Oceania Books

the book totally ignores one of the biggest micronesian countries...the Marshall Islands. Could you do Polynesia without Tahiti

This book is a must have for the hundreds of American teachers that come to fill the schools of Micronesia. It covers practically all of the native cultures of the islands, though not very "in-depth". The pictures show the true beauty of the islands and the people - how 'bout a sequel?

This account of the first south-north crossing in Victorian times is incredible. A film of this story several years ago did little to change that situation. The story recounts the key attempts and the elaborate expeditions involved. The crux of the story really revolves around a series of many mishaps and oh so near misses. Tragedy was almost avoided numerous times but ultimately...well read the book. The fact that the story is known and accurately recorded is in itself an incredible sub-plot. It is hard to believe sometimes that this is a true story -- yet this is a case of real life being more amazing than one would dare write as fiction!

This account of the first south-north crossing in Victorian times is incredible. A film of this story several years ago did little to change that situation. The story recounts the key attempts and the elaborate expeditions involved. The crux of the story really revolves around a series of many mishaps and oh so near misses. Tragedy was almost avoided numerous times but ultimately...well read the book. The fact that the story is known and accurately recorded is in itself an incredible sub-plot. It is hard to believe sometimes that this is a true story -- yet this is a case of real life being more amazing than one would dare write as fiction! The story is quite detailed but hang in there, the threads all come together in an incredible finale.

There obviously isn't a large market for books of this kind, which explains why this 1st edition has never been revised and nothing comparable has appeared from other publishers. And Marcia Davock really did create a classic with lots of excellent maps, lively photos, and delightful texts, plus amazingly detailed and useful information on how to stear a sailboat right around Tahiti and Moorea. Back in 1985 when Marcia's book came out, the Leeward Islands (Huahine, Raiatea, Taha'a, Bora Bora, Maupiti, etc) still hadn't developed into the popular charter cruising zones they are today. Thus the Leewards get only 86 pages in the book while the Windwards (Tahiti and Moorea) get 115. If Marcia were writing now, that ratio would certainly be reversed and then some. The Marquesas and Tuamotu islands receive no coverage at all. Nevertheless, as the author of the South Pacific Handbook I strongly recommend this guide to everyone planning a passage under sail through French Polynesia. It will provide stimulating and informative reading matter on the long journey south from Hawaii and lead you into some amazing places later on.

If you are chartering a sailboat around French Polynesia you should get this book or the Charlies charts book to plan your itinerary. Bring it along and use it too. It helps you navigate, saves you time by pointing out good anchorages, and gives you perspective as to where you are when you are sailing around. If your not sailing, get one of the travel books. Find out which ones by reading my trip report at DiveAtlas.com.

The Bali of tourists and ethnographers is a enchanting vision of harmony among gods, nature and people, but minus power relations it is a sanitized image. Robinson's sobering book restores politics to "paradise," and the fuller picture is far from pretty. Part of the great prize of Indonesia, Bali has been fought over repeatedly along with other islands. Dutch, Japanese, Javanese and Balinese have all employed force at various times. Bali no longer seems so exceptional in this tale of (mostly) 20th century conflicts, but at least we have a firmer appreciation of struggles within communities supplying the artistry and labor undergirding what visitors see. 2002 and 2005's terror bombings of tourists---with many Balinese victims---reinforce the thesis of the primacy of politics, but also suggest a need for an update; cf. M. Ressa, "Seeds of Terror." For context, see T. Friend, "Indonesian Destinies." Pramoedya Ananta Toer's novels are superb, but most Indonesiana tends to be Java-centered. We still await publishers who will offer accessible works by Indonesia's own scholars, on Bali and beyond.

I first visited Indonesia in 1984 and fell in love with Bali. I have since returned each year to the "Island of the Gods" from where I have been exploring the rest of the Indonesian Archipelago, and since 1991, I share my time equally between Bali and Winchester, Massachusetts. Of course, I am always eager to know more about all aspects of Balinese life. Although there is a plethora of books about Bali dealing with its wonderful culture and its arts, it is not the case about its particular history. After a while, it became obvious to me that this important missing part of the puzzle was essential to further my understanding of the complex character of the Balinese. The history of Bali is clouded in the mist of time, and reliable informations on the subject tend to be scarce and are not easily available. Historical documents, written in old Balinese language are obviously not accessible to a non-specialist Westerner such I myself. Because of the special relationship between the Netherlands and Indonesia, there exist numerous documents written in Dutch, covering the last few centuries. However, as with most people, the Dutch language is not my forte.

Therefore, it was a "revelation" to come across Robinson's book, "The Dark Side of Bali". The book covers in details the historical and political events in Bali, from the end of 19th Century until the aftermath of the 1965 coup d'etat. It relates the Balinese experience under the Dutch colonial domination, during the National Revolution, 1945 - 1949, the Sukarno era, 1950 - 1965, and the military coup of 1965 and its aftermath. It reveals another face of Bali, the hidden face of Paradise. It is a scholarly book based on Dutch and Indonesian sources. It reads well, and contains an impressive number of references. Geoffrey Robinson, Assistant Professor of History at the University of California, Los Angeles, is obviously an expert on the subject, as demonstrated by this in-depth analysis of the social and economic roots of the deep divisions that have, since colonial times, penetrated and defined the Balinese society. Robinson shows how in the 1920's, the Dutch restored and in some cases created a "traditional" Bali to counter a perceived nationalistic threat. This was achieved by resurrecting and maintaining the old ruling royal families as guarantors of these traditions. The Japanese occupation during WWII, relying mostly on the sudras (lower cast) upset the exiting social order, and explained the social problems which existed until the Sukarto period, eventually leading to the horrific massacred of 1965 and the ascend of General Suharto to power. Robinson presents a picture of Bali quite unlike the idyllic, peaceful island promoted by the tourist industry, but a society influenced by the World's politics and driven by class and ideological conflicts. This book surely belongs in the library of anyone interested in Indonesia in general and Bali in particular.

I have read this book for planning our trip to N.Z. and the rating applies to only this aspect. We hope that our actual experience will confirm the numerous recommendations. The area maps are very helpful, but additional, separate maps of the full area of the North and South islands would improve the overall orientation. It took me until the very last page of the book (281) to locate Christchurch!
A minor point (page 181): "It is not the largest wooden building in the southern hemisphere, although that claim is often made; the largest is the Todaiji Temple in Japan." The author does not appear to be aware of the fact that Japan is in the northern hemisphere .... !?

I spent about three months in New Zealand earlier this year and found this guide great to have around. I would certainly purchase it only in addition to a more detailed and thorough guidebook for New Zealand (I went with Rough Guide to New Zealand, which I found very detailed and helpful), as it doesn't give you nearly the amount of detail on places to stay and eat and visit as one of those guide books does.

However, for planning scenic drives, it's excellent. We were able to modify its suggestions and itineraries to fit our interests and time constraints- this was made very easy by the detailed maps. I would agree that an overall map of the North and South Island would come in handy, but the detail provided in the numerous smaller maps was much appreciated all the same.

The author goes in detail over several places of interest, and many places that I'm sure I would have missed if they hadn't come up in the guide. It was easy to read, the directions are easy to follow, and it thoroughly added to my experience of New Zealand. A great buy if you are planning a driving holiday through that gorgeous country!

This book is a fine book in the sense that it involves a lot of historical research which proves that the author must have been spent a lot of time in the archive. I find it a usful introduction for someone interested in postcolonialism and how Europe formed its sense of the world. It's historical apporach gives the reader a larger picture and more background information which makes it better than other book on the same topic.

This book is a fine book in the sense that it involves a lot of historical research which proves that the author must have been spent a lot of time in the archive. I find it a usful introduction for someone interested in postcolonialism and how Europe formed its sense of the world. It's historical apporach gives the reader a larger picture and more background information which makes it better than other book on the same topic.

In spite of the fact I'm not used to the fodor's books layout, I think it's a good guide.
Sometimes I feel it aims to a 'not low budget' public. (and I always backpack on low budget)...
Regarding the "paperback" quality: some pages got lost, the book spine got 'broken', that's something I miss about lonely planet quality.
The overall result of this guide, was, for me, good.

I've been ploughing thru Oz guides lately researching and planning a possible trip, and this one is comparable to the Frommer's guide. A good guide, less photos than the Dorling-Kindersley, Nat'l Geog., and Insight Guides, but then you're getting two to three hundred pages less of info for five to seven dollars more in those books.

I have a suggestion on how to use these two different types of guides, which is these beautiful, lavishly illustrated, glossy guides are great for looking at the photos of the sights and doing basic research, and for zeroing in on where you want to go, then you can pick up the Frommer's and Lonely Planet and Fodor's guides to get more information.

For a country as big and as diverse as Oz, one guide really isn't enough, so you could buy one of each, and you'd probably do quite well. (The only problem was, after I'd looked at all the spectacular photos in the Insight, DK, and N.G. guides, I felt like I'd almost been there, and was reluctant to spend several thousand dollars on an actual as opposed to an armchair trip :-)). Overall, a well written, detailed, and enjoyable guide on that mysterious and fabled land Down Under.

***Nerdy paleontological footnote. I have to say one more thing about Australia, which is that millions of years ago, I once read in an Encyclopedia Britannica article on Australia that there were 10-foot high, 600-pound carnivorous kangaroos that could probably have made short work of us puny humans. Fortunately, they all died out long before the arrival of the first Aborigines 60,000 years ago. :-)

This is a good starting point for every student who have just started to explore Tajikistan and its Soviet and post-Soviet history.
Extensive systematized bibliographyis also very helpful.

This is a good starting point for every student who have just started to explore Tajikistan and its Soviet and post-Soviet history.
Extensive systematized bibliographyis also very helpful.

An interesting, if brief, overview. The work takes a quick look at the origins of Australian indigenous literature, from when it was not believed that it was possible, to when it was suppressed and discouraged, and talks about the few examples that survive.

The major focus is on more modern work.

I was looking for a collection of short stories from Aboriginies of Australia, and this is not it. It is, however, a collection of essays about Indigenous Literature, from a cultural criticism point of view. Probably a wonderful resource, if you're headed for an advanced degree somewhere.

great information on new zealand cities and points of interest,historical & commercial. excellent itineraries with photography to give you a true sense of the trip, including physical requirements. recommend it highly for a first-time visitor!

This is a colorful book with lots of pictures about New Zealand. Its first couple of chapters include the history and culture of New Zealand are especially interesting. They were very useful for visitors to the Kiwi country. However, its lack of large street maps, area maps and detail route maps are disappointing as well as annoying. Although the front cover has an overview map of both the north & south island, I think it will improve the ease of reading and research if various level of district maps and street maps are provided, especially when a traveller was deciding which hotel/motel to book reservations and how far he/she needs to drive from one scenic spot to the next. Without this, it is disasterous for travel planning. Other things to include will be web sites for driving directions such as www.wises.co.nz etc. For a backpack traveller like me, I will even be willing to pay more if road maps/ street map of Auckland are included with the book (which some of the publishers are already doing).