Boy He Cry : An Island Odyssey

by Roger Averill

Two young Australians arrive unannounced on a remote Melanesian island and ask its residents if they can live with them for a year. Granted this request, cut off from the outside world, living without electricity, telephones, running water, two-way radios or even access to an ocean-going boat, Roger Averill and his anthropologist partner adapt to life in a subsistence culture and find themselves overwhelmed by the generosity of their hosts. Treacherous sea voyages, cyclones, a drug-induced psychotic episode and encounters with maverick American missionaries all add to the adventure. As the health of the couple steadily deteriorates from repeated bouts of malaria, their relationships with the islanders intensify to form deep and lasting bonds. In this way, amidst stories of love and detective magic, shape-changing witches, playful tree sprites, dwarf's hair and a dead merman, the most amazing transformation in Boy He Cry remains the way these people from vastly different cultures start out as total strangers but quickly become friends, even family.Rare, precious and beautiful, Boy He Cry is a spiritual odyssey into the heart of a remote culture

Genres: Nonfiction

Paperback

First published March 1, 2009

About the author

Roger Averill lives in Melbourne, Australia, where he works as a freelance researcher, editor and writer... In the late 1990s [Averill] wrote a doctoral thesis about sociological readings of biographies and has since published articles in a number of international journals. Stemming from this work, he has an agreement with the eminent Australian author Randolph Stow to one day write his authorised biography.

Dr Roger Averill used Library collections to research a biography of Werner Pelz. The book, later published as Exile: The lives and hopes of Werner Pelz, was shortlisted for the 2013 NSW Literary Awards.

Reviews

[Sue Mcgrath · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book about a couple living on a remote PNG island and the happiness and hardships they experienced during their year there. It was particularly eye opening in how the locals were treated by the so-called missionaries, no respect for the local culture or the people. I didn't think that I would enjoy this book as much as I did.

[Jules Begg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having lived in PNG this is very realistic.

[Ashlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shares a really heartwarming story of two Australians forging deep personal connections and insights while living for a year in a remote island community in Papua New Guinea. Very enjoyable to read. A fascinating look at the culture of the island, all told with a great deal of respect. The book also offers many reflections on how we live in the West.

[Suzie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure why this book didn't grab me, but I struggled to engage with the story