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Troost than from any other source. It is books such as these, which recount personal immersion into local cultures, that give us what television and tourist-travel books cannot.I think that many a reader has learned more about these remote parts of Oceana from Mr. I read The Sex Lives of Cannibals, JMT's first book about Kiribati, years ago on a Palm Handheld. This second book, which I read from a conventional paperback is as good as the first.I enjoyed both stories immensely.
In fact, his description of the effects of Kava is the best I have ever seen. Although other reviewers did not like this book as well as his first, I feel that some of the humorous episodes are even better written than in the first book. Highly recommended. This is my favorite book by Maarten Troost. Perhaps this is because our family lived in both Vanuatu and Fiji (only a couple years before Maarten and his family), and so I can relate to almost every one of his adventures.
I also read his other book, "The Sex Lives of Cannibals," and I loved that book, too. It was a real treat to read this book. Maarten Troost is a wonderfully talented author. He writes so colorfully, interestingly and humorously.
He writes how I think. I love his work. Witty, intellectually sarcastic and insightful. J. Maarten Troost is the best author.
He is at his best when he is in the middle of absurdly funny situations, such as when he drives a borrowed vehicle off the side of the road in the middle of nowhere or battles a giant centipede. Still, this book is pretty good; it's worth the read. Troost comes across as a likeable guy, but his second travel book isn't quite as entertaining as his first. I want more narrative from him and less exposition. I want to give it an extra half star. "Getting Stoned" suffers from too much exposition about the history of politics and culture in Vanuatu and Fiji. Important stuff, yes, but not what I want from Troost.
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