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Moloka'i
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
Young Rachel Kalama, growing up in idyllic Honolulu in the 1890s, is part of a big, loving Hawaiian family, and dreams of seeing the far-off lands that her father, a merchant seaman, often visits. But at the age of seven, Rachel and her dreams are shattered by the discovery that she has leprosy. Forcibly removed from her family, she is sent to Kalaupapa, the isolated leper colony on the island of Moloka'i. In her exile she finds a family of friends to replace the family she's lost: a native healer, Haleola, who becomes her adopted "auntie" and makes Rachel aware of the rich culture and mythology of her people; Sister Mary Catherine Voorhies, one of the Franciscan sisters who care for young girls at Kalaupapa; and the beautiful, worldly Leilani, who harbors a surprising secret. At Kalaupapa she also meets the man she will one day marry. True to historical accounts, Moloka'i is the story of an extraordinary human drama, the full scope and pathos of which has never been told before in fiction. But Rachel's life, though shadowed by disease, isolation, and tragedy, is also one of joy, courage, and dignity. This is a story about life, not death; hope, not despair. It is not about the failings of flesh, but the strength of the human spirit.
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review
Coleen
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

I‘ve had this on my shelf for a long time and just finally now getting around to it. I won‘t say I was disappointed, but I think I was expecting a 5-star read, and it wasn‘t quite that high for me. But still really good, and a well-written novel of historical fiction about the leprosy colony of Kalaupapa.

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Bookwormjillk
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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On the fifth day of Christmas my true love (the library) brought me this powerful book about leper colonies in Hawaii. So good. One of my favorites this year. #12booksofChristmas

54 likes2 stack adds
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vonnie862
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Hooked_on_books That‘s cool! 3mo
29 likes1 comment
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vonnie862
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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I'm happy to see books in anyone's home, especially when the genres are varied. I get even more excited if I see the types of books that I've enjoyed. This means we have a lot in common.

#SundayFunday @BookmarkTavern

Ruthiella I‘m much less of a book snob than I used to be. 😂 I remember a friend excitedly telling me that her new boyfriend was A READER, but when I saw his apartment, all the books were Tom Clancy etc. and I immediately judged him. 4mo
GondorGirl @Ruthiella Same! I used to be such a pretentious read in my 20s. As I've gotten older I've realized that you should read whatever makes you happy. 4mo
BookmarkTavern Oh a variety of genres is definitely a green flag! Thanks for answering! 4mo
Lizpixie As long as there‘s books AND they actually read them, who cares what they are! Readers are readers no matter what they choose to pick up🙌 4mo
26 likes4 comments
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Bookwormjillk
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

I don‘t even know what to say about this book I loved it so much. Who knew a book about a leper colony could make my heart sing like this. This is a must read for historical fiction readers.

79 likes2 stack adds
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vonnie862
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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I can't just recommend one book. I recommend based on people's interests but these three are the ones I recommend the most.

#EasterOMC #picturechallenge
@Clwojick @LadyKatrina

Clwojick I still havent read a Christopher Lamb book, but they look hilarious. 12mo
vonnie862 @Clwojick His humor is not for everyone but I enjoy his books. Personally, Lamb is his best work. 12mo
Readergrrl ❤️ Chris Moore and Biff!! 12mo
31 likes3 comments
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vonnie862
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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It depends on my mood and the phase I'm going through. However, the majority of my favorite books are historical fiction so I guess this genre is my favorite. 😆

The tagged book is one of my favorites. I enjoyed reading about the leprosy history in Moloka'i and it made me ugly cry.

#SundayFunday @ozma.of.oz

Charityann Thriller and YA fantasy 13mo
BookmarkTavern Oh this was a good one! Thanks for posting! 13mo
TalesandTexts Ancient literature and true crime. 13mo
30 likes3 comments
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quirkyreader
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

I sat outside and finished this one. Here is the link to my gr review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/193110842?book_show_action=false&from_revi...

Suet624 How lovely. 2y
26 likes1 comment
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Julz422
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed and recommend this book. You follow the main character through heartbreaking and heartwarming moments and get a glimpse of history that many of us aren‘t aware of or think about. I definitely teared up at the end. 🥲

robinb I enjoyed this one as well. A very unusual and thought-provoking book. 2y
6 likes1 comment
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quirkyreader
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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I spent a big part of today sitting under a crabapple tree reading this one.

Blueberry I wish I was under a crabapple tree reading 😊 2y
KristiAhlers That has been my favorite so far by that author. You‘ll need to read the sequel. So good. 2y
quirkyreader @KristiAhlers is on the TBR along with Honolulu. 2y
26 likes3 comments
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vonnie862
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

This is another of my top five favorites. You get to learn the leprosy history in Moloka'i through a heartbreaking story. This book made me cry a few times and made me fall in love with the characters.

#AlphabetGame
#LetterM
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Megabooks I loved this too. 2y
marleed Loved this book! 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful cover!! 2y
Tera66 Awesome book!🌺 2y
35 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Julz422
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Last week of summer 😭🍷

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Julz422
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Two more weeks 😭😎

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Julz422
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Next up…

5 likes1 stack add
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cinda.marie
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺 A young Hawaiian girl is taken from her family and sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka‘i. This is a wonderful story, one I won‘t soon forget. Finding the original sales receipt tucked inside the book was an added bonus. Purchased at S.F. International Airport on March 10, 2006. #historicalfiction 5/22

marleed Oh Iove to find an original receipt inside a thrifted book! I also loved this book and recently thrifted a copy of its sequel- still on my TBR. 2y
cinda.marie @marleed I‘m also planning to read the sequel. Looking forward to it! (edited) 2y
UwannaPublishme How cool! 2y
cinda.marie @UwannaPublishme I‘ll definitely leave the receipt for the next reader to find! 2y
jimfields3 That‘s cool! I like to stick my receipts in the books, too. I still have one I bought in the early 90s. 2y
28 likes5 comments
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cinda.marie
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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🌺 Paperback
🌺 4
🌺 I usually scribble notes in a book journal

#ThoughtfulThursday @MoonWitch94

Thanks for the tag @Enchanted_Bibliophile 😊📚

Enchanted_Bibliophile You're welcome! 2y
MoonWitch94 Thanks for playing ☺️📚 2y
31 likes2 comments
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vonnie862
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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1. Historical fiction
2. Tagged
3. Marie Benedict

@ozma.of.oz #sundayfunday

BookmarkTavern I read your tagged book years ago for a book club! It was very good. Thank you for sharing! 2y
24 likes1 comment
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Laughterhp
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Here are the books for #Roll100 - April

I never finished The Magnificent Nine in January, so here‘s hoping!

The tagged is fitting, to prepare me for my Hawaii trip!
And then the 3rd book in a historical mystery series set in Scotland!

PuddleJumper Oo looks great! 2y
34 likes1 comment
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Juliev
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

Currently in Hawaii, so read Molokai on the flight over. Good story and history of how leprosy patients were sentenced to live on the island of Molokai to prevent spread of disease. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Kayla.Adriena
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

Finished up my #LMPBC book! @shellleigh33 it will be going out into the mail soon! Such a good book! Warning it's a tear jerker!

sharread I'm in the need of a good tear 😢 can't wait. 2y
30 likes1 comment
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vonnie862
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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1. Yes. I try not to but I am a sucker for pretty covers.
2. I expect the cover to represent the theme or mood of the book, but I rely on the synopsis to get more of an idea of what the book is about.
3. Tagged
@ozma.of.oz

BookmarkTavern I love the splashes of pink on that cover! Thanks for posting! 3y
vonnie862 @ozma.of.oz it really makes the flowers pop out. 3y
19 likes2 comments
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Kangaj1
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

Here are my August reads, in order of star rating. The top row is all 5 and 4.5. The middle two rows are all 4 stars, plus the first book on the last row. The last few are 3 stars.

Opal & Nev and My Lady Jane were 🥰 on audio.

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Tera66
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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#JulyJourneys #waterfalls
@eggs & @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
When I think of waterfalls, I think of Hawaii. I don't remember them being in this book, but the book is set I'm Hawaii and is one of the best I have read.

Eggs Part of a Hawaii series? Looks so good 💙💦💚 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful cover!! 3y
34 likes2 comments
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DonWon
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert

Reading for my book club. Read about 80% and it's a nice complement to Michener's Hawaii so far.

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Blueberry
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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NataliePatalie Oooo love the background 3y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Beautiful 📚❤️ 3y
57 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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TheSpineView
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Eggs Beautiful 💐💗📚 3y
TheSpineView @Eggs 💜💐 3y
Tera66 I loved this book! 3y
TheSpineView @Tera66 👍🌞😊 3y
48 likes4 comments
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paulareadsallthetime
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

A beautiful historical fiction book about Rachel. She contracts leprosy as a child an is exiled to Moloka‘i. Rachel finds friends and family along the way as she grows on this island. I knew nothing of Hawaii nor the leprosy colonies until reading this book. I am looking forward to reading the sequel.

KCofKaysville @paulareadsallthetime I liked it also several years ago. 3y
11 likes1 comment
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Kshakal
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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TheKidUpstairs ❤📚🌺🌸🌺🌸 3y
27 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Sharpeipup
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Reading a few pages at work when these beautiful flowers were delivered. Sadly they aren‘t for me but I enjoyed them all the same.

megnews Gorgeous!! Love the colors 😍 3y
Moonprismpower Wow what a beautiful arrangement and your photo is awesome! 3y
46 likes1 stack add2 comments
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DebinHawaii
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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I know many of my Litsy friends have read & loved this book like I did. (I still have yet to read the follow up Daughter of Moloka‘i but I will!) so I thought I‘d share the online link (below in comments) to the prequel story featured this month in our local Honolulu Magazine in case any of you are interested in reading it! 🌺🍍🌴

DebinHawaii @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @wanderinglynn @Crazeedi I think you all loved the book. I‘m sure I am probably leaving other friends out. 🤷🏻‍♀️ (edited) 3y
Butterfinger Oh yes. Thank you for sharing. 3y
DebinHawaii @Butterfinger You are welcome! 🤗 3y
Cinfhen Check this out @4thhouseontheleft @IamIamIam crazy coincidence 💜💜💜Thanks for thinking of me @DebinHawaii 😘 3y
59 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Kayla8
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“‘Who can doubt the presence of God in the sight of men whom He has given wings?‘ I recall that so precisely because I‘ve had time to consider my error... God didn‘t give man wings; He gave him the brain and the spirit to give himself wings. Just as He gave us the capacity to laugh when we hurt, or to struggle on when we feel like giving up.”

Full GoodReads Review ⬇️
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3142571931

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Kayla8
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE

LittleMoon I can understand you😂👌 3y
13 likes1 comment
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Kayla8
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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“‘It was a bright, clear day. The sky above us was blue and forever, and I looked up at it and thought: ‘Aouli.‘ Blue vault of heaven.‘”

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Addison_Reads
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Loved this one! 💚 I read a nonfiction book last year about this same topic and I learned a lot about the leper's colony in Hawaii. However, I wanted a more personal aspect, and this beautifully written historical fiction was exactly what I wanted.

Vibrant characters bring this story alive and will leave you so engrossed in the journey you'll forget you're reading fiction because it feels so real.

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
36 likes1 stack add1 comment
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S3V3N
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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#ThoughtfulThursday 🌸I won a case that I initiated.🙌🏽 🌸 Summertime by The Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff @MoonWitch94 Thanks for the tag @Sace

slategreyskies Summertime was my choice too! :) 4y
S3V3N @slategreyskies It never gets old! 4y
MoonWitch94 That was my summer song, too! Congrats on your case! 4y
S3V3N @MoonWitch94 Thanks! I love that song! 4y
18 likes4 comments
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Marquis784
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

Originally published in 2004, Moloka‘i by Alan Brennert provides a richly detailed history of Rachel Kalama‘s life in a leper colony on Moloka‘i, Hawai‘i during 1891-1948. Daughter of Moloka‘i provides a parallel history from the perspective experienced by Ruth Utagawa during 1891-1948. The historical aspects of life during these years are well-researched which allows the reader to understand the hardships and devastation of the time.

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Purpleness
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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😂

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Purpleness
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Ah, sibling rivalry

Reecaspieces This is a great book! 4y
wen4blu One of my favorite books. 4y
42 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Purpleness
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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42 likes1 stack add
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Tracyantoon
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

Moloka‘i is the Hawaiian island home to the former leprosy settlement. The history of this place is as heartbreaking as the island is beautiful. I was completely surprised by how much I fell in love with these characters. This book utterly blew me away. The father-daughter relationship brought me to tears almost every time they interacted. Just wow. Highly recommend. All the stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

TerriGreen I am so excited to read this based on your recommendation! 4y
35 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Addison_Reads
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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I'm too lazy to put all the numbers on my grid. 😂 This is my updated #BookSpin #DoubleSpin #BookSpinBingo for July. I'm excited to see how many reads I can get through.

@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 4y
33 likes1 comment
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MelKelsey
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

Book 67 Moloka'i is historical fiction about the like-named Hawaiian island that citizens with leprosy were quarantined to from the late 1800s all the way until 1969. It's eye-opening and refreshing to read about an underrepresented tragedy of relatively-recent history, but it is also difficult to read about it during covid. It elucidates the worst of what we as people are capable of. Well-written and strong characters.

21 likes1 stack add
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Addison_Reads
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 4y
44 likes1 comment
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wanderinglynn
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

A heartbreaking historical fiction of Hansen‘s disease (leprosy) in Hawai‘i. Heartbreaking, but well worth the tears to understand what those diagnosed with leprosy in the late 19th and early 20th century endured.

And a slow start to #24b4monday. I doubt I‘ll make it to 24 hrs, but I aim to get to double digits. And at least I am reading. 👍🏻

Also, this is my #doublespin for April. So I‘m 2/2 for April‘s #bookspin! 🎉

BeansPage This is on my TBR list. I just need to procure myself a copy of it. I'm so glad you liked it! 😃 4y
Andrew65 I‘ve had a slow start but doing much better tonight. 4y
wanderinglynn @SumisBooks I‘m happy to send you this one. 😀 Just email me your mailing address (lynn@wanderinglynn.com) 4y
See All 8 Comments
BeansPage Oh my goodness Lynn, that is so generous of you!!! Thank you so very very much ❤️🤗❤️ 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
marleed I thought this book was so interesting! 4y
LL1964 I liked this as well. There is a book 2 out now. I didn‘t get to it yet though. 4y
SFM13 Loved this story 4y
95 likes8 comments
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Sarahandhella
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Picked up my books from the library curb drop off this afternoon! They had them all packed up and ready to go and labeled with your name. It was a very streamlined and safe way to still be able to access library materials. Love my small town library!! Glad I can jump right into Daughter of Moloka‘i after I finish the first book!

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Jas16
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Pickpick

This book sat on my shelves unread for years which is a shame because I loved it. Seven year old Rachel is separated from her family and sent to Moloka‘i when she is diagnosed with Hansen‘s Disease. Being isolated from the rest of the world does not mean that Rachel‘s life is small. As she grows into adulthood on the island she builds relationships, endures deep losses, and never loses her inner strength or curiosity. Has anyone read the sequel?

la_rose_noire I loved that book too! Didn't even know there was a sequel. What's the title ? 4y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Loved this. The sequel was okay but not as great. 4y
69 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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la_rose_noire
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Day 4
#7days7books
Seven books that left a deep impression on me and changed me.

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wanderinglynn
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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Here‘s to April being a better reading month. My April #bookspin (tagged), plus my #doublespin and #triplespin

And maybe I‘ll even finish my March #bookspin book 😂

jb72 I really enjoyed Moloka‘i. 4y
BookishTrish Daft question - what are the #books pin numbers this month? 4y
See All 8 Comments
Laughterhp I‘ll be interested in your review for the Black Widow book! 4y
wanderinglynn @Laughterhp 👍🏻 I‘ll tag you when I review it. 4y
Megabooks Nice choices!! 4y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
TheAromaofBooks @BookishTrish - Sorry, I somehow missed you on the tag list! 😬 4y
88 likes8 comments
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marleed
Moloka'i | Alan Brennert
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I had a single 2-star read in 19, and hoping this grid contains my only 2-star of 20. My two lower rated books were new releases on library loan proving to me again... Good TBR books like the tagged await and publish date need not be my priority.

5* = Loved It, want non-reader IRL friends to read. I do/will own a physical copy. A+
4*= Liked it a lot, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

runswithscissors007 I think I've said this before but I love the clarity of your star system. 4y
marleed @runswithscissors007 Thank you. It really works for me. I rate my books on my feelings at the point of reading. My ratings would likely vary if I read at a different time or emotional state of being. I also assign my rating before I read through other opinions of the book because I can be easily influenced by eloquent reviews ;) 4y
61 likes2 comments