Novels about Hawai'i

I tend to read lots of books about anything new in my life. When I found out I was pregnant I must have bought and read 10 books on expecting a baby, 10 more on labor, 10 more on the first year of life...and so on. So when we decided to go to Hawaii for this year's vacation, you got it, I started reading books about Hawaii. I found two by the same author that I just fell in love with...

     

Alan Brennert is now one of my favorite authors. His stories are sweeping, magical, compelling and beautiful. I read Moloka'i first, having come across it accidentally in Target, and couldn't put it down. So then, of course, I inhaled Honolulu as well. I passed them on to both of my parents and they fell equally in love with the stories.

Both books are told by a strong female character who encounters her fair share of tragedy and triumph through history. Not only did I enjoy the stories, but I learned a great deal about the history, particularly of Korean picture brides and Hansen's disease.

You won't be sorry if you pick up these books, I promise.