Rating: 
Summary: So much to offer
Review: This novel is the story about the impact of outsiders on a tribe of Indians in the Amazon. Essentially two facets of the outsiders (read Western Civilisation) that are explored ??? the ???sacred??? in the form of missionaries, and the ???profane??? in the guise of mercenaries. Their stories told in alternating chapters, Lewis Moon and Martin Quarrier both have a purpose in mind - both feel that they can ???save??? the locals that are yet to come in full contact with Western Civilisation. Moon is part Native American, and at the beginning of our story he is a mercenary hired to kill the Indians. On a drug induced flight, he crashes into the jungle and ingratiates himself into the ???wild??? Indian tribe. His relationship with the tribe is really an extension of his life so far ??? he doesn???t quite fit in, no matter what he does. Quarrier is an evangelical missionary who has travelled with his wife and child to bring the word of God to Indians. Very early on, however, Quarrier has doubts about his own suitability, and then the broad-spectrum suitability of anyone using trickery to force a belief on the Indians. This brings him into conflict with his co-missionary, who is a stereotype of all that is wrong in the missionary movement ??? this character is a man more interested in his own personal reputation and the number of souls he has saved (or it looks like he has saved) than genuine results.This is a well written exploration of ???missionaries and misfits??? on the edges of civilisation. We have comparisons of Catholics and Evangelicals; comparisons between missionaries who are there for the greater glory of God (or the idea of God at least) and for the greater glory of their own name; and the attempts by different outsiders to ???save??? a tribe from other outsiders, with more concerns for their own agendas than the welfare of those they are trying to save. Oh, and there is some amazingly insightful writing about interpersonal relationships to boot. What I liked best about this book was that Matthiessen spared nobody ??? unlike some novels of this genre, the Indians are not simple ???noble savages??? ??? some are cleverer than others; the Indians aren???t all environmentally friendly, in-tune with nature good-guys (Moon takes them for task for their wasteful practices, but they don???t care)and Matthiessen takes the time to explain the motivations of his characters, something that can be sorely lacking in some novels. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good novel. For those with an interest in the specific topic area (the Amazon, 'Western' culture meets 'natives', missionaries) there is a lot here (if you liked Poisonwood Bible, i you would probably like this). But even if this is not an area you would naturally gravitate to, i would recommend it on the basis of Matthiessen's great writing alone.One point - the first 4 -6 chapters can be hard going, but stick with it - things pick up. It was for these first chapters that i docked a star (would have given it 4.5 stars if possible).
Rating: 
Summary: tragic, beautiful work
Review: This should be required reading for all missionaries intent on bringing Western values and religion to indigenous peoples. Perhaps they can see the folly of attempting to change a culture that predates Christianity by several thousand years. I do not want this to turn into a personal attack on Christians, but the last Stone Age tribes that exist beneath the canopy of the rain forest have lived, loved, fought, died and thrived for untold millenia without the help of white missionaries who more times than not bring with them illness that these people have never been exposed to (smallpox ring any bells?), and end up doing more harm than good. We have no business meddling in the affairs of a culture that most of us cannot understand and want to change because it is so unlike ours. The Niaruna in this book, the Yanomani in present day Brazil, need the light of white Christianity about as much as Masai of Africa need a McDonald's franchise in the Serengetti. Shrouded in darkness and demonism indeed. When will we learn to leave good enough alone?
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