MCD
The Wayfinder
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A historical epic about a girl from a remote Tongan island who becomes her people's queen.
Talking corpses, poetic parrots, and a fan that wafts the breath of life--this is the world young KΕrero finds herself thrust into when a mysterious visitor lands on her island, a place so remote its inhabitants have forgotten the word forΒ stranger. Her people are desperate and on the brink of starvation, and the wayward stranger offers them an impossible choice: they can remain in the only home they've ever known and await the uncertainty to come, or KΕrero can join him and venture into unfamiliar waters, guided by only the night sky and his assurance of a bountiful future in the Kingdom of Tonga. What KΕrero and her people don't know is that the promised refuge is no utopia--instead, Tonga is an empire at war and on the verge of collapse, a place where brains are regularly liberated from skulls and souls get trapped in coconuts with some frequency.
The perils of Tonga are compounded by a royal feud: loyalties are shifting, graves are being opened, and everyone lives in fear of a jellyfish tattoo. Here, survival can rest on a perfectly performed dance or the acceptance of a cup of kava. Together, the stranger and KΕrero embark upon an epic voyage--one that will deliver them either to salvation or to
the depths of the Pacific.
Evoking the grandeur ofΒ Wolf Hall and the splendor of ShΕgun, the Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Adam Johnson conjures oral history, restores the natural world, and locates what's best in humanity. Toweringly ambitious and breathtakingly immersive, The Wayfinder is an instant, timeless classic.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9780374619572
EAN:
9780374619572
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
736
Authors:
Adam Johnson
Publisher:
MCD
Thrilling read! From the mystical and Oceanic ways of the middle ages to the parallel paths of our current human experience this read moved in and out of place and time seamlessly. Personally, a wonderful read which brough greater context of my own time in Tonga 3 decades ago...a novel that did not disappoint and often found me with goose bumps both from the story within and its applicability to modern themes in the present moment.
An epic adventure that left me wanting more even after I turned the final page.
The Wayfinder is a transcendent journey to a different time and place told by the master of all storytelling, Adam Johnson. His lyrical prose captured me from the first chapter. I found myself invested in a world that I knew nothing about while still being able to connect with the richly developed characters on an emotional level as they navigated lifeβs challenges, desires, and love. Itβs a beautifully written, resonant novel that stayed with me long after I finished it. I highly recommend it β itβs one of those rare books you donβt want to end.
What an amazing book. From the very first page you are transported into a richly layered narrative full of possibility and wonder. It is truly cinematicβevery scene feels so vivid and tactileβand yet the beauty of the novel lies in its emotional resonance. It explores resilience, hope, and the meaning of connection with such nuance that it lingers long after the last page. I would highly recommend it.
4.5. An amazing epic tale set hundreds of years ago in the South Pacific focusing on the Tongan kingdom, and its reach and wars with many different societies. It is not a page turner, yet it totally captivated me. There are two stories that weave together, the first is of young woman, Korero, whose familyβs ancestors came to their island to escape slavery, but now are faced with extinction and hunger; the second story is the story of the Tongan king, his three sons, and warrior brother and the challenges to the ruling familyβs survival and its far reaching wars. A very provocative novel on survival, slavery, cultural differences, war, abuse, misogyny, prejudice, family dynamics, among others, infused with some magical and mystical influences, such as talking parrots and a power wielding fan that can revive the dead. A very well researched novel and very well written. Highly recommend
