You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
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
I really liked this novel, though on the other hand I don't feel like it will stick with me very long after finishing it. All 4 main narrators were similarly compelling to me, Nainoa and Kaui most so. Magical realism usually appeals to me or grates on me; this did neither, being vague and limited enough not to bother me but not specific enough to be very interesting. But the writing is strong, the story is moving, and I liked it overall.
There's a lot of darkness in this book, some lightness, but very little laughter. I could have used some more humor to cut through the series of tragedies. Still, Sharks in the Time of Saviors is excellent at what it does. What happened and still happens to Hawai'i is a tragedy, which this book tells through the eyes of one family.
"If someone were to ask me what money means, this is what I would say: The world feels like it will stay under you no matter what you do."
There's a lot of darkness in this book, some lightness, but very little laughter. I could have used some more humor to cut through the series of tragedies. Still, Sharks in the Time of Saviors is excellent at what it does. What happened and still happens to Hawai'i is a tragedy, which this book tells through the eyes of one family.
"'Whenever I've made a choice in my life, a real choice... I can always feel the change, after I choose. The better versions of myself moving just out of reach.'"
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It took a little while to dig into, especially with the chapters alternating POVs between Malia (the mother), Nainoa, Dean, Kaui, and at the very end, their father Augie. As is easy to do in a novel with many characters, I found myself drawn towards some, and less so others, which can make it tough reading a book that alternates when you get to hear from/about the characters you like. The plot line is good, interesting, and keeps you going. The ending felt equal parts cathartic and not totally clear. Overall, a really good read! Learned a lot of Hawaiian slang and history.
adventurous
emotional
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
Questo libro aveva tutte le carte in regola per piacermi tantissimo, e invece proprio non mi ha preso per niente. La narrazione che alterna diversi punti di vista in prima persona mi ha impedito completamente di provare la minima empatia per i personaggi, ho faticato a capire cosa stesse succedendo, quando e a chi.
Libro abbandonato dopo circa 1/3
Libro abbandonato dopo circa 1/3
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
READ THIS
Maybe 2.5 stars?
What I liked - when the siblings interacted, the way the author tried to capture the Hawaiian accent of the characters, how it felt to be away from home during college when the kids move to San Diego
What didn't work for me - I'd forgotten how many casual sex scenes, boners and weird smell imagery can take me out of a story, I didn't have much of that in last year's reads.
Definitely magical realism in the vein of Isabel Allende or Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I liked the idea of a book set in Hawaii with a focus on native Hawaiian's stories, but this isn't the book for me.
What I liked - when the siblings interacted, the way the author tried to capture the Hawaiian accent of the characters, how it felt to be away from home during college when the kids move to San Diego
What didn't work for me - I'd forgotten how many casual sex scenes, boners and weird smell imagery can take me out of a story, I didn't have much of that in last year's reads.
Definitely magical realism in the vein of Isabel Allende or Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I liked the idea of a book set in Hawaii with a focus on native Hawaiian's stories, but this isn't the book for me.