James Michener

Any of you read much Michener?

I picked up a copy of Hawaii at a used book sale only because my Dad had mentioned that he enjoyed Michener so I got it for him. I figure I might give it a shot myself but I haven't heard a thing about him other than an obscure Simpsons reference.

I read Texas, Alaska and Chesapeake several years ago. The books were my father's and it was an author he was interested in more than myself, though they were a fairly good read

i got halfway through hawaii and left it. i can't recollect why as i remember what was happening very clearly and it was interesting. longer books don't put me off so i don't think it was the sheer size of it. perhaps i will try again. in any event keep us posted with what you think.

I quite like Michener and went on a Michener binge-phase for a bit. I've read Tales of the South Pacific, Hawaii, Space, The Source, and Centennial (also have Mexico and Chesapeake on my shelf still unread).

Most of his writing is historical fiction and I think of him as an earlier, better version of Edward Rutherford. Tales of the South Pacific was his first book and is a series of connected stories from his WW II experiences that won him a Pullitzer.

Give Hawaii a try. It's still one of my favourites.

My dad highly recomended Carribean so i am reading it right now, it seems alright, he read mexico but didnt like it so much. He said he wished there was just too much about bullfights....something like that.
Carribean is really good so far though.

I picked up Centennial a while back at a used book store and it is currently sitting in my TBR pile. I did read the first 20 pages or so and it definitely pulled me in. Might be even more interesting for me since it's written about my neck of the woods.

Michener wrote dozens of wonderful novels, but I would say Hawaii is his absolute best work, but then, I still pick up novels of his to read every few months or so.

His genius is in how able he is to make literally hundreds of memorable characters in just a single book. I remember being astounded at how much I loved the beaver (not to mention later human characters) in the earliest part of Centennial. And Michener is no slouch at mean food descriptions either. . . I would have some yummy snackables around before you start reading.

To the poster reading Carribean, if you like it, you will definitley like what I consider some of his better stuff.

MHO of Michener novels I've read, ranked by order of enjoyment:

Hawaii
The Source (about the history of Israel)
Centennial (set in Colorado)
Chesapeake (Mid Atlantic USA)
Caravans (Afghanistan in the 1960's or so)
Poland
Carribean
Iberia

I never can help but caution though that I think he found historical geology more interesting than most of his potential readers. And since formation of most landscapes was a pretty slow and repetitive process, so then is his writing when he chooses to dwell on it in the first chapters.

My advice is that if you are initially bored by the years worth of the plates crashing and the Rockies forming, or birds pooping over and island to plant seeds, that you should just skip forward to the first character of the novel. I say that because I love his books so much, I would hate for anyone to miss them because of that.

Just a little update 141 pages in. The first part of the story concerning geography was shorter than I anticipated and more interesting than I anticipated. The second part about the first peoples of Hawaii was great. I am really enjoying this so far and relish the fact that I still have over 1000 pages to go provided it stays this interesting.

I'm at the beginning of a relationship with a new author that has written much that I am eager to read. Always a good time. My reading list has just become many kilos heavier with Michener's library stacked on top.

Almost finished Hawaii. Probably tomorrow.

Anyway here is an interview I found with Michener that was interesting: http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/mic0int-1

I have a Michener novel sitting on the shelf at home; I can't remember which one it is. I'm saving it for when I want a change of pace from the stuff I usually read.

i havnt read him yet but a friend of mine says hes fantastic, hawaii and the one about south africa are the ones i really hear a lot of good about

I did manage to finish Hawaii last night. Incredible book! Thoroughly enjoyable. Here is the text of the post I wrote in the "Just Finished Reading" topic about Hawaii:

Just finished Hawaii by James A. Michener. Maybe it's the afterglow of completing a great novel but it could be the best novel I've ever read. Definately contends for that title afterglow or not. The writing was very good and the 1100+ pages were easy to read. It never got dull even though there were history lessons peppered throughout. There were so many characters yet Michener manages to make them all memorable and fully realized.

The amount of information in this book, the massive scope, is just astounding. The detail in all the different directions Michener takes you and still manages to tie things together is an achievement of it's own.

Michener was a new discovery to me only a short time ago. Since then I've found that few bookstores in my area regularly carry his books, special order only, and even fewer people have heard of him. I really hope that this author's stories do not get completely forgotten. I can't speak for his other books, yet, but Hawaii deserves to be spoken in the same breath as other well known classics.

/End post from "Just Finished Reading"

I own Alaska but it's not at the top of my tbr pile. Although I'm very tempted to bump it up in the order and start it sooner. I do plan on eventually reading all of Michener's historical fiction novels and probably attempting his less well received more traditional novels such as The Novel. Provided I can find them. From the reading I've done online and talking to a few people that have read Michener some books will have priority and must be read. Alaska, Texas, The Source, Caribbean, Mexico, Poland and on and on. I can't wait to get to them all!

I'm in the middle of Tales of the South Pacific right now. Very good book so far.

Are all of his books written similar to this one? TotSP is several short stories that are very loosely connected (and sometimes not at all). I was thinking of reading Hawaii at some point, but the reason I read epics is to read well-developed characters that grow as the book progresses. TotSP does not really have that element.

Hmm. Yes and no. Hawaii does have several storylines of different families. Hayl, Hoxworth, the Chinese families, the Japanese families and even starting with the Bora Borans that first populate Hawaii. I consider these storylines to be more than loosely connected though. One of the things that makes Michener's epics like Hawaii so great is he tales these storylines and intertwines them so completely. Some characters never meet in the book yet still have influence over each other. Due to the length of Hawaii each storyline does not feel like a short story in of itself, they are pieces that when combined become a much greater whole. The character's do develop as do their children and their children's children. In fact there's a accolade for the book printed on the first page of my copy from the Saturday review:

In Hawaii[/i] you'll meet characters you'll never forget--Amelia, Whipple, the missionary; the sea captain who founded a dynasty of sugar barons; the Chinese concubine who became a great banker; the gigalo beach boy who might have been king, and hundreds--literally hundreds--more!

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I can't disagree with that.

ions said:

Hmm. Yes and no. Hawaii does have several storylines of different families. Hayl, Hoxworth, the Chinese families, the Japanese families and even starting with the Bora Borans that first populate Hawaii. I consider these storylines to be more than loosely connected though. One of the things that makes Michener's epics like Hawaii so great is he tales these storylines and intertwines them so completely. Some characters never meet in the book yet still have influence over each other. Due to the length of Hawaii each storyline does not feel like a short story in of itself, they are pieces that when combined become a much greater whole. The character's do develop as do their children and their children's children. In fact there's a accolade for the book printed on the first page of my copy from the Saturday review:



I can't disagree with that.

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Thanks. I appreciate it.

I have read a few of Michener's books: The Source, The Drifters, Caravans, Tales of the South Pacific and am half way through Poland and Centenial.

Caravans was the first one I read and I loved it. Like you, I had bought it for my dad and when I was sick one day and looking for something to read, I decided to give it a try. I started reading it and couldn't stop. My favourite one would have to be The Drifters. In fact I think I would have to say that it is probably one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read. It was informative and entertaining. I also loved The Source. I haven't read hawaii yet, as it is such a big book and I haven't had the time or inclination to get into such a long one, but since you have recommended it so highly, I may give it a go in the Christmas holidays.

igbomb said:

I'm in the middle of Tales of the South Pacific right now. Very good book so far.

Are all of his books written similar to this one? TotSP is several short stories that are very loosely connected (and sometimes not at all). I was thinking of reading Hawaii at some point, but the reason I read epics is to read well-developed characters that grow as the book progresses. TotSP does not really have that element.

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Finished Tales of the South Pacific last night. Very good book. Not one of my favorites, but I definitely enjoyed it. I think I'll add Hawaii to my TBR list, unless someone can convince me that another of his books is better.

James A Michener is a marvellous writer. He has sort of dropped of the radar now but he was a big deal in the 70's, for instance.

Hawaii would have to be the best I have read of his, and one of the best books I have ever read. The first bit about the islands being formed and so on is heavy going but by the end I was glad I read all that bit too.

I have also read Centennial, Chesapeake and Caravans. Not so crazy about the latter but the first two were also very good.

I believe he committed suicide a couple of years ago?