Andrew Cattanach
Booktopia
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John Purcell, The Booktopia Book Guru
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Haylee Nash
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Toni Whitmont
Narrated in a fearless voice full of bold hilarity and set against the lush, panoramic backdrop of Hawaii, The Descendants is a stunning debut novel about an unconventional family forced to come together and re-create its own legacy.
A descendant of one of Hawaii’s largest landowners, Matthew King finds his luck has changed. His two daughters – Scottie, a feisty ten-year-old, and Alex, a teenage recovering drug addict – are out of control; his thrill-seeking, high-maintenance wife, Joanie, lies in a coma after a boat-racing accident and will soon be taken off life support. Suddenly the King family must come to terms with this tragedy – and with the shameful sense of freedom that comes with it.
As Matt gathers Joanie’s friends and family to say their final goodbyes, a difficult situation is made worse by the discovery that one person hasn’t been told – the man with whom Joanie has been having an affair. Forced to examine what he owes not only to the living but also to the dead, Matt takes to the road with his daughters to find his wife’s lover on a memorable journey of painful revelations and unforeseen humour.
About The Author
Kaui Hart Hemmings is the author of the critically acclaimed short-story collection House of Thieves. Her writing has appeared in Zoetrope, Best New American Voices 2006, and The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2004. Hemmings grew up in Hawaii and lives with her husband and daughter in San Francisco.
Filed under: Contemporary Literature, Movies Tagged: | George Clooney, Kaui Hart Hemmings, The Descendants
I HAVE GOT TO AGREE. READ THE BOOK FIRST!!! It makes the movie a lot better but aside from that it is just an all around good read. Elaine Charles is doing a discussion on the book on the 24th of Feb on her radio show. I’m sure a lot of you listen to it already but wanted to give a shout out because she’s going over this book. Always a fantastic show reviewing the best books out there. http://www.facebook.com/Book.Report Thats her facebook to see where to listen. But if you are hesitatant about reading this book I’m sure Charles will help make your decision a little easier.