Cheap Hawaii (Book) (JAMES A. MICHENER) Price

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Customer Reviews of Hawaii

Master Storyteller!
Having read several books by James Michener, I must say that "Hawaii" is my absolute favorite! It's length may be formidable to those of you who are not used to reading novels beyond 300 pages (this one is over 1,000), but don't let its daunting size scare you! This book is incredible and amazing! It is a fictionalized story that is intermeshed with truthful accounts of the entire history of Hawaii, from the very beginnings of Hawaii as an actual land formation erupting from beneath the sea, to its induction into statehood. This book spans quite a long time period, and it pays homage to the political, social, religious, and commercial workings and atmospheres of and relating to Hawaii during this span. This book touches on everyone and everything from Hawaiian royalty to New England Christian missionaries, from pineapple and sugar cane farmers out in the fields and in their shacks to the unique blending of the Oriental with the Polynesian cultures that make up the people of Hawaiian. It does not take place solely on the island of Hawaii, but travels to the far reaches of China and Japan, as well as to the continental United States and out over the open ocean.It is a historical fiction novel that almost makes you forget that its characters are not real people! This story will sweep you away with its descriptions of the island and its very special history. Many other reviewers said that they found the beginning (where James Michener describes the formation of the island from an underwater volcano to an actual island) to be boring -- this is far from my opinion! I found it incredibly interesting and very educational. After reading this novel, I was so impressed with Michener's writing and the breadth of his knowledge! You will definitely want to read more of his books. Don't miss out on this one, though!

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Probably Michener's best novel
Michener, the supreme storyteller, created some really memorable characters in this monster of a novel. The genre of blockbuster historical novels can seem somewhat dated (viz. the mammoth novels of Mitchell, Ferber, McCullough, Caldwell and Follett) but they are definitely delicious if you get a taste for them. Dated or not, Hawaii is a gripping tale of not-so-angelic missionaries, struggling immigrants and early Polynesian settlers. The characters are absolutely unforgettable.

I particularly liked the section of the book where the missionaries run headlong into the traditions of the Polynesian people, whether insisting they wear confining clothing in the tropical heat, or that they should quit their charming and practical tradition of dancing, swimming and surfing in the buff. The missionaries stubbornly eat dried apples shipped to them across the sea, and scorn the richly nutritious native fruits and vegetables unfamiliar to them. They wilt in their long underwear, donned by the season. They try hard to bring a foreign world to their religion in the belief it will benefit the people, but when two vastly different cultures clash, it is inevitably tragic. Michener writes about this clash in vivid, sometimes shocking detail.

This book has been filmed, used as a basis for a musical but nothing compares to reading the original. I couldn't put it down.

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I like it!
I first tackled "Hawaii" as a young boy, partly for the
adventure, partly for the violence, and partly for the
naughty parts, probably what attracts boys to read lots of
books. It taught me a lot about the history of the Pacific,
despite being historical FICTION, as my parents often reminded
me. True, but excellently written historical fiction. Mr.
Michener can write historical fiction like no one else, once
one gets used to his style.