The Descendants

The Descendants, by Kaui Hart Hemmings

After seeing the movie before reading the book, I could not get George Clooney as Matt King out of my head. That's not a bad thing. :) I had dragged my dear hubby to see "The Descendants" when we stayed at the Sylvia Beach Hotel in March, and we cried through the movie. I didn't cry during the book...guess that is the difference between a book and a movie (except in the case of Wonder, which had me crying throughout).

This book, expanded from a short story, was beautifully written. Hemmings has a keen understanding of the way teenagers think and act (especially those who do not get enough affection or guidance from their parents!). The book is stronger than the movie in that we get to understand Matt's inner life and motivations. His transformation is a bit deeper and more understandable in the book for that reason.

It clearly is a novel of place. Hawaii is ever present, as is its culture, history, and tensions between native Hawaiians and white people. Hemmings also handles the concepts of death and grief in a sensitive, loving, and realistic way.

Most of the colorful characters are not particularly likable, but I liked this book anyway. Joanie is in a coma, but we get a sense of her (I would probably have liked her even less if she had been conscious). Matt grows from a man who is uncomfortable with affection into one who comes to appreciate his family and what he has...a man who can actually say "I love you" to daughters who are completely unaccustomed to hearing that from anyone.

Just had to throw in a few photos from the movie because. Well, George Clooney.

Shimura Trouble: Final Rei Shimura mystery

Shimura Trouble by Sujata Massey

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The final book in one of my favorite series, featuring Rei Shimura as a Japanese-American antiques dealer who is living in Japan and gets wrapped up in detective work.

Sujata Massey apparently lost her book contract because her books were not selling enough to satisfy her publisher, so she had to find another publisher for her last two books. (In spite of the fact that several of her books have won mystery awards!)

This book arrived at the perfect time, because it's set in Hawaii, and I read it in Hawaii. Shimura is taking care of her ailing father in San Francisco, and her family receives a mysterious invitation from a previously unheard of relative in Hawaii.

I would give this book 3-1/2 stars because I don't think it's her best book, but I did enjoy it. The characters were not as well developed as in some of her other books--for example, I never felt that I got to know her new love interest, Michael, as well as her Scottish ex-boyfriend Hugh.

There were a few editorial errors I noticed--Hanama Bay instead of Hanauma Bay, and a couple of others I can't remember at the moment.

In addition, it seemed that there were too many characters that were not fully developed (for example, Michael's boat partners and their wives).

If you are interested in this series, I highly recommend that you start at the beginning with Salaryman's Wife. Much in this final book wouldn't make as much sense to readers new to the series.

I'm glad to see that Rei is going to live happily ever after, and it captured perfectly why I too love Hawaii. Having her settle in Hawaii, halfway between Japan and the U.S., is a perfect ending for this series!



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