Review of Happy Isles of Oceania Paddling The

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Happy Isles of Oceania Paddling The
Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 1
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Don't go there!

by: Anonymous On: 2005-07-21

In 1980 I proofread a magazine excerpt of a Paul Theroux book. It began with his getting up early to catch a train from Boston to begin a journey to Patagonia. Who cares how early this bloody New Englander had to get up or what he had for breakfast? Id thought Patagonia was a mythical country. I guarantee you it wasnt in my geography book. Turns out its part of Argentina. Big deal.

But the guy is a real writer. In The Happy Isles, he recounts the tale of how he brought a folding boat, about the size of a big suitcase, to every Pacific island youve ever dreamed about and paddled around them all. Forget those islands -- Theroux says they are mostly full of lazy, suspicious people who stuff themselves with imported junk food. Some are Christian religious fanatics, some are vicious pagans, and some are both.

The first two chapters are on New Zealand, and I imagine those folks would shoot Theroux on sight if he had the temerity to return. He was not complimentary.

Theroux is not Mr. Sweetness and Light, but thats all the more enjoyable as he demolishes the images of tropical paradises, whether in Meganesia, Melanesia, Polynesia, or Hawaii. Stay home! Stay home, pour a Mai Tai, and enjoy this delightful putdown.