This was a wonderful book, especially if you have an interest in Hawai'i and the maoli kanaka (local folks). Davenport's story tells how ohana (family) and hoa aloha (friends) can sometimes hurt but ultimately heal. I loved her main characters. They certainly rang true for me. The book's secondary theme--worldwide environmental pollution caused by nuclear waste--I felt was handled in a predictable and sometimes heavy hitting way, though I have the same point of view as Davenport. Reading others' reviews makes me want to add a comment about Hawai'ian culture. The abandonment of the main character Ana by her mother Anahola seems abhorrent to us, and to the resentful Ana. It may seem horrible and depressing for many readers. However, Ana's raising by her family, especially her cousin Rosie, is also a reflection of the Hawai'ian tradition of hanai, or "fostering" of children. In ancient times the kapu (taboo)of blood required the bleeding birth mother to give up care for her child. That child was given to a close relative, typically an aunt, or friend for raising. This was particularly true of children of the ali'i, or noble, class. For example, the Hawai'ian queen Liliu'okalani was raised by foster parents. She always knew and respected her noble birth parents but considered her hanai parents her Mom and Dad. In the early 20th century, the great Hawai'ian composer Lena Machado was raised by her hanai parents.In my interpretation of "House of Many Gods," Ana was a hanai child though she wasn't abandoned at birth. Her family didn't necessarily approve of Anahola's behavior, but they seemed to accept it as not that unusual.At any rate, at the end of this book my tears were flowing onto the pages. Any book finale that makes me cry at a happy ending deserves my highest rating
Kiana Davenport is at her best when describing the world of Hawaii's native people, and she does it well here. Touched with lyricism and the language of a people unknown to many of us, this novel rings with truth and leaves the sadness and mystery of a real life in its wake. Ana is raised in her extended family's home and yearns for her absent mother. Redemption, forgiveness, and acceptance must all be taught at a hard price to Ana and her mother in this novel. At times I wanted to shake Ana; the mark of a great story-teller. This is also, of course, a love story, though I found Ana and Nikolai's time together sort of a side note, really, and Nikolai himself to be strangely paper-like. As if his experiences in Russia were a strange afterthought. I would have liked to have seen more of Ana's mother's story, instead. It is the story of a mother and daughter and the choices that they make that really resonates here, how we can hurt the innocent with seemingly innocent choices, and how anger serves no one. Wound throughout are gorgeous descriptions of an island and a people who are struggling to find their place in the world around them, told with an insider's tongue and knowledge. Beautiful and deceptively simple, this novel will leave you wanting to book a trip to Hawaii and call your mama at the same time.
What do You think about House Of Many Gods (2007)?
For fans of Kiana Davenport, this book does not disappoint. It again explores history - this time that of Hawaii and Russia. It again challenges the reader to explore current day issues - this time the potential consequences of environmental pollution. And, again, she draws us into the lives of people damaged by drugs, war, poverty, stubbornness and despair. Kiana Davenport has a gift for describing Hawaii and its people while weaving in several detailed, and sometimes odd, story lines. Whether describing the luscious Hawaiian islands or a room "so small that it could be crossed in 11 steps", we are transported to the place and time of the characters. Another good story.
—Sandy
this book was beautifully written. it follows two stories that gradually interweave. one about a native hawaiian family struggling with poverty, drugs, and unjust u.s. military practices in hawaii. the other about a boy growing up in post world war two russia. much of the book was horribly depressing, as it dealt with the effects of nuclear testing on civilian populations. thinking of all the lives lost, genetic mutations, birth defects, and cancers caused by all of the nuclear fallout is really sickening and at times i had to stop reading the book because it was just too depressing. i just can't believe the things governments will do to their own people just for the sake of making a bomb. but the writing was beautiful and the themes of love and forgiveness and family and culture outweighed the horrors of the other parts. i think you should check it out. (if it helps, alice walker and isabel allende both praise kiana davenport on the back of this book)
—Katie
I really enjoyed the historical backdrop of this book...the Hawaiian and Russian cultures, languages, and histories. And also to see the parallels between the lives of Ana and Niki. I like that the characters were flawed but even in their flaws they had positive aspects. Sometimes Ana would bring me down. She seemed to think her life had been harder than anyone else's. She didn't really step out of her comfort zone and recognize she wasn't the only one suffering until towards the end of the book. An interesting book on the human spirit and the hope that is in all of us.
—Mirah W
