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92 reviews for:
Savage Harvest: A Tale of Cannibals, Colonialism, and Michael Rockefeller's Tragic Quest for Primitive Art
Carl Hoffman
3.46 AVERAGE
92 reviews for:
Savage Harvest: A Tale of Cannibals, Colonialism, and Michael Rockefeller's Tragic Quest for Primitive Art
Carl Hoffman
3.46 AVERAGE
I thought I was interested in this story before I started reading it 😴
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
I flew through this. There’s an intertwining of history, culture, language, and true crime that’s utterly fascinating. I don’t automatically believe Carl Hoffman determined the real truth behind Rockefeller’s disappearance/death, but he puts forth a good argument.
dark
informative
slow-paced
I had SUCH high hopes for this one and it ended up being such a disappointment! Not nearly as interesting or entertaining as I thought it would be and it was a huge let down for me.
A brilliant reconstruction of Michael Rockefeller's last months and an investigation into his fate. The writing is compelling and Hoffman's descriptions of the Asmat religious cosmology want me to read more about it. The book is divided into two halves; the first part is mostly narrative history, a discussion of the Asmat people during the twentieth century and how the situation between them and the Dutch colonial overlords contributed to how Hoffman believes Rockefeller died. His argument, I should add, seems entirely convincing given the new documents that have only recently come to light and how the explanation ties together disparate details of the case. The second half, however, is a description of Hoffman's own time among the Asmat people and his dogged efforts to find some shred of physical proof. He writes vividly, captivatingly, and the reader can't help but groan as he comes so close to his goal time and again.
The final chapter of the book, however, gave me goosebumps. If it is as Hoffman describes it, well----case closed?
It's a great, informative read.
The final chapter of the book, however, gave me goosebumps. If it is as Hoffman describes it, well----case closed?
It's a great, informative read.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Amazingly thorough research in service of a truly compelling story
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Cannibalism, Murder, Colonisation
interesting. informative. suuuuuper repetitive.
author has this profound realization that these isolated tribes are made up of actual human beings.
author has this profound realization that these isolated tribes are made up of actual human beings.
Well-paced lazy summer read
Perhaps I'm just weird, but this was a relaxing read for the start of my summer break. Well-paced, and with just enough plot twisting to keep you interested without being confusing. My only complaint is that it does seem a bit rushed toward the end. An entire ethnography based on the authors time in Asmat would be very fascinating indeed.
Perhaps I'm just weird, but this was a relaxing read for the start of my summer break. Well-paced, and with just enough plot twisting to keep you interested without being confusing. My only complaint is that it does seem a bit rushed toward the end. An entire ethnography based on the authors time in Asmat would be very fascinating indeed.
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
Initially found the tone and approach too salacious, but Hoffman eventually uses that to razz both himself and Rockefeller. Interesting if not as fascinating as I'd expected.