One Big Damn Puzzler

My first experience with John Harding. One Big Damn Puzzler was a great read. This book is really 3 different stories driven into 1 gripping finale. Harding does a good job of examining the Wests materialistc culture interspered with a desire to help those who dont ask to be helped. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and did not mind the diversions of other topics Harding poses to the reader. A good light-hearted read that has some touching and emotional moments.

Ive read these critical reviews and I have to say that some have taken this book much too seriously. Someone accused the author of misogyny and others are saying its a political statement hating on America... I dont see it that way at all. The women in Regency England had less power than these islanders...and the politics is largely backstory. The American stereotype is no secret; I was not offended. The protagonist is this endearing guy that just wants to help people on this island get reparation money. He gets to know them and they get to know him, and it is their mutual interest in each of the others customs that has you reeling! By the end of the book this guy is completely integrated, whereas before, he thought his ways were superior. Thats kind of a simplistic way to sum it up, but the less you know about the details of the book the more delighted youll be by it. This book comes complete with a native trying to bring Shakespeare to the average islander, and I am telling you, I was tickled! I love Shakespeare. Snob that I am, I could not help but adore this book. You cant read it for too long without laughing out loud, which is one of my favorite things to do while reading! Harding crafts a vivid story; one that makes you feel like youve lived there a bit and know your way around. I felt like I was hiking with them in that jungle, like I was feeling the humidity and laughing at their jokes. I felt like those islanders were my friends...I can close my eyes right now and picture them. Even after finishing the book you keep it in that coveted space on the bedside table with the other well-loveds to be opened again and again because you want to go back there. The most critical review said something about the pidgin being horrible, but I respectfully suggest that it is supposed to be. IT IS A COMEDY. Just HILARIOUS. LOL! I found this book in the library; it was a random selection. People werent making any book suggestions I liked so I took a chance...and I liked it so much, 1) I couldnt put it down, 2) I had to buy my own copy because I knew I wanted it at my disposal, and, 3) I immediately told any friend that would listen that they needed to read it. Life is too short not to visit fictitious worlds such as Hardings, that poke fun at civilization, wisdom, ignorance, sexuality, and politics. There are enough ideas to keep a book club discussion going for quite some time (as you can imagine from the different reviews posted). The reviewer who couldnt finish the book needed to be reading non-fiction, probably, but for those adventurous enough to lose control in someone elses imagination and park pretension at the door, a highly enjoyable tale!! I loved my time on this island. ;)

I loved this damn book. It is unusual and creative in so many ways-- a wonderful piece of art. There is depth to the characters that was very satisfying. This book is interesting, entertaining and delightful. The topics explore OCD, friendships, and culture. I enjoyed this book tremendously-- and want to read Mr.Hardings other two books.

A lawyer with obsessive compulsive dissorder is sent on a trip to a south pacific island to give money to the native islanders who have been hurt by land mines planted my US marines during the war. Inspired by the work of the anthropologist Malenowsky, John Harding brilliantly suceeds in flipping the anthropological gaze so it is not the islanders who are othered but Western culture itself. This is however, all with tounge in cheek, but in my opinion, Hamlet has never sounded so good as it does in pidgen English. Students of anthropology will adore this book, and probabily best grasp its layered meanings, but even if you know nothing of pacific anthropology you will still get something out of it, as it is really very funny.

Ive not read another book that mixed high-brow and low-brow so effectively. From the s***ting beach to Shakespeare, I laughed, a lot. The characters are so well developed that you cant help but feel involved. Our hero only wants to do good, while we can clearly see his efforts will harm. Its a clash of cultures, and a calling out of our American materialism, done well. I highly recommend this intriguing tale.

Had to purchase this for a class and I really enjoyed reading it. I kept this one for my book shelf.

This book did not need to be brought into this world. The writer invents an imaginary Pacific Island full of helpless locals who need a white savior from the United States to rescue them from their primitive ways. Extremely ham-fisted examples of colonialism-gone-awry are laced throughout the story to fill out hundreds of extra pages, but these are a godsend compared to the completely gross and unnecessary love stories (and dont get me started on the completely bonkers 9/11 sub-sub-plot). If zero stars were an option, Id go with that.

I first read this book several years ago and the title was as I have titled my review; quite a lengthy one you will agree, so when I saw it with the shortened title I decided to purchase it to read again and to loan to my friends. It is a great read and quite different; not sure what genre I would list it under. It has some quite serious issues but mostly is a very humerous read. I would recommend it highly

This was a great book to read over a few rainy days as its quite big and the narrative flows beautifully. Its a very well told story, of an unusual nature. Its set on a small Pacific Island where the native people have had brief contact with the outside world but have maintained a firm grasp of their indigenous ways. Americans came by after the war, used the island as a weapons testing site and left it full of land mines.The British came later to build resorts for cruise ships but left buildings half finished and in a derelict state, and no cruise ships ever came. THEN one day an American lawyer arrives. Eventually he reveals he is there to seek compensation on their behalf for the loss of limbs and lives caused by the mines that the Americans left behind. As he discovers the island and tries to understand the indigenous culture, we observe with him. We also have William tell us about his past and his struggles growing up with OCD and as an adult making his way in life with this disorder. In between chapters we have Managuas side of the story. Hes an elder in the tribe, translating Hamlet into pidgin English and struggling with Shakespearean concepts and how they fit into the culture of his tribe. He opposes the idea of the west coming to the island and changing their way of life. He wrestles with concepts and is the voice of caution in his community. There is a nice interval at the end where we revisit the island one year after Williams initial visit and then five years after that. In this story there is ample discussion of issues current to our times but put in a context we can distance ourselves from and therefore take a more pragmatic view of topics like globalisation, cultural identity, mental disorders, gender issues.... All together this becomes an interesting and entertaining read and another great example of John Harding’s great skill as a story teller.

I read this while on vacation back in 2011. I was laughing out loud. Very witty, surprising, and enjoyable, with lots of details and well built characters and plot. Enjoy it!