Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
pretty much cried straight through this one and don't think it was only cuz i'm gonna bleed soon. there's without a doubt an immensity of depth i'm missing partially through language (it's written in hawaiian pidgin english) & partially through my lack of knowledge about the gods of those islands and their stories. what i received from this book were pictures of some rare & sweet kinds of romance & partnership, some subtle & complex kinds of growth in community, and also a relationship to innate talent that i deeply appreciated but that also raised such immense longing in me (thus the crying), specifically relationships to dance and music.
An incredible first novel from Ryka Aoki full of myth, food, music and heart. He Mele A Hilo follows an endlessly endearing ensemble of characters (who speak and are described in the local language of Pidgin) - their stories entwine and unravel at a relaxed pace that fits perfectly with the themes Aoki's working with. The narrative slowly peels back the edges of our world to reveal a magic that is at once mysterious and divine and as ordinary and knowable as spam. I usually find myself slogging through adult literary fiction, but this was a real pleasure to read.
The right book at the right time. This was a total gift from the universe and Ryka Aoki. Hawaii comes to life in these pages: sights, sounds, smells, tastes. The musicality and spirituality and art of the islands. It’s all there.
What a beautiful story this was! I loved everything about this book, and I'm not even sure where to start with it.
The setting itself is what interested me at first. I didn't know much about Hawaii and its traditions, its culture, etc, besides a very superficial approach to it. And with this book, I simply felt transported to the island, into the city of Hilo, and it made me want to look into it even more!
I loved the range of characters that bring many different points of view, many stories, many struggles... every character was fascinating, even the ones on the side.
The story itself had very low stakes, but it was interesting enough to make me want to go on, and it gave us time to really focus on the rest, which I really appreciated!
And I really adored the other themes that are brought up. The Hawaiian legends, the music and its importance, the true meaning of belonging somewhere, the quest for one's identity... the touch of fantasy was definitely a plus as well, making this story even more magical! It transported me to the other side of the earth for a few hours and I enjoyed every second I spent there.
The setting itself is what interested me at first. I didn't know much about Hawaii and its traditions, its culture, etc, besides a very superficial approach to it. And with this book, I simply felt transported to the island, into the city of Hilo, and it made me want to look into it even more!
I loved the range of characters that bring many different points of view, many stories, many struggles... every character was fascinating, even the ones on the side.
The story itself had very low stakes, but it was interesting enough to make me want to go on, and it gave us time to really focus on the rest, which I really appreciated!
And I really adored the other themes that are brought up. The Hawaiian legends, the music and its importance, the true meaning of belonging somewhere, the quest for one's identity... the touch of fantasy was definitely a plus as well, making this story even more magical! It transported me to the other side of the earth for a few hours and I enjoyed every second I spent there.
I really loved this, the copy edit is a bit rough around the edges but sometimes that’s how things go. The actual character and plot writing I liked a lot personally, you get sort of gently carried along with the story and the different characters.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love He Mele A Hilo deeply. I read it twice in the summer season of 2023. So many more readings to come. It is a book that feels good to the soul and makes me feel all the way alive. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a fantastic character study that had me reminiscing about Hawaii.
Compared to The Light From Uncommon Stars, this book runs without a plot and it may be better for it. There are a lot of common themes between the two novels. They both celebrate food, art, locale, and self discovery. They both have characters that leap off the page. The story here builds slowly like the ride rolling in and crescendos into a satisfying conclusion. The Light From Uncommon Stars Grand is engaging right from the beginning and the plot is strong right to the climax but the ending left me a bit disappointed.
Compared to The Light From Uncommon Stars, this book runs without a plot and it may be better for it. There are a lot of common themes between the two novels. They both celebrate food, art, locale, and self discovery. They both have characters that leap off the page. The story here builds slowly like the ride rolling in and crescendos into a satisfying conclusion. The Light From Uncommon Stars Grand is engaging right from the beginning and the plot is strong right to the climax but the ending left me a bit disappointed.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
slow-paced