Welcome to Litsy!

I absolutely loved this book!!! This book followed Jin as she tried to find her freedom while describing the history of Korean picture brides, the Golden Age in Honolulu, racism, plantations, prostitution, and the creation of Hawaiian shirts. I cried so much towards the end. 5⭐️

Note: Ebony would not get out of the picture. She hates taking pictures so I was surprised that she kept posing. I think she wants a snack. 😅

I really enjoyed this. I not only learned about the life of a picture bride, I learned about Hawaii in the early 20th century, and about Korea and the interactions with Japan that I really knew nothing about. I was impressed with how many real-life people Brennert brought into the story

I love historical fiction, I love history books that deal with little known periods, I don‘t love when the author can‘t decide what they want to write. I had high hopes for this book, but it just didn‘t gel. #LMPBC

2.5 ⭐️

Catching up on reviews! I think this book was poorly done. I learned quite a bit about Korean, Japanese and Hawaiian history, but otherwise it wasn't a good story. The characters came across as existing only as a vehicle for telling the history. The MC internal dialogue reads like that of a fictional character created to instruct you on a tour of a historical site. I wouldn't read anything from this author again. Headed to @Bookwormjillk

#picturebride #honolulu #hawaii #korea #1910s #immigration #historicalfiction
Regret, aka Jin, is a young Korean girl who moves to Honolulu as a picture bride in the 1910s. I'm not traditionally a fan of historical fiction but the way Alan Brennert writes makes it so interesting. 💜

I'm such a fan of #alanbrennert. I'm happy to dive into this picture bride journey. #hawaii #currentlyreading

#LMPBC @Tattooedteacher @DanaManiac @Bookwormjillk @suvata I struggled to finish this story. It seems the author used the characters as a vehicle to tell Honolulu history, but never really developed the characters or their relationships. I was disappointed. 2/5🌺s

It‘s is the mail and on the way to Christine✉️

These are some options for our group. I will tag below for ease of choosing. I‘ve looked at all of the group choices on posts and emails. I‘m happy with any and all choices! I included The Other Typist even though it‘s on Jill‘s list. I figured that if there was a lot of interest, it had a second chance. 🌹

Aloha, from my #staycationintime to Hawaii! Thank you @sprainedbrain I'm Blown Away by this amazing package! I 💜 everything!
Also, a huge thank you to @Chrissyreadit for hosting such an awesome swap!
#staycationintimeswap

In my tbr rage read (let us not forget that my husband recently pointed out a mildly sagging bookshelf) I‘m reading this masterpiece. I buy good books! I should read more of them! 😂 About to take a break to watch Widows, but I expect to finish this one by Friday.

“Hawaii has often been called a melting pot, but I think of it more as a mixed plate, a scoop of rice with gravy, a scoop of macaroni salad, a piece of mahi mahi, and a side of kimchi. Many different tastes share the plate, but none of them loses its individual flavor, and together they make up a uniquely ‘local‘ flavor.”

Perfect book to settle me into these islands and to remind myself of the struggle, oppression, and resilience of its people.

Found the best coffee shop on Kauai - Aloha Roastery ☕️🌺. Getting some good reading done and my almond milk hot chocolate is delicious. I feel very relaxed here...

I‘m packing for a long weekend in Hawaii, trying to decide which paperbacks to bring along - is it tacky or awesome to read Honolulu in Honolulu?

Aloha!
A beautiful story that reminded me of “Memoirs of a Geisha”

Day 6 -Set on Island: Imagine because you are born female you are not important enough to receive a formal name from your parents. Imagine your parents name you for the feelings felt at the discovery of your gender. Your name is Regret. Imagine you believe that journeying to a new country as a picture bride will deliver you to love, respect & affluence. Imagine none of that happens. What do you do? You find your own way. Recommended! #MarchInBooks

Last weekend, my mom, one of my sons and I went to a local Christmas 🎄 tree lighting. The sense of community and feeling of love 💗 ❤️ 💕 I had represents #livingaloha. We sang Christmas carols under the stars ⭐️ and counted down until the lights came on.

Day 17 #UncannyOctober #ACityInTheTitle I've missed a bunch of days & prompts this month & who knows if I'll go back & catch them up but I'm trying to at least get back into some photo challenges. This one is pretty easy as I have several books with a city in the title-so here's sux. 📚👍 I've read & enjoyed the first four books in the picture & San Juan Noir & The Paris Wife (& also The Paris Architect-not shown) are in my #TBR stacks. 📚📚📚

I loved this book. I enjoyed Moloka'i but this one is even better. It was filled with history and I learned so much while reading it. It also shed light on racial inequality in Hawaii at a time when mainland America paid little attention to what was going on out in the pacific. The main character was lovable and her story captivating. 🏄🏽🏝 #happycryendings

Check out the link in profile to read about this week's feat in #boutofbooks! Happy reading! 📚🌺

"This is also, i believe, what America is at its best--a whole greater than the sum of its parts." This book was great and challenged me to look at the world and race. It's a great description of Hawaii in the 20s and 30s, and captivated me to the end! There were too many story lines at some points, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed it! #boutofbooks

Day 2 of #boutofbooks and I'm about to cross the finish line of this beauty, Honolulu! But for today's challenge: my goal for 2017 is to finish my first novel, a YA adventure novel set in Yellowstone National Park! #BoB2017Goals

Such a beautiful depiction of early Hawaii. I am captivated (and obviously having a wild Friday night).

Such an eye opening look at the picture bride movement in Hawaii in the early 1900s. Can't wait to finish this!

#funfridayphoto I scored this gorgeous copy at a rotary used book sale. But I haven't read Molokai yet!

#setonanisland #seasonsreadings2016

4.5🌟story 3.5🌟narration This is the story of four Korean picture brides in early 1900s Honolulu. Not only is it an interesting look into the positive and negative aspects of picture brides, but Brennert also incorporated social and political events in Hawaii at the time. He covered the struggles between whites, natives, and immigrants while still weaving a great story. #notawhiteprotagonist

Sad to finish this delicious read, but so happy to have had the honor of adding it to my world. Drank it in like a good cup of coffee. ☕️ #read #honolulu #alanbrennert #coffee #historicalfiction #hawaii #goodread