Welcome to Litsy!

#Readingoceania2024 I was going to use this for Tonga as Cook did stop there in addition to New Zealand, Tahiti, Kiribati and, of course, Hawaii. However, there was exactly two pages on Tonga. I‘ll have to find another book. This was a good view into Cook‘s third voyage of discovery though. It illustrated well the geographical and cultural differences between the islands and it really highlighted how the European and Oceania cultures clashed.

#ReadingOceania2024 #Tuvalu Although another “palagi‘s” (outsider‘s) POV, unlike Troost, Ells worked in Tuvalu. As the People‘s lawyer or public defender he had real inside knowledge of at least how customs and the law interacted and has very interesting stories of crime on the islands. As the country is very small, everyone knows everyone else‘s business which definitely impacts legal proceedings. Plus he knew Prime Ministers and Presidents

#readingoceania2024 #vanuatu I am getting a bit tired of the “my year in ….” (Name of South Pacific island) format but he keeps things light and moving and you do catch a bit of history and culture although much of what you catch is being a foreigner there. I learned a bit about cannibalism. I am slowly getting a glimpse of the differences between all the countries in Oceania. Just wish I could locate some better literature along the way

#readingoceania2024 #australia Fictionalized account of a real historical figure who was known as a bit of an Australian Robin Hood. Largely written as an explanation of events from Ned Kelly to his daughter it has a rough plot construction. I would have liked to hear more from other characters to have gotten more context but I did learn some Australian history along the way.

This was okay to listen to, but I felt myself being disinterested and zoning out during other parts. I think part of my issue was that it was dated- so much has happened since the Obama administration. #ReadingOceania2024

Reading for #ReadingOceania2024 by the fire tonight. It‘s good to get outside a bit.

#readingoceania2024 #kiribati A really wonderful illustrated chronicle of a trip to Kiribati. The authors and illustrators were curious in all the right ways and you get historical timelines, maps, about 30 little vignettes where you learn everything from what kind of fish to eat to how one shouldn‘t eat breadfruit before playing bingo. The illustrations are really well done and show everything including how to get your woman to come back to 👇

This short book packed a punch. About the last white man on an island in Papua New Guinea in the time of a Civil War. He teaches the local students about the power of literature using Great Expectations. A tough but good read. #ReadingOceania2024

#readingOceania2024 #palau #belau A significant collection of poetry, short stories and excerpts from across Micronesia including Kiribati and Palau. It leans heavily on work from Guam (Guahan). I couldn‘t find a Palau book so I am using this. The editorial was quite good. The quality of the writing is very high and the groupings are well done

#ReadingOceania2024 #Fiji I‘ve been reading A.S. Byatt so almost any book would seem slight in comparison but this was a nice mystery with a very unhard boiled protagonist detective. The book is set in an island paradise where British colonials have decided to import indentured servants from India to slave in the sugar plantations rather than disrupt the natives way of life. Racial, gender and class struggles illuminated without a heavy hand.