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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
What a story... This book has it all - adoption, pets, family, love, reunions, loyalty, loss. Full review TK.
“She smiled. “But the reason I wanted you, butterfly, was because I fell in love with you the instant I saw you.” Ruth said meekly, “ So---you’re not going to give me back? To the sisters? ” “Oh, dearest one, no, never, never. We will love you forever.” Ruth held tight to her mother, more tightly than she had ever held anyone. For the first time in her life, she felt she truly belonged somewhere.”
“She smiled. “But the reason I wanted you, butterfly, was because I fell in love with you the instant I saw you.” Ruth said meekly, “ So---you’re not going to give me back? To the sisters? ” “Oh, dearest one, no, never, never. We will love you forever.” Ruth held tight to her mother, more tightly than she had ever held anyone. For the first time in her life, she felt she truly belonged somewhere.”
This was a very good book and it was very engaging. I loved hearing about their lives and the island. Just hearing about it made wish I apart of the culture and I want to learn as much about it as I can. I felt like I was apart of the story.
Once again, Alan Brennert writes another emotional roller coaster of a story! This time, we follow Ruth, Rachel’s daughter who has been adopted by Japanese parents.
Though Rachel did not have the option to keep Ruth, she’d hoped that Ruth would be free, that she’d have a better and easier life. Unfortunately, Ruth experiences many hardships including a difficult time at the orphanage while waiting to be adopted, fitting in at school once she’s adopted, and relocation to a Japanese internment camp.
I’m glad that we as readers get to see Ruth’s life after wondering so much about her in Moloka’i but I do wish that more time had been spent on Ruth and Rachel’s time together. Similar to Moloka’i, their reunion is near the end of the story. Though we know they got off to a rocky start but soon had a great relationships, the rest of the details are sort of glossed over.
Still, once again, I can’t help but appreciate the beauty of Brennert’s writing along with the strength of these extremely resilient characters. This is no doubt another sad story, but there is still goodness to be found.
I wholeheartedly recommend reading this book, especially if you read Moloka’i, and I plan to read more of Alan Brennert’s work!
Though Rachel did not have the option to keep Ruth, she’d hoped that Ruth would be free, that she’d have a better and easier life. Unfortunately, Ruth experiences many hardships including a difficult time at the orphanage while waiting to be adopted, fitting in at school once she’s adopted, and relocation to a Japanese internment camp.
I’m glad that we as readers get to see Ruth’s life after wondering so much about her in Moloka’i but I do wish that more time had been spent on Ruth and Rachel’s time together. Similar to Moloka’i, their reunion is near the end of the story. Though we know they got off to a rocky start but soon had a great relationships, the rest of the details are sort of glossed over.
Still, once again, I can’t help but appreciate the beauty of Brennert’s writing along with the strength of these extremely resilient characters. This is no doubt another sad story, but there is still goodness to be found.
I wholeheartedly recommend reading this book, especially if you read Moloka’i, and I plan to read more of Alan Brennert’s work!
Such a beautiful book. This author has really touched my soul. This is the story of how Ruth and her family end up in internment camps with other Japanese who are living in the US. It also follows the reunion of Rachel with the daughter she was forced t give up at birth. So heartwarming and heartbreaking.
So maybe this book isn't perfect. But if it isn't, I didn't notice any imperfections. Maybe it is Mr. Brennert's writing style? Maybe it is his amazing character development? Maybe it is how he is able to weave fiction in with non-fiction so you don't know where one ends and the other begins? No matter what it is, I was pulled into the world of Ruth and her family and didn't want to leave. I will admit that I was a bit startled to be reading and thinking the story would take place in Hawaii only to find them quickly transported to Northern California. As this is where I live now, I was surprised (and thrilled) to learn some local history. I love how Mr. Brennert's stories educate us as much as entertain us. I will caution, though, that while many people are saying this can be a stand alone novel, please take the time to read the first book before you read this one. Having that background will make this book an even richer experience!
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.
This companion novel to Moloka'i was wonderful. I loved the more in depth look into Ruth's story and even more so her relationship with Rachel. This was just as heartbreaking and equally hopeful as Moloka'i. I can't recommend these books enough! Go read them!
Knyga pasakoja Rutos - pusiau havajietės, pusiau japonės - gyvenimo istoriją. Nežinau, gal čia dėl vertimo, bet knyga jautėsi tokia labai amerikietiška (kalba, reaguoja, jaučia, vertina dalykus kaip visuose holivudo produkcijos filmuose), kur visada viskas baigiasi laimingai, net ir blogi dalykai aprašomi lyg geri, niekad jokios dramos ar netikėtumo. Viskas aprašoma vienodu tonu, lyg filmo scenarijus ir niekada nėra gilinamasi giliau ar bent kažkiek stipresnių, ne vien aprašamųjų, jausmų. Romanas yra lyg biografija - bet atrodo pernelyg ištęsta viskas, nors vis tik knygoje yra išskirtos kelios dalys, kuriose pasakojama apie tam tikrą Rutos gyvenimo tarpsnį. Dar tas vis apsireiškiantis japoniškumas kažkoks dirbtinis atrodo... Taigi, knygoje apie Havajus pasakojama labai minimaliai, manau, pagrindinis įdomesnis įvykis (+ ką naujo sužinojau) yra kuomet visi veikėjai antrojo pasaulinio karo metu yra perkeliami į internuotuojųjų stovykla(s) (gal trečdalis knygos). Pačios Rutos didžiausia vertybė yra šeima, šiek tiek dar gyvūnai, ir tiek, daugiau nieko įdomaus apie ją negaliu pasakyti po perskaitytų 300+ puslapių.
While the ending repeated a lot of the ending of the first book, I LOVED the way that the story of the West Coast Japanese experience during World War II - including the internment camps - was well told and wrapped into the first story of Rachel.
Thanks to the publisher, via Netgalley for an advance e-galley for honest review.
I was equal parts thrilled and apprehensive about Daughter of Moloka'i. Moloka'i is easily one of the books I've recommended the most over the years as both a librarian and personally, and I wasn't sure if it needed a follow-up. However, my desire to dive back into Alan Brennert's writing won out. Judging by my 5-star rating, it was worth it.
Alan Brennert is masterful at creating a setting. I was initially a little disappointed when he moved the setting from Hawaii to California, but it turned out that he was able to still really cement a place and time beautifully- and horribly. Brennert wrote very effectively about the interment camps- I felt deep shame and sadness reading the chapters set during the family's experiences with these in World War II. This book is a story of a life that is not without tragedy- but Ruth's story is, overall, one that is very full, with plenty to fill the pages. It's a fitting follow-up to Moloka'i, and while I think that this is a good place to leave these characters, I hope that Brennert returns to tell another story in Hawaii.
I was equal parts thrilled and apprehensive about Daughter of Moloka'i. Moloka'i is easily one of the books I've recommended the most over the years as both a librarian and personally, and I wasn't sure if it needed a follow-up. However, my desire to dive back into Alan Brennert's writing won out. Judging by my 5-star rating, it was worth it.
Alan Brennert is masterful at creating a setting. I was initially a little disappointed when he moved the setting from Hawaii to California, but it turned out that he was able to still really cement a place and time beautifully- and horribly. Brennert wrote very effectively about the interment camps- I felt deep shame and sadness reading the chapters set during the family's experiences with these in World War II. This book is a story of a life that is not without tragedy- but Ruth's story is, overall, one that is very full, with plenty to fill the pages. It's a fitting follow-up to Moloka'i, and while I think that this is a good place to leave these characters, I hope that Brennert returns to tell another story in Hawaii.
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No