Moloka'i Review (Spoilers) Let's Discuss!

[lemondrop]

This was the most heartbreaking and heartwarming book I've ever read. I've never wanted to throw down a book in such anger, but something just kept me going. I'm really glad I did because it was such an amazing story over all.

Any thoughts?

[mollymoe]

It has been a few years since I read this but I loved this book. One of my favorites.

I loved the father/daughter relationship. One thing I'll always remember about this book is the father faithfully going to visit his daughter exiled on the colony. I wonder if he was scared to go and risk catching the disease (I know at the end of the book they realized it wasn't contagious) but he did it over and over for his daughter who was so young went she was sent to the island.

[lemondrop]

He was actually hoping to catch it when he visited for her wedding.

I really liked how Rachel was able to live such a full life, even before being paroled she had great friendships, a great husband and work she enjoyed doing. It was summed up really well at her funeral that the lines on her face were the signs of a life well lived.

[nova726]

I really need to do a reread of this, I just looked on GR and apparently I haven't read this since Feb 09. I really loved this book though and was amazed at the life she was able to make for herself and the strength she showed on the island.

[sparrowsong]

All I remember is that I really enjoyed this book. I read it 8-9 years ago when it was on the new release shelf at the library, before I started grad school and quit reading entirely for four years. I'd been to Moloka'i for a day trip from Maui so it appealed to me. And the cover is pretty (judge a book by the cover? NEVER.)

I thought it was strange when this became such a sensation on NBC years later for some reason. But it was a good book.

[mollymoe]

What did you think of Rachel's mother refusing to visit?

Eventually the mom had to go into hiding with another child with the disease but I can't remember the reasoning why no one told Rachel the reason for the non visits. I don't think the mom even sent letters.

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[lemondrop]

May 20, 2012 19:12:48 GMT -5 mollymoe said:

What did you think of Rachel's mother refusing to visit?

Eventually the mom had to go into hiding with another child with the disease but I can't remember the reasoning why no one told Rachel the reason for the non visits. I don't think the mom even sent letters.

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Kimo died so quickly (within a year), and they assumed that Rachel must have died shortly after arriving in Moloka'i.

[lemondrop]

May 20, 2012 18:53:52 GMT -5 sparrowsong said:

I thought it was strange when this became such a sensation on NBC years later for some reason. But it was a good book.

I thought it was a much newer book when so many NBCers were reading it last year. It's a good book, though.

[mx27]

one of my favorites!

[kasi]

Loved this book!

[marytini]

It's been a while since I've read it but I agree...heartbreaking and heartwarming. I have to say I liked this one a tiny bit less than Honolulu. Have you read that?

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[aurora]

May 20, 2012 19:16:21 GMT -5 lemondrop said:

May 20, 2012 19:12:48 GMT -5 mollymoe said:

What did you think of Rachel's mother refusing to visit?

Eventually the mom had to go into hiding with another child with the disease but I can't remember the reasoning why no one told Rachel the reason for the non visits. I don't think the mom even sent letters.

Sent from my DROIDX using ProBoards

Kimo died so quickly (within a year), and they assumed that Rachel must have died shortly after arriving in Moloka'i.

It's been a while since I've read it, but didn't Rachel's dad tell her mom once he found her alive and started visiting? That part always really bothered me.

[lemondrop]

Jun 1, 2012 8:35:00 GMT -5 aurora said:

May 20, 2012 19:16:21 GMT -5 lemondrop said:

Kimo died so quickly (within a year), and they assumed that Rachel must have died shortly after arriving in Moloka'i.

It's been a while since I've read it, but didn't Rachel's dad tell her mom once he found her alive and started visiting? That part always really bothered me.

No, I don't think he did. They weren't talking at that point. When Rachel got out, she went to the places her brothers were supposed to be working according to her dad, and they weren't there. Her father had just made up stories because he didn't know and he didn't want Rachel to think that she was the cause of the rift in the family. In the end Sarah said she supposed their father didn't even know about Kimo's death.

[aurora]

Ah, thanks! I'd forgotten about that.