Post #511454 by Limbo Lizard on Tue, Feb 16, 2010 3:34 PM

In my late teens, back in the 70's, I read quite a few relevant works - let's see what I remember...
Kon-Tiki and Aku Aku (one vivid recollection of this book is feeling claustrophobic, reading about crawling through tight caves/tunnels to burial chambers). Then, went on to all the rest of Heyerdahl that I could find, at the time - 'Ra', 'Fatu-Hiva' (cured me of any interest in actually trying to "go native" in the Marquesas). Also, 'American Indians in the Pacific', which was Heyerdahl's more scholarly, interdisciplinary book about his theories on Polynesian origins. A few years ago, I bought a copy, and started re-reading it. Interesting, but also easy to put down.
'Raroria', by Bengt Danielsson (one of the Kon-Tiki crew).
Michener's 'Hawaii', 'Return to Paradise', and 'Rascals in Paradise'.
'South Seas Tales', and 'Stories of Hawaii', by Jack London (also, 'The Sea Wolf').
Somerset Maugham's 'Rain' (a classic short story), and 'The Moon and Sixpence' (novel, based on Gauguin)
Mark Twain's 'Letters from Hawaii'.
Melville's 'Typee' (all ready mentioned by Mo-Eye, but I'll second the recommendation; I re-read it, a year or two ago).
'The Far Lands', by James Norman Hall.
'White Shadows in the South Seas', by Frederick O'Brien (also wrote 'Mystic Isles of the South Seas', which I haven't read, yet).
'Best South Sea Stories', a collection, edited by A.Grove Day (read in hardback, from library, then, years later, found and bought at the library's old book sale).

I'm sure there were others... I was rather obsessed.

"The rum's the thing..."

[ Edited by: Limbo Lizard 2010-02-16 15:45 ]