Our Hawai'i remembered by Charmian London

Our Hawaii by Charmian London
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In spite of the fact that the language is archaic I enjoyed experiencing Charmian’s experiencing Mrs. London’s POV. She and Jack London were hosted by Hawaiian royalty all over the Islands and were privileged to enjoy in a way that few have. They were hosted everywhere they went with lavish luaus and princely accommodations in a Hawaii that does not exist today. When they arrived in the early 1900's Hawaii had been annexed by the United States and the royal families were in decline. The Missionary families owned huge tracts of land and lived as royals themselves. The horse was the favorite mode of transport and the London’s rode throughout the Islands sometimes in less than comfortable conditions, but they were troopers. Their years in the Islands were some of the happiest for the London’s and they both wrote fondly of their time there. I researched heavily for my historical novel Wai-nani: A Voice from Old Hawaii. I only saw a few discrepancies in this precious rendering of the Islands by Charmian London. She states that Kamehameha the Great died at 82. I read that he only lived to be 69, but in almost all matters of Hawaiian history and legends she was accurate. This book is not for everyone, but if you are a Hawaii aficionado like myself it is a delight. Note: There are numerous errors in formatting and misspelled words that are very distracting. It might be because it is an old book and hard to translate into kindle format, but I think a proofreader would have helped.Wai-nani: A Voice from Old Hawaii

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The Secret Life of Mrs. London

The Secret Life of Mrs. London by Rebecca Rosenberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a Jack London aficionado, so I couldn’t wait to read this book. I loved getting in between the sheets with Charmian London and her adventuresome husband. But, I hated that the time with them was in the last couple of years of his incredible life when a self-indulgent, excessive lifestyle was taking its toll. He began drinking as a teen when he was an oyster pirate in Oakland California. He hopped freights for a while and ran with a very rough crowd. By the time he was 40, the dreadful effects of alcoholism and chain smoking were evident.

 Charmian describes him lovingly, but can’t help sharing the hurt and disappoint she felt as he became more and more difficult as his health failed. Still, theirs was a special relationship. She was an incredibly capable and intelligent woman, who adored his brilliant mind. He famously said that, “I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me a magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.” He got his wish. Whether he died from an over dose of morphine, as this account claims, or of uremic poisoning, his course was set for an early death. I am relying on the author’s research and authenticity of detail in this well-written historical novel. It is one that made me smile, but saddened me at the same time. For all his foibles, I still love Jack, the Sailor on Horseback, who took us on many a wild ride. I have been to his Beauty Ranch many times, and will go there again to pay my respects. In the meantime, I will read Our Hawai’i written by Charmian London describing a happier time in both of their lives. Linda Ballou author of Wai-nani: A Voice from Old Hawaii


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Adventure travel writer, Linda Ballou, has a host of articles on her site along with information about her novels and articles at www.LindaBallouauthor.com

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