Very unusual story, which interweaves three separate narratives, concerning the mysterious isle of Rapa Nui.
In alternating chapters, we first meet a 1912 group,setting off for anthropological research. Professor Edward Beazley is making arrangements for the marathon journey, accompanied by his young wife, Elsa and her mentally challenged sister Alice. For Elsa, this marriage has been a matter of prudence rather than love: the need to find a husband willing to accept the care of a dependent sibling. Elsa has resolutely turned her back on a previous love, to do the responsible thing...

We move on to the 70s/80s and scientist Greer Faraday, newly widowed, seeking forgetfulness in her work, who arrives to study the history of the island from its pollen deposits.

And lastly we read of von Spee, admiral of the German Scharnhorst, who finds himself at the outbreak of WW1 alone in distant waters, the target of enemy navies...

How these three separate narratives come together (I didn't see it coming!) makes for a jolly good read. In the process the reader learns a lot about the history, ecology and life of this distant outpost. ( )

Kirjan tarinat tapahtuvat kolmessa eri aikajänteessä. Molemmat päähenkilöt pettää heille tärkein ihminen. Pääsiäissaarten historia, geologia ja kasvitiede tulevat tutuksi. Mielenkiintoista luettavaa myös tieteellisestä näkökulmasta. ( )

Definitely enjoyed Strangers at the Feast more, but this novel, which tells the stories of three groups of people who come upon Easter Island during various time periods, is interesting, but it takes too long to see the connections among the stories. The information is fascinating -- and the book well-researched -- but the stories fell a bit flat for me. ( )

Separate timelines/lives which relate to actions in the others, well identified so I had no confusion, follow the lives of Elsa, Greer, and Vice Admiral Von Spee each of whom visits Easter Island.
Portrays the native islanders as intelligent and modern (a contrast to Thor Heyerdahl's book, read long ago, of which I don't remember anything about the natives & so assumed they were all extinct).
Vanderbes includes an ending note detailing her sources of information, for those portions which are factual or historical. I see her dedication to her parents & brothers...wonder how much her clear portrayal of a caretaker's attitude toward a different child/sibling was from personal experience/observation. It certainly was helpful in my own self-awareness about how much I want to control what happens to my son & his responses.

I loved this book, identified with the responsibility of caring for a family member with (what seems to be) autism and with the interest in exploring botany/science. And always appreciate having my home state sneak into a novel. You probably have to have an interest in science, or at least anthropology, to fully enjoy it. The botanical jokes Sven made cracked me up. I did note questions I had about how she portrayed some aspects of Greer's university years, but that was based on my own limited experience at a different time than Vanderbes'. ( )

The first few pages threw up a red flag for me as a soap opera theme began this novel. But it quickly became an interesting novel, based on obvious research, in which several chronological time periods were addressed from one chapter to the next. Vanderbes does a fine job of handling the different eras and weaving them into a story that ends with introspection and unanswered questions. Recommended for anyone interested in the mysteries of Easter Island and the scientific treatment of its secrets. ( )