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Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu
Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu | J Maarten Troost
10 posts | 10 read | 9 to read
With "The Sex Lives of Cannibals," Maarten Troost established himself as one of the most engaging and original travel writers around. "Getting Stoned with Savages" again reveals his wry wit and infectious joy of discovery in a side-splittingly funny account of life in the farthest reaches of the world. After two grueling years on the island of Tarawa, battling feral dogs, machete-wielding neighbors, and a lack of beer on a daily basis, Maarten Troost was in no hurry to return to the South Pacific. But as time went on, he realized he felt remarkably out of place among the trappings of twenty-first-century America. When he found himself holding down a job one that might possibly lead to a career he knew it was time for him and his wife, Sylvia, to repack their bags and set off for parts unknown."Getting Stoned with Savages" tells the hilarious story of Troost s time on Vanuatu a rugged cluster of islands where the natives gorge themselves on kava and are still known to eat the man. Falling into one amusing misadventure after another, Troost struggles against typhoons, earthquakes, and giant centipedes and soon finds himself swept up in the laid-back, clothing-optional lifestyle of the islanders. When Sylvia gets pregnant, they decamp for slightly-more-civilized Fiji, a fallen paradise where the local chiefs can be found watching rugby in the house next door. And as they contend with new parenthood in a country rife with prostitutes and government coups, their son begins to take quite naturally to island living in complete contrast to his dad."
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Currey
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Mehso-so

#readingoceania2024 #vanuatu I am getting a bit tired of the “my year in ….” (Name of South Pacific island) format but he keeps things light and moving and you do catch a bit of history and culture although much of what you catch is being a foreigner there. I learned a bit about cannibalism. I am slowly getting a glimpse of the differences between all the countries in Oceania. Just wish I could locate some better literature along the way

BarbaraBB Yes it is really hard to find books related to all those islands. 1mo
Librarybelle Yes…it‘s hard to find books for some of these. 1mo
14 likes2 comments
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Texreader
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Pickpick

Troost had lived in Kiribati for quite some time and after moving back to Washington DC, he and his wife decided they needed to be back on the islands of the Pacific: #Vanuatu and #Fiji. While truly hilarious, the book is also informative about the islands. Nothing is funnier than his getting stoned on mudwater, otherwise known as the Kava drink—so long as you‘re listening to it at least. I enjoyed this book immensely and have embarked on ⬇️

Texreader reading his other books in Oceania. A very fun author who is appropriately serious when he needs to be. #readingOceania @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB 10mo
Librarybelle Great review! I agree, he writes with humor but also talks about serious subjects. 10mo
GingerAntics This guy sounds like a hoot! I‘m going to have to look into these. 10mo
See All 9 Comments
5feet.of.fury I‘m glad you enjoyed these! ❤️ I love his writing, I was so happy to suggest it when I saw the group reading Oceania (edited) 10mo
Texreader @5feet.of.fury Yes just brilliant recommendation! 10mo
Texreader @GingerAntics Headhunter is serious. So don‘t start with that one. 10mo
GingerAntics @Texreader I‘ve got 4 on my list… headhunter, lost on planet china, seed lives, and getting stoned. I‘m trying to figure out where to start. 10mo
Texreader @GingerAntics Chronological is best. Start with Sex Lives. Then Getting Stoned. Not sure where China fits in scheme of things 10mo
GingerAntics @Texreader very excited for these! 10mo
52 likes9 comments
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KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

Low pick. I liked The Sex Lives of Cannibals better. This one was interesting, and I did learn a lot, but it wasn‘t as fun as the other one. I preferred the part where he lived in Vanuatu; it‘s less interesting after they move to Fiji. Also — “savages”? I started The Fairytale Life of Dorothy Gale as my new #audiowalk book.

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KathyWheeler
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The author does not always make the world‘s best decisions, but it‘s fun to hear him talk about the results of those bad decisions. It‘s a little weird to hear the narrator pronounce “mosquito” with the first syllable sounding like “moss.” I only have 2 hours left though, so I need to be thinking about my next #audiowalk book.

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KathyWheeler
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This book was mentioned in a group I‘m in. I‘d loved The Sex Lives of Cannibals but didn‘t know about this one. Since I needed a change of pace from my last book, I picked it for my new #audiowalk book. So far, I‘m liking it. It‘s a lot of fun.

CatLass007 FYI. I just looked up the author and he‘s written at least four books. I‘m adding The Sex Lives of Cannibals to my Audible wish list. Sounds intriguing. 11mo
KathyWheeler @CatLass007 I‘ll have to look to see what else he‘s written. 11mo
25 likes2 comments
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Texreader
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I‘m very much looking forward to this audiobook for #Fiji #Vanuatu #readingOceania @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle

Thanks to @5feet.of.fury for the recommendation!

P.S. it‘s hilarious!!!

Librarybelle I read his Sex Lives of Cannibals - that was hilarious! 11mo
KathyWheeler Oh! I didn‘t know about this book. I really liked The Sex Lives of Cannibals. 11mo
53 likes1 stack add2 comments
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5feet.of.fury
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Thanks for the tag @BooksNBowls !
#wondrouswednesday @Eggs

1. if I‘m up late stressing about work I‘ll make myself think about what‘s going to happen next in what I‘m reading and then I have that half awake half asleep nonsense dream thing.

2. I like to carry the tagged book around on vacations and skim my favorite parts on tropical islands.

3. Running Craft Brew Race and getting my backyard together so I can have fires and festivities.

Eggs #1: well put! Me too! #2: love this idea! #3: I want to be your neighbor 😃 (edited) 3y
BooksNBowls Am I invited to the bonfire?! 😁 3y
5feet.of.fury @Eggs & @BooksNBowls you‘re invited any time 😊 3y
26 likes1 stack add3 comments
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5feet.of.fury
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1. A Stranger in the House (started yesterday and I‘m about 2/3 the way through. & Stephen King/Peter Straub‘s The Black House.
2. J Maarten Troost‘s Getting Stoned with Savages, it‘s my favorite of his and I reread it on a Caribbean cruise wishing I was doing more adventuring.
3. Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown

#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

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keithmalek
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17 likes1 stack add
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lauralovesbooks1
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Pickpick

This was a fun romp of travel writing through the South Pacific. Interesting blend of history, culture, and natural beauty with hilarious anecdotes mixed in.