Honolulu: A Novel

This is a fascinating account of the life of a Korean girl who aspires to more than her life in Korea promises. The regimented, highly confining life of a young girl in Korea makes her desperate to find a way of escape. After secretly learning to read and write (as girls are not educated in other than wifely tasks), she latches onto the only access she can find to the outside world - that of a "picture bride". Life takes off from there, as she travels to meet her new husband in Hawaii. Although the author in his notes talks about "the glamour days of the 1920-1930's", we are not treated to clipper ships, elegant cruise liners,or vacationing celebrities. We are ensconsed in the tenements of the fields of pineapple plantations and in canneries, where our protagonist struggles to find a life with an abusive husband. This is the story of the seemier side of Hawaii, the struggle for survival, and the unrest between ethnic groups - the Korean, Japanese, Chinese, the white elite, and the naval personnel - during a period of growth, depression, and eventually, war. Unfortunately, the novel does not cover anything of the impact of World War II. I kept waiting for that, and was disappointed. All in all, though, as one who has only been exposed to the high-rises, the beaches, and tourist attractions, this story, which is based largely in reality and truth, is an eye-opener. Having read Hawaii by Michener, which dealt with the missionaries who went to work on the native Hawaiians in the very early days, this book was a good follow-up. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and for me, it was a page-turner. The ending wrapped up a bit too neatly (and prosperously), but I'll never turn down a happy conclusion to a story. I did wince however, when Jin, our protagonist named "Regret" in Korea, said, as the last line in the book that she had no "regrets"! Ouch.

I was a huge fan of Brennert's book Moloka'i, so I was a little hesitant to read this follow-up. I need not have been, while not quite as good as Moloka'i it was a fascinating look at Hawaii long before it became the vacation capital of the world. The book begins in Korea, where girls have very little value. This is made abundantly clear when her parents name our protagonist Regret. Wishing to better her life and get an education, Regret becomes a "picture bride". In exchange for passage to Hawaii she agrees to marry a young Korean named Noh. Unfortunately when Regret gets to the promised land she learns she has been duped into marrying an older man, an alcoholic with a severe gambling habit and an inclination to take his anger out on his wife with his fists. Regret, now called Jin, has been taught her whole life to be subservient to men; eventually she gets the courage to run away and try to make a better life for herself. When Jin relocates to the other side of the island she reconnects with a few other picture brides she met on her trip over from Korea. With the help of these friends, plus her own will and determination Jin begins to carve out a new life. Over the course of 40 years we follow Jin and her friends ups and downs. Brennert peppers the narrative with real life historical figures and introduces us to a land that is little more than a ramshackle town, segregated into the haves: sugar and pineapple plantation owners and the have-nots: the laborers that made them rich. I enjoyed following Jin's journey from unwanted and unloved Regret to a life filled with many joys and sorrows, a woman who never gives up her dreams of a better life. Although I appreciated all the research that went in the book, there was sometime a feeling of overload. In addition I found the fact that Jin was constantly meeting and befriending all of the famous personage's on the island highly unlikely. For these two reasons I dropped my rating a little; nevertheless I do recommend the book, it was a worthwhile read.

I love Hawai. I read "Molaki" by this author and enjoyed the story and his writing. "Honolulu" is even a better story and more enjoyable. The characters are well developed and interesting. I learned a lot from both novels. The history of Hawaii is well detailed throughout the books. Alan Brennert brought to life the culture and essence of the development of Honolulu. The Japanese and Korean people along with the original Hawaian people show the labor and work ethic that developed the area. The multi cultural enviorment is one of the most wonderful things about Honolulu and Hawai. I read with eagerness and great interest about the people that arrived in Honolulu to take advantage of the "streets that were paved in gold". Their adventure in this new world was both wonderful and heartrending. Mr. Brennert took my breath away with the many details of the different cultures and blending of lifestyles in this novel. I can't really give this book enough stars.

At first glance, author Alan Brennert, in his books, "Moloka'i" and "Honolulu", attempts to tell the tale of two brave women of the islands of Hawaii; and while each book is a rich writing of historical fiction, Brennert accomplishes so much more than stories of individual lives and bravery - instead he gives us a sweeping view of the culture of the islands from the turn of the century forward. He invokes their ideology, their customs, and yes, their biases and the age-old struggle of the native vs. the Caucasian foreigners that take over the land. Some have criticized Brennert for exposing some of the racism and discrimination that existed throughout the 20th century in Hawaii, but Brennert never bashes us over the head with it. In Honolulu, his first person narrarator is a fascinating Korean woman named Jin (formerly known as Regret), who comes to the islands, leaving behind the cultures and customs of her own country (customs she chafes at, including "girls'" inability to attend school) to become a "picture bride" of a Korean man who is working in the islands. Like many mail order brides, including others who accompany her on the boat to the islands, Jin's new husband is less than the stuff that dreams are made of. Removing her almost immediately from Honolulu to the plantation that he works at, his frequent bouts of temper and alcoholic stupor proving to be the norm, Regret's new husband beats her mercilessly one night and causes her to run back to the squalor of the city and to change her name to Jin. The remainder of the novel follows her life for the next 30 years - how it intertwines with her fellow "picture brides" from the boat, how she uses her intellect and bravery to carve a new life in a land that was once bewildering. Brennert builds his characters carefully, adds detailing that helps you care about their lives, and tangles their storylines up in the events of the day. The melting pot that is Hawaii is drawn in rich colors and textures, with small details from history woven into Brennert's story. With a sigh, in closing the cover to his second novel with great regret, I can highly recommend it to the reader who is looking for something beautifully written, that teaches while it entertains. A great sophomore effort from Alan Brennert.

Honolulu, by Alan Brennert,is a sweeping saga of the life journey of a Korean picture bride.From her Confucian beginning in Korea where she is born into in a life which restricts any dream of education and growth, Regret sets off on a journey of redemption and rebirth. She faces many perils,hardships and pains, but in a sisterhood of other picture brides, finds a path to a dream realized in the Honolulu of the early 1900's. Her story is told amid the story of early Hawaii itself. The history and colorful and tragic characters come to life in the expert hands of Alan Brennert. His love of Hawaii permeates every page and adds an extra added bonus to this sweeping novel. The immigrant experience, the multi paneled quilt of Hawaii's past is so lovingly told through the eyes of Regret who transforms into "Gem" as she grows and finds a way to fulfill her childhood dreams in a new land which becomes her home and her redemption. This novel, like Alan Brennert's first novel Molokai, is a tribute to the spirit of strong women who thrive despite hardships and restrictions. It is a wonderful book which will grab you and hold you.......... at times making you cry, and at times making you cheer and all the time making you see, taste ,feel and hear the Honolulu of long ago.Congratulations to Mr. Brennert for a true "GEM"!!

This was an enjoyable read. It follows a fictional korean immigrant "picture bride" to Hawaii and educates the reader on how Hawaii has come to be the cultural melting pot that it is. It shows how the place of women has changed over the last century in Korea and Hawaii. It examines how bigotry and larger world events affected the Islands as it transitioned from a monarchy to a possession of the United States and finally a state.. Through the eyes of this picture bride, one is given the opportunity to understand the impact of early to mid twentieth century events on the people of this beautiful island, how the individuals who people this island have changed across time, and how the many cultures brought to the islands contributed to what the Hawaiian islands have become today. Anyone who has been to Honolulu will see it in a totally different light and better appreciate the contributions of Hawaii, Japan and many other cultures to Island we enjoy today.

My wife really enjoyed this book, as she has all of the books of the author. The shipping time was also excellent.

As the subject interests me, I hoped to be swept away. That didn't happen. The time is early 1900s, the place Korea, where the Confucian teachings are strong and women are named things like "Regret." Regret is a curious and active young girl, best friends with her brother until at age 8 when she is relegated to the Inner Court with the other women and taught to sew, cook, behave. Her request for schooling is laughed at. Her only outing is to do laundry at the stream. Then one day Regret follows her mother to visit an ailing aunt. This aunt is shunned by the family for not having any children, not even girls. It is through this horrible aunt, Regret finds a teacher. When she demonstrates her skill to her Father, he beats her. But learning to read is her first step toward freedom which is in the guise of being a picture bride to a Korean in Hawaii. The narration is from the point of view of Regret. Or at least portends to be. However, from the get-go, I was wondering at how this girl compared things to America. Okay, okay. She moves there. But even then, her knowledge of things American--like things written in an American (i.e. English) newspaper--gave me pause. At one point she compares something in the pineapple factory- where she worked for a spell-- to a revolver, and I kept thinking, "How does she know this?" Is this the author talking? It sure felt like it when Regret befriended a hooker who got into the business because she liked sex and wanted to be paid for it. Really? So while the history was interesting--with characters like the Duke and Apang (inspiration for Charlie Chaplan) and W. Somerset Maugham--I found it difficult to relate to the characters and found myself just paging through the book, picking out the highlights (a strike, a kidnapping, the murder of a local for an unfounded rape charge, the introduction of aloha clothing, etc.)

I bought this book to read on our next trip to Hawaii. Covid 19 has prevented that and I decided that I could wait no longer! It is well written and I was taken back to the streets we had visited in Honolulu. Street names I didn't know I looked up and whilst reading this fiction book I found myself researching the true stories behind some of the characters. I learnt lots whilst reading a truly outstanding story. It has only made me want to return to Hawaii even more and to travel the streets in the book. Thank you for such an amazing read; I've started Molokai next!

Das Buch fängt etwas langsam an, ist aber sehr schön geschrieben und liest sich in einem weg. Ich war richtig traurig als das Buch zu Ende war

Great book

An amazing book!! Old Hawai'i... so mesmerizing!!

A joy from start to finish. History in a form that you can understand and appreciate. Would highly recommend it.