Decorah Public Library will host an adult book discussion about bestselling author Alan Brennert’s second novel, “Honolulu,” Tuesday June 30 at 7 pm. The discussion will be held at the timberframe shelter at Phelps Park, which is located on the right side of one-way Park Street, before the Whalen Cabin turn-off. Picnic tables will be available for use; attendees may bring lawn chairs or seat cushions as well. The library currently has six copies of “Honolulu”; due to the popularity of the book, anyone interested in attending the discussion may want to put their name on a reserve list or purchase a personal copy. 

“Honolulu” is the richly imagined story of Jin, a young “picture bride” who leaves her native Korea and journeys to Hawaii in 1914 in search of a better life.  Instead of the prosperous young husband and the chance at an education she has been promised, Jin is quickly married off to a poor, embittered laborer. Struggling to build a business, Jin finds both opportunity and prejudice, but ultimately transforms herself from a naive young girl into a resourceful woman. She prospers along with her adopted city, which is fast growing from a small territorial capital to the great multicultural city it is today.

With its passionate knowledge of people and places in Hawaii far off the tourist track, “Honolulu” is another spellbinding story of the triumphs and sacrifices of the human spirit from the author of the reading group favorite “Moloka'i.”

Author Alan Brennert lives in Southern California. In addition to novels, he has written short stories, teleplays, screenplays, and the libretto of a stage musical. Brennert earned an Emmy Award in 1991, was nominated for Emmys on two other occasions, once for a Golden Globe, and three times for the Writers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Teleplay of the Year. He received a People's Choice Award for “L.A. Law,” and his short story "Ma Qui" was honored with a Nebula Award in 1992.

For more information, contact Kristin at Decorah Public Library, 563-382-3717.