Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Talking Heads, 11 Sep 2003
OK...I admit it. The main reason I bought this book was that I was "hooked" by the gruesome aspects. After all, who can resist a classic tale of shipwreck, with the added frisson of headhunting and cannibalism? And while Mr. Randell (who, by the way, looks like a combination of Sting and Malcolm McDowell...and poses in the author photo with a skull, not his own, in hand) certainly delivers in the goosebumps department (describing in loving detail how people, referred to as "long pig" by the cannibals, were wrapped in banana leaves and slow-roasted), he turns out to have bigger fish-to-fry. This is a very thoughtfully written book, which works on several levels. The "adventure tale" aspect is significant, but Mr. Randell also writes about the religious beliefs of the Solomon Islanders, the clash of cultures, the destruction of the islanders' way of life, etc. The author has spent much time in the Solomon Islands. It is obvious that he has studied, and respects, the native culture. The book can be enjoyed by those with an interest in anthropology, sociology, and psychology...in addition to those who are looking for a "ripping-yarn." While the focus of the book is Jack Renton- the "white headhunter" of the title, who was forced into a situation not of his own making, and did what he had to in order to survive- Mr. Randell also ensures that we see things from the islanders' point of view. Renton is allowed to live not out of any altruistic feeling- it turns out that, previously, another white man named Doorey had been marooned on the same island and his extensive knowledge of carpentry had made him indispensable. The islanders were also hoping for big things from Renton, and he delivered- with his abilities as a military strategist and warrior. However, what starts out as realpolitik turns into affection, as the tribal chief Kabou develops fatherly feelings for the young Renton (who was still a teenager when he was washed ashore). The author also makes it clear why the islanders were so hostile towards white men: these were people who sometimes kidnapped islanders for use as cheap labor back in Queensland. (Even worse from the perspective of the islanders: the outsiders appeared to be people who constantly wandered the seas in their large and strange ships. Since they appeared to have no home, what were they doing for food? The islanders assumed, naturally enough, that those who were being kidnapped were being eaten.) These were also men who brought death through disease- the islanders had no immunity to "western germs." And, of course, the white visitors had nothing but contempt for what they didn't understand- the "primitive" lifestyle and religious beliefs of the natives. The islanders didn't appreciate the attempts of the Christian missionaries to "improve" them by asking them to jettison everything they held dear. Mr. Randell is especially good at getting you "inside the heads" of the islanders. While I don't recommend the headhunting/cannibal lifestyle, at least I now understand the reasons these practices were engaged in. Intentional cruelty was not part of the equation. By possessing an enemy's head and consuming his flesh, you were able to tap into both his spiritual and physical powers. As an example of the latter, Mr. Randell points out that if an enemy warrior was fast on his feet, and you ate his legs, you were looking to improve your own running ability. It obviously makes no sense when seen by an outside observer but, as with any religious belief, it possesses its own internal logic. On all levels (unless you are looking for recipes), Mr. Randell has written an excellent book.
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2 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Coupled with Micheal Moore?, 20 Jul 2003
Personally, I'd like to see Michael Moore dressed and cooked as this book recommends.I'd also like to know why Amazon's software matches the two: they could not be more different.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
short story elongated, 10 Nov 2005
the tale is worth telling but you're left with the feeling the writer digressess to associated material to fill out the pages
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by Colin Thubron
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With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is). 
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