the hawaii novels moloka i and honolulu alan brennert

Brennert's rich and multifaceted characterization establishes Jin as more than just a character in a book she becomes someone the reader knows and cares about. She has her biases, performs both good and questionable deeds, and experiences both joy and sorrow. Although she does experience poverty, for the most part her fortunes are relatively middle-class. The protagonist of the novel is, in many ways, very ordinary. Fortunately, its story departs from the expected after the first five chapters or so, after which it becomes an absorbing study of Asian culture in Hawaii as seen through the eyes of a Korean woman. Brennert's writing, however, is so compelling that readers soon find they are unable to put the book down. Even after the main character reaches Hawaii, much of the plot is predictable. Readers have encountered protagonists in similar circumstances on the pages of many recent bestselling novels ( Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Memoirs of a Geisha, the works of Amy Tan). In Honolulu, author Alan Brennert succeeds brilliantly in this goal.Īt first, the plot of Honolulu may seem overly familiar.

The novel explores the women's 22-year relationship, only hinted at it in Moloka'i.An absorbing study of early 20th century Asian culture in Hawaii as seen through the eyes of a Korean womanĪ well-written historical novel can so mesmerize readers that they come to feel they understand what it was like to live in a past era, as if they have truly experienced the sights, smells and cultures of a time and place beyond their personal knowledge. His novel, Daughter of Moloka'i is a follow-up to Moloka'i that tells the story of Rachel Kalama's daughter Ruth, her early life, her internment during World War II, and her eventual meeting with her birth mother, Rachel. His story “Her Pilgrim Soul” was adapted by Brennert himself for the Alan Menken musical Weird Romance in 1992. He has been nominated for an Emmy on two other occasions, once for a Golden Globe Award, and three times for the Writers Guild Award for Outstanding Teleplay of the Year.Īlan's short story'Ma Qui' was honored with a Nebula Award in 1992. Law earned him an Emmy Award and a People’s Choice Award in 1991. His work as a writer-producer for the television series L.A. Of his novel Palisades Park, People Magazine said: “Brennert writes his valentine to the New Jersey playground of his youth in Ragtime-style, mixing fact and fiction. His next novel, Honolulu, won First Prize in Elle Magazine’s Literary Grand Prix for Fiction and was named one of the best books of 2009 by The Washington Post. It also received the Bookies Award, sponsored by the Contra Costa Library, for the 2006 Book Club Book of the Year. His novel Moloka’i was a national bestseller and a One Book, One San Diego selection for 2012. He grew up in New Jersey but moved to California in 1973. Alan Brennert is a novelist, screenwriter, and playwright.

The hawaii novels moloka i and honolulu alan brennert