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caprivoyant's review against another edition
However! I did have a 1 problem with the content of the book and learned later that the marketing for the book/author was disingenuous. ⬇️
Content problem: There is no need to use the r-word.
Marketing problem: Apparently this book was marketed at a Native Hawai'ian story — the marketing also implied that the author himself is Native Hawai'ian. It might have been inspired by Native Hawai'ian myths, but this is not representative of Native Hawai'ian culture or beliefs (found this with a quick Google).
So! Read with care/caution if you choose to read at all. I didn't know. Now I know.
Moderate: Racism, Grief, Medical content, Death, Pregnancy, Animal death, Child death, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual assault, Alcohol, Cancer, and Sexual content
andalucia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Colonisation, Racism, Classism, and Grief
Minor: Death
_rowantree_'s review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Grief and Death
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Classism, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Confinement, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Police brutality, Racism, Misogyny, and Self harm
thecriticalreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
Apparently the author is not native Hawaiian (although he was born and raised there), so that might play a role in why the book feels hollow to me, especially in how it engages with native Hawaiian culture. Of course, I'm not in a position to speak authoritatively about what counts as "good" representation in this area or not, but over the years I've developed a better sense of when an author is writing from personal identity and experience and when they are not. When the cultural elements of the book fell flat to me I brushed it off as a "me" problem, but now I wonder if it had anything to do with the author's lack of cultural and ethnic connection to his characters and their myths.
- You like stories about dysfunctional, but well-meaning, families
- You are interested in a book that looks at the real ramifications of white imperialism/tourism in Hawaii
- You like lyrical prose and hard-hitting truths
- You want to read a book about native Hawaiian people, myths, and cultures, by someone who is native Hawaiian
- You find it hard to root for or sympathize with characters who do horrible things
- You want mythology and magic to play a large role in the plot
- Themes of migration from home and return in search of financial security and belonging
- A dysfunctional but loving family
- Main characters with supernatural abilities/magical realism
- Deeply flawed protagonists
- Celebrations of resiliency in the face of hardship, social commentary
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Bullying, Colonisation, Dementia, Death, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Car accident, Racism, Lesbophobia, Sexual assault, and Police brutality
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Vomit
Additional Graphic Content Warnings: Poverty, incarcerationkshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Biphobia, Death, Dementia, Ableism, Drug use, Grief, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Racism, Abandonment, Bullying, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
andrewhatesham's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Death, Grief, Medical content, Gore, and Sexual content
Moderate: Excrement, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Car accident, Drug use, Cursing, Blood, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
Minor: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault
kelseyorzel's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Alcohol, Death, and Drug use
Minor: Mental illness and Racism