Jim's review
The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by J. Maarten Troost
Initially, I started off disliking the book, the rantings of a flippant observationalist, but gradually I warmed up to it and found it enjoyable. If anyone gets the feeling that they want to live in a---shall we just use the term---third- or fourth-world country, they should read this book first. Yet, I was charmed, and could feel his mix of acceptance, grudging understanding, and disgust at some things. I liked his criticisms of first-world abuse, mismanagement, misplaced charity; his puncturing of international agencies, goverment (local and international) stupidity, religious evangelicalism of any stripe. I was often moved to belly laughs. Loved the "macarena war." The trip back home from a neighboring island across a roiling ocean was hilarious. I can imagine that if anyone there reads his book, he may actually suffer on a spit and be consumed by the locals, but I still thought it pretty funny. I kept thinking, "Yeah, that was a smart-ass reply, but then, I probably...more
I'm glad I've read this review. I've just started the book and am fed-up already with the author's immature self-absorbtion. Now I know that it improves, I'll continue to read it and not put it on the lower shelf of my night-table.
I have been considering reading his second book, but just haven't gotten around to it. I like learning about travel and other countries, and prefer books in this vein to the boring itinerists. Some of the flippancy and negativity can grind you down, but overall I liked it. Have you tried Bill Bryson, and to a lesser extent, Michael Palin? Sometimes their off-hand remarks are hilarious, even if they are being mean. I mean, when you think of tropical islands--who thinks of where they potty! :)
