How in the world is this the authors first book?
What was this book not better promoted?
Easily in my top 5 books I have read in the last 12 months!
Those who know me will tell you I am as far from being a tree hugging environmentalist as you can get. But the story sounded interesting and it takes place in Kauai.
It offered a valid, balanced argument for and against what the fictitious pesticide company did and why.
The mystery was also outstanding.
It is sad that books that are well written and from first time authors don’t get promoted unless they are also
Woke
Make a particular race feel guilty
Try to moralize
Try to teach the reader something ( it’s fiction it is there to entertain not bore the crap out of the reader.
I can’t wait foe the authors next book!!!
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This book was okay for me. I have to admit that it was a bit of a struggle for me at times. I had to try a couple of times to get into the story and even then it was hard to follow and rather confusing at times. I did like the story but it took a little bit of extra concentration on my part to keep everything straight. I am glad that I decided to give this one a try.

On the island of Kaua‘i, there have been some mysterious deaths and Bernt decides to see what he can find out at the request of one of the widows. The deaths appear to be linked to the corporate farm on the island since most of those that have died had ties to the company. We also see things from one man working at the company which made me question everything just a little more. thought that the setting was very well done and liked the fact that there were some pretty big surprises worked into the story.

This was my first experience with Kurt Kanazawa’s narration and I thought that he did a great job with the story. I thought that he did a wonderful job with the character dialects which added to the authenticity of the story. I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to this narrator again in the future.

I think that a lot of readers will like this one more than I did. This was an interesting ecological thriller that kept me guessing even though it had some issues. I would encourage anyone who thinks this book sounds interesting to give it a try.

I received review copies of this book from Forge Books and Macmillan Audio. ( )

Individual responsibility, corporate greed, evil things or evil people

“Project Namahana” takes readers on an island journey through vivid sensory descriptions. Orange elms glow before the cheerful, wind-chopped lake. Gray, heavy ocean waves slam into sizzling foam against the rocks below. A waxy green leaf is folded beneath a smooth river stone. The sky receded from the close thickness of summer to the remote and brittle dome of autumn.
This is a story about agriculture, not just farming and crops, but also agri-business, agri-politics, agri-science, and the role of GMO. There is more to a great cup of coffee than just beans. The coffee bushes must be nurtured; they must be protected from the ravages of climate and pestilence. However, this protection comes at a price, and economic concerns clash with environmental safeguards. Every rainstorm sends a torrent of petrochemical runoff directly into the streambeds.

The conflict unfolds in several divergent viewpoints -- people whose life experiences are distinctly different. Characters have individual voices with authentic dialogue, and Island vernacular alternates with traditional grammar, thus reflecting the diversity of both business executives and front-line workers. One-story houses with metal roofs are starkly different from a second-floor office overlooking a swale of brilliant green turf. The narrative uses these diverse personalities and characters to contrast contemporary economy, political correctness, tradition thinking, and environmental preservation.

“Project Namahana" is a fictional narrative with underlying questions for readers to consider. Are individuals responsible for corporate deeds? Are evil things the result of evil people? Who should be held accountable? What should be the primary consideration in the quest for world-changing products that provide affordable crop solutions? The clash is compiling, and the answers are challenging.

I received a review copy of “Project Namahana” from John Teschner and Forge Books. “Project Namahana” is now available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries, and anywhere you get your books.
#BookReview # JohnTeschner #GMO #AgriBusiness ( )