Oceania Books

Horwitz does a wonderful job of depicting ordinary life in Australia. However, his sense of humour adds a brilliant quality to the essay which makes an ordinary account of his travels something far from mundane. I recommend this book for anyone interested in travel essays or a good laugh.

Horwitz has captured the Outback and its weird bunch of denizens down to it's last blowfly and tortured vowel. His descriptions of unlikely places such as (the mostly underground) Coober Pedy and(unfortunately mostly above-ground) Mt. Isa are uncannily accurate and appropriately scathing. For all those about to travel the Outback; those who have been lucky enough to do so; or those who merely wish they were among the aformentioned. (Should be read along with the Lonely Planet Guide to Outback Australia.)

There are constraints to Australian road travel - the chief one being that the cities, hence, the roads, hug the coasts. There are dangers, desolation, loneliness, above all, heat. And flies. It takes some courage to face these conditions alone, even in modern times. Tony Horwitz faced them alone and on foot - some of the time. The result was a fantastic voyage and a superb account.

Horwitz is an unlikely prospect for an Australian adventurer. A transplanted Yank [Washington, DC to Sydney], urban [New York City to, again, Sydney] and Jewish [rather anomalous in the Outback]. These conditions might fatally impair the less adventurous, but Horwitz can "boldly go" [as he did in a later book] and so he does. With singular dedication, he even starts his trek heading West from Sydney past Dubbo to the Alice. With no direct Sydney to Alice route, the journey is circuitous, a fine introduction to the later expedition. Here, Horwitz encounters people and displays his talent at recording them. The limited number of roads implies limited options and few rides. It's a closed world and he becomes "the crazy Yank we heard about back in Nevertire."

Constricted view doesn't inhibit Horwitz' abilities. He has an advantage over many travel writers - he's a journalist first and a traveller after. A perceptive eye and a talented pen record his reaction to the land of Australia. And the people he encounters who become the focus of his attention. He's good with people, drawing them out - fulfilling the image of the chatty Yank, entertaining, but somehow provocative. The drivers, pub keepers and drinkers respond to his novelty. He records them with lively asides, keeping your interest with every page. 'Surely, these can't be real people,' you may think. No worries - Horwitz has captured them intimately, intruding only lightly as they respond to his queries.

A poignant chapter, describing his search for a Jewish family in Broome with whom to celebrate Passover, is the highlight of the book. Noting the town's multiracial population, he observes: "Australians . . . seem uncomfortable when the subject of Judaism is raised." He attributes the feeling purely to ignorance, not prejudice, a welcome change from attitudes toward the "Abos." Horowitz, although claiming atheism, remains drawn to the family assemblage of the seder. Alone in Broome, he discovers a new level of solitude - in this polyglot community, Jews are rarer than jewels. He pores over the telephone directory which only displays "an Anglo-Saxon litany of Browns, Harrisons and Smiths." A solution beckons in the guise of a local priest. "It is a common sort of misconception. If there's no rabbi about, well, try a priest. One religious ratbag's as good as another." The solution, however, lies elsewhere. The situation amply portrays Horwitz' humanity, absolving him of any stigma of the detached, unfeeling journalist. His roots are a significant element in his life, one that gently, but insistently, haunts him. This book can haunt you, as it does me.

Frank Sherry works very hard to cover the first 250 years of European exploration of the Pacific and its lands, particularly the struggle to control the spice trade, the continual wars and battles fought over its control, the search for alternate passages from European waters to the Pacific, and the hunt for the mythical southern continent, Terra Australis Incognita. Chronicling Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, and English activities in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, it is ambitious and epic in scope.

Sherry paints a picture of continual hardship on the part of these sailors on voyages of exploration, trade, and warfare. Political infighting and miserly sovereigns delayed missions for years, or so underfunded them that they were doomed to failure thanks to decreipt ships, wormy food, or otherwise poor supplies. Leaders of expeditions were often chosen by the rulers of the various nations not because of sailing skill or some personal or professional trait that made them outstanding explorers, but because they were owed favors, were the darlings of various kings, or simply because they bought their way on. Time and again sailing expeditions broke down into infighting and sometimes outright mutiny when supplies ran low, there were disputes over leadership of a ship or expedition, when winds were poor, and/or when a mythical island failed to appear, either because it never existed in the first place or because the ships were woefully off course. Petty treachery and arrogance often poisoned relations with peaceful natives throughout the Pacific, resulting in suffering on both sides and inevitable European massacres of Polynesians, Melanesians, and Micronesians, or sometimes vice versa. Other times fairly peaceful European explorers and merchants were meant with extremely hostile natives and slaughtered, perhaps the legacy of previous visits, or in some cases due to local xenophobia and warlike ways. If one wanted to die old, exploring the Pacific was not recommended.

Sherry does a great job discussing the continual struggles to just get to the Pacific, of one nation trying to reach this world's largest ocean and its coasts and islands and avoid areas of Spanish, English, or other national domination. Much of these efforts relate to events and schemes in the Strait of Magellan and Tierra Del Fuego, and make for interesting though sometimes sad reading.

Much of the later parts of the book concern the struggle for finding and laying claim to the mythical southern continent, long thought to exist. It was almost painful to read about expeditons that either just missed Australia, or saw Australia and failed to realize it was the continent they were seeking. It appeared even when some did realize what it was, it wasn't the legendary paradise they hoped it would be.

My only real complaint about the book is that after a while reading about how so miserably so many explorers and expeditions turned about, about explorers languishing in port for years due to lack of funds, of ships stranded at sea with dwindling food and water thanks to lack of sufficient winds, of continual conflicts with islanders, it almost got depressing. One certainly can't acccuse Sherry of needlessly romanticizing the exploration of the Pacific. Perhaps it is just me though, but I found some of the continual hardship a bit tedious.

Still, this is a very good history book, one well worth buying.

Pacific Passions is a captivating story of the explorers who opened the Pacific Ocean to the western world. Frank Sherry paints a riveting experience as he puts the reader on the decks of Spanish, Portuguese, English, and Dutch ships on journeys to the Spice Islands, Australia, Tahiti, and countless other destinations. The author does a masterful job in recounting the human misery and self sacrifice associated with the age of exploration as well as the human triumph. By the last paragraph I was ready to set sail myself for my own adventure into the South Seas! I could not put the book down!

Frank Sherry's account of the European exploration and mastering of the Pacific Ocean is an excellent and well written work of history that has somehow been overlooked. Lovers of great tales of exploration and nautical history should seek out a copy. It is WELL worth the effort.

This book is greatly recommended for anyone who has some any remote interest in the personage of Queen Salote or who has any spark of interest in the region that she ruled.
The author, Elizabeth Wood- Ellem, takes an intricate look into the life of one of the world's last remaining monarchies. She further sheds more light on the decision making process that occurred during the late Queen's reign.
While the book is a comfortable read, it also gives the reader a glimpse into Tongan culture and the traditions that were so embellished by the Queen.

Tonga is a unique place in being the only Polynesian kingdom to maintain its culture and government through the colonial period that brought down similar cultures in Hawaii and throughout the Pacific. Queen Salote adds to this uniqueness by being the ruling queen of Tonga in the first half of the Twentieth Century, an era dominated by male chauvenism. This story of her life and reign provides a wonderful view into the culture and history of this island kingdom. For papalangi (the Tongan word for people of Western society) this is not an easy book because there is a lot of Tongan names, geneology, and customs necessarily involved in the biography of their queen. Yet the very things that make it difficult also make it a rewarding book to read. What makes the book most enjoyable is the portrayal of this marvelous woman who ruled Tonga for almost 50 years. She ruled without use of force during a time of dissent from rival nobles and emerged one of the most revered leaders in Tongan history. She convinced her British advisors of her ability to rule and her island adversaries that their independence depended on her rule. I can recommend this book without reservation to anyone interested in women's studies, international biography, Polynesian history, or British colonial history.

I sincerely recommend this book for all Tongans out there as well as those who are interested in discovering one of the most beloved Monarchs of our time. Queen Salote was not only a charismatic leader but also a progressive woman who brought Tonga to the forefront of the modern era by re-establishing its past. She restored the cultural pride of her people at a time when native cultures were suffering the ill-effects of Westernization.

This book will be a sweet recollection for those who were fortunate to witness her reign, and it will be a source of inspiration for younger generations who are seeking to learn about their themselves.

Truly, a remarkable book for a most remarkable person!

With a copy of this guide at hand, I've tried several times to read the whole thing front to back in order to digest all of the information and be able to come up with a coherent plan to visit New Zealand, but I find the writing dense and unentertaining. Perhaps the subject matter is difficult-- as a primarily outdoor destination, New Zealand may not lend itself easily to a list of places to see and things to do. Nevertheless, in despair at wading through this long but boring tome, I have ordered the Lonely Planet guides in the hopes that they will be more readable.

This first edition of the New Zealand Rough Guide has taken its place as the best overall travel book for the country. As with others in its series, this Rough Guide gives a thorough description of all the cultural and recreational aspects that a first time or a seasoned traveler "downunda" should know. For the basic information concerning accommodation or eating, the Rough Guide follows its practice of offering choices for every price level but it doesn't act as listing agent for each and every hostel, hotel, B & B or cafe. In that regard, the Rough Guides encourage the traveler to look for him or herself instead of following the standardized tourist formula.

But it's heavy on the activities for specific woderful areas like Kaikoura, the Otago Peninsula, Wanaka and many, many more. The color photographs are an appealing addition, also.

Just returned from a 21-day journey to Kiwi-country, and used the Rough Guide extensively. From Dunedin to Auckland, the book spells out excursions, accommodations and lifestyle samples in various price ranges better than most other guide books.

Format is simple to read, easy to find just what you need. We were turned on to some great motels and B&Bs, excellent eateries and a few adventure tours along the way. Maps of cities were quite helpful. Other books have prettier pictures, but this one does the best job of finding stuff to DO in NZ.

This review refers to the 2000 2nd Ed.

Slater's Field Guide to Australian Birds is one of the best Australian bird guides there are, running second only to the compact edition of Michael Morcombe's field guide with a similar title.

Strongly recommended for birders traveling to Australia who can only find this guide available from overseas.

I just returned from Australia and used this guide exclusively for bird watching in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne! It is easy to use, both logical and very informative. The paintings of each and every bird are exquisite and very, very accurate!

If you want a comprehensive and user friendly bird guide, this is THE ONE to get...It's lightweight, sturdy and an overall excellent source while out and about either in the city or in the Outback bush! FIVE STARS for this one...you will love it!!!

A really nice bird book. This is designed to be small enough to take around with you, and big enough that the pictures used for identification are actually usable for most people. In general, this field guide has struck a happy medium, and is quite a useful book to have for the bird fancier. A very handy publication.

The Tiger's Whiskers and Other Tales from Asia and The Pacific is a great little book that I just accidently happened upon while browsing Amazon. The short stories are thought-provoking, dashed with some humor, universal themes, and intrigue. I like Courlander's easy-going, storytelling style. The black & white illustrations are excellent and well-placed within the text. The text print size is good---not too small for reading, which makes the experience more comfortable for eyeglass wearers.

This book would be appropriate for tweens, teens, and older---students who are studying humanities, cultures, folklore, mythology, etc. I'm hoping the publisher will reprint the book so that many more people can have access to it. Right now, it seems to be a product of resellers.

Here's a quick list of some of my favorite stories from the book:

The Scholar of Kosei (Korea) // This is my favorite story about a forgetful, but lovable scholar named Pak. I just love the bit where Pak leave his hat on the bush, then finds it later!

The Tiger's Whisker (Korea) // A young wife searches for a magic potion that will heal her war-worn husband.

The Tiger's Minister of State (Burma) // Politics makes for strange relationships!

The Trial of the Stone (Burma) // Oh that wicked thieving rock that "steals" a boy's money! :)

The Hidden Treasure of Khin (Burma) // Classic tale of "bloom where your planted" A young man goes a long way to realize his dream.

The King Who Ate Chaff (Burma) // Keeping a king's secret is ever so hard! But secrets have a way of getting out where you least expect them.

The Musician of Taguang (Burma) // Relics and time make musicians greater than they were in life.

Some other selections from this book that may appeal...

The Ambassador from Chi (China)
The Prince of the Six Weapons (India)
The Travelers and the Nut Tree (Kashmir)
The Counting of the Crocodiles (Japan)
Abunuwas the Trickster (Arabia)
The Philosophers of King Darius (Iran)
The War of the Plants (Malaysia)

**The book contains more stories than are listed in this review. :) Seems like there is 31 in all. Thus, the book definitely honors diversity.

Cool feature: the book contains a "Notes on the Stories" section that is very helpful in putting the stories in context of their home cultures and / or alerting one to translation information.

Well I was first skeptical about this book. But all of a sudden I just began reading,reading,and reading until I read the whole book twice. The book can teach you about other cultures and their beliefs from the Far East. my favorite story is of course, the tiger's whisker. Theses stories will definitley "whisk" you away.

With tales stretching form Persia to Polynesia, this book is a nice, rich collection of Asian tales containing some well known folklore and a diverse mix of fairly obscure tales from exotic locales like Laos, Sri Lanka and Yap. With stylistic black and white illustration scattered throughout along w/Courlander's simplistically elegant prose this book makes for a nice, light read. Perfect for the discriminating reader of all ages.

I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this book by Jennifer Fulton. I've read and enjoyed everything else she's written - under all three of her pen names. However, this older book has been sitting on my shelf as I've been reading new releases. Finally making time to read this one is one of the better decisions I've made in a while.

Similar to Saxon Bennet's style, Fulton brings a myriad of characters to the table. At first they are difficult to keep straight, but the story is well-written and is easy to follow.

A group of women get together to openly discuss their dating woes. They agree to always be honest and to never date each other. Of course, as they begin supporting each other in their failures, sub-relationships begin to form and that's where all the fun really begins.

A well-developed story with (mostly) likable characters, this not-so-recent release is sure to keep you entertained.

At first I thought this was simply a well-written entertaining look at lesbians on the prowl for love and sex. But Fulton really brings surprising challenges to the story and depth to the main character. I hope she writes a sequel.

I have read all of Fulton's books and I must say that I was a little bit disappointed that this was not the happily ever after that the previous ones were-however-once you get over that the book is a laugh out loud peak into the world of some kinda unhealthy lesbians.

This book isn't exactly what I was looking for, but it's a great childrens book! Lots of pictures, in fact, I think there are probably more pictures than actual sentences. If you're looking for serious information on Australia, just stick to Frommers.

I really appreciate this series and the way it allows emergent readers to access sophisticated information. Nice work.

good book that will be great assistance in planning trip to Oz, as well as during my journey

This book is a wealth of information all contained in one volume. The travel tips, itineraries and even restaurant information are well researched. My only complaint is I'd like to see more detailed maps of some of the more off the beaten path areas - such as Kirra Beach, were I am going. Other than that, this book is a great product and I'd highly recommend it for anyone going to Australia for their first time.

"The best guidebook [about Lord Howe island] is Australia: An Ecotraveller's Guide by Hannah Robinson," Mark Rowe, Travel Overseas, November 2005.

This is an odd little hybrid, but quite useful. With beautiful photos, like a coffee table book, but small in size; with many maps, but none detailed enough to really use; with travel suggestions, but little "getting there" or "where to stay" information, it is a little bit of this and a little bit of that. What it does, more than say "Watching Wildlife," is put the flora and fauna in an ecological and evolutionary context, explaining why a particular species or area is unusual, and worth seeing. There are many sidebars with interesting natural history, and references to recent scientific studies along this line. But it is also a guide to the highlights of where to see nature in Australia.
Bottom line is, you will need other guides to fully plan an ecotourist trip to Oz, but you will get a lot more out of the trip if you read this book first.