Review "McManus skillfully weaves in descriptions of Honolulu's beauty and floral scents, the anguish of Molokai's leper colony, and the vast intermingling of cultures on the islands...A poignant and promising first novel." - Kirkus Reviews ***********************************"This vibrant historical novel alternately seduces, shocks, angers, distresses and inspires in a way that resonates today: a young woman standing up to suffocating male entitlement; an exploited nation struggling to maintain sovereignty; greed, racism, cruelty--yet at the story's hard-shelled, dragonfruit-like center lies the soft, singular magnificence of the human heart. Dragonfruit's captivating narrative, riveting true history, and compelling characters are all beautifully realized, creating a wholly rewarding reading experience."- Blueink Reviews**************************************"Once in a blue moon, a story reaches into the core of your being, and moves it with the sheer beauty of its truth, honesty, revelation, and lyricism. I have a list of about ten novels that have done exactly that in my life. "Dragonfruit" is such a story....The flawless interweaving of Hawaiian legends and culture with poignant historical details will wreck you in all the right ways."- shamelessbeauty.org Read more About the Author Malia Mattoch McManus worked as a reporter and weekend anchor in Hawai'i and hosts a current affairs television program in Honolulu where she lives with her family. Read more
L**B
A Must-Read for Lovers of Hawaiian History
Our Windward Oahu-based book club unanimously RAVED about this book. Today we had Malia Mattoch McManus present as our guest author. She shared the evolution of Dragonfruit and how after more than 10 years of careful primary source research, she self-published with Amazon. We are are glad she did as she has provided an account of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy that everyone sharing an interest in Hawaiian history should read. I plan to read Dragonfruit a second time so I can better understand the details of this period.
J**S
Compelling Hawaiian Historical Novel
I found this book compelling for many reasons. It's an historical novel that takes place over a hundred years ago in Hawaii, and the issues are still relevant today, wherever you live -- interracial marriage, fear and integration of outsiders, political/power/money struggles, and the personal tolls taken on individuals as a result. It also gives insight into the Hawaiian monarchy and culture, as well as subsequent generations of new comers to the islands. The author's intertwining of these elements and the characters make for a good read.
R**F
It is the perfect Hawaii read
My husband and I both read Dragonfruit while vacationing on Oahu this summer. It is the perfect Hawaii read. We enjoyed learning about Hawaiian history. McManus nails the period details; in particular protagonist Eliza's voice is spot on to the era.I read Dragonfruit first. The plot twists and turns made it hard to put down. I found myself cracking the book any time I had a spare second-- waiting for the valet or killing a few minutes while my husband rinsed off after surfing, it was hard to put down.Next my husband read DF. I couldn't wait for him to finish so we could talk about Eliza, Mehana, Kepa, Samuel, Ben and Ka'iulani's fate!If you are not on vacation but need a little Hawaii fix, this book brings to life the sensory details that make the islands so special --you will smell the heady pikake, feel the cool waterfalls, and see the blue-green phosphorescence drifting "like a peacock's gown" in the darkened sea.
S**R
Malia's beautiful prose made me weep.
I loved this book for many reasons:great historical fictionbook about Hawaiistrong ethnic charactersstrong female characterslyrical descriptionsexcellent storywell researchedbook that transcends descriptionI will give this book as a gift to anyone who loves Hawaii.I have all ready read it twice and know I will read many more times.This book describes the beauty of the mountains and the ocean.Thank you Malia for giving us this wonderful story and powerful characters.
M**.
Great, authentic perspective!
As someone who grew up in Hawai'i, this book hit all the right notes. It kept me completely enthralled but also made me proud of the beautiful place I'm from. I would highly recommend to anyone on the mainland who is a little homesick, or just dreaming of some place visiting this beautiful and soulful place the book recreates on the pages in dazzling form.
H**S
Read this book!
I am not usually a fan of historical fiction but I have to say this book really drew me in. The story line just got more and more engaging as I read. I loved the characters as well, and I will miss spending time with them. Malia McManus paints a beautiful picture of Hawaii in a time of transition and turmoil. I have been binge reading for the past few days, staying up too late, and now I'm so sad it's over!
K**H
A real page turner --Highly recommended!
Dragonfruit was such a wonderful book. I found myself thinking about the characters throughout the day and longing for that time of day when the kids would go to bed so I could start reading more. I have always been fascinated with Hawaiian history so I enjoyed the journey to a time long ago and the unexpected history lesson. I enjoyed the way Malia developed the characters and the struggles they went through. I would highly recommend this book.
C**T
Loved it
Loved reading this book, loved how she used historical facts about Hawai, in a fictional account, but wasn’t trivial about it, or patronizing. I loved the friendship between Eliza and the Princess. Our book club (in Hawaii) loved the book, and were honored to have the author attend via Zoom. She answered questions we had about her research, and her intentions in writing this book. We all were happy with this book club choice.
Trustpilot
3 weeks ago
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