Oceania Books

Out of the 5 or 6 books I've reviewed on NZ travel, this is the one that will be actually carried and used on my month-long trip. The information is never vague; for example excursion trips are described, the top providers are listed with all necessary details. Maps are extensive and frequent. I particularly liked the fact that while there are many ideas for budget travel, also included are the special hotels or restaurants or offroad trips that can cost more but are considered worth it. This guide is for everyone, versus Lonely Planet, (the backpacking crowd) or Fodors ( high end spenders) or Inside Guides (good pictures and background, no practical information).

George Buchanan is the Sultan of Kaitai, a remote island in the tropical Pacific in the period between the wars. He rules with detached benevolence amid a tiny enclave of Europeans (less than ten) and a rather vague number of native islanders, descendant of two previous generations of Buchanans who have managed an effective independence by balancing off the various major (colonial) powers of the region, and have maintained Kaitai in a sort of timewarp, hoping to hold the outside world enough at bay to ease the inevitable transition to modernity.

Buchanan and his fellow expatriates pass lives of idle tranquility, having drinks at the club and speculating on what, if anything, is true in the stories each tells about their past. Until one day a strange vessel, a "lugger", appears in the harbor with a crew of two (a sinister Chinese sailor and a "Port Darwin boy") bearing Mr. Goulburn, seemingly an author here to "rusticate" on holiday. Goulburn, after tramping through the interior, is about to leave .. when he turns up dead, seemingly drowned on his way to his boat.

Is the death an accident or murder? Who was "Goulburn" and why was he really on Kaitai? Who among the residents (or was it Goulburn's mysterious crew?) had reason to fear him? Was it even Buchanan himself, seeking to prevent intrusion of the modern world? In a plot worthy of an Agatha Christie locked-manor mystery, Buchanan displays wit and steel at odds with the initial impression of congenial bumbling, as through resistance and false leads he investigates the killing, and of necessity, the obscured backgrounds of his subjects. All in all, a most satisfying read, and I give a 5* rating on the basis of what I have mentioned so far. However .....

And now for the caveat. Some, perhaps many, will find the book so irredeemably offensive as to be unreadable. Throughout there is a rather startling degree of callow racism, of the colonial "white man's burden" sort. Though there are only a handful of racial epithets, the island's natives (actually any non-whites, such as Smith's boat crew) are routinely referred to as anonymous "boys". The natives, as viewed through the eyes of the white inhabitants, are stereotypical 'innocent savages', and are mere background, not actors in the drama. One must note, however, that the book was originally published in 1938, when imperialism was still in full sway, if beginning to crumble. It is also unclear how much is the author's own voice, and how much reporting what the typical flotsam of empire would say or feel.

Churchill's illfated invasion into the 'soft underbelly of Europe' wasn't so soft to the men who actually made the invasion at Gallipoli. In the thick of the campaign was the 11th Australian Infantry Battalion. This book is their story.

The author is an employee of the Department of Defense in Australia, and has spent years researching the actions of the 11th. He has made five trips to Gallipoli. He researched the official reports and the homes and graves of the people who returned to Australia. Innumerable un-published memoirs were given to him and he has produced this book as a tribute to those men.

The action at Gallipoli is not well known here in the US. The series of new books coming from Australia on the subject are a welcome addition to the history of World War I.

In this well-crafted omnibus, the editors have assembled a series of studies which provide insight into the peopling Asia and Oceania that is as deep as it is fascinating. The cross-disciplinary correlation of both field and laboratory data make for reading that will be interesting for a wide variety of readers. As a professional molecular biologist and an armchair anthropologist, I found the level of scholasticism to be more than approachable and the selection of included works to be thoughtful and incisive.

Going across the ocean alone with all the technology me have today would be a daunting task to say the least. Can you imagine doing it in a 18 ft schooner, all by yourself, in the 1800's with nothing but a clock and a sextant and a few maps? And sailing all the way from San Francisco to Australia? Well, that is exactly what this brave seaman did. Sam Ivey has taken a true story, taken from a the logbook of this determined young man and has embellished it with a few details to add a bit of drama. Like it needs any additinal drama! Mr. Ivey did a wonderful job telling this tale that needed telling of a brave man that did a task next to impossible to do with no thought of reward to himself. He just felt the need to do it. The sea was calling to him and he needed to go. Sam Ivey really makes you feel this man's yearnings. Please look for Mr. Ivey's other book, "Crooked Triangle", a fictional tale set on the Bermuda seas.

A great, great book. Really brings to light the myriad of people, places and things that comprise modern day Australia. Very funny, yet touching at times.

I'm recently out of college and have had the desire to go to a beautiful region with history, nice beaches, and warm weather for a vacation. Someone told me I should check into Guam so I got this book and was amazed at the detail put into it! It lists different historic sites, parks, beaches, and other great places to visit and everything each one has to offer along with the story behind it. It even summarized a list of twelve essential things to do when you visit Guam which is helpful for an indecisive person like me who would want to do it all!!! :) The clincher that made me sure I want to go there on vacation? The clear and colorful pictures throughout the book that show how incredible and breathtaking each part of the island is! I can't wait to take a hike on Guam to one of their many majestic waterfalls!

Excellent - one of those guides that make you feel you've already been there. Given the size of Madagascar and the difficulty of its internal communications, the update is as good as one could reasonably demand. Ms Bradt knows her subject, from terrain to people to unique wildlife. No visitor should be without this invaluable publication

I've lived in New Zealand and after coming back to the U.S. I've had the privledge of taking groups back and I highly recomend this book for anyone traveling in NZ. It is better than most guide books although a little large as a guide book. I'd gladly take it because this books gives in detail information about almost every town in NZ from historical information to economic background. Gives places to see and where to see them. Now if they could shrink it you could through away the Lonely Plant book and Fodor's. For a photographer it is a must to read before traveling there. Both great writing and photography.

American architecture publishers take note: This one's got it right. The chapters are divided into historical periods, and the essays include not only floor plans but also condition reports and visitor access information. The "best" buildings get full essays with photographs. Lesser-known or otherwise deeply buried (but still interesting) structures are included in the "honorable mention" sections at the end of the book, which include an address, a build date and a small photo. There's an historical timeline of Sydney which runs across the header of each page in the book. It's very nicely done. I wish all architecture surveys were this good. Then again, I wish more cities were as nice as Sydney. I should mention that it's all black & white. No color.