The Barefoot Serenade M for Mele

Ronin Blue was raised as somewhat of a mama's boy and had only left his state of California one time. Thus, inspired by the adventure writers of the early 20th century, he embarked on a two-year volunteer mission teaching reading to children in a Samoan village soon after he graduated college. Blue was a very good piano player and often played with his cello-playing prodigy best friend throughout his youth. When she passed away, Blue is haunted by her apparent suicide that follows him to Samoa. Blue's naivety of village life also leads the young man into several adventures. These includes life-threatening events such as a shark attack, fish poisoning, and natural disasters. Perhaps the biggest undertaking was that he unexpectedly fathered a daughter with a village woman. Blue and his daughter's unusual relationship becomes the impetus of the story as he brings her to the United States and tries to raise her on his own. The story heartwarmingly examines the themes of guilt, love, cultural differences, father and daughter relationship and the controversy pursuit of success.