Come on Shore and We Will Kill and Eat You All: A New Zealand Story

Thompson's writing is clear and purposeful from start to finish. This is one of the most enlightening memoirs I have ever read. For any reader who is the least bit curious about the Maori of New Zealand COME ON SHORE is a must read, because Thompson's insights are personal. She has been on the inside, allowing her to speak with an authority that most authors could never have. Furthermore, her candidness regarding the events of her extraordinary life is refreshing. Without spilling all the family secrets, she shares enough to make readers feel included. Moreover, the book works distinctively well because she is a gifted writer. No one could tell this story better than she does, to the benefit of all who decide to read it. Well done!

I genuinely enjoyed the history lessons and found myself Googling many things mentioned in this book to learn more. To me, it was the perfect introduction to the Maori history and culture. The personal story that is weaved into the book felt lacking. I was left wanting to know much more about the author's husband and his thoughts about her taking on this writing project (she is a white academic from Boston; he is a blue collar Maori). Additionally, the last couple chapters felt self indulgent. I understand why the author wrote about her privileged family tree, but it felt tacky to me. In all, this is a good read, and I recommend it. I found myself talking about it at parties, sharing some of the grim facts (cannibalism) and curious history (a female Brit prisoner leaving ship to stay alone in New Zealand). It was just enough history to be interesting, and not so much that I felt I was sitting in class. Well done.

I wanted to get a feel for New Zealand before I visited. I liked the history elements and the author’s personal story. Helped me understand a bit about the culture and life in New Zealand.

This was recommended as a book to read before traveling to New Zealand. It feels a little dated given the awakening around racism in the 21at century. I tend to prefer my histories chronologically, and the interruption of personal anecdotes wasn't what I was expecting. Some readers might find the entirety entertaining, and at least one can say that the book delves into the impact of colonization on the Māori people from a sympathetic perspective, but the author may try too hard to be even handed.

Terrific memoir.

As a white north american once married to an African-Jamaican man, I appreciate Ms Thompsons' framing her book as one of contact between colonizer and colonized, sharing some of the history and showing as much awareness as she has of the snares of partnership across culture and class. I missed more details of the marriage itself, how they navigated these complex waters, even though I honor her statements about not wanting to cross privacy boundaries of her husband or his family. The book strikes me a valuable mix of her professional skills as an anthropologist and researcher and an honest personal story. A lively and valuable read for anyone interested in how we make contact and enter relationships across our many differences in this world. Can't disagree that Penguin History of NZ would be better history, but that is not purpose of this "story." Well written as well. Highly recommend.

I read this book while visiting New Zealand. I am Dutch. My family emigrated here in 1964. I slept last night in my brother’s house. His partner’s great great great grandmother was a Maori woman. Yesterday we visited Takapuneke, the site of a massacre in 1830 that led to the creation of the Treaty of Waitangi. This wonderfully honest exploration of the meeting of two humans from two different worlds was the perfect companion. I myself married and had a daughter with a man born in the Virgin Islands whose ancestors include enslaved people from Angola, Taino people who were living on those islands before Columbus came, and Jewish enslavers from Denmark who came to make their fortunes growing sugarcane. Christine Thompson feels like a soul mate. Thank you Christine.

As an American transplant to New Zealand, I have to say that I found Christina Thompson's book an absolutely fascinating read. And as the author of two books on New Zealand myself (the second one a work-in-progress), I have to say that her volume has add immeasurably to my effort to understand, not only the historic Maori, but Maori today. I can also appreciate her cross cultural experience via marriage, being that my wife was born and raised in France. If Pakeha--Europeans--have historically viewed Maori with some ambiguity, I can testify to the fact that my French in-laws view me in a similar fashion. To put it politely they see me as a creature only a generation off the frontier that doesn't even know how to use a knife and fork properly--the French version of a savage, one might say. Ms. Thompson's Maori in-laws, on the other hand, impress me as being my idea of what in-laws should be. (I hope my mother-in-law doesn't read this.) I have only one complaint about this book, and that is that I found the lack of signposts disorienting. That is to say that the reader has no way of knowing when Ms. Thompson's journey began. Was it in the 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s? Except for that omission, I would have to give this book five stars.

I found this book totally engrossing. How two such dissimilar people can be so good together mixed with historic details..

I read this book because I am soon to visit New Zealand. It is a great story, personal but with loads of history incorporated. Very readable and enjoyable.

This is a very readable and engrossing book that weaves together a personal narrative with relevant historical and anthropologicsl information. I especially enjoyed it - perhaps because I am a NZer living in Melbourne Australia and married to an American. A nice story of intercultural life.

Interessante la parte storica ma per il resto è piuttosto banale. è vero che questo lo rende più leggibile in inglese però che fatica...

It's a very peculiar book, an even mix of the biography of the author and the history of a land. Sometimes though i found the narrative a bit lacking and was wondering why the writer didn't explore more her personal history.