Rapa Nui, Island of Memory [Paperback]

Georgia Lee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2006

Georgia Lee is a natural story-teller with an eye for detail and an ear for nuance. Above all, there is her capacity for shared intimacy. Lee began her fieldwork on Easter Island in 1981, entering into close relationships with the islanders, both men and women. She describes her relationships with the Rapanui people, weaving strands of communal tales together, achieving a tapestry of the island unlike anything else. Rapa Nui, Island of Memory is truth from a contemporary perspective in all its direct and elusive complexity. --from the Introduction, by Beverley Haun

Product Details

• Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: Easter Island Foundation (2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880636239
• ISBN-13: 978-1880636237
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,728,707 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, August 12, 2009

By 

C. Dale "Caz" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rapa Nui, Island of Memory (Paperback)

Product bought for my Sister who is very impressed with this item, and is far in with this book within a very short space of time.

5.0 out of 5 stars AT LAST THE REAL STORY, November 11, 2006

By 

Margaret Searles (McKinleyville, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rapa Nui, Island of Memory (Paperback)

This is the book I've waited 30 years to see. Georgia Lee PhD probably knows more about Polynesian rock art than anyone except the original carvers of that art. She spent years on Easter Island, living among the islanders and recording the petroglyphs. When she came back to California after these field trips, she told us delightful stories about the people who lived there -- and she wrote about the island's archaeology (THE ROCK ART OF EASTER ISLAND, AN UNCOMMON GUIDE TO EASTER ISLAND, etc.)

Now, at last, she has written the stories she told us -- stories of the island people and her adventures among them. Why Eduardo wore a dirty tee-shirt when he greeted Prince Phillip of England, how Luz Mercedes got that nasty scar, the jail-break that ended when the escapees ran out of booze in that cave. And so much more. Wow. "Island of Memory" indeed. What a treat.

Margaret Searles, author of the Mrs. Millet & Mrs. Hark Mysteries from Wrinklers Press

5.0 out of 5 stars Rapa Nui, Island of Memory, November 9, 2006

By 

Paul Horley (Chernivtsi, Ukraine) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rapa Nui, Island of Memory (Paperback)

A new book appearing on Rapa Nui bookshelf brightly features the whole set of interesting and curious facts about the island and the islanders, the narrative of the modern history developing in the front of the author. Starting from the eighties of the past century, it encompasses many specific topics hard to find in the existing Easter Island literature. The reader can literally feel the pace of time, reflected in the described sequence of changes taking place in Hangaroa village and the archaeological sites of the island. Buildings are constructed, hotels grow, cars increase in number; airplane flights became more frequent, enabling much more people to visit Rapa Nui; archaeological sites undergo throughout investigation and are become re-built from the ruins.

The book supplies interesting details concerning the rock art recording project carried out by the author, describing the work performed at 'Orongo, Rano Kau, Poike, in the vicinities of 'Anakena and Ahu Ra'ai. We learn about the discovery of the cave with Make-make petroglyphs, statues returned from Hangaroa back to the solitary ceremonial platform at Poike and the "traveling moai" set upright near Tongariki after its travel to the exhibition in Japan. There are descriptions and photos of Ahu Tongariki destroyed by a tidal wave and its current reconstructed appearance.

The book is richly illustrated, featuring over 150 black and white photos, more than a dozen color illustrations, about 20 petroglyph tracings and numerous drawings by the author, which adds a special touch to the book. Among the photos published in the "Island of Memory" are one-of-a-kind: breath-taking aerial views of the island (Rano Kau, 'Orongo, Tahai complex, Ahu Tongariki, Poike peninsula and Poike ditch); photos from Motu Nui islet and its caves; photos illustrating the filming of BBC Easter Island documentary in 1987 and the Hollywood movie a couple of years later. The evolution of the Tapati festival from early days to the modern times spectacular show is discussed.

Several chapters of the book are devoted to the islanders and their life, showing the kind, strong, optimistic, and open-hearted Rapa Nui people; there are many romantic and moving descriptions of the enchanted island, its scenery and unique sites, which makes the reader longing to visit this beautiful place in the Pacific. All of this together with the incredible story-telling skills of the author, supplying bright humorous descriptions of the different events that occurred while her rock art recording project was in process, make this book very interesting and fascinating, bringing it (to my opinion) to the "must have" category for everyone, who wishes to learn more about the history and culture of Easter Island.