Customer Reviews

On the Road to Rarotonga

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ON THE ROAD TO RAROTONGA

A hearty "well done" should go to Jack and Phyllis Varney, a Nurse/Survival Instructor team, for their adventure story "On the Road to Rarotonga". How refreshing that a successful couple in this day of materialism should give up their affluent modern living for the more primitive and intimate living on a small South Seas island, especially to help other people. Their appealing tale makes the remote Cook Islands come alive. The fascinating people, both local and international , the sexotic insects, the local lingo and customs make Rarotonga appeal to a lot of us city dwellers.

Well written , amusing and informative, this book is a must read for all who long to get away from the rat race of modern American life. We look forward to their next great adventure and its accompanying entertaining and informative story. A great number of people should soon be Varney fans.

Barbara Grimm The Kalia Book Club Honolulu

This book will not leave my library. Friends and relatives will just have to buy their own copy! On the Road to Rarotonga is a unique, exciting, real-life adventure narrative liberally sprinkled with wit, humor, drama, strong opinion, and detailed personal observation. The writing style might be considered a tad unorthodox, but it is clear, crisp, and wonderfully refreshing. The authors were able to pull me into their story almost immediately. I felt as though I was living the journey right along with them. The is definitely a fun, entertaining, and informative read!

Elizabeth Hamster Honolulu, Hawaii

Everyone dreams, but few raise them from the subconscious level to reality. Fewer still manage to finagle a working model while leaving reality simpering, hog-tied, and banished to the dunce corner. Bursting with wit, On the Road to Rarotonga provides glimpses into a South Pacific, almost-paradise discovered (or rather made) by adventurers Jack and Phyllis Varney.

The shifting narration may puzzle the mind initially, but the minor adaptation efforts prove beneficial to the overall effect, which yanks the reader into the banter and recounted fray. "Phyllis was closest to the pyrotechnic display as it erupted, and suddenly developed the ability to levitate by rapidly sucking in volumes of air and wildly flapping her arms about. Jack leaped sideways from his chair, rolling across the floor, nearly taking the kitchen table and window curtains with him." Every so often the voices seem to blur and meld together, making it unclear who has spoken; but far from being a glitch, the quirk endears. Uninvited, multi-legged houseguest tales and further escapades with electricity veritably buzz along, bolstered by the unusual style.

A little something for all exists buried within the pages-trekkies, giant spider lovers, and politician-loathers included. Scattered bits of criticism-or observations-about the modern societal mess, sneaks upon the enthralled only to leave them blinking and sputtering confused, enlightened, or indignant. In the end, readers may secretly wish /they'd/ thrown the dart at the map, abandoned career, trotted off to Rarotonga, met delightfully interesting people, and fried the VCR /first/.