Books to Read

Did you know that during the California Gold Rush through the late 1800s the nearest major city to California was Honolulu?

I learned this piece of arcane information from an exceptional book about early California, "Men to Match My Mountains" by Irving Stone.

So what? 

I have a storehouse of so-what facts lodged in the back of my brain ever since the fateful day that my mother introduced me to the public library in my hometown of Pomona, California. I was probably 8-years-old. 

Soon I was collecting dimes to ride the city bus to the library from our house in Kellogg Park, a new tract of post-war homes at the far western edge of town. The bus stopped right around the corner. The bus diver's name was Earl.

Everybody knew Earl. He had a thin dark mustache and wore a cap with a shiny black bill. "Hi Earl," we would say when we hopped onto the bus, dropped the coin into the metal-framed box and heard it tumble down with a low-pitched clang. 

I did not realize how wonderful it was to be living in a predominantly safe, small town in the mid-1950s where I could ride the bus by myself.

The Pomona Public Library was located in the middle of downtown in an older building with stairs in front. The kids' books were found in a section to the right. The floor was made of wood. The papery smell of books beckoned with new stories and adventures.

Today, holed up in our condo in Princeville, I cannot go find a book at the local library, which is within easy walking distance. It has been a mainstay during every trip to the island. I also never fail to visit Talk Story Bookstore on the other side of the island in Hanapepe.

Both places are closed indefinitely.

My neighbor-pal Rick has a Kindle. He orders books in a flash. Maybe I should upgrade. I say that, yet stick to old-fashioned paper books. We have collected enough that I should survive for a couple of more weeks before I become desperate.

There are some great books about Hawaii. Here's a short list if you're looking for something good to read and want to learn more about island life and history.

The Descendants by Kaui Hart Hemmings. Movie by same name is based on this heartwrenching novel.

House of Many Gods by Kiana Davenport (or any book by this terrific writer). Amazing stories told by a bonafide local.

Hawaii's Best Spooky Tales: The Original by Rick Carroll. Strange encounters that will give you chicken skin based on ancient myths and reported happenings.

The Last Aloha by Gaellen Quinn. Excellent novel about the last days and overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.

I will gladly accept any book recommendations from you.