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| Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu | 
 enlarge | Author: J. Maarten Troost
Publisher: Broadway
Category: Book
List Price: $12.95
Buy New: $3.97
You Save: $8.98 (69%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $3.97
Avg. Customer Rating:  (40 reviews)
Sales Rank: 6687
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.7
ISBN: 0767921992
Dewey Decimal Number: 919.59504
EAN: 9780767921992
ASIN: 0767921992
Publication Date: June 13, 2006
Release Date: June 13, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 36-40 of 40 | | « PREV 1 ... | | |
Enjoyable, but not up to "The Sex Lives of Cannibals" July 8, 2006
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
In a first for me, I pre-ordered this book based on "Cannibals" (5 stars). While the I enjoyed "Savages", it does not compare to genius of "Cannibals", Mr. Troost's first book. "Cannibals" is a masterpiece of travel/humor writing, laugh-out-loud funny even on the third read.
I have three recommendations regarding this book:
#1: If you liked "Cannibals", by this book but curb your expectations
#2: If you have not read "Cannibals", read it and see recommendation #1
#3: If you read "Cannibals" and did not like it, you may need professional help
 Nowhere near as good as his 1st book which was great but not bad. July 2, 2006
33 out of 34 found this review helpful
I stumbled upon Troost's first book in Powell's due to a 'Staff Recommendation' and devoured it within a day: A truly funny and engaging read. The following day I ran out and purchased this expecting more of the same but it ain't. Well, not exactly anyway. Whereas I read his first book in a day, it has taken me over a week to get through this and I doubt I'll finish it actually. What's the difference? Well, to start with the premise is that Troost will write a 'Travel Book' in the vein of Evelyn Waugh, and Paul Theroux around A year that spent living in Fiji and Vanuatu. His previous book revolved around the two years he spent in Kiribati. This latter book was a masterpiece of humor, anecdote, gentle self-deprecation and just pure good will. It was fresh and engaging and a real pleasure to read because of the author's uncanny ability to turn small events into good story fodder and for his willigness and ability to mock himself within the adventures told of. The present book suffers by contrast because I believe the author has slipped from glib and insouciant bonhommie to rather smug and smarmy world weariness as he grinds out his tale of two situses. Whereas in the former book the author took delight in the tiny details which he really used well to make his point, we find in this book these exquisite little details have been replaced by A sort of slapdash broadbrush treatment of large themes such as 'trip to an island dance' or 'month in the city.' It isn't very fulfilling in any event and one feels as though the author may either have been allowing his lack of enthusiasm for the semi-colonial life typical of many expatriate experiences to color his judgment, or perhaps was caught up in writer fatigue as he was writing a very similar story about a very similar place under similar circumstances very close in time to each other.
Anyway, I don't want to shush you away from this book but I would like for you to consider buying the author's earlier effort first so that you can see what A truly fun travelogue reads like. For those of you who loved his first book I'm giving fair warning that this one pales in comparison.
A nice trip through the south pacific July 1, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
As a disclaimer, as of this writing I have not read "sex lives" yet but plan on it.
I picked up this book as I am thinking of a trip to Fiji shortly, and I have spent some time in the pacific (micronesia). THis book is a pleasant romp through two pacific islands. Troost spends time both "in town" and out in the wild, and documents his interactions with the French, the native vanuatu, the Fiji-Indians and native Fiji people. The book lacks a "clincher scene", a travel day that stands out among all others and burns in your mind. However, the whole book has a nice ambiance, really funny at times and is a pleasant way to pass the time. Would make a good beach book.
 A lively, hilarious journey! June 23, 2006
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Getting Stoned with Savages is an adventurous bundle of fun and laughter. Troost's escapade to the Fiji and Vanuatu islands is intriguing and encourages one to travel far, far away, leaving behind all things digital. I totally recommend this book.
engaging, but not up to sex lives of cannibals June 18, 2006
16 out of 17 found this review helpful
Back to the South Pacific, but this time to Vanuatu and Fiji.
Curiously, cannibalism is much more relevant in this book than
in Sex Lives of Cannibals--maybe he should have saved the word
for here! Once again we escape from the structured life of
suits-and-ties and commuting to visit exotic places. You'll
read about visiting active volcanoes where tourists had been
killed a few weeks before, foot-long poisonous centipedes, the
joys of drinking kava, which is best if you don't think about
how it's made, and cannibalism, which last occurred in Vanuatu
within the author's lifetime.
Troost is a very engaging and humorous writer, frequently poking
fun at himself. And yet....and yet..there seemed to be
a difference between this book and Sex Lives--something that
gave his first book a full 5 stars, something that maybe wasn't
exactly missing here, but something that didn't quite captivate
you as his first book had done. It's been a year since I read
Sex Lives, and there are scenes that stand out in my mind from
that book--the lagoon where you would like to swim filled with
used disposable diapers, for example. Having thought things
over, I think that the problem is that in Sex Lives, there was
so much that seemed totally alien to most of our lives--such
as the lagoon with diapers. In Getting Stoned with Savages, a
lot of what we see is not as alien--you can get hurricanes and
transvestites in New Orleans or Florida, volcanoes in the
Caribbean and Central America, corrupt politicians everywhere.
The difference bewteen the idyllic view of the South Pacific
and reality in Kiribati is great, the difference in Vanuatu and
Fiji is substantial, but not as great. Still--a fine read!
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