Come on Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All

Come on Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All is a cross-cultural memoir that combines personal narrative with historical research. Thompson, an American academic, recounts her marriage to a Maori man in New Zealand while exploring the history of Western-Polynesian cultural encounters. The book moves between Thompson's experiences in contemporary New Zealand and historical accounts of early contact between Europeans and Polynesians. She examines journals, letters, and documents from explorers, missionaries, and traders who first encountered Pacific peoples. The narrative traces parallels between Thompson's own journey of cultural understanding and the broader historical patterns of interaction between Westerners and Polynesians over centuries. Her background as a scholar of Pacific literature and history informs her perspective throughout. Through this blend of memoir and history, Thompson explores themes of cultural misunderstanding, the complexity of cross-cultural relationships, and how personal connections can bridge seemingly vast differences in worldview and background. The book raises questions about how we interpret and understand cultures different from our own.

Readers note this book balances personal memoir with New Zealand colonial history. They appreciate Thompson's insights into cross-cultural relationships and Maori-European dynamics through her marriage to a Maori man. Readers highlight: - Clear explanations of complex cultural concepts - Engaging blend of history and personal narrative - Thompson's self-awareness about her outsider perspective - Details about modern Maori life Common criticisms: - Title misleads readers expecting more historical content - Uneven pacing between memoir and historical sections - Some historical sections feel academic and dry - Limited depth in exploring certain cultural aspects Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (50+ ratings) Sample reader comment: "Thompson does an excellent job weaving together her personal story with New Zealand's complex colonial past, though I wished for more detail about contemporary Maori culture." - Goodreads reviewer

The Sex Lives of Cannibals by J. Maarten Troost A memoir of cross-cultural encounters chronicles the author's two years in Kiribati, weaving Pacific history with personal experiences of island life.

An Island to Oneself by Tom Neale The true account of a New Zealander who chose to live alone on a Pacific atoll illuminates themes of cultural isolation and adaptation in Polynesia.

The Happy Isles of Oceania by Paul Theroux The narrative follows a journey through the Pacific Islands, combining observations of indigenous cultures with reflections on colonialism's impact.

Typee by Herman Melville This semi-autobiographical work depicts a sailor's experiences living among Polynesian islanders, blending cultural observation with historical context.

The Last Wild Place by Mike Caputo A chronicle of life in modern New Zealand interweaves Maori traditions with contemporary society through the lens of cultural intersection.

🌿 Author Christina Thompson, a historian and editor of Harvard Review, met her Maori husband in New Zealand while backpacking through the country in her twenties. 🌊 The book's unusual title comes from a Maori greeting to James Cook's crew during their first encounter in 1769—a phrase that was likely misinterpreted by European explorers. 🏺 Thompson weaves together three distinct narrative threads: her personal love story, New Zealand's colonial history, and anthropological insights about cultural encounters between Westerners and Pacific Islanders. 🗺️ The author spent seven years researching and writing the book, drawing from historical documents, personal journals, and oral histories passed down through her husband's family. 🌺 The memoir explores the complexities of cross-cultural relationships through both intimate personal experience and scholarly analysis, examining how cultural misunderstandings from 200 years ago continue to impact modern-day New Zealand.