Moloka'i

What's the title? Moloka’i

Who wrote it? Alan Brennert

When was it written? 2004

What star rating would I give it? 4.5/5

Would I recommend it? Yes, I would. Brennert brings vivid life to both his characters and the setting of Hawai’i. This was a kind book, full of hope in the face of tragedy. A gently rendered portrait of a fictional life in a nonfictional place, in many ways Moloka’i reminded me of My Brilliant Friend.

What's it about? (non-spoilers) Rachel Kalama lives a comfortable life on the island of Oahu at the turn of the century, beloved by her family. Her life is suddenly turned upside down when at the age of six she contracts Hansen’s disease, or what is more commonly referred to as leprosy. Exiled to the leper colony of Kalaupapa, Rachel comes of age, meets a host of new people, and together with her community goes on to build a full and rich life for herself.

What did you think? (spoilers) When I first heard the premise of Moloka’i, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. Hawai’i is a stunning part of the world, and I find the history of its ratification as an American state a fascinating part of history. However, more than the idea of a Hawaiian novel set at the turn of the 20th century, what intrigued me was the premise of a leper colony. Like many, when I hear the word “leper” I think of the Bible stories. The idea of a leper colony existing on American soil in such recent history was too tempting to resist.

As intrigued as I was by the premise, I had a few hesitations about diving into Moloka’i. Moloka’i tells the story of a Pacific Islander woman with a debilitating disease, but it was written by a white and (to the best of my knowledge) able-bodied man. I am neither a Pacific Islander nor do I suffer from Hansen’s disease, but I will say that I found Alan Brennert’s depiction of Rachel’s life honest and considerate. When it came to the novel’s depictions of the female experience, I can say that they certainly rang true for me. Often when I’m reading a female character written by a man, the author’s gender will make itself apparent in the construction of the character, one way or another. (Yes, this is a vast generalization of male authorship. Yes, this is only my subjective and limited experience. No, #notallmen authors are incompetent with female characters. Let’s move on, shall we?) However, Rachel’s character, her relationships with her family, and her friendships, especially with Sister Catherine, I thought were expertly done.

This novel covers many difficult topics – disease, religion, politics, faith, colonialism, transgender identity, racism, suicide, domestic violence, murder, forgiveness, loss, death – and yet, the novel manages to neither make light of any of these topics nor to be weighed down by them. Like I said, this is a hopeful book, about life, the triumph of life even in the face of unimaginable obstacles. Delicate and strong, this is a story that has stayed with me long after I left the world of its pages.

Images: Goodreads

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