Happy Isles of Oceania : Paddling the Pacific

Rating:
Summary: A Vanity Project
Review: What's next for the unflappable Paul Theroux? Will he buy a collapsible dirigible for a tour of Antarctica? Will he dis the residents of the South Pole writing profundities into his palm pilot from 1000 feet above??? One gets the feeling, reading this book, that if Paul were to ever really get himself into a particularly thorny situation, all he need do to save his carcass is pull out his platinum credit card. There's never a sense that Paul will ever put himself into any REAL danger; will ever endure true risk whilst on his many global travels & travails.

Rating:
Summary: Paul Theroux travels alone; but I'll be there, every time!
Review: While nothing short of "The Stand," by Stephen King rates a "10" in my book, this is easily the best of his travel books to date. All-Engrossing, fast moving and insightful, so highly descriptive as to eclipse my own experiences in the few places I've been to that Theroux describes! His highly opinionated views correspond to my own---fits my impression of certain areas, cities---to a T! I just wish I'd read this book before my own travels... I'd have avoided some places---like Western Australia!---and certainly some I would NOT have missed... well, you read the book. I'm going where Theroux went---this time in person. And, I'd like to reserve THAT certain place on the THAT particular beach Theroux so interestingly and thoroughly describes: to myself! Gloriously, there are many places like, but not quite so fine (and others DEFINITELY to avoid at all costs!)---in, "Happy Isles." All in all, after reading this book---I feel like I've ACTUALLY been to each and every place described in Theroux's travels. So, what else is new?:)

Rating:
Summary: Theroux, a master storyteller
Review: Yes, you readers are certainly right. Theroux does, at certain times, call forth from the fictional realm to completely characterize certain people that he encounters along the way. We should in no way dislike the book for this reason. I felt that it presented me with a clear picture of life in the Pacific, and in particular, proves previous sterotypes both true and false(I particularly love his references to the falacies present within Melville's Typee as a way to describe the Marquesians). Also, I found his representation of American counter-culture as an influence on Samoan culture quite an effective means of relaying to us a sociological message: we learn directly how society influences the individual, and how, in turn, he influences the society. A remarkable read in my opinion....