The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific

by J. Maarten Troost | Travel |
ISBN: 0767915305 Global Overview for this book
Registered by istop4books of Castle Rock, Colorado USA on 6/22/2007
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
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22 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by istop4books from Castle Rock, Colorado USA on Friday, June 22, 2007
tbr

Journal Entry 2 by istop4books from Castle Rock, Colorado USA on Friday, July 6, 2007
This is the kind of book that as I was reading, and laughing out loud, I just had to share with everyone around me. I read passages to my husband, told bits and pieces to my kids and just plain enjoyed the book start to finish. It was a quick and easy read - but beneath the surface - and without being preachy - there were many international issues discussed.

Sylvia and her boyfriend Maarten agree to go to the remote atoll country of Karibati pretty much in the middle of nowhere in the Equatorial Pacific. Dreams of lazy days, beautiful sunsets and an idyllic island paradise give way to the reality of sewage issues, lack of water, intermittent electricity
and every class of critter and parasite under the sun! Their living conditions go from deplorable to tolerable to actually quite livable and in that ensuing time frame of two years Maarten is able to get through the roughest of times through the use of humor.

I liked this so much I've turned it into a bookring!



The list so far, and this order may change:
llednyl, Ohio, ship US
nmreader, New Mexico, US shipping
lynlee4, Florida, prefers domestic
goddess-of-fire Missouri, prefers US
unwrittenlibra, Maryland, anywhere
bookman-8, Germnany, ship anywhere not before September
beeskeeper40 UK, anywhere
scotsbookie, UK, ship anywhere surface
jinglefish, UK, anywhere
Zepplin, UK, prefers Europe <---asked to be skipped
fflloorr, Portugal
Bilbi, France, prefers Europe
mirp, Ireland, anywhere
frangelle, UK, anywhere pref Europe
RikkiDD, Germany, preference
Rapturina, Netherlands, anywhere
snufkin81, South Africa, anywhere
piemunga, Australia, prefers Australia
Fred45, Australia, no preference
Torchgirl, Australia, no preference
Teenie-k, Canada, no preference
Darkpunkangel, Canada, anywhere
Kiri, US, anywheres<-----book is here!
GrannyAnn, US, US
Gnissorckoob, US, US
back to istop4books, US



Please have fun and enjoy this book while keeping in mind the usual guidelines:
1) Journal 3 times: when you receive the book, your thoughts after reading it, and when you send it on!
2) PM the next person for a mailing address before you finish the book. If that person doesn't answer within a week or so, let me know.
3) Try to read the book within a month so we can keep the book moving!
4) You can send the book via surface mail or airmail- that is completely up to you.
5) If you are backlogged and you're next on the list, let me know and I'll try to move you if possible.








Journal Entry 3 by istop4books from Castle Rock, Colorado USA on Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Getting this book moving today. Mailing out to llednyl. Yay! The ring begins!

Journal Entry 4 by Llednyl from Marysville, Ohio USA on Saturday, July 14, 2007
Came in the mail today! I'm looking forward to reading it.

Journal Entry 5 by Llednyl from Marysville, Ohio USA on Saturday, July 28, 2007
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It really is laugh-out-loud funny at times, but not overly so - a very good thing. I was the same way about sharing bits and pieces with people, and I'll be recommending this to several of my friends. Thanks for sharing it!

This will be in the mail to NMReader on Monday.

Journal Entry 6 by NMReader from Herndon, Virginia USA on Monday, August 6, 2007
I have heard wonderful things about this book. I can''t wait to read it but it is book 2 waiting to be read. I need to finish my present book ring and another one and then I will start - very much looking forward to reading

Journal Entry 7 by NMReader from Herndon, Virginia USA on Saturday, August 18, 2007
What a wonderful book! I am so glad I joined the ring. I must see if I can find Getting Stoned with Savages as a ray or a ring - if not I will have to buy or borrow from the library.

Maarten and Sylvia learn about life at the end of the world. I laughed out loud and it made me think more seriouly about life in the third world.

Journal Entry 8 by lynlee4 from North Port, Florida USA on Saturday, August 25, 2007
It came today. I look forward to starting!

Journal Entry 9 by lynlee4 from North Port, Florida USA on Monday, September 17, 2007
This was a fun read! I have to say that it's put a damper on my fantasies of being deserted on an island for some peace and quiet - the ugly details are never part of a fantasy, are they?
Have pm'd goddess-of-fire and will get it moving along. Thank you istop for offering this to us!

Journal Entry 10 by lynlee4 from North Port, Florida USA on Thursday, October 4, 2007
Went in the post today to Goddess. My apologies for the delay in sending-our local po-dunk post office had a computer crash so they closed up! Finally made it to another one today. Thank you istop for the opportunity!!

Journal Entry 11 by Goddess-Of-Fire from Springfield, Missouri USA on Monday, October 15, 2007
This arrived Friday, and I had a chance to read it this weekend.

I really enjoyed it- I'd love to just up and move somewhere remote, but I think I'm going to cross Tarawa off my list of possible locations, lol.
Thanks for sharing!

-PMing unwrittenlibra.

Journal Entry 12 by Goddess-Of-Fire from Springfield, Missouri USA on Friday, October 19, 2007
Sent off to unwrittenlibra yesterday!
Enjoy!

Journal Entry 13 by UnwrittenLibra from Middleton, Wisconsin USA on Friday, October 26, 2007
Got it today in my mailbox here in Amherst, MA - from one college student to another. Thanks, Amanda!

Journal Entry 14 by UnwrittenLibra from Middleton, Wisconsin USA on Sunday, November 11, 2007
Started and finished it backstage during this week's performances of The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh at the Curtain Theater, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

I was really confused about Troost's ethnicity (American? British? Dutch) and some of his jokes fell flat, but it was definitely an interesting read about a little known part of the world. I think I'll put Book 2 on my wish list.

Sending it off to bookman-8 in Germany on Tuesday at the earliest (no PO tomorrow or Veterans Day)

Journal Entry 15 by UnwrittenLibra from Middleton, Wisconsin USA on Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Sent off to Germany today via the Northampton, Massachusetts post office! Go book go!!!!

Journal Entry 16 by book-man-8 from Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Tuesday, November 20, 2007
I just got the book in the mail! This was quite fast... Thanks for the Ring and for sending! I'll read it soon.

Journal Entry 17 by book-man-8 from Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Wednesday, November 21, 2007
A ruly interesting book! It gives a new sight of what life really is in "paradise" as the Pacific islands are often called... But it also can be like a virus: once you have been there, have accepted that way of life, you get hooked...

RELEASE NOTES:

This one is now off to Beekeeper40. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 19 by beekeeper40 from Hoveton, Norfolk United Kingdom on Thursday, November 29, 2007
Arrived safely - thanks!

Journal Entry 20 by beekeeper40 from Hoveton, Norfolk United Kingdom on Thursday, January 31, 2008
Sorry for hogging this so long, life got in the way of my reading. Have pmed next reader for their address.

Journal Entry 21 by beekeeper40 from Hoveton, Norfolk United Kingdom on Thursday, February 21, 2008
Finished at last! I enjoyed this one. Sorry for holding on to it so long! On its way to Scotsbookie today.

Journal Entry 22 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, February 25, 2008
Arrived safely this morning, thank you beekeeper40. I have a couple of rings rays ahead of this but will get to it asap

Journal Entry 23 by scotsbookie from Peebles, Scotland United Kingdom on Friday, March 14, 2008
This book had been on my wishlist for ages & I was really looking forward to reading it. But in the last 3 weeks I've got no further than 50 pages & it just didn't catch my imagination. Sorry!

PMing jinglefish for their details & I'll get it moving again asap.

Released 16 yrs ago (3/15/2008 UTC) at to a fellow bookcrosser in book ring/ray, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases

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Journal Entry 25 by Jinglefish from Woking, Surrey United Kingdom on Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Arrived safelty today - thanks. I have one ring ahead and will then be straight into this.

Journal Entry 26 by Jinglefish from Woking, Surrey United Kingdom on Thursday, April 3, 2008
Finished this last night and had laughs along the way - some of the images the writer conjured up were very amusing and what an eye opener his writing is. I quite enjoyed the read although I got the impression that the book was hastily finished at the end of his stay to line his wallet! That said, in an semi serious tongue in cheek type of way. The chapter describing the lives of cats and dogs made me think - I too have been in a similar situation and have had to make unpleasant decisions that still upset me to this day. His comments about the British were harsh but, if truth be said, probably fair;-) That said, I loved Chapter 17 - that sums the book up for me.

I have sent a PM to Zepplin and will pass the book along as soon as I receive a response. Thanks for sharing istop4books.

14/04/08 - ETA that Zepplin hasn't responded to several PM's so I've today sent a PM to fflloorr as she's next in line after Zepplin.

Journal Entry 27 by Jinglefish from Woking, Surrey United Kingdom on Thursday, April 17, 2008
This is now winging its way to fflloorr in Portugal (air mail - so it shouldn't take too long).

Journal Entry 28 by fflloorr on Monday, April 21, 2008
It just arrived. I'll read ir asap.

Journal Entry 29 by fflloorr on Wednesday, May 21, 2008
What a funny book!
I really enjoyed reading it.
Thanks for signing me up for this ring :-)
I already sent a PM to the next bookcrosser on the list. I'm just waiting for the address to move the book along.

Journal Entry 30 by fflloorr on Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Sent today to Bilbi in France.

Journal Entry 31 by bilbi from Chambéry, Rhône-Alpes France on Friday, June 27, 2008
Received today !
Just a book to finish before starting this one !
Thanks for sharing \o/

Journal Entry 32 by bilbi from Chambéry, Rhône-Alpes France on Saturday, June 28, 2008
Fortunately enough I'm on holiday so I did not giggle on the information desk when I was reading this book ;-)

There are many many parts of the book that are so funny that I read them twice !

Thanks again for sharing.

Let this piece of humour travel to its next reader now.

Journal Entry 33 by rem_BSM-942247 on Tuesday, July 8, 2008
it has arrived safely in Ireland. thanks for sharing.

Journal Entry 34 by rem_BSM-942247 on Friday, August 8, 2008
this book is now on it's way to the next person on the list. Thanks for sharing!

Journal Entry 35 by frangelle on Thursday, August 14, 2008
Received today, thankyou. Will read then move on asap x

Journal Entry 36 by RikkiDD from Dresden, Sachsen Germany on Tuesday, October 28, 2008
I received the book today. Thanks for sending it.
Now it has to wait a few days - I still have to finish another book - and than it will be the first to read.

Journal Entry 37 by RikkiDD from Dresden, Sachsen Germany on Thursday, November 6, 2008
It is really a great book.
A young couple moves to the end of the world, or just a bit further? The woman got a job but the man lingeres around and try to get the time around. But soon he adjust to the live on a nearly deserted island. With wit and knowledge he tells us about live in a complete different culture.
Here a few xerptings a liked specially:
Lifestyle an behaviour on an island in the middle of nowhere:
page 126 "Christianity was certainly very important for Bwenawa. He has, at various times in his life, been a Catholic, a Jehovah’s Witness, a Seventh Day Adventist, a Mormon, and even a Baha'i. today is an elder in the Kiribati Protestant church. ‘It is all the same. We must love God and we must love one another.’ To this end, Bwenawa was seeking to unify the Kiribati Protestant Church with it archrival, the Catholic Church – just a heads-up for the guys in Rome.”
page 134 “…the seamen’s bar where it is considered bad form to demonstrate an ability to walk upright.”
page 140 ”The first time I drove down the runway, I wondered a the wisdom of doing so, but Mike accurately pointed out that Air Kiribati was down, Air Marshall had stopped its service, and the Air Nauru plane was impounded in Manila, so there was no need to worry about air traffic, just mind the pigs.”
page 193 “… The country lacks a military force because the I-Kiribati widely acknowledge that no one else wants their country. Even the I-Kiribati aren’t too thrilled about having their country. Certainly the wanted to live there, but all things being equal, they would rather have had the British govern it. …”
page 212 describing a welcoming committee on Butaritari “… A toothless old man, a respected village elder, greeted us warmly while bedecked in a frayed T-shirt that read Shit Happens, which seemed particularly apt in Kiribati.”
If that doesn't tell alot, I don't know.
Everyone who wants to live somewhere else should read this book, before! moving.

Journal Entry 38 by RikkiDD at Controlled Release, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (11/12/2008 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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The book starts its travel again.

Journal Entry 39 by rapturina from Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Tuesday, December 2, 2008
It's here! It arrived while I was away on a business trip last week.

I've been wanting to read this book for a long time, so I will start it soon. Hopefully I won't be disappointed. :D

Journal Entry 40 by rapturina from Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Saturday, December 13, 2008
I finished reading this book a few days ago and very much enjoyed it! I had never really thought about what life would be like on an island like Tawara, but I suppose I always imagined it'd be palmtrees & coconuts. So it was very interesting to read about what the situation is on these islands. I especially enjoyed that at the end of the book the author also described what it was like to return home. A lot of books about living in another country for a while never pay much attention to the culture shock one has to go through when returning to your own country, so I thought it was great he mentioned a thing or two about that!

The book is on its way to South Africa since this morning!

Journal Entry 41 by snufkin81 from Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Saturday, January 17, 2009
This arrived in the post yesterday. Thank you, rapturina and istop4books! I have a few bookrings to read first, but I'll read this one as soon as possible.

Update 23 Feb: I'm a few chapters in now and enjoying it immensely!

Journal Entry 42 by snufkin81 from Cape Town, Western Cape South Africa on Wednesday, March 18, 2009
I finished this yesterday. I enjoyed it a lot, especially towards the end, and I'd love to read the follow-up. At first I was a bit put off by Troost's style, which is very verbose, but once I got used to it I found his writing very humourous. His experiences are definitely a warning to others who think that the grass must be greener on a Pacific Island (like the "poet laureate" of Kiribati who didn't last very long).

One thing I would have liked was a map or two of Tarawa and the island group, as I sometimes got a bit confused with all the different places mentioned. I tend to think that all travel books should have maps!

Piemunga has asked to be skipped, so I will be posting this on to Fred45 in the next few days.

Journal Entry 43 by snufkin81 at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Friday, March 20, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (3/20/2009 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

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Sent to Fred45 by airmail. I hope it arrives safely!

Journal Entry 44 by fred45 from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Monday, March 30, 2009
Thank you snufkin81 and istop4books for sharing.
The book arrived today! I'm about half way through my current book so shouldn't be too long till I get to this one. Really looking forward to it.
Thank you for the beautiful postcard too snufkin81!

Journal Entry 45 by fred45 from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Saturday, April 25, 2009
I really enjoyed this book, There were many parts where I couldn't help but laugh out loud!

I loved the layout of the contents and chappter headings with a little synopsis of the chapter before you start. I've never seen that before!
Each chapter is like a story of it's own but they all flow so well together! My favorite chapter was The Great Beer Crisis, I felt his pain!!!!!

I'll definatly be looking out for the next one.

I've PM'd Torchgirl for her address so will get it in the post as soon as i hear something.

Thanks istopforbooks for turning this wonderful book into a ring.

Journal Entry 46 by fred45 at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Friday, May 8, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (5/8/2009 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

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Posted this one to torchgirl yesterday, safe travels little book.

Journal Entry 47 by Torchgirl from Kalamunda, Western Australia Australia on Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Received in a Book Ring a while ago...sorry everyone, only journaling now, will not go into excuses!

Well, I did enjoy reading this book, mostly. For me it was very close to home as my Husband and I live in the far north east of Western Australia and we both work mostly with the indigenous people here. I could really relate to the many cultural situations he found himself in. I finished the book with mixed feelings, it felt strange this man telling their story, no maybe not that, maybe I'm too close to some of those situations and I need distance like Maarten to see it more objectively.
In our local communities alcohol/drug abuse, violence and incest is rife. Yesterday a local 13 year old girl stopped breathing after inhaling aerosal cans with a group of friends, she is now on life support and not expected to live. I want an answer to all of this, Maarten's book didn't give it but does inspires a little more optimism in me to keep on trying.

Have emailed Teeni-k tonight to post it on.

Journal Entry 48 by Torchgirl from Kalamunda, Western Australia Australia on Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Gosh I was a bit serious in that previous entry, posted to Treeni-k 22/6, enjoy!

Journal Entry 49 by teenie-k from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada on Friday, July 3, 2009
Book has arrived here safely. I will try to get it read soon and send it along it's way!

Journal Entry 50 by teenie-k from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada on Friday, July 10, 2009
I quite enjoyed this book. Not typical of the books I normally read, but a refreshing change.

I will never again imagine a lush tropical island in the middle of nowhere the same again!!!

I have already PM'd darkpunkangel a few days ago to confirm she has not moved since the last bookring we both joined. I have not yet received a reply, but it is that time of year when people are off on vacation. I will try again if I do not get a reply in the next week or so.

Journal Entry 51 by teenie-k from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada on Monday, July 27, 2009
I have sent another PM to darkpunkangel to confirm the address I have for is still valid. I hope she gets it :o)

Journal Entry 52 by teenie-k from Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada on Thursday, July 30, 2009
It turns out Darkpunkangel did get my original E-mail, but I did not get her original reply. It's all taken care of now. :o)

The book went out in the mail today.

Journal Entry 53 by darkpunkangel from Barrie, Ontario Canada on Monday, August 3, 2009
Arrived safe and sound today, thanks teenie-k for passing this on. I'll start reading it right away.

Journal Entry 54 by darkpunkangel from Barrie, Ontario Canada on Friday, September 18, 2009
I really enjoyed reading this book. I finished this when I was on vacation in Cuba last week.

Will PM the next person and will send it off as soon as I get my address.

Journal Entry 55 by darkpunkangel from Barrie, Ontario Canada on Friday, September 18, 2009
I really enjoyed reading this book. I finished this when I was on vacation in Cuba last week.

Will PM the next person and will send it off as soon as I get my address.

Journal Entry 56 by darkpunkangel at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (10/13/2009 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Sent to the next participant, sorry for the delay.

Journal Entry 57 by Kiri from Santa Rosa, California USA on Thursday, October 22, 2009
It is here.. !

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.