The Descendants

By: Kaui Hart Hemmings

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Now a major motion picture starring George Clooney!

Matthew King was once considered one of the most fortunate men in Hawaii. His missionary ancestors who came to the islands were financially and culturally progressive - one even married a Hawaiian princess, making Matt a royal descendant and one of the state’s largest landowners. But now his luck has changed. His two daughters are out of control - 10-year-old Scottie has a smart-ass attitude and a desperate need for attention and 17-year-old Alex, a former model, is a recovering drug addict. His thrill-seeking and high-maintenance wife, Joanie, lies in a coma after a boat racing accident, and will soon be taken off life support.

The King family can hardly picture life without their charismatic mother, but as they come to terms with this tragedy, their sadness is mixed with a sense of freedom that shames them - and spurs them into surprising actions.

©2007 Kaui Hart Hemmings. All rights reserved. (P)2010 BBC America Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Matt's journey with his girls forms the emotional core of this sharply observed, frequently hilarious and intermittently heartbreaking look at a well-meaning but confused father trying to hold together his unconventional family." ( Publishers Weekly)

"[An] audaciously comic début novel.... Hemmings channels the voice of her befuddled middle-aged hero with virtuosity, as he teeters between acerbic and sentimental, scoffing at himself even as he grasps for redemption." ( The New Yorker)

Kaui Hart Hemmings needs to write more books!

What did you love best about The Descendants?

Always blown away when a female author can write from a first-person, male point of view. This beautiful, subtle story about family and tragedy and the nuances of familial love and the complexity of marriage is a rare, delicious find. Also love the sense of place -- like spending time in Hawaii ... I never wanted to leave! Kaui Hart Hemmings is the first writer I've found in a long time that I want to see more from. She's outstanding.

Great book

This was heartfelt and amusing. Funny where it needed to be and profound and thought provoking as well. Great book. I often times, go back and listen to it over again. It never loses its charm.

MOVIE WAS WAY BETTER

What did you like best about The Descendants? What did you like least?

I am a born and raise haole "Hawaiian" with family that has similar land situations...so I loved the story and have a distant connection to the author...The movie was wonderful... especially.. George!!! However the narrator turned me off with his poor pronunciation of the Hawaiian language...even the simplest words.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Jonathan Davis?

Some one who knows the islands and the language...with a connection.

Dealing with life in the wake of tragedy

Matt King concentrated on his law career, choosing not to involve himself with decisions made by his wife - about their daughters, their marital relationship and more. When she is seriously injured in a boating accident, he steps up to the challenge of an uncertain future with practicality, sorrow, confusion, determination and humor. Good movie (with George Clooney). Loved the book.

I loved this book.

Such a touching story. I do wish the narrator had learned how to pronounce Hawai’ian names and words. But his inflection, pace and timing were good. I saw the movie first, but I think I enjoyed the novel more. George Clooney’s face was in my mind as Matt. Haha

A Sleeper, with an Awakening

The Descendants teaches a number of small lessons wrapped into a bigger story. A true testament of how many working dads are unaware of the disconnection they have with their children, and the road back. How along that road, there are little bumps and great big bumps. However, each bump brings this father, back to being a dad.

Knowing you have a spouse whose heath deteriorates to a place where there is no turning back, is much different than losing a spouse suddenly. Knowing this, Alex and Scotty begin finding their father as they lose their mother.

Although, the story is that of a broken love and love that is lost to death, The Descendants goes deeper than only one subject. Within this tale you will find parenting, relationships, Hawaiian history, fun, and truth. It is a well written, well read novel that allows you the feeling of being there, helping the characters and learning along the way.

Unexpected! Loved this book.

Where does The Descendants rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's at the top of the list. I was not expecting to love this book; the writing is simple and powerful, the characters realistic, and the Hawaiian setting perfect to hold a story about loss, grief and reclaiming the past.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved Matthew king's character. He's a bit of a sleeper and slowly wakes to some hard truths and realities. I particularly liked that his character is both gentle and strong.

What about Jonathan Davis’s performance did you like?

He has a nice smooth voice. It fit with my imagine of George Clooney as Matthew king.

Any additional comments?

I purchased this audio sometime ago after seeing and enjoying the movie, and just never got around to listening to it. The book is even better and I enjoyed every moment of it. This book kinda wowed me and am now recommending it to all my friends.

Beautifully written!

Any additional comments?

This book is incredibly well written! It is the deep, real, and hearfelt account of a man's journey through all of the changes, thoughts, and feelings surrounding his wife's coma. It definitely has a sad/melancholy tone, however, and you should listen to it in pieces if you are at all susceptible to depression. I listened to it for several hours straight one day and loved it, but found I was in a bit of a funk for a bit afterwards. Lol. That said, the story remains full of hope and promise for the future of the main character and his daughters as they move forward as a family.

Hawaii and it's history

Would you consider the audio edition of The Descendants to be better than the print version?

Do not know, haven't read the print version.

What about Jonathan Davis’s performance did you like?

His tone and his exuberance.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

All books I want to listen to in one sitting, so, I guess that yes would be my answer.

Any additional comments?

Good book with every emotion known to us throughout its pages. To learn about this family with its trials and tribulations, its loves and losses, brought you into their world and made you smile, laugh, cry, and care. The way he dealt with his personal issues was truly awe inspiring and how he tried and succeeded in his understanding of the people who came into their lives for whatever reason was what each of us should strive for in our own dealings with others.

Sad but beautiful

The Descendants is an amazing book. Very similar to the movie but if you’ve seen that this book is still a wonderful journey to go on. Love, loss and betrayal in paradise. A story of a family doing the best they can as they prepare to lose their wife/mom. It’s a meditation on grief and forgiveness that remains funny and fun. Aloha!