Customer Reviews

West of Then: A Mother, a Daughter, and a Journey Past Paradise

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While I'm not privy to use the overused term "unflinching" but for some reason, that fits here for Tara Bray Smith's rather impressive debut. And unlike many memoirs, the concept of "place" plays a very important role in the story - Hawaii, in its rich 150 year history of drugs, sugar cane trade, fables, stories and a tradition of language and societal rules, is a character in and of itself. Bray deftly weaves the stories of her ancestors and Hawaiian traditions to the current day narrative - Bray's determined search for her heroin-addicted mother, Karen, through the gritty streets of Chinatown and downtown Hawaii. Because of a sustaining drug habit (Karen has an affinity for heroin but will sample others), the author's mother abandons Bray and her two sisters but manages to drop in and out of their lives, evoking pain and complex love from the daughters. I marveled at Tara's cadence, her language, her "old way" of telling a story and I was taken in, immediately. An absolute recommend!

This book is one of the very best books set in Hawai'i that I have read.
As a long-time resident of Kaua'i, I read this book with recognition of just about everything described. There were no false notes of someone trying to write about "paradise" like a tourist brochure. Just the true life that most of us who live here, especially haole (caucasian) have experienced.

This author in her first book writes with such sensitivity about life in the islands, and in her family in particular,
that you feel yourself in whatever space she creates, whether it is a forbidden trip to the island of Ni'ihau, or a visit to her Gamma's Kahala beach cottage on O'ahu.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the real Hawai'i. Such an enjoyable read I never wanted it to end!

One can only hope that this is merely a hint of what is to come from the talented Tara Bray Smith. It's impossible not to be moved by Tara's struggles to connect with her estranged and wayward mother.

As someone who has suffered great personal family tragedy, I can honestly say that Tara "Tells it like it is." The image she creates of Hawaiian paradise and its appearance vs. reality reflects her own inner journey; Tara hopes to reach the "paradise" where she has the mother she wants (and still believes she can have) rather than the imperfect and troubled mother she actually has.

Ultimately, this story is unforgettable.

I just finished West Of Then. I took my time in savoring the exquisite writing in this book. Many times, I had to stop and remember 'This is Tara Bray Smith's first book'. She is amazing with how she somehow simultaneously writes about the past and the present and then adds Hawaiian history--yet it flows easily. The pieces of Hawaiian history were helpful with painting the picture of her memories. It would be hard to imagine growing up in Hawaii, yet she makes me feel what she felt while growing up. So many books' writing seem cliche, as if the same person could have written all of them. I was sad to finish this book-- it was very moving and intelligently written. A gem that I recommend!

"West of Then" expertly weaves together a lauhala mat (hard, sturdy, but not overly decorative) of Hawaiiana, personal tragedy, and a fascinating look at codependence into a sad, gripping tale.

I could have been Tara Bray Smith, and she, me. I too am in my mid-thirties, haole, raised in rural Hawaii, and uncomfortable in my white skin; always wished I was Japanese, too. Like Ms. Smith, I moved to the East Coast as soon as possible in order to flee the memories of "paradise" and its serpent: my addict mother.

The poignancy of reading about Jackass Ginger, Rap Replinger and Checkers and Pogo (memories of my childhood Hawaii) are matched by the sadness of a daughter always hoping for the perfect mother in the perfect setting.

This tale makes me wonder if, among Hawaii's many native fauna, we uncomfortable haole girls with mothers we never stop trying to save, include ourselves.

P.S. I am sooo jealous Ms. Smith got to SEVEN islands! I only did six.

What I liked most about this book is the author's ability in describing people's manerisms. You could easily visualize her mother's ways. How any of Karen's daughters survived to become responsible humans, is a miracle. I also loved the history in the book. The ending was very anticlimatic, but then Karen appears to be the toughest drug addict ever. Very sad that she wasn't considered sick enough for a psyciatric hospital, despite the suspected knowledge that she was injecting herself literally anywhere she could...her feet and possibly her face. I also found it touching that three sisters all by different fathers, where able to stay close when the one person they have in common is such a lost cause.

West of Then is a very moving memoir about a daughter's love and forgiveness towards her mother. The way Tara Bray Smith superimposes the history of Hawaii with her heartbreaking relationship with her mother is not to be missed. One is left at the end of the book filled with hope all is well between them and will continue that way. BRAVO to Tara Bray Smith on here first book, hope there are lots more to follow.

Book is well-researched - the history & descriptions of Hawaii. Overall, this book is a tribute to her mother, and I feel sorry for Tara, now in her early 30's. She has not ACCEPTED that her mother is a self-centered, immature, lying, thieving, irresponsible, promiscuous drug addict; Karen could care less about Tara and her sisters. Tara's own life is on hold - no husband or children - while she waits for Karen ("Still, I have hope for the living") to grow up. She needs to accept reality. I'm glad Tara gave us this peek into her world, and I hope she does well in her journalism career.

My friend just gave me this book to read, after sailing off Waikiki in the offshore Friday night yacht races at the Hawaii Yacht Club.
Upon returning home I gave it to my wife to read. We both grew up in Kahala, and now live in Hawaii Kai near Honolulu.
My wife was blown away from what she read.
Days later I opened the books cover, seeing Karen Morgan's name, I almost cried.
We all surfed, swam, and rode the waves together, in the days of our youth. Such special happy days. We knew all the Morgans, and many of their family.
For many years my office was near Triangle Park in downtown Honolulu.
I am so sorry that I never knew of this. What a wonderful family they all were.
Please Tara Smith contact us. We have so many happy memories to share with you, and other friends.

Aloha Nui,

Mark C Olsen- Hawaii Kai. Hawaii

When this book first came out a bunch of us rushed to purchase it. We were mesmerized with how the author set up her story about her struggle to reach out to her mother. We knew her father, Kirk Smith. He was well known in Hawaii at the time and many of us in the advertising and travel world had worked with him over the years. He had been telling me about his daughter's book and he was very proud of all of her achievements. He told us about the book because he was a little embarrassed at about how he was going to be portrayed. Tara loved her dad and did well in letting us see him in another light. He passed away one day at a surf spot in Honolulu called Paradise. Anyway...the book was very hard to put down because it made you think about how you would feel if you had a mother who was living on the streets in Honolulu, addicted to drugs. I loved the story and found myself thinking about my own relationship with my mother and how as a daughter we take care of our moms. Sons leave, but daughters are always connected to their parents and especially their moms. I felt Tara's anxiety and concern. I loved the story and so did all of our friends.