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usedtotheweather's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Death, Drug use, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Car accident, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
kaiulanilee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
This book was absolutely stunning in so many ways.
Particularly the way it wove language into beautiful but sometimes very jarring sentences and the way the author was able to capture the distinct personalities and thoughts of each character with the way he wrote their chapters was brilliant. This is an absolutely brilliant story about family, resilience, Hawaiian mythology, and our connection to the world around us and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Particularly the way it wove language into beautiful but sometimes very jarring sentences and the way the author was able to capture the distinct personalities and thoughts of each character with the way he wrote their chapters was brilliant. This is an absolutely brilliant story about family, resilience, Hawaiian mythology, and our connection to the world around us and I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault
bobbijopmh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
“The kingdom of Hawai‘i had long been broken—the breathing rain forests and singing green reefs crushed under the haole fists of beach resorts and skyscrapers—and that was when the land had begun calling.”
This novel artfully blends harsh realities and magic, on a story encompassing all members of a single family and spanning decades of their lives.
As someone who doesn't read a lot of magical realism, I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this. It's worth noting, though, that a lot of the ‘magic’ in this novel comes from Hawaiian traditional beliefs and lore.
The storyline had me gripped. With plenty of compelling twists and turns, which makes it hard to say much about the plot other than it's about finding a place where you truly belong, the relationships between family members, and the burdens that come with enormous expectations.
Kawai Strong Washburn switches voice for the different perspectives presented perfectly; creating a deeper understanding and connection with each character through their voice and mannerism. Malia with her lyrical, poetic and emotional descriptions; Dean with his strong pidgin-Hawaiian accent; Kaui with her insecure “okay?” and “right”. It is very skillfully written. The descriptions of places, and feelings, are atmospheric and almost a sensory experience themselves.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book, it was unlike anything I've personally read before, and I can't wait to see what Kawai Strong Washburnwrites next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, and Car accident
Moderate: Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
erinsbookshelves's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Please read reviews and comments from Native Hawaiians about the cultural appropriation in this novel.
Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3789958619?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3337819032?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://twitter.com/sara_kahanamoku/status/1299793554328313856
Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3789958619?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3337819032?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://twitter.com/sara_kahanamoku/status/1299793554328313856
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Ableism, Alcoholism, Death, Toxic relationship, and Excrement
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts
lklitup's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. I’m reeling from the lyricism of this prose and the depth of this family’s story. The magical realism of this novel does nothing to detract from the all-to-real themes about expectations from family, duty to self, and purpose within the greater world. This novel’s lush descriptions of Hawai’i and its culture made me want to go to the nearest beach just to sit and be near the ocean— something so large, powerful, unfathomable.
While Nainoa’s journey may have been the central story from which the others’ grew, I was most drawn to was Kaui. The other members of the Flores family seemed to flounder (or ultimately succumb) to the weaknesses they learned about themselves. Kaui fiercely refused to be seen as “less than” from anyone, even from within her own family. Even from herself. She was powerful.
“She never said shit like this to the boys, only to me. Like I was supposed to be guilty of ambition while they were just living their full potential.”
While Nainoa’s journey may have been the central story from which the others’ grew, I was most drawn to was Kaui. The other members of the Flores family seemed to flounder (or ultimately succumb) to the weaknesses they learned about themselves. Kaui fiercely refused to be seen as “less than” from anyone, even from within her own family. Even from herself. She was powerful.
“She never said shit like this to the boys, only to me. Like I was supposed to be guilty of ambition while they were just living their full potential.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death, Toxic relationship, and Excrement
Minor: Sexual assault and Suicidal thoughts