Narrated in a bold, fearless, unforgettable voice 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—and the inspiration for the major motion picture starring George Clooney.Fortunes have changed for the King family, descendants of Hawaiian royalty and one of the … Hawaiian royalty and one of the state’s largest landowners. Matthew King’s daughters—Scottie, a feisty ten-year-old, and Alex, a seventeen-year-old recovering drug addict—are out of control, and their charismatic, thrill-seeking mother, Joanie, lies in a coma after a boat-racing accident. She will soon be taken off life support. As Matt gathers his wife’s friends and family to say their final goodbyes, a difficult situation is made worse by the sudden discovery that there’s one person who hasn’t been told: the man with whom Joanie had been having an affair. Forced to examine what they owe not only to the living but to the dead, Matt, Scottie, and Alex take to the road to find Joanie’s lover, on a memorable journey that leads to unforeseen humor, growth, and profound revelations.
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Kaui Hart Hemmings’s The Possibilities.
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The descendants The Descendants
Read it in one sitting, it was so good!
It is difficult to say just why I liked this book. The main characters are not especially likable, but they are flawed in all the ways we as humans are flawed. The family has to face a most tragic accident that has taken away the wife and mother, but she is not actually dead. She is in a irreversible coma. The whole family seems so removed from …
I found this depressing , rambling and frankly, boring. Wanted to like it but gave up about half way through. Hope movie is better.
One of the rare books that is completely recognizable in the movie made from it. It is a very clear and understandable depiction of Hawaii’s problems and beauty. I wonder whether things have changed since this book was written. The response to the eruption of Kilauea (Leilani Estates) showed the pride, organizational ability, spirituality and …
I actually saw the movie several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I rarely see movies if I have read the book but I did this the other way around and I’m glad I did. As usual with a book, it filled in a lot of the story, much more nuanced. I would highly recommend this book. It may be sad but is also joyful.
A very realistic story. This could be the upper scale family in your town. They have it all but she wants more. And what she wants ends up costing them too much. Something to think about.
Predictable but good story.
This book was great. The movie… not so much.
Beautifully written. Slow but in a good rainy day way. Thought provoking.
I enjoyed this book, the characters were well developed. First I thought they were not very likeable, but they grew on me. Can see it would make a good movie.
I read the book and saw the movie…..very entertaining!
Didn’t want it to end. Better than the movie.
Characters no likable. Plot Elena nowhere.
Disappointing after knowing Clooney played in the movie. The story wandered around a bit, and dragged along. I did not finish it after making myself get through half of it.
Didn’t feel any depth of character…just read like a potential movie
I could not stop reading until the end. Witty, sarcastic, but such love in the book.
I didn’t find much to praise about this book. It just seemed kind of lame with characters who needed a boot in the “arse”. The bewildered father of the two girls needed to get some professional help. That he could just be so disconnected from his wife’s love affair and be more concerned about appearances didn’t seem real.
I’d felt better if he’d …
I had seen the movie that was based on this book, but I must say that I really enjoyed reading the book. There are many different emotions that are the result of love, death and life. I love that the story is in Hawaii, and I that many Hawaiian words were thrown in there and there to make it more realistic to me.
I enjoyed listening to this but there’s to much sexual and bad language for my taste. I surely wouldn’t want any children around while listening!
The author is related to a friend of over fifty years. She expresses the integrity that he does. Not only was the book good but the CD from the movie was great. As a visitor of many years to Hanelei, the depictions of that area rang true.