Dramatic "Descendants" On-Screen

Kaui Hart Hemmings' debut novel, The Descendants, was heralded for its bittersweet, wry depiction of a Hawaiian family struggling to stay together. The novel straddles the line between tragic and funny as attorney Matt King comes to terms with the death of his wife and the realization that she was cheating on him. He struggles to control his young daughters and find his wife's former lover, all while wrestling with the decision of whether or not to hold onto a plot of land passed down from his royal Hawaiian ancestors. A film version of The Descendants comes to theaters November 18, directed by Alexander Payne (Sideways) and starring George Clooney as King. The movie promises to be as touching as its emotional inspiration. Check out Hemmings' debut for a hilarious and heartbreaking family tale.