The happy isles of Oceania
paddling the Pacific
by Paul Theroux · first published 1992
3mentions
2recommended by
2HN commenters
2023first – last mentioned
67% recommend33% critical
Beginning in New Zealand and coming to shore in Hawaii, the author explores fifty-one islands along the way in a collapsible kayak.
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The Happy Isles of Oceania is also worth reading. He paddles around in a portable kayak, and sees the parts of the South Seas that most tourists would never see.
on “Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel” ↗I haven't read his rail travel books, but The Happy Isles of Oceania is one of my favorite books, travel or otherwise. Fantastic account of his travels in the South Pacific.
on “Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel” ↗I agree! Theroux and Naipaul have an undercurrent of nastiness in their writing. E.g. the # of times Theroux describes someone's shirt as dirty in The Happy Isles of Oceania. Doesn't he realize that the people he's talking about live in huts and don't have money? I like reading them both, but won't like to meet them while traveling. Seems like they would be judging me constantly.
on “Paul Theroux reflects on the evolving nature of rail travel” ↗