Hawaii

Rating:
Summary: A classic
Review: James Michener's description of how the islands came to being was poetic. This book is great historical fiction that is fun to read. Anyone who is fortunate enough to have been to the islands should read this book. The description of the leper colony of Molokai was especially good.

Rating:
Summary: What a bore!
Review: I am about to do something I very rarely do. Give up on a book through sheer boredom. I'm 700 pages into the thing, so I feel I've given it every chance! Reading the previous reviews, a reasonable explanation might be that Amazon sent me a different copy of Hawaii than the others received. I doubt it though! The story starts with Michener's usual tedious geological data, followed by a fairy-tale type account of the original settlers, from Bora-Bora, would you believe? The story then leaps to the early 1,800's, introducing us to the first central character. Abner Hale no less! A devout, religious, New Englander. A stubborn, boring, would-be missionary in his teens. This poor wretch lives a long life in Hawaii, using his inadequate & flawed character to the full, converting the local SAVAGES (his word, not mine!) to Christianity. His treatment of his "flock" is devastatingly viscious & bigotted until finally dying alone, in poverty & insane. A well deserved fate if you ask me! There follows long pages on the progess of a boring, but industrious Chinese couple, an equally drab Japanese immigrant, etc.. Where (or perhaps, why?) did he come up with these people? The Hawaiian descendants are little better, bullies, braggarts & bigots almost to a man. In fact, racism & bigotry are underlying themes throughout the book. In my experience, Michener's novels have an unerring tendency to tail off badly into long, dry endings. With a beginning & middle like I have just read, I'm giving up now!

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book. Couldn't put it down.
Review: Excellent epic of how Hawaii came to be what it is today and why

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for Michener and non-Michener fans alike
Review: Wonderful. A magnificent chronicle of the Hawaiian islands and the role its people had on its development. Strongly recommended for all interested in this subject matter.

Rating:
Summary: Cardboard cutouts
Review: Like all of Michener's books, which are considerable in number, Hawaii was educational more than completely enthralling. Michener does not create true literature, instead he generates literally thousands of cardboard cutout characters that move around and sometimes even bump into each other in exact replication of actual historical events! Think of a very colorful and detailed diorama with factually accurate period pieces and almost lifelike wax figures representing important events in history. It is sometimes pleasing to the eye, and it is always informative, but storyline and characters rarely rise above the level of a daytime soap opera. This same criticism could apply to virtually all of Michener's historical works.

Rating:
Summary: Classic, brilliant Michner.
Review: One of the all-time greatest books I have ever read. Michner takes us on a fascinating journey spanning generations and continents. An excellent place to start for those interested in reading Michner.

Rating:
Summary: The most glorious book I have ever read
Review: James Michener is undeniably one of the greatest storytellers of our, or any, time. He invents most interesting plots and people. His language is fluid, rich and absolutely striking. "Hawaii" is spectacular. It was the first James Michener book that I have read and, four years later, it is still the best. Nothing compares to the beauty of Michener's prose and richly-developed characters. There are dozens of quotes that I have re-read and memorized because they strike a familiar cord. "Hawaii" is a book that has something for everybody. I do not know how anyone can not like this book but people who are wondering whether to read it or not should go ahead and do it: they will not be disappointed. "Hawaii" stands out among all other books, including Michener's. His "Alaska", "Poland", "Texas", "Mexico", and especially the dreaded "The Covenant", among others, cannot even compare. Thus, if you do not want to be disappointed, read some of Michener's other books first and leave "Hawaii" until the end. Save the best for last.

Rating:
Summary: I haven't read this book yet!
Review: I haven't read this book yet. can anyone tell me if it is good, if so do you think I should read it?

Rating:
Summary: I have not read this book yet!
Review: I have not read this book yet, therefore I was wondering if it was any good??

Rating:
Summary: A long philosophical and boring book!
Review: Everyone told me that the book would be exciting, tremendous, thrilling and vivid, yet when I started reading I felt that Michener was dragging the story, not giving any progress, not letting the reader hold on to something, it was very frustrating to read the first 10-15 pages. After that chapter I was waiting for some improvement. The improvement came yet the second I felt I was connecting to the characters the book jumped forwards some 200 years. The book isn't written in an organized way and I am sorry I hadn't enjoyed it as much as some of the people who wrote other reviews.