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. 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.
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