Sign in with Facebook
Dorie - Cats&Books :) 's Reviews > Moloka'i
Moloka'i (Moloka'i, #1)
by
by
Dorie - Cats&Books :) 's review
bookshelves: all-time-favorite, historical-fiction
Jan 28, 2013
bookshelves: all-time-favorite, historical-fiction
Read 2 times. Last read January 2013.
This richly imagined novel, set in Hawaii more than a century ago is an extraordinary epic of a little known time and place -- and a deeply moving testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.
Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven year old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far off lands like her father who is a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose colored mark appears on her skin and those dreams are stolen from her. She is taken from her home and family and sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i. Here her life is supposed to end--but instead she discovers it is only just beginning.
With a vibrant cast of vividly described characters, Moloka"i is the true to life chronicle of a people who embraced life in the face of death. Such is the warmth, humor and compassion of this novel that "few readers will remain unchanged by Rachel's story" (mostlyfiction.com).
I loved this book. I learned so much about Hawaii and how leprosy was treated more than 100 years ago. The spirit of Rachel is very inspiring.
Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven year old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far off lands like her father who is a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose colored mark appears on her skin and those dreams are stolen from her. She is taken from her home and family and sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i. Here her life is supposed to end--but instead she discovers it is only just beginning.
With a vibrant cast of vividly described characters, Moloka"i is the true to life chronicle of a people who embraced life in the face of death. Such is the warmth, humor and compassion of this novel that "few readers will remain unchanged by Rachel's story" (mostlyfiction.com).
I loved this book. I learned so much about Hawaii and how leprosy was treated more than 100 years ago. The spirit of Rachel is very inspiring.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Moloka'i.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
Finished Reading
Started Reading
January, 2013
–
Finished Reading
January 28, 2013
– Shelved
March 2, 2019
– Shelved as:
all-time-favorite
March 2, 2019
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
Comments Showing 1-9 of 9 (9 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Marilyn (trying to catch up)
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Mar 03, 2019 07:14AM
Hi Dorie. I read Moloka'i many years ago when it was first published. It was and still is one of my favorite books. Since then I had the opportunity through Netgalley to read Moloka'i II. I loved it as much as the first one. Great review.
reply
|
flag
I just finished Molokai 2 and it was excellent too.
Marilyn wrote: "Hi Dorie. I read Moloka'i many years ago when it was first published. It was and still is one of my favorite books. Since then I had the opportunity through Netgalley to read Moloka'i II. I loved i..."Thanks I read the follow up also, it was very good but not as special as Moloka'i in my humble opinion :)
Susanne wrote: "Nice review Dorie!"Thanks for reading Susanne :)
Susan wrote: "I just finished Molokai 2 and it was excellent too."I did also and it was very good :)
I've had this on my shelf for so long, your review makes me want to finally pick it up!
Candie wrote: "I've had this on my shelf for so long, your review makes me want to finally pick it up!"Oh, thanks so much. Though I read it quite a while ago it has stayed in my mind and I wanted to read it again because I read Daughter of Molokai :)
Wonderful review, Dorie, this is such a beautiful book!
