SONG OF THE EXILE

In this WWII-era love story, author Kiana Davenport investigates her own Hawaiian ancestry through the lives of a couple who meet by chance in Honolulu just before the world erupts. Gabrielle de Cuir presents a stirring rendition of the story; her convincing dialects and emotion carry forward the saga as Keo (a jazz trumpeter) and Sunny (a Korean-Hawaiian beauty) struggle not only through the perils of war, but also through Hawaii's effort to achieve statehood. As lush in production value as the island it portrays, SONG OF THE EXILE does an excellent job of integrating its dual themes of love and patriotism. R.A.P. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 00]