Today I have a review of Daughter of Moloka’i by Alan Brennert, now available from St. Martin’s Press.
My Thoughts:
I don’t think I could anticipate a book more than Daughter of Moloka’i!
The sequel to Moloka’i, it tells Ruth’s story. Ruth is the daughter of Rachel Kalama, quarantined at the leprosy settlement. Rachel was forced to give Ruth away at her birth.
Ruth arrives at the Kapi’olani Home for Girls in Honolulu where her journey in this book begins. It later follows her adoption by a Japanese couple who take her to California. Later, Ruth is married and held in a World War II internment camp.
And most exciting of all, it follows Ruth on the day she receives a letter from a woman named Rachel.
While Ruth and Rachel’s relationship is touched on in Molokai’, Daughter of Moloka’I breathes life into it, rounding it out with so much depth.
Daughter of Moloka’I is a story of mother and daughter, of two strong women who never thought they would meet as they work out their similarities and their differences. Ruth comes of age in a way, finding out about her past and things she never could have known because she was adopted.
Overall, Alan Brennert’s luscious writing brings Hawaii and its culture to life. It also inserts Japanese culture, and is a bittersweet, loving, engaging story of two indomitable women and the building of a relationship.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
DAUGHTER OF MOLOKA′I is the highly anticipated sequel to Alan Brennert’s acclaimed book club favorite, and national bestseller, MOLOKA′I. It’s a companion tale that tells the story of Ruth, the daughter that Rachel Kalama—quarantined for most of her life at the isolated leprosy settlement of Kalaupapa—was forced to give up at birth.
The book follows young Ruth from her arrival at the Kapi’olani Home for Girls in Honolulu, to her adoption by a Japanese couple who raise her on a farm in California, her marriage and unjust internment at Manzanar Relocation Camp during World War II—and then, after the war, to the life-altering day when she receives a letter from a woman who says she is Ruth’s birth mother, Rachel.
DAUGHTER OF MOLOKA′I expands upon Ruth and Rachel’s 22-year relationship, only hinted at in MOLOKA′I. It’s a richly emotional tale of two women—different in some ways, similar in others—who never expected to meet, much less come to love, one another. And for Ruth it is a story of discovery, the unfolding of a past she knew nothing about. In prose that conjures up the beauty and history of both Hawaiian and Japanese cultures, it’s the powerful and poignant tale that readers of MOLOKA′I have been awaiting for fifteen years.
Have you read Daughter of Moloka’i, or is it on your TBR? Have you read any other books by Alan Brennert? Happy Reading! ~ Jennifer THR
Glad you enjoyed this story, Jennifer. For some reason, I have a hard time with this author. I guess we just can’t love them all. Beautiful review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Marialyce! I understand. We definitely love all the variety and choices we have, don’t we? ♥️
LikeLike
Lovely review and picture, Jennifer. I read his first book and enjoyed it
And looking forward to this one. Happy Wednesday.
🌺🌺💕📚🌴🌴
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Virginia! I think you are going to love this book! Hope your Wednesday was wonderful! 🌺 ♥️ 🏝
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome review Jen. I meant to read the first one but never got around to it. Have a great day my friend. 💜🤪
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sus! I was quite late reading Moloka’i, too! It’ll be good whenever you get around to it! I hope your day has been lovely! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent! I liked this one so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Paul! I’m so happy you enjoyed it too! What a book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These books are on my radar, and your review makes me think I might be missing out, and should think of getting them out of the library!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Alexandra! I hope you have a chance to read these. I definitely plan to check out Brennert’s backlist!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They’re on my list to look out for. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your review of this!💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Berit! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like I better read the first book and quickly pick up the second one. So one gave me Moloka’i years ago and I haven’t read it yet. This review has encouraged me to consider it this year so I can read the sequel
LikeLiked by 1 person
I only read the first recently, Shell, and I think they go well together, hand in hand. I think it’ll give you insight into Rachel’s character to read the first. Now I see what all the fuss has been about with Moloka’i all these years. It truly is a lovely book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have owned Moloka’i for years and still haven’t read it–I really have no reason why. I was offered the ARC for this one, but I didn’t take it since I felt like I should have read the first one to fully understand it, but I wonder if I could have read it alone? I feel like I missed out. I’ll have to read it at some point. Lovely review, Jennifer! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I hope you’re feeling back to 100% by now. I’m still tired and battling this cough is even more tiring, but my lungs have had a rough past few months, so it’s expected! But this tooth…I’ve scheduled a root canal eval for when I get home, yippee. Happy Wednesday! xoxo ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had my copy of Moloka’i for close to ten years and only recently read it, Steph! No real reason for me either. This can standalone, but the experience will be enriched with knowing more about Rachel’s character. Your poor tooth. My cough is lingering, too, and everyone else I know is finding that also. I am taking Delsym still to sleep and Mucinex around the clock (which just makes me cough more). I hope you start feeling better and better too. ♥️ xoxo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t feel so bad then. I’ll make sure to read them together then; I had a feeling it would be better to read after reading Moloka’i. I hope your cough has cleared. Mine is still lingering, but I always have cough issues since I had asthma when I was a child. I usually get pneumonia a couple times a year, but I think (knock on wood) that the massive doses of antibiotics they gave me when I had the flu worked as a preventative this time. I definitely didn’t want a return hospital trip like last spring when I was there 3 days with pneumonia…last fall was enough for me! I’m glad the Delsym helped you get some sleep! Oh…this tooth! I’m ready to pull it out myself and be done with it (except it’s a canine, lol). I’m ready for them to do whatever they need to do to it this week. Thanks! I hope you are too! xoxo ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting review. I’ll add it to my ever-growing TBR.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Janet! I hope you get a chance to read it, and if you can fit it in, Moloka’i is another wonderful book that gives the backstory on Rachel, the mother.
LikeLike
I love mother/daughter relationships in books, especially when they are well developed as it seems the case here. Brilliant review, Jennifer! I also love the photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Darina! These covers were so much fun to photograph! These two women had a lifetime apart, so it’s a wonderful, atypical exploration of the mother-daughter relationship. ♥️
LikeLike
Terrific review, Jennifer!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Dee! ♥️
LikeLike
Great review, Jen. I love the sound of the cultural aspects.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Diana! It was so filled with culture! I loved it!
LikeLike
I’m so glad you enjoyed this! I’ve had Molokai on my shelf for years, and then put it on my nightstand about a year ago to make it more of a priority read… and I still haven’t read it. I really do want to! Maybe this will finally be the year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lisa! I was similar! My copy had been waiting a long time and I only recently read Moloka’i! They work well close together. I hope you get a chance to work it in and that you enjoy it too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m always intrigued by Japanese culture. Excellent review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Chrissi! I love cultural references in books, too!
LikeLike
Why haven’t I read the first one yet?! Gorgeous review Jenni. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Beth! You need to get around to it, my friend! 😂 (No, really, it took me a long time to read it, too! Like ten years!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh this sounds so good! 💜 I picked up Moloka’i earlier this year so hoping to eventually grab this book, too! ☺️
LikeLike
I haven’t tried this author yet, but this story just sounds beautiful. I’d like to read it and Moloka’i at some point. Your photo is gorgeous too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Suzanne! I was late reading Moloka’i but I’m so grateful I finally got around to it so I could read Daughter. They are a wonderful set of reads.
LikeLike
Great review Jen, this sounds like a very intriguing read indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Rose! It was such a beautiful story! ♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love a beautiful stor 💙
LikeLiked by 1 person