Hawaii

Rating:
Summary: A really good Michener book.
Review: This my favorite Michener book out of the ones that I've read so far. It had a very good story tracing back several generations of Hawaiians starting from the original settlers from Bora Bora and Tahiti. It covered several interesting periods in Hawaii's history, including the arrival of Catholic missionaries, the immigration of Chinese and Japanese, the unionization of the sugarcane workforce, the WWII period, and the drive for statehood (I guess the book was finished before HI became a state). It's a big book (1,000 + pages) but if you like historical fiction you can finish it rather quickly.

Rating:
Summary: A book that you don't want to miss!
Review: This was the first of Michener's BIG books. Yes, he'd already won a Pulitzer for "Tales of the South Pacific," but this was the first of the 1,000+ page epics that made him the beloved writer he is today. There was a lot of complaining about this book when it came out in the 1950s because it was "all geology." Actually, there are about 50 or so pages of geology and prehistory to plow through before the story really begins. Once you get to Bora Bora, though, there's 950 pages of non-stop reading ahead. A tremendous story, with many great stories within stories as well. The movie was about Abner (if I remember correctly) but the REALLY GREAT part of the book is about Nyuk Tsin, and that's where the movie should've focused as well. When you order this book order some tickets to the islands, too. You'll definitely want to go after reading "Hawaii."

Rating:
Summary: A tale of the islands
Review: This was one of the best books that I have ever read. I have been to Hawaii numerous times and this book helped to express why I love the place so much. Michener takes the reader on a journey that explins how the islands came to be today. It is both a wonderful history and a memorable story.

Rating:
Summary: Captures the Irresistible Essence of Hawaii
Review: Aloha! If you have never been to Hawaii, James Michener's Hawaii will entice you into going. If you have been to Hawaii, this book will show you what you missed while you were there.

Hawaii requires that kind of explanation. I remember visiting the orchid garden in Honolulu once. I thought I had seen everything and really enjoyed it after 30 minutes. Then a volunteer gardener introduced himself and asked me if I would like a tour. I naturally agreed, and in the next 2 and a half hours, I saw the garden for the first time. That is what Michener will do for you in this terrific novel about Hawaii.

Like all Michener novels, this one starts back millions of years ago with how the islands were formed and populated. You will get a great geology and history lesson in the process. Normally, you would probably not be interested in either one in a novel, but they are both very valuable to you as a tourist in the islands by adding to your knowledge.

The people in the story are full of passion for religion, acquiring material possessions, power and sex. Although the last is not explicitly described, lust plays a big role in the story. That seems as it should in a tropical paradise where warm weather and scanty clothing combine.

When you visit modern day Hawaii, you will see reminders of the founding families of modern Hawaii all around you. Hawaii will give you a sense of the histories behind the current power and business structure.

The book itself is written in a way that feels like you are sitting at a luau with someone telling you the story through a combination of traditional means (like the hula) and good campfire story-telling. It's almost like a trip to the Polynesian Cultural Center on the northern shore of Oahu.

Seldom do I wish that long novels (and this one is really long) would keep on going, but that was my wish with Hawaii. Even if the fiction were not based loosely on fact, it would have been an exciting and engrossing novel. The fact that the reality is a lot like the novel makes it all the more appealing.

Hawaii will hook you on Hawaii. That's good. We all need more of the magic of the islands in our lives. Leave your misconceptions behind about Hawaii being too far away. It can be right inside of you. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: I'm right in the midst of it, having started it about a week ago (it definitely provides reading material for a long time), and it's fascinating. You begin to care for the characters, even if, like Abner Hale, they are not particularly lovable. The only problem I have with it, which is pretty minor, is that it was written in 1959, so the "modern" bits are not very. But that takes ntohing away from the experience that is _Hawaii_. For people who like this kind of book, I'd recommend Edward Rutherfurd's historical novels, which I would imagine are greatly influenced by those of Michener.

Rating:
Summary: my review
Review: Though the book is a little hard to follow at the beginning, you have to persist, because what comes next is an incredible tale of how Hawaii was populated and later became such a mixture of races. Again, Michener has given us a beautifully written book and a real joy to read.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful People - Wonderful Place
Review: I have read a number of Michener's books, so I came late to this one. I really enjoyed the book. Michener has his own unique way of developing characters. You feel like you really know and care about the people he writes about. I wish I would have read this book first of all Michener's because it would have been a good benchmark. The story was wonderful and he deals with these gentle people in such a way that it makes the reader wish they knew them. Although it is a very good book, it's still not "My" favourite Michener - for me that would have to be Chesapeake.

Rating:
Summary: Magnificent!
Review: One of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. A breathtaking historical panorama worthy of the beautiful islands.

Rating:
Summary: Un-put-downable
Review: I'm 338 pages through this book, and I can't put it down. It is literally stuck to my hand, and my eyes won't focus unless they're on Michener's wonderful words. I have never in my life read a book like this before. I'm only 16, MTV attention span and all that, and if I of all people can find a 1200 page book absorbing and amazing and superlative, then anyone can. Pacific Island history is some of the most colourful in the world, and often overlooked. I'm infuriated with Abner Hale, admire Malama and think Terero's tops. I love these characters! All right, well, I'm off to finish Hawaii. After that, I reckon I'll have all the inspiration I need to write the Great Novel O Aotearoa. Shalom!

Rating:
Summary: Hawaii- A Gem of American Literature
Review: Michener's epic novel, Hawaii, is a pleasure to read. It compassionately and honestly displays the trials and tribulations of the fascinating island. Michener's portrait of Hawaii's multiculturalism is moving and poignant. Certainly this is a must read.