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Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu Audiobook
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(3.92) - 26 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Getting Stoned with Savages again reveals Troost’s wry wit and infectious joy of discovery in a hilarious account of life in the farthest reaches of the world.
After two grueling years on the island of Tarawa, Troost was in no hurry to return to the South Pacific—until he began to feel remarkably out of place in modern America—and he knew it was time to set off for parts unknown. Here he tells the story of his time on Vanuatu, a cluster of islands where he struggles against typhoons, earthquakes, and giant centipedes but finds himself swept up in the laid-back, clothing-optional lifestyle of the islanders. When his wife Sylvia gets pregnant, they decamp for slightly more civilized Fiji, a fallen paradise rife with prostitutes and government coups, where their son takes quite naturally to island living.
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"Witty ex-pat view of liviing in South Pacific. I listened, wonderful. I don't know the best chapter-- stuck in mud in first 24 hours on Figi -- insulting Figian chiefs by calling your own son cheif -- It's one of those you want to stay in car and listen just for a few more minutes! "
— Liz (5 out of 5 stars)
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“A funny travelogue with a sentimental heart, Troost’s latest work genuinely captures the search for paradise as well as the need for home.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“A cross between Bill Bryson and Hunter S. Thompson, Troost is a delightfully unreliable reporter. And Simon Vance delivers each line with charm. A buttery voice like his is the closest many of us will come to experiencing anything like kava.”
— AudioFile -
“For those readers sitting in offices, yearning to break free and live on a tropical isle, this book provides a wonderful, witty view into the experience—the good and the bad.”
— Library Journal -
“A travel writer who delivers the gratifying, old-school goods: curious cultural practices; encounters with venomous, nay murderous, creatures; perspective on recent history, with all the chaos wrought by European interlopers.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Getting Stoned with Savages Listener Reviews
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" My son recommended this and I have to say I enjoyed it, it was well written and funny and perceptive! "
— Kate, 5/23/2011 -
" Not as good as the other two, but still liked it. "
— Julia, 4/20/2011 -
" This was an enjoyable read. While it wasn't done in a scholarly fashion, I still learned a lot about Vanuatu and Fiji. Someone loaned me another one of his books, The Sex Lives of Cannibals. I look forward to reading that too. "
— Suzanne, 4/19/2011 -
" I didn't think this book was as funny as Troost's first book, so I felt a let down. However, I did enjoy reading about the south pacific islands and what life is like there. "
— Carrie, 3/28/2011 -
" A part time writer hangs out in Vanuatu and Fiji while his wife works full time. Certianly a flavor of the islands, a slice of life from a dedicated slacker. One of those writers that make you confidant that given an even playing field you could have his job. "
— Kevin, 3/20/2011 -
" The 2nd in the series...super funny and interesting! "
— Lisa, 3/18/2011 -
" I read this one because I read the first one - "The Sex Lives of Cannibals." I am not sure which book I like more, but for a non-fiction read, either of them will take you to a different place. All I know is that I have got to try some authentic Kava. "
— Greg, 2/28/2011 -
" Listened to the CD version. Loved it! Hilarious and informative. Great narrator too. "
— Laurie, 2/3/2011 -
" A humorous and fun look at the author's journey through Fiji and Vanuatu. "
— Renee, 1/13/2011 -
" I like how Troost combines silliness with the cultural, political, and ecological history of Fiji and environs. He's a keen observer and a clever storyteller. Funny; not hilarious. "
— Lisa, 1/12/2011 -
" A light travel read. made me want to head off to Fiji to see for myself. "
— Donna, 12/30/2010 -
" Great writer, from a familiar perspective. "
— Marty, 12/28/2010
About J. Maarten Troost
J. Maarten Troost’s essays have appeared in the Atlantic Monthly, Washington Post, and the Prague Post. After two years in the Pacific, he was hired as a consultant by the World Bank. He spent several years in Fiji then relocated to the United States and now lives with his family in Monterey, California.
About Simon Vance
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.