What do you think?
Rate this book
The Smell of the Moon
This book isn't Lord of the Rings, but it is a quest; and it's not Roots, but it is a story about the difficult and joyous search for your origins; and it's not Gilligan's Island, but it is set on an island paradise. The Smell of the Moon celebrates a return to humanity, to family and community, to a place where your senses can live large ... where you can smell the moon!
In The Smell of the Moon American Samoan novelist Lemanatele M. Kneubuhl tests the sparkling waters of making bold life changes and he jumps into the deep end of the blue Pacific Ocean.
In The Smell of the Moon American Samoan novelist Lemanatele M. Kneubuhl tests the sparkling waters of making bold life changes and he jumps into the deep end of the blue Pacific Ocean.
178 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2006
3 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 7, 2023
#ReadAroundTheWorld. #American Samoa
This is a short story about life on a South Pacific island. The author was born in San Francisco but spent most of life in American Samoa.
The story is about a man in his 50s, given the name Tai by the islanders, who moved with his family to Ha’akula in search of a brother he hadn’t previously known existed, and possibly also a simpler more satisfying life. He befriends the island president, the gracious Papa Seb, and begins to work at an egg farm. His co-workers are an eclectic mix of people all with their own disabilities and challenges, but more importantly with great strengths and heart. The threat of change begins with a challenge to the island’s traditional monarchy, in favour of a modern democracy, with interesting outcomes.
This is a short and sweet feel-good story with a philosophical tone. My main frustration was that I wondered how much of the story was semi-autobiographical and how much was fiction, but this was never clarified. I am assuming that Ha’akula is a fictional island based on an island in American Samoa but again this is never specified. Either way, in a warm, cosy, soothing way it does make you want to visit the South Pacific! 3.5 stars for me
This is a short story about life on a South Pacific island. The author was born in San Francisco but spent most of life in American Samoa.
The story is about a man in his 50s, given the name Tai by the islanders, who moved with his family to Ha’akula in search of a brother he hadn’t previously known existed, and possibly also a simpler more satisfying life. He befriends the island president, the gracious Papa Seb, and begins to work at an egg farm. His co-workers are an eclectic mix of people all with their own disabilities and challenges, but more importantly with great strengths and heart. The threat of change begins with a challenge to the island’s traditional monarchy, in favour of a modern democracy, with interesting outcomes.
This is a short and sweet feel-good story with a philosophical tone. My main frustration was that I wondered how much of the story was semi-autobiographical and how much was fiction, but this was never clarified. I am assuming that Ha’akula is a fictional island based on an island in American Samoa but again this is never specified. Either way, in a warm, cosy, soothing way it does make you want to visit the South Pacific! 3.5 stars for me
October 22, 2019
Last night I was finally able to finish reading "The Smell of the Moon" by American Samoan writer Lemanatele (Mark) Kneubuhl.
I could relate to the story as, like the author, I too have found myself needing to cash in my safe career, liquidate the assets and relocate someplace off the grid with the hope of rediscovering who you are and what's important.
Perhaps it is a midlife crisis thing but at least both of us chose to take our families with us.
And the end result was a rich new life in a wonderful new place.
And a novel.
I could relate to the story as, like the author, I too have found myself needing to cash in my safe career, liquidate the assets and relocate someplace off the grid with the hope of rediscovering who you are and what's important.
Perhaps it is a midlife crisis thing but at least both of us chose to take our families with us.
And the end result was a rich new life in a wonderful new place.
And a novel.
March 21, 2025
Definitely a fun, light hearted read with quirky comedy thrown in. There were also some life lessons learned by the main character as well as for anyone reading. The big thing I took from the book is that everyone should find something that they love and gives them purpose. Make the crazy leap to do something that scares you that could completely upend yet rediscover your purpose.
March 3, 2016
1. The Smell of The Moon doesn't really have a genre but it is a short story about a family's problems in life.
2. I decided to read it because it seemed interesting what someone goes through with their family.
3. I really liked the way that it made me think about my motives and the way I think about people and life. It subtly insults people that judge and complain about things that are unnecessary. There wasn't much I didn't like about the book, the only thing was that there were a few parts that weren't needed to be explained but it can be easily overlooked
5. The text really made me think about my outlook on life and how I view it as well as how I view other people. For me the text managed to explained how other families cope with problems in their lives and how to overcome them. It does well to explain how to live a happy life without it sounding like a lecture which I thought was really good.
2. I decided to read it because it seemed interesting what someone goes through with their family.
3. I really liked the way that it made me think about my motives and the way I think about people and life. It subtly insults people that judge and complain about things that are unnecessary. There wasn't much I didn't like about the book, the only thing was that there were a few parts that weren't needed to be explained but it can be easily overlooked
5. The text really made me think about my outlook on life and how I view it as well as how I view other people. For me the text managed to explained how other families cope with problems in their lives and how to overcome them. It does well to explain how to live a happy life without it sounding like a lecture which I thought was really good.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews