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Getting Stoned with the Savages: A Trip through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu (Unabridged) | 
 enlarge | Author: J. Maarten Troost
Publisher: audible.com
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $13.10
You Save: $11.85 (47%)
Rating:  40 reviews
Media: Audio Download
ASIN: B000TYDR02
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Product Description
With The Sex Lives of Cannibals, Maarten Troost established himself as one of the most engaging and original travel writers around. Getting Stoned with Savages again reveals his wry wit and infectious joy of discovery in a side-splittingly funny account of life in the farthest reaches of the world. After two grueling years on the island of Tarawa, battling feral dogs, machete-wielding neighbors, and a lack of beer on a daily basis, Maarten Troost was in no hurry to return to the South Pacific. But as time went on, he realized he felt remarkably out of place among the trappings of twenty-first-century America. When he found himself holding down a job—one that might possibly lead to a career—he knew it was time for him and his wife, Sylvia, to repack their bags and set off for parts unknown.
Getting Stoned with Savages tells the hilarious story of Troost’s time on Vanuatu—a rugged cluster of islands where the natives gorge themselves on kava and are still known to “eat the man.” Falling into one amusing misadventure after another, Troost struggles against typhoons, earthquakes, and giant centipedes and soon finds himself swept up in the laid-back, clothing-optional lifestyle of the islanders. When Sylvia gets pregnant, they decamp for slightly-more-civilized Fiji, a fallen paradise where the local chiefs can be found watching rugby in the house next door. And as they contend with new parenthood in a country rife with prostitutes and government coups, their son begins to take quite naturally to island living—in complete contrast to his dad.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 35 more reviews...
 Very funny and I can personally verify his experiences November 5, 2008
This is my favorite book by Maarten Troost. Perhaps this is because our family lived in both Vanuatu and Fiji (only a couple years before Maarten and his family), and so I can relate to almost every one of his adventures.
Although other reviewers did not like this book as well as his first, I feel that some of the humorous episodes are even better written than in the first book. In fact, his description of the effects of Kava is the best I have ever seen.
Highly recommended!
A great, fun book! August 23, 2008
Maarten Troost is a wonderfully talented author. He writes so colorfully, interestingly and humorously. It was a real treat to read this book. I also read his other book, "The Sex Lives of Cannibals," and I loved that book, too!
One of my top 5 Favorite Books of All Time! July 31, 2008
J. Maarten Troost is the best author! I love his work. He writes how I think. Witty, intellectually sarcastic and insightful!
 Pretty Good, but July 26, 2008
Troost comes across as a likeable guy, but his second travel book isn't quite as entertaining as his first. "Getting Stoned" suffers from too much exposition about the history of politics and culture in Vanuatu and Fiji. Important stuff, yes, but not what I want from Troost. He is at his best when he is in the middle of absurdly funny situations, such as when he drives a borrowed vehicle off the side of the road in the middle of nowhere or battles a giant centipede. I want more narrative from him and less exposition. Still, this book is pretty good; it's worth the read. I want to give it an extra half star.
If You Liked "Sex," You'll Also Like "Getting Stoned" July 23, 2008
J. Maarten Troost is the funniest travel writer around today. Like his previous bestseller, The Sex Lives of Cannibals, this book takes him to remote areas of the Pacific to learn about the people, customs, dangers, and weirdness. Troost and his intrepid, "beguiling" wife Sylvia are adventurers most of the time, but cowardly when they need to be--for example, when standing on the ridge of an active, suddenly discovering they're swimming in an active shark area, or dealing with natives who just might be the last remaining cannibals. This books is entertaining, enlightening, and hilarious.
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