death. It is a story of love, strength, bravery and family. I never knew the nuts and bolts of the medical history of leprosy, and this made for a very interesting / educational topic throughout the story. I am very glad I read this as a precursor to reading the upcoming "Daughter of Moloka'i". Often times you can read a follow-up book as a standalone, but having read the original story "Moloka'i" I will approach the next installment with even more anticipation.
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Reading Progress
December 29, 2018
–
Started Reading
December 29, 2018
– Shelved
January 4, 2019
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 54 (54 new)
Angela M wrote: "Great review, TQ. Been on my list . Thanks for letting us know it’s on sale !"
Thank you so much, Angela. :-) I had this book on my amazon Wish List when I knew I was going to be reading the sequel. Then one day last week I saw that it was $2.99. I snapped it up immediately! Yes, it's still $2.99, so anyone who is going to read "Daughter of Moloka'i" which is coming out next month might want to get the original book now.
Thank you so much, Angela. :-) I had this book on my amazon Wish List when I knew I was going to be reading the sequel. Then one day last week I saw that it was $2.99. I snapped it up immediately! Yes, it's still $2.99, so anyone who is going to read "Daughter of Moloka'i" which is coming out next month might want to get the original book now.
Julie wrote: "Great review, TQ!! I need to get started on this one, too, before I read the sequel. 💖"
Thanks so much, Julie! Happy reading! :-D
Thanks so much, Julie! Happy reading! :-D
Sandra wrote: "Fab review, this sounds an interesting book. I think I’ll add it to my wish list 😊"
Thank you very much, Sandra! :-)
Thank you very much, Sandra! :-)
Beata wrote: "Your review convinced me tgat I should read this book, TQ 😊"
Thanks so much, Beata! I think you would enjoy it :-)
Thanks so much, Beata! I think you would enjoy it :-)
Wonderful review, TQ. Who would have known that a book with leprosy in it would sound good in the end? But then again I read about weird stuff most of the time lol.
Beautiful review, TQ! I’ll be reading this soon for the same reason except I had this on my shelf unread due to all those rave reviews. I am so happy you loved it! ♥️
Valerity (Val) wrote: "Wonderful review, TQ. Who would have known that a book with leprosy in it would sound good in the end? But then again I read about weird stuff most of the time lol."
Me too! I think the leprosy focus was a very original basis for an epic story of a special woman's life. Thank you! 🙋💖
Me too! I think the leprosy focus was a very original basis for an epic story of a special woman's life. Thank you! 🙋💖
Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader wrote: "Beautiful review, TQ! I’ll be reading this soon for the same reason except I had this on my shelf unread due to all those rave reviews. I am so happy you loved it! ♥️"
I hope you enjoy it too, Jennifer, and I'm really looking forward to your review. Thank you! 👑💕
I hope you enjoy it too, Jennifer, and I'm really looking forward to your review. Thank you! 👑💕
Great review, I loved that book. I have thought about re-reading it before I read the sequel but I just don't have the time :( Hopefully I will remember most of it when I start reading the sequel :)
Honolulu by this author was also excellent!
Honolulu by this author was also excellent!
Dorie - Traveling Sister :) wrote: "Great review, I loved that book. I have thought about re-reading it before I read the sequel but I just don't have the time :( Hopefully I will remember most of it when I start reading the sequel :..."
Thank you so much, Dorie :-) I believe the sequel was sampled at the end of the original book I just read. It started with Sister Catherine personally delivering the daughter to the orphanage, and covered a little bit of her time in the orphanage. It will probably tell the story of the daughter's life up until the time she is reunited with her biological mother.
Thank you so much, Dorie :-) I believe the sequel was sampled at the end of the original book I just read. It started with Sister Catherine personally delivering the daughter to the orphanage, and covered a little bit of her time in the orphanage. It will probably tell the story of the daughter's life up until the time she is reunited with her biological mother.
Elyse wrote: "Tudor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy New Year!!!!
Oh my goodness --your review of this book is WONDERFUL!!!!!
I'm smiling for ear to ear -- (its one of my favorite books) -- I've given it as a gift so many..."
Happy New Year, Elyse! XOXO Thank you so much for your lovely note. Was thinking about you too. Glad you liked my review. I could swear I saw one by you also on this book. Hope you get to read the follow-up. Peace & Love, Sister! :-)
Oh my goodness --your review of this book is WONDERFUL!!!!!
I'm smiling for ear to ear -- (its one of my favorite books) -- I've given it as a gift so many..."
Happy New Year, Elyse! XOXO Thank you so much for your lovely note. Was thinking about you too. Glad you liked my review. I could swear I saw one by you also on this book. Hope you get to read the follow-up. Peace & Love, Sister! :-)
Elyse...♡♡♡ I humbly thank you! You make me look forward to reading the next book! Have to read a couple of other books before I can get to it :-) Have a beautiful day XOXO
I whole-heartedly agree with your review. This book was a selection by my book club - otherwise it is unlikely I would have read it due to the grim subject matter. I would have SO missed out. This is a lush, fully fleshed -out historical fiction. So much of the details of Molokai, Father Damien, Mother Marianne, the "pali" are true (I looked up the history). In fact, both Father Damian and Mother Marian were canonized (declared Saints) for their lifelong work with the children sentenced to Molokai. The characters written around them were so believable- I rooted for Rachel throughout the book, cried with her over the unjust treatment she received from others (except Sister Catherine), was overjoyed when she found her sister and daughter. Other characters were so believable, I either loved or hated them depending on how they treated Rachel.
The descriptions of Molokai and the pali trail were so lush, I could visualize them even before I saw pictures of them. Most importantly, it was a wonderful read for the quarantine from COVID-19. I learned that the situation could always be worse. While the deaths occurring are tragic, it will eventually be cured. The thousands who had leprosy in the late 19th century/early 20th century had nothing to look forward to other than disfigurement, bigotry, loss of your children, and death.
Finally, I applaud your excellent review of this book. It was fair, backed up by evidence, and frankly well-written in these days of reducing communication to anacronyms or broken English. Thank you!
Peigi M.
The descriptions of Molokai and the pali trail were so lush, I could visualize them even before I saw pictures of them. Most importantly, it was a wonderful read for the quarantine from COVID-19. I learned that the situation could always be worse. While the deaths occurring are tragic, it will eventually be cured. The thousands who had leprosy in the late 19th century/early 20th century had nothing to look forward to other than disfigurement, bigotry, loss of your children, and death.
Finally, I applaud your excellent review of this book. It was fair, backed up by evidence, and frankly well-written in these days of reducing communication to anacronyms or broken English. Thank you!
Peigi M.
Peigi Marshall wrote: "I whole-heartedly agree with your review. This book was a selection by my book club - otherwise it is unlikely I would have read it due to the grim subject matter. I would have SO missed out. This ..."
Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it too.
Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it too.
Wonderful review, TQ! I'm so glad that I am finally listening to this book...it is rare for me to read a sequel before the first book but I did so because I'd gotten the ARC for the second one, long ago. Now I get to see the complete story, by hearing this audiobook. 😁
MarilynW wrote: "Wonderful review, TQ! I'm so glad that I am finally listening to this book...it is rare for me to read a sequel before the first book but I did so because I'd gotten the ARC for the second one, lon..."
Thank you very much, Marilyn! 🌹🙏👸
Thank you very much, Marilyn! 🌹🙏👸
Beautiful cover on this book....one wouldn't think it was about leprosy.
Good review TudorQueen. 😊🌸✨