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Honolulu
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
30 posts | 35 read | 47 to read
Journeying to 1914 Hawaii as a mail-order bride, Korean-born Jin finds her hopes devastated by the realities of a rushed marriage to a bitter laborer; a situation throughout which she works to overcome limited opportunities.
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quirkyreader
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

I finished this last night. Here is the link to my gr review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4965758583

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quirkyreader
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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This has been my Labour Day so far. I was out under the crabapple trees and then the weather started to change.

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vonnie862
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

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. 😅

KristiAhlers I have loved all of this authors books! 2y
Ruthiella I hope you gave her a snack then! 🐶🦴 2y
vonnie862 @Ruthiella she sure did 😉 who can say no to that face? 2y
Texreader She‘s such a doll-baby! ❤️ 🐶 2y
Megabooks She‘s very cute! I‘m glad she ended up in the picture! 2y
36 likes5 comments
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LibraryCin
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

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

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Bookwormjillk
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Panpan

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

Wife I so agree with you on this one. 😐 3y
52 likes1 comment
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DanaManiac
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Mehso-so

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

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la_rose_noire
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

#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. 💜

25 likes2 stack adds
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la_rose_noire
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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I'm such a fan of #alanbrennert. I'm happy to dive into this picture bride journey. #hawaii #currentlyreading

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Wife
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Mehso-so

#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✉️

suvata That‘s too bad because I loved (edited) 4y
Wife @suvata I may try that one, on your recommendation 🙂 4y
suvata @Wife 👍🏻 4y
Bookwormjillk Too bad, but maybe that will make for a better discussion? 4y
48 likes4 comments
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Wife
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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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. 🌹

See All 11 Comments
Bookwormjillk These all look great. I‘d love to read one of the ones about Hawaii. 4y
Wife @Bookwormjillk I‘m leaning toward Honolulu myself 🌺 4y
DanaManiac I second reading one about Hawaii! My first choice book was set there but it‘s too long for LMPBC 🥴 4y
Bookwormjillk Maybe if you do Hololulu I can do The Other Typist?

The Garden of Evening Mists was high up on my list too, but I'm having trouble finding a non-electronic copy. Should have checked that first!
4y
Wife @Bookwormjillk Yes. That sounds good!🌹 4y
35 likes11 comments
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sblbooks
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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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

sprainedbrain I hope you like everything! This was such a fun theme to shop for. 🏝 I‘m sure the chocolate covered macadamias didn‘t fare well with that USPS delay. 🥺 4y
sblbooks @sprainedbrain the ice pack must have done the trick because the chocolate did not melt. I already tried one they're delicious. 4y
sprainedbrain oh good! I have family on the big island and they send us those at Christmas... I‘d never tried having them shipped in the summer so that was a gamble! 😂 4y
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sblbooks Oh, you have family on the island... awesome! I hope you get visit regularly. 4y
Chrissyreadit This looks like a true Hawaiian adventure 😍😍😍😍 4y
sprainedbrain @sblbooks nope, I‘ve never been. 😔 My maternal grandfather was born and raised there and his brothers and their family still live there, so they are sort of distant family. I will go someday! 4y
sblbooks @sprainedbrain I hope so too! 4y
33 likes7 comments
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Reagan
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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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.

Hooked_on_books You just need stronger shelves 🤓 6y
Reagan @Hooked_on_books that‘s the spirit! 6y
47 likes2 comments
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BooksForEmpathy
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

“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.

EmilyM An excellent book! 6y
70 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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BooksForEmpathy
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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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...

BookBabe 😋🌺 6y
CouronneDhiver Lovely! 6y
Crazeedi Kona coffee is the best! 6y
84 likes3 comments
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SheilaChew
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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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?

ABitLit So awesome. Bossy pants ftw! 6y
Tanisha_A Ooh! Hawaii! Enjoy! 🏵️ 6y
38 likes2 comments
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Sharpeipup
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Aloha!
A beautiful story that reminded me of “Memoirs of a Geisha”

14 likes2 stack adds
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Nute
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

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

Reggie Wow, you totally sold me!! Stacked. 7y
Nute @Reggie Right on! 7y
72 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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BeckyRoy
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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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.

DebinHawaii Aww... great pic! Generations of family, love and community are what living aloha is about! 🌺❤️Mahalo for entering. 7y
29 likes1 comment
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DebinHawaii
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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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. 📚📚📚

ApoptyGina69 Each year I say, When will I read 7y
DebinHawaii @ApoptyGina69 It's really good. I actually liked it more than Honolulu.🌺 7y
84 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Chelsibeau
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

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

MrBook 👍🏻👍🏻 7y
organizedmomreads I think I almost liked it better too! Love the references to somerset m 7y
8 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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emilymorgan
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Reviewsbylola Great job! 8y
71 likes1 comment
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emilymorgan
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Check out the link in profile to read about this week's feat in #boutofbooks! Happy reading! 📚🌺

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emilymorgan
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

"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

23 likes2 stack adds
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emilymorgan
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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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

ReadingSusan That's awesome! 8y
abbeyreads Awesome!! 8y
26 likes1 stack add2 comments
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emilymorgan
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Such a beautiful depiction of early Hawaii. I am captivated (and obviously having a wild Friday night).

17 likes1 stack add
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emilymorgan
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Such an eye opening look at the picture bride movement in Hawaii in the early 1900s. Can't wait to finish this!

Megabooks I really like this one too! 8y
CouronneDhiver Great book! I read this after traveling to Hawaii for work... fell in love with the people and it's history 🌴🌴 8y
emilymorgan @Ebooksandcooks @CouronneDhiver it is fascinating so far! 8y
8 likes1 stack add3 comments
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DreesReads
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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#funfridayphoto I scored this gorgeous copy at a rotary used book sale. But I haven't read Molokai yet!

20 likes1 stack add
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mhillis
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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CocoReads I haven't read this yet but Moloka'i was one of my favorite books a couple years ago. 8y
mhillis @CocoReads I haven't read it yet either but I plan to soon! 8y
38 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Megabooks
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

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

GeekGrl82 I read his Moloka'i earlier this year and loved it. 8y
Megabooks Yes! Moloka'i is good too. I've visually read them both, but I could help picking up this audio for just $3.99. My only complaint is that there were so many characters, some of the voices were too similar . 8y
BooksForEmpathy I got this back when you recommended it awhile ago! I need to read it! 8y
83 likes6 stack adds3 comments
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Rebeccajojackson
Honolulu | Alan Brennert
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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

6 likes4 stack adds