A Mansion on the Moon: A Guam Love Story

by C. Sablan Gault

Set in the turbulent period of Guam history, between the Spanish-American War and World War II, the lives and loves of three Chamorro women are told in vivid detail. A navy seaman leaves young Amanda de Leon broken hearted. For Sylvia de Leon Camacho, happiness ends too soon. Life teaches the level-headed Vivian Camacho that falling for an American serviceman is futile, like reaching for the moon. Cultural and racial prejudices magnify the distance. Trying to build a life with one is as impossible as building a mansion on the moon. Then a navy civil engineer comes into Vivian’s life.

276 pages, Paperback

Published November 24, 2015

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5/5
(I received a free copy from the publisher, xlibris, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
***Minor spoilers***

Guam was initially never well known. The inhabitants were believed to be poor savages, so when the Americans began occupying it, it came as a surprise how normal they were. While the Chamorro people had different traditions and language, they were human either way. This novel follows a family line of 3 women, their relationships, and what came out of them.

It's quite difficult to summarize this novel, mostly because it's hard to pinpoint one central relationship in the novel. To be honest, while I was reading, I wasn't too sure who the main characters were supposed to be. Every time I thought we got to the main woman, they died . In my opinion, this made the book a bit disjointed. I didn't know who I was supposed to be attached to, so I basically ended up not being attached to anyone. Another thing was that there were a lot of characters but not all of them were really relevant, so it was hard to keep track of them.

In terms of the romances, it was really slow. There is one girl whose romance takes up the majority of the novel, and most of that space was filler. I can't even really call it a slow burn, because there wasn't really expectation or anticipation, it was just a waiting game. That said, it was interesting reading about Guam in war-time, since it's something I haven't encountered before. The writing itself was good, I just wish the pace was quicker.

Overall, this book was solid, but it had a lot of flaws. There were so many characters that I didn't know who was relevant, and I couldn't get attached to the main characters because there were so many romances in the novel. The history and writing was good, and if the pace was faster I would have enjoyed it more. I would recommend it if you're interested in the period, but not if you're only interested in a romance.

[Liz Ah Po · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was particularly drawn to this book because Guam is my mother's birthplace. This story covered several generations of Chamorro women and their loves and disappointments in their lives. While I lived on Guam for only a few years, I still came away from this read learning many historical facts that were previously unknown to me. However, my struggle was with the events of the Japanese invasion. While I have always admired my mother's strength as a woman, just knowing and reminded that she was among the captured, made my heart cry.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Mansion on the Moon, by C. Sablan Gault, is a powerful and moving novel set in Guam over a period of about forty-five years. The novel opens in 1898 and the Americans had just taken Guam. In 1899 Tim, a young American sailor, meets and falls in love with Amanda, a young Chamorro woman. They both know that their chances for a future together are impossible and, even so, they spend one fateful night together. Tim is called back to America not knowing that Amanda is carrying his baby. From there we follow the story of their descendants through WW II.
This is a rich, impeccably detailed work of historical fiction. The vividly portrayed characters come alive in this story of turbulent and dangerous times. They are strong individuals who experience loss and sometimes unimaginable hardships. During peace time and through the horrors of war, their love stories persist.
I found this to be a well written, mesmerizing and interesting story. Highly recommended.

[Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book if you want to know the history of the island of Guam in a pleasurable read!! The love story holds it all together- and in some instances could have been a bit more abbreviated. I thought there was a. It if repetition. However, my goal was to learn about the just of the island and the native people- Chamorro, and I was not disappointed.

[Angela Floyed · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a very hard time reading this book. There were too many characters who were insignificant to the story. This was a constant cause of confusion as is continuously gave to revert back to see how they fit in. I would then find that it didn't matter who they were as they had no input into the story, and they'd never be mentioned again.
I also found that parts were very rushed and you could span 10 years in half a page, and then it would seem to drag over inconsequential details.
I found this very very hard to read.

[Kycats1993 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A love story but also a great Chamorro history account

This was a very touching love story. As a daughter of 2 Chamorro parents who were on Guam and Saipan during the war, this book described what they could not remember. Having grown up in the states, I throughly enjoyed learning about the island’s turbulant history and better understood my Chamorro heritage.

[Bruce Dinsman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great as a history lesson about Guam's early 20th-century life. Very valid from all cultural and historical aspects and very sensitive to romantic issues.

[Stacey Schneller · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful written story that I enjoyed reading. I loved reading and learning about new things especially history when it comes to reading. I learned a lot and I couldn't put this story down. It was so good. 

The characters were very well written the storyline was very interesting. I loved it. I am hoping for more. A lovely love story that romance readers would love. 

I voluntarily received this book from Read for Reviews to give my honest opinion. All reviews are 100% my own.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an epic, awesome story! At first I wasn't sure if I would like the book since it was set in an unfamiliar country, Guam, but it was surprisingly easy to read and enjoy. It was quite a long book, but that just made it all the more satisfying as I finished it. You can't help but be captivated by the families and love stories and drama all the way through the book. Amanda de Leon is the first native girl whose story is told. When a sailor named Tim sees her for the first time he is totally smitten. Thus begins the decades long story of the family that comes from that meeting, and the continuing saga of the people of Guam. As the generations come along, the book is divided, as it tells the particular couple's story. It is a captivating set of tales that is woven together by the blood of family. Phillip Avery is stationed in the Navy on the island of Guam, and that is where he learns about the native Chamarros, the people who live there. He works with a man named Tino, and when he finds out Tino has rooms to rent at his nearby home, he jumps at the chance to live somewhere other than the cramped, hot bunk room that is his current place. He rooms with Parker, a fellow officer in training, and they both become close friends with Tino and his daughter, Vivian. Some major events happen as the story unfolds, including war and separation. It's a heartrending tale, but it is so worth reading to the end....I highly recommend this book. I'm so glad I read it. It's very memorable.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely story! The author did a superb job with this one. I was immediately drawn into the lives of the characters as they faced difficult times in their lives. I had a hard time putting down this marvelous read. Highly recommended for anyone looking to experience the real life up and downs of life, war, love and all of the details that span a lifetime.