Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

In Kalawao only two things were truly stationary: two small islands, Okala and Mokopu...they had weathered the storms and seas of centuries, and they were a comforting link to a time when men flew like birds, a time before leprosy (page 101).

Moloka'i is a book about courage, and living life to its fullest with dignity, in spite of harsh treatment from society. It's a journey I suggest you take. By understanding what happened at Molokai hopefully its history will never be repeated.

While the events are real, this is a work of fiction based on the lives of people with leprosy (now Hansen's Disease) and the remarkable individuals who chose to care from them on Molokai.

Rather than keeping me at arm's length from the subject, the author excelled in creating the time period so I felt and saw the events taking place.

Throughout the book I kept asking myself how I would have responded to the panic about leprosy. Would I have gone to help or just turn my back like many people did? Was it right to strip people of their rights and freedom?

Starting in 1891, the book follows the life of Rachel who we first meet as a young girl at age five. At the end of the book in 1970, she goes to her grave a free woman having spent most of her life in quarantine.

As it turns out, leprosy was less contagious than tuberculosis. People panicked when they couldn't explain or understand the disease. Being labeled a leper meant confinement of the individual but also a black mark on the family. Many lives were destroyed but at Kalaupapa life went on.

This was life, and if some things were Kapu, others weren't; she (Rachel) had to stop regretting the ones that were and start enjoying the ones that were not (page 216).

There were two leper colony settlements. The first was Kalawao where Father Damien lived and worked. After his death the settlement moved six miles to the other side of the peninsula which was drier. This was called Kalaupapa and is the setting for Moloka'i.

After reading Moloka'i I visited Kalaupapa and hiked down the 103 year old Pali trail. The sea cliffs are the highest in the world. So beautiful and yet I could see how they would feel like a prison to those who were brought here against their will. As one character, Haleola, remarked:

I wanted to see it (Kalaupapa) once, without seeing the Pali (cliffs). Without the walls. As though I was free. (page 185)

My advice is to read Moloka'i. Be prepared to feel emotions. In the end celebrate freedom.

Rob's Grade: A B C D

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert, St. Martin's Press, New York, Copyright 2003

Sydney, Here I Come

For the next week I'll be in Sydney, Australia. It's been almost 3 years since my last visit. We're packing food today for the 10 hour flight from Honolulu.

I have a list of bookstores to visit (which I'll report on later) and plan to take in the museums, Sydney Fish Market, beaches and Opera House. The tickets for shows are so expensive that we're going to see if anything last minute becomes available.

With 20 hours spent in the air over the next week, I've packed some books to read and report on later.

First up is The Lost Dog by Michelle de Krester which was first printed in Australia. After that I'm switching to Dragon House by John Shors from the Library Thing Early Reviewers program. I owe them a review before I get kicked out of the program. The last book, Spinners by Anthony McCarten, comes from New Zealand and is described as a, "kiwi-flavored Garrison Keillor."

I'm almost finished with the book Molokai by Alan Brennert. This will be my first book review and I had planned to release it today. Unfortunately, it's going to have to wait until I return.

A few weeks ago we hiked down to Kalaupapa on Molokai and toured the settlement where the book takes place. I'll share photos with my book review. Having been there recently, the story come alive with each page I read.

G'day for now and look for my first book reviews in about a week (plus a report on Sydney bookstores).

Favorite Bookmarks

My bookmark selection for November 2009 comes from Florence, Italy (1980)

It's hard for me to believe that this bookmark is 29 years old. When it was gifted to me I was a year out of college and on my first trip to Europe. Each time I hold this bookmark it reconnects me to my twenties and a friendship with Leah.

I met Leah, a high school teacher from California, that summer in Europe. We spent a week together after meeting by chance. In Rome we went our separate ways. She was scheduled to be in Spain and I was going to Greece.

It happened that we both had reservations later at the same hotel in Florence. When I arrived several weeks after her, this bookmark from Leah was waiting for me.

We kept in touch for nine years and then lost track of each other for eighteen. About two years ago we reconnected and look forward to meeting again.

I had forgotten this bookmark existed until it reappeared in my life earlier this year. My mom was dying and her house had just been sold. I was there in my childhood home for the last time and went into her bedroom where stacks of boxes had been organized.

My eyes focused on a strip of brown leather on the floor. Without thinking I picked it up and turned it over. A wave of emotion struck when I saw it was my bookmark from Leah.

Inscribed on the back was a note from Leah dated 1980 hoping we would stay in touch.

Note: The website, Forgotten Bookmarks, has inspired me to share a favorite bookmark with you each month. Please add your comments.

Getting to Know Rob

Purpose: I’m writing this book blog for two reasons. First, I need motivation to read all of the books I’ve accumulated. I’ve run out of shelf space so this is serious. Second, I hope my writing will improve with each post. Thanks for joining me on this venture.

Why Candy Corn? It’s difficult for me to stop eating this treat when there’s a bag in front of me. Just like going to a bookstore; I can’t get enough.

Library Overview: My reading interests are varied as you’ll see from the books I talk about. They include mysteries (nothing too gruesome), travel essays, fiction, Hawaiiana and some biography.

Getting to Know Rob (A work in progress)

1. There are 425 books on my Library Thing shelf with more to catalog.
   
2. Coffee is my drink of choice and I hand roast twice weekly.
   
3. I live on Kauai.
   
4. Long distance ocean swimmer.
   
5. Pescetarian (fish eater) but no meat.
   
6. I have a pet mule that no one rides.
   
7. Former Catholic (no need to explain).
   
8. When in Vegas, I visit their 13 used bookstores.
   
9. I’ve bench pressed 245 pounds.
   
10. My favorite place to be is on an island.
    
11. Sensitive and trusting guy.
    
12. An only child with both parents gone.
    
13. My color chart is Byzantine Winter.
    
14. I hate cold weather.
    
15. Addicted to Hawaiian rainbows.
    
16. Divorced and now partnered to Jeff.
    
17. Being gay took a long time for me to accept.
    
18. Tight hamstrings but I still do yoga
    
19. The ocean is a spiritual place for me.
    
20. I’m sometimes impatient with the journey and want answers now.
    
21. My favorite bookstore is Strand Books in Manhattan.
    
22. I play flute and love theater.
    
23. In my spare time I write Beat of Hawaii.
    
24. My high school library account number was 1492.

My Book Reviews

Book Reviews Completed

1.    Molokai by Alan Brennert
2.    A Deadly Business by Lenny Bartulin
3.    The Man Who Invented Christmas by Les Standiford
4.    Out In The Garden by Dean Riddle
5.    Dragon House by John Shors
6.    Walking the Gobi by Helen Thayer
7.    The Lunatic, the Lover, and the Poet by Mrylin A. Hermes
8.    Confections of a Closet Master Baker by Gesine Bullock-Prado
9.    Ceremonies: Prose and Poetry by Essex Hemphill
10.  White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
11.  The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
12.  How To Get Things Really Flat by Andrew Martin
13.  The Girl Who Chased The Moon by Sarah Addison Allen
14.  Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin
15.  Farm Fresh Murder by Paige Shelton
16.  Today I Am A Ma'am by Valerie Harper
17.  Tea and Sympathy by Anita Naughton
18.  Dead End Gene Pool by Wendy Burden
19.