This book is about Hawaii's last Princess. Princess Victoria Kaiulani Cleghorn never became queen. It's sad that Kaiulani's dreams didn't come true but theEpilougue was the saddest part. After the story ends there's more trouble. Hawaii was annexed and she couldn't be queen,her friend Robert Louis Stevenson died at 43, her half-sister Annie died, aand she gets weaker and weaker. Kaiulani lived a very short life and died at age 23. And you know what stinks? America didn't apoligize for what they did until the 90's. And that was 100 years too late for Kaiulani and her people. Do you think if we hadn't had done that the Princess would have lived longer?

Kaiulani Cleghorn is a Hawaiin princess. Her mother gave her Hawaiin blood and her father,Scottish.Many happy things happen in the beginning of the book like how Kaiulani meets Robert Louis Stevenson, the famous author, her lovely strolls in Hawaii and pretty much every little thing.Towards the end her life begins to take a deep tumble. When she lived in England she had many headaches, she had homesickness frequently, and she felt as if she abandoned her own country. This diary tells of Kaiulani's life in England where she had to have schooling, her social life, and her thoughts and emotions that she had during the last years of Hawaii's independence.

Born to privilege in 1875 as the daughter of King Kalakau of Hawaii's youngest sister Miriam Likelike and her Scottish husband, Archibald Cleghorn, Princess Victoria Kaiulani Cleghorn enjoyed a luxurious childhood. But her life has not been without sorrow - Kaiulani suffered the tragic loss of her young mother when she was just eleven. Second in line to inherit the throne, Kaiulani is sent to England at the age of thirteen to be educated. Even though it is her duty as an heir to the throne, Kaiulani longs for her beautiful home and her family. In England, Kaiulani is a stranger in a strange land. Her only reminder of home is her half-sister Annie, who has accompanied her. But as years go by, England finally begins to seem like something of a second home. But even far from the place of her birth she cannot escape tragedy. Her uncle, the King, dies, and his surviving sister, Liliuokalani, becomes Queen. Now Kaiulani is heir apparent to the throne of Hawaii. But if the Americans have their way, there will be no throne left for Kaiulani to inherit. Told through the form of Kaiulani's fictional diary entries from 1889-1893, this book revealed what life was like for Hawaii's last princess.

Robert Dave's RUN TO THE SUN hooks you with great characters...sweeps you along on a cascade of startlingly original plot twists...lifts you up with the great, classic themes of love, loyalty, and justice...and -- wham! -- spins you around with a surprise finish that combines adrenaline-rush excitement with deep emotional satisfaction. I raced through the entire novel in one long, breathless read; no doubt many others will run the story's fast-paced gauntlet just as breathlessly.

Dave's protagonist, Dr. Michael Santorini, is a brilliant yet unassuming Hawaii-based psychologist. The vulnerably adoring father of two, Santorini is a man you can care about -- and cheer for. From the exciting courtroom-battle setpiece that launches the action, to the grueling Far West mountain trek that eventually uncovers a long-hidden, bloody secret, Santorini gets knocked down more than once. But he always comes up fighting and, even more impressively, he retains a full range of tenderness and depth of sensitivity.

At first Santorini is "merely" determined to win back his young children from a corrupt system. But when his estranged ex-wife is murdered...and Santorini is the chief suspect...he finds hs world spinning out of control. Not only is the law gunning for him; Santorini also finds himself caught up in the sinister machinations of an evil, overseas military-industrial complex. Before he can reclaim his life, the fugitive doctor will be tested physically, intellectually, emotionally, and ultimately even spiritually. What makes Robert Dave's central character so appealing is not merely his courage and resourcefulness; those are qualities we expect from every thriller hero. Santorini's real charisma grows from the fact that this obviously accomplished, capable man is nevertheless perpetually willing to learn, change, and grow on every level.

Like its hero, RUN TO THE SUN is a novel with a lot on its mind. The fascintating plot touches on everything from the creation mythology of Latin American Indians, to the dazzling potential for hi-tech brainwave research...from restoring the besmirched honor of a famed hero of early American history, to exposing the complacent sexism that perverts too many of today's U.S. child-custody rulings. Blending imaginative (yet logical) scientific speculation with furiously passionate, street-gritty social reporting, RUN TO THE SUN is part Hitchcock and part Heinline, with a garnish of Grisham and a trace of B. Traven. In the end, though, it's all Robert Dave: a writer who can heighten the pulse, intrigue the intellect, and tug the heartstrings with equal skill. RUN TO THE "BUY" BUTTON and order your copy now!

Marcus Webb Senior VP & Editorial Director INSIDEDVD, Versatile Media One Altadena, California

I get in a rut of buying books only from name-brand authors (Grisham, Clancy, Ludlum, etc.), so it was with a ho-hum attitude that I purchased RUN TO THE SUN on a friend's recommendation. What a delightful surprise!

I typically stick to the CIA / FBI / White House style thrillers. Run to the Sun was a refreshing change for me (theme that is). It had as much action and intrigue as all of my "name brand" authors, and I thoroughly enjoyed the perspective of Dr. Santorini (psychologist, runner and superdad). The characters in the novel were priceless, too. I actually purchased three more copies of this book as gifts for friends (something I NEVER do even with Grisham and Clancy novels).

I'm a frequent business traveler and devour books like this on flights (confession: I started this book on a flight and found myself blowing off work the next day so I could finish Dave's novel! Hope my boss isn't reading this!).

I now find myself in bookstores and airport shops scanning the "new release" section for Bob Dave's next novel. Anyone out there now when this is coming?!?!?!?!

I recommend adding this guy to your must read list. It's a terrific book!

I first stumbled across this marvelous debut title while perusing an Amazon.com list entitled, "Find Really Hot Mysteries Not Necessarily in the Top 100." When I came across Run to the Sun again, this time in author Bonnie Toews' list, "Top Picks for Male Thriller Novelists," I clicked over to the book's Amazon.com site, read the reviews, and thought to myself, "Why not?"

Was I ever rewarded! This is a can't-put-it-down read that I blazed through in two days.

I devour novels like this for fun, entertainment, and escape. Run to the Sun hit a bull's eye for me on all counts. It's fast-paced, spiced with excellent and witty dialogue, and populated with characters I found myself emotionally invested in.

Best of all, the plot is highly intriguing and original, a tightly, and intricately, woven web of suspense that keeps you hooked from the prologue right to the final word (for a detailed plot description, see the review on this site written by a reader named Marcus Webb).

I look forward to more in the future from Mr. Dave, who for me is a wonderfully fresh voice in the thriller/mystery genre.

The most promising and interesting theme of this novel is the undaunted spirit of the Hawaiian people. Through the eyes of one particular family, the time frame is the 1930's through World War II, devastating the closely-knit community, many native Hawaiian sons lost in combat. The story moves back and forth: from Hawaii to the New Orleans jazz scene, Shanghai to Paris, and back. In the course of events, one heartbreaking message is the truly ignoble and inhumane use of euphemistically named "comfort women" by Japanese soldiers. These innocent women were harvested from city streets and villages to service their captors, their tragic borderline existence only recently widely discussed and documented for readers. Released after the war, their original numbers decimated, they became "ghost women", emaciated and most permanently physically and psychologically damaged.

The central theme, however, is the displaced love of Keo and Sunny. A gifted musician, Keo follows his muse and Sunny becomes his most ardent and loyal fan. As Keo disappears into his music, he barely remarks Sunny's search for her own affirmation in the search for her long-lost sister. Tragically parted by the war, Keo and Sunny endure years of separation as each is subjected to horrendous experiences as Japanese captives, each clinging to the memory of the other. But I had no clear sense of Sunny's personality from the beginning of her reciprocated attraction to Keo. Later, when Keo is agonizing over her whereabouts, a more particular sense of what he so desperately misses, other than adoration, would have helped me appreciate Sunny's qualities. The story changes locations frequently, and I found myself wanting more details of Keo's family and their ongoing struggles, how their ties to one another sustain them through loss and separation. I suspect the most potent material rests within the heart of this family.

Some editorial cuts may have better centered the story. Perhaps Davenport is intending to illustrate the rambling nature of Keo's search, his frustration and overwhelming loneliness, but I feel the novel loses its original vital focus. There are some hectoring passages at the end of the book on the issue of statehood, but my sympathies were already engaged. While certainly an entertaining and informative read, the novel would resonate more fully with fewer geographic leaps and already acknowledged social injustices added to the forum. An emphasis on the love story and tragic circumstances surrounding the lovers, especially the atrocity of "comfort women", was certainly sufficient to hold my interest.

There are not many books that move me to tears, but this one did. Several days after finishing this book, I am still affected by it. It is basically a love story about two people born in the Hawaiin islands. The man (Keo) is destined to become a great jazz player, and he falls in love with a Korean-Hawaiin woman (Sunny) who is haunted by her own issues. They end up going to Europe to pursue Keo's jazz career and end up parting as Sunny begins a search for her long-lost sister. When she leaves, she does it without actually telling Keo she is going. He finds out by waking up and finding her gone with a note. Keo begins his life-long search for his one true love. But unbelievably they both end up as captives during World War II. But life does go on after that, and they are both released from a hell you would not believe. I do not want to give too much away but there is much joy and sadness in this book. Just look at the cover. See how hauntingly beautiful Sunny is and read her and Keo's story.

I will not recount the story; the other reviewers do it, and for my money, the story is marvelous. Like so many, I did not want this book to end, and rationed reading it for that reason. I cannot think of any other writer I have ever read who can capture in concrete, substantial, palpable images abstractions like jazz, or pain, or love, or wistfulness. The visuals her words sculpt are staggering. Hardly essential to an appreciation of this magnificent work, if you have lived in Hawaii, ever had an appreciation of either or both of its indigenous and diverse cultures, been entranced by music, felt the power and mystery of natural things, it will resonate with you on innumerable levels. You will learn a fair amount of Hawaiian along the way if you care to, and you should, as it is a beautiful and evocative and incredibly musical language. The book is more than poetry--it is, in many ways, a great mele. It speaks of essences, of life's value, its challenges, its losses, its pain. There are parts as profound and compact in that as any philosophy one could want (the small chapterlet recounting Malia's last visit with Pono may be the best piece of writing in that regard I have ever read). The political material through the book is, if you read closely, not polemical, but balanced if with a clear but hardly simplistic preference. And on a societal level, it is a magnificent paean to the power of women, especially their power over men, wanted or not, and the consequences, marvelous and horrific, of that power. If you are a woman, or you truly love them as I do, you will hold this book fiercely to your heart. Those who say Ms. Davenport embraced too much in too complex a way--with which I totally disagree--would probably say the same of Thomas Wolfe, whose prose at times hers resembles, several of whose works I number among my favorites in the language. I would rate this book higher than any I have reviewed on Amazon to date, and among the best novels I have ever read--and I have read thousands.

I think this book's "secret" intention is to dissuade any more people from moving to Hawaii. The tone of it is very negative and its overall effect depressing. Yes, it contains useful information (see the other comments posted), and for some it may provide a useful reality check, but overall it feels negative and overstated to me. The section on "creatures" made me feel as if there were going to be armies of them swarming all over the walls (whereas, on my recent trip I didn't see even one). I would even challenge the extent to which some of the money-related statements are made. I think compared to many parts of the mainland, Hawaii's costs are not much different. And there is a large population of regular working people who manage to live there for years. Do your own research as to how conditions would relate to the lifestyle you would lead. Moving to Hawaii is not going to be without effort, but get additional information and form your own opinion, and don't let this book discourage you.

With so many fluff stories about Hawaii its very refreshing to read some reality for a change. People all over the world dream about comming or moving to Hawaii with unrealistic views and ideas of what Hawaii truely is; This book sheds a clearer picture of life and tourism in the islands.

This book gives you all the background information you need to make an easy move to Hawaii. Many places don't like people moving in (I live in a place like that), but this book made me feel like I'd be welcome. From children to retirement, it covers all you need to know to not be a tourist in paradise.

This book was every thing you wanted to know about the show Real World. It gave all the details of the number one show on MTV. It was interesting and very informitive. It even had an application for the show. I recommend this book if your in to reality tv. I mean it's the show that started it all. You will be amazed by what all happened in this crazy house in Hawaii.
It Includes Ruthie, Colin, Amaya, Kaia, Justin, Matt and Teck and there wild and sexy time in the Hawaii. Anybody will like the book, and its easy to read. If you didn't like the Real World Hawaii they even include the Real World Seattle and all of its secrets.

well i loved the real world hawaaii season. i thought it was one of the best seasons. i loved the cast except for kaia. the book goes into depth of all the romances,the trip to india, the cast, and the incident of some guy breaking into the real world house and taking matt's daily planner. this is a great book and i recommend it to both people who watched rw8 and people who didnt watch.

This book is very entertaining and fun and you will not be able to put it down! Find out what cast members said about each other after they moved out of the house! Also, read the roomies' applications! Find out the truth behind Colin and Amaya's romance and also find out what happened when Kaia visited Matt! There is so much interesting stuff in this book. There are a lot of pictures and it even find out what the cast of the Seattle season is up to these days. If you enjoyed this season, you'll enjoy the book. There will be no regrets!

I have really enjoyed Lori Wick's books and have read many of them. I really enjoyed Bamboo and Lace and I am normally a historical fiction fan. This modern day story about two people from different cultures; a woman that has lead a shelter life in a village in Kashien and a Hawaiian man living in the modern world, is a fun read and also full of insight about living the Christian life and putting God first. I felt like I knew the characters and I found myself wanting to meet a great guy like Gabe!

This is the first book of Lori Wick's I've read. I've almost finished the book, and I simply love it! I grew to care very much about the characters and their story. It made me laugh and cry! It made me take a look at my own spiritual life and see some things I could do differently to become more like Christ. It made me thankful for my family and friends, and especially my dear husband. It was simply a wonderful book.

Regarding the earlier negative review, I enjoyed the changing point-of-view, as I'm always wondering what all the characters are thinking, and she made it very clear whose POV it was, never making you guess. An author has the right to take creative liberties with his or her work and I think Lori Wick has done so to her, and our, advantage. I believe the characters and their actions were very plausible and completely in line with their personalities. Never were they boring or predictible, but I did not react in disbelief at their words or actions either. They were dynamic, interesting characters.

Bamboo and Lace was a captivating book and I'm a better person for having read it. I will be reading many more works of Lori Wick's. Enjoy the book!

Lori Wick has done it again. I highly recammend this book to anyone! I related to this book on so many levels that it was uncanny, and I think that anyone and everyone will look a little deeper into themselves after reading this book. The characters were lovable and beautifully developed and enhanced the wonderfully ingenious plot that Lori Wick is famous for. The faith that this book shows through its characters is moving and bittersweet. Read it a second time and you will fall in love all over again! Let's hear it for Lori Wick!

This book was conceived as a companion to the new movie. Chocked full of pictures from the movie and from behind the scenes, the book discusses the actual events of 1941 and '42, the people involved, and the aftermath. Finally, the book then discusses the making of the movie, giving a lot of fascinating details.

Though this book was written as a companion to the movie, you don't need to use it as such. It is quite a good book on the events surrounding America's forced entry into World War II. I found the book interesting, and thought that the pictures added a lot to the text. I liked this book.

If you liked the movie, which I did, I'm sure you would like "Pearl Harbor: The Movie and the Moment". Not only does it have plenty of color images, movie stills, sketches, storyboards, maps, blueprints, computer graphics, behind the scenes information, and more, it also tells about the actual history of what happened on December 7, 1941 at Pearl Harbor. I liked reading the actors, producers, and writers comments in the book. I especially liked reading about the Eagle Squadron. Teaches you Eagle Squadron slang in the book!

I think that even if you didn't like the movie that much, this book has plenty of information about the history of Pearl Harbor so I'm sure you would be satisfied with it. Enjoy!

I just bought this book and it totally blew me away. Contrary to another review here, I find almost every page of this book to be extremely informative and jam-packed with information on the real attack and the making of the movie, with LOTS of movie photos and a lot of historical photos too. Also included are short bios of movie characters, quotes about the movie and the event from cast and crew, and storyboards and a timeline of the events of that day. I HIGHLY recommend this!

I read the MISSISSIPPI and QUEEN novels by Goonan about a year ago, and rated those at five stars, so I gave this novel a try. THE BONES OF TIME I found to be flawed in one very major way. This book centers around the idea of our consciousness being influenced or generated by quantum effects, and in reality there is no evidence of that. This novel even quotes Roger Penrose and his theory, which as far as I know has little or no support in the scientific community, although Penrose sells a lot of books!

As a scientist, I believe in the scientific principles, which I wiil not go into here. Therefore, I hold science fiction writers accountable for including bad science and fantasy in their novels. These writers, in my view, should be popularizing how future science will improve or influence our lives and situation, it is their social obligation in a sense.

In regards to the pure literary value of this novel, I found the plot to be poor, and it was a chore just to finish the book.

If you would like to read a novel about future science firmly grounded in reality, read the fine novel THE FIRST IMMORTAL, by James Halperin.

Well... I guess I've never read something like this before. This is a very fascinating read, and I couldn't really think about anything similar among the books I've read. I like sf, but this is something more: I think the right way to take it is not looking for some strong plot to follow, but tasting the pages one by one. There are poetical parts, light descriptions that someone can use like a surrogate for a nice vacation, and, of course, a nice, original plot, too. But the plot is not the most important thing of the book, I guess: "the bones of time" reflects a lot of our today world, its messy, quickly changing background, our fears about what's hidden in our heads, and information, information anyway and anywhere.

I picked this book up because it was 20% off; I'd never heard of it or Ms. Goonan. It was a great find. Ms. Goonan is current on all of the cutting edge science - cloning, genetic manipulation, nanotech, and even the cutting edge super-string theory of physics, which implies the possibility of time travel. All of this could be incredibly boring, though, but Ms. Goonan hangs it all on a great plot populated by some memorable characters. The novel is set in Hawaii. Some of the characters are native Hawaiians, and members of the underground Homeland Movement; another is the Japanese daughter of the founder of Interspace, an organization with the lofty goal of settling the stars, but as corrupt and underhanded as any modern organization. The way all of these elements are tied together is really incredible. You'll have to read it to see for yourself

I lived in Hawaii for ten years while a graduate student and grew to love the Hawaiian cultures. This was a story I could live and at the same time get a better understanding of the immigrants who worked the sugar cane fields. I bought three more books and sent one to my son, who was raised in Hawaii -- his friends were from families like Middle Son. I sent one to a dear Japanese Hawaiian woman, and we will write to each other about the meanings she sees in the story. It was a well written book, simple, but touched my heart deeply. I liked the way the Iida gave me hints into the drowning a little at a time, chapter to chapter. It is a book worthy to be next to Hemingway's short stories. I plan to read the book over again and again.

WHAT A JOY TO READ AND REREAD SUCH A BOOK. EACH READING PROVIDES MORE INSIGHT AND A NEW LAYER NOT SEEN BEFORE. EVERY SENTENCE IS NEEDED, AN EMOTION HIDDEN WITHEN. THE CHARECTERS ARE RICHLY DEFINED AND PRESENTED AS THEY ARE. ALL JUDGEMENTS SKILLFULLY LEFT FOR THE READER TO PONDER. I, A CAUCASIAN WOMAN, FOUND MYSELF WITHEN THE PAGES. AN UNNOTICED SECRET OBSERVER OF THIS REMARKABLE FAMILY STORY. DURING THE JOY, AND SORROW, THE LIVING AND THE DYING. I CAME TO HAVE A RESPECTFUL UNDERSTANDING OF THIS STRANGE AND UNKNOWN CULTURE. A WORLD SO FAR FROM MY OWN. I HIGHLY RECCOMEND THIS BOOK. THE READER WILL GAIN A GREATER SENSE OF LIFE LESSONS IN ANOTHER TIME AND PLACE. I ANXIOUSLY AWAIT MS. IIDAS NEXT BOOK.

When I told a couple of my friends that I was in the mood for a good story but had a limited amount of free time in which to read it, they both highly recommended Deborah Iida's Middle Son. After hearing them gush about the poignancy of the characters' interactions, the vibrant descriptions of the Maui setting, and the authenticity of the dialect, I picked up the book and dove in.

They were accurate on all accounts. As Spencer tries to confront the painful faces of his childhood, we are allowed to share in his struggle for acceptance and peace within his memories. Iida's tale is both haunting and moving, and Spencer's simple, honest questions resonated with me long after I'd finished the last sentence.

Aside from the satisfaction that comes from a skillfully-told family saga, the book's greatest triumph is its vivid portrayal of Japanese-Hawaiian culture. As someone with little to no exposure to this portion of our country's heritage, I relished the lush island imagery, the rich Buddhist influences, and the engaging regional tongue. Spencer captures the dialogue's concise eloquence when he remarks that his Caucasian friend uses "many words for a short idea" (71).

Overall, I enthusiastically add my praise to that of my friends. Middle Son is a touching account of one man's reconciliation with his past, and the Hawaiian narrator presents a voice too often overlooked in American literature.

Having been born and raised in Hawaii I was familiar with Hawaii's history and culture before I read this novel. I would have to agree with many of the previous reviewers that Shark Dialogues does not always represent accurate historical fiction. And I would also agree with those that said that the book sometimes loses its focus and occasionally delves into extreme political activism.

That said, Shark Dialogues is still a wonderful read. You can feel author Kiana Davenport's passion for her Hawaiian heritage which is so strongly reflected in Pono, the powerfully haunting and mystical central character. And you can sense the great beauty of ancient Hawaii through Ms. Davenport's wonderfully rich descriptions of the islands, its valleys and its people.

Shark Dialogues is a saga of a culturally changing Hawaii told through a daughter of a Tahitian chief in the late 1830's through Pono through her four granddaughters and through the pearls that connect them all. Historically accurate? No. A wonderful read? Yes.

"'SAILORS, LEPERS, OPIUM, SPIES--with such a family history, how could we be anyt'ing but sluts?' Dese Jess's last words to her grandmot'er, Pono. Dat night Pono walk into da sea." Thus, begins this wonderful book of story, saga and myth.

As I read Shark Dialogues I grew to understand the power and sacredness of the Hawaiian Islands. Also the complexities of the people who have inhabited them. Complexities presented to us with complex and well defined characters -- Women characters! It was so nice to delve into powerful women characters. Beginning with Kelonikoa, a Tahitian princess on the run in the 1800's. From Kelonikoa came a pouch of black pearls, a diary, and a heritage of strong, tenacious women. Her daughter Emma, Emma's daughter Lili, Lili's daughter Pono, and Pono's daughters and grandaughters.

Pono, the most powerful, like the sea. Pono, who could dream-see and swim with sharks. Pono, who could be so cruel. Pono, who scared everyone, especially her grandaughter's Jess, Vanya, Ming and Rachel, all the fruit of this woman.

This book beautifully shows the continuous cycle and circle of life, as we repeat our ancestors as ourselves. Here, as mothers struggle to love and raise their daughters, and as women seek the same over and over, in their lives, their love and their men. Shark Dialogues is personal, political, historical and magical.

Written by a woman of Hawaiian descent who clearly loves her people, this family saga is the story of Hawaii itself. The central character is the matriarch Pono, whose life includes harsh realities and surreal myths. Her long and passionate love for her husband Duke has caused her great joy, but the situations they had to face together have required strength and courage.

Pono's four adult granddaughters, each born of a different mixed blood heritage and who now live in various parts of the world, come back to Hawaii to visit, forcing them all to come to terms backgrounds.

Their stories are all revealed though flashbacks, going all the way back through seven generations, mixing history with myth in a wonderful array of unforgettable characters. I'll never forget the story of life in a leper colony, or of life on a plantation. I'll long remember the mythical quality of the sea and its ability to both nourish and destroy. There's life and death and passion and joy. There's war and peace and destruction by both human greed and natural forces.

At 480 pages, this is a book to sink into and look forward to reading at the end of the day. A book that brings the story of Hawaii alive to the reader and a fresh retelling of truths and legends