In Reply to: Has anyone found that book Colleen's posted by Hillary on Friday, 15. April 2005 at 15:13 Bali Time:
Here is an extract of a review in Bali Echo mag.,when the booked first appeared, in 1998.
"There is much that is deeply offensive in their perceptions of the Balinese, who they harangue humourlessly about what they should and shouldn't do.
In their defence it has to be said Nick and Eddie are products of their time — the 70's and culture west coast America; a period characterized by drug-addled fuzzy idealogy and poor personal hygiene. However, one can only wonder at quite what Mr Wiese is trying to acheive with this novel. Character development is non-existant, narrative cohesion and original insights are minimal and the overall message that tourism is bad but it's O.K for right - on types like us to be here is an irritating, pompous cliche.
Moreover, Mr. Wiese's prose is prosaic and riddled with inaccuracies. Early on the informs us that "Bali is Paradise!", sunsets, ceremonies, women are all beautiful/great/amazing. A durian is a fruit with a snake-like skin (sorry, that's a salak you have there). 'Tidak besar' means 'no it can't be done' (sorry it means 'not big'). He has a tin ear for dialogue and burdens his poor Balinese characters with a sort of 'Me, Tarzan, You, Jane' baby talk. Perhaps this is understandable given Nick and Eddie inability to express anything other than platitudes and hippie-speak cliches.
Despite the promising subtitle, there is sadly little magic in this book, and even Eddie's madness fails to cut the mustard. Wayan Linah 'the most powerful dukun (traditional healer) in Bali' is summoned to exorcise Ed's demons. None respond, Linah is adamant "not Balinese black magic, maybe from America". I couldn't agree more."