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The Sailmaker's Daughter: A Novel
It is 1918 and Spanish Flu is epidemic in Suva, the capital of Fiji. Twelve year old Olive is sent with her brothers and grandmother to Taveuni to stay with her childless aunt and uncle on their sugar plantation to escape the disease as her mother lies dying of the flu in their family home. The months that follow hold magic and sorrow for Olive, as she uncovers well kept family secrets and grieves for her dying mother.
The Sailmaker's Daughter is dedicated to the memory of Stephanie Johnson's grandmother, who was born in Fiji in 1905. Like Olive in the book, her grandmother was one of a large family; her father was the sailmaker in Suva and her mother died of the Spanish Flu at the end of the Great War. The Sailmaker's Daughter is both a tribute to Stephanie Johnson's grandmother and a powerful evocation of a mystical paradise lived and lost.
The Sailmaker's Daughter is dedicated to the memory of Stephanie Johnson's grandmother, who was born in Fiji in 1905. Like Olive in the book, her grandmother was one of a large family; her father was the sailmaker in Suva and her mother died of the Spanish Flu at the end of the Great War. The Sailmaker's Daughter is both a tribute to Stephanie Johnson's grandmother and a powerful evocation of a mystical paradise lived and lost.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
255 pages, Hardcover
First published July 14, 2003
28 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Johnson
97 booksLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name
This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 1, 2016
This was my world books challenge book for Fiji. I’d read that the author based it on her grandmother’s story and assumed the grandmother was Fijian, so was disappointed to discover that the characters are all actually English colonists in Fiji. Unfortunately, I have not found any books starring native Fijians.
This is a work of historical fiction, set over a few weeks in 1918 when influenza was raging through Fiji. The book follows numerous characters, including 12-year-old Olive, who is sent with two of her brothers to stay with an aunt and uncle on another island while her mother is dying; her father, a sailmaker, and mother, a former actress; her oldest brother, a veteran with PTSD; two of her other brothers, who get into scrapes; her grandmother, a cranky old woman who has a vaginal infection due to wearing too many underclothes (?); her aunt, who after several miscarriages is addicted to laudanum; her other aunt, who has an intellectual disability and lives hidden in an outbuilding; a pair of lady travelers who happen by and are having an affair . . . too many for a 250-page book, and the book is forever jumping around amongst them and between the first and third person. It doesn’t help either that while some things happen, events aren’t organized into a plot, and many don't seem to contribute anything to the story. It’s telling when the last 25 pages of a novel suddenly introduce a whole new family not previously mentioned and focus on exploring their dynamics. There is no structure, no cohesion, and little reason to invest in any of these many characters.
That said, the book is readable, and a quick read to boot. It also does provide an interesting view on life in Fiji in the early 20th century. It was a diverse place on the cusp of change, though you wouldn’t want to live there – according to this book, if you weren’t white, you’d be oppressed, and if you were, you’d most likely be miserable.
Anyway, I am not going to spend a lot of words slamming a book no one has heard of. For good reason; there's nothing to see here.
This is a work of historical fiction, set over a few weeks in 1918 when influenza was raging through Fiji. The book follows numerous characters, including 12-year-old Olive, who is sent with two of her brothers to stay with an aunt and uncle on another island while her mother is dying; her father, a sailmaker, and mother, a former actress; her oldest brother, a veteran with PTSD; two of her other brothers, who get into scrapes; her grandmother, a cranky old woman who has a vaginal infection due to wearing too many underclothes (?); her aunt, who after several miscarriages is addicted to laudanum; her other aunt, who has an intellectual disability and lives hidden in an outbuilding; a pair of lady travelers who happen by and are having an affair . . . too many for a 250-page book, and the book is forever jumping around amongst them and between the first and third person. It doesn’t help either that while some things happen, events aren’t organized into a plot, and many don't seem to contribute anything to the story. It’s telling when the last 25 pages of a novel suddenly introduce a whole new family not previously mentioned and focus on exploring their dynamics. There is no structure, no cohesion, and little reason to invest in any of these many characters.
That said, the book is readable, and a quick read to boot. It also does provide an interesting view on life in Fiji in the early 20th century. It was a diverse place on the cusp of change, though you wouldn’t want to live there – according to this book, if you weren’t white, you’d be oppressed, and if you were, you’d most likely be miserable.
Anyway, I am not going to spend a lot of words slamming a book no one has heard of. For good reason; there's nothing to see here.
October 5, 2009
This book really didn't have much of a plot -- there were several very promising storylines but they never really went anywhere. It moved slowly and that was frustrating. I did, however, really enjoy the author's description of the landscape of Fiji in 1918, and the colonial society there. I think it was worth reading, but I wish there had been more story in the story.
Another thing: throughout the story there are several words, phrases and sentences in Fijian, Hindustani and French. Sometimes you can determine the meaning from the context, sometimes not. It turns out everything is translated in the very back of the book, but I didn't find this out until it was too late. Hrmph.
Another thing: throughout the story there are several words, phrases and sentences in Fijian, Hindustani and French. Sometimes you can determine the meaning from the context, sometimes not. It turns out everything is translated in the very back of the book, but I didn't find this out until it was too late. Hrmph.
September 11, 2015
The book was written very well but it did seem to leave many loose ends untied. It felt like it was wrapped up quickly at the end with a "happily ever after" stamp. The story itself was nice and the perspective of Olive was accurate of a girl of 13. Thank you to the other reviewer that mentioned that there was a translated glossary in the back of the book because the book definitely makes no mention that it is there. The book would've been very confusing without knowing the translations. There are a few gross difficult moments in the book that show off the
author's strength in vivid description. All in all, an enjoyable book.
author's strength in vivid description. All in all, an enjoyable book.
January 2, 2013
Wonderful story of family on Fuji Islands during WWII, with the natives, the hurricanes, the solitariness of island living.
Author from New Zealand.
Author from New Zealand.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews