This rich 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, a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose-colored mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her. Taken from her home and family, Rachel is 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 realized characters, Moloka'i is the true-to-life chronicle of a people who embraced life in the face of death.
This book came highly recommended from online book stores so I had high expectations when I started reading it, which is unfortunate because then I might not have been disappointed. It was a very fascinating topic that I didn't know too much about previously, that told the story of a strong woman who lived a fulfilled life even in some of the most heart breaking conditions,
My reservations were solely because the dialogue sometimes got a little boring and I found myself speed reading over sections.
Over all though the story was interesting and I would recommend it to others who were after an eye opening topic, without too much intense drama.
No comments:
Post a Comment