Cook Islands Legends

by Jon Jonassen (retold by) | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
Registered by hendertuckian of Henderson, Nevada USA on 2/3/2006
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10 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by hendertuckian from Henderson, Nevada USA on Friday, February 3, 2006
Selected for my International Olympic Challenge for Cook Islands. no isbn
The stories were almost to short, not enough adjectives or suspense. If I heard these in the oral tradition with a great story teller, I think I would have enjoyed it more. The whole time I was reading the book it made me think of the little clay figures the Native Americans make of story tellers. The really good ones, who keep our attention reading the phone book, are weighed down with lots of children.

Journal Entry 2 by Purple-lilly from Heathfield, South Australia Australia on Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Received from hendertuckian as a RABCK, thankyou very much, and what fast postal service. Also for my Olympic Challenge. Thanks again

Journal Entry 3 by Purple-lilly from Heathfield, South Australia Australia on Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Thanks for the opportunity to read these legends. Quite entertaining but obviously better part of a large oral tradition. Available for any one who might be doing a related challenge

Released 17 yrs ago (8/2/2006 UTC) at To the next participant in Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada

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RELEASE NOTES:

sent off to hobbit today in exchange for The Princess who lost her hair"

Journal Entry 5 by hobbit from Poughkeepsie, New York USA on Monday, August 21, 2006
I just returned from vacation and found this in my pile of mail that came while I was away. Since I love folktales, especially those told orally, I'm looking forward to this! Thanks for sharing.

Edited to add: Thanks, too, for the cute bookmarks you included! I enjoy getting and using fun bookmarks, and then passing them on in books.

Journal Entry 6 by hobbit from Poughkeepsie, New York USA on Thursday, October 5, 2006
This is a very short book and once I finally sat down to it, I was able to finish it quickly. I found it very interesting.

The tales, like other authentic folk tales I've read, are a bit alien and abbreviated. I agree that the descriptions, emotions, and other bits that come with oral tradition are a large part of what makes these tales interesting, as well as knowledge of the local geography, culture, and history. It's hard to grasp their point when the bare bones of the plots are isolated like this. But it's very interesting to note the similarities and differences from other folktales. And the line drawings are a lovely help to getting a bit of a feel for the Cook Islands.

Since the islands of Oceana have been so difficult for us to find reading, I'm going to offer this up as a bookray and see if others would like to share it.

Bookray Participants:
Alvhyttan / Sweden / international
Sheepseeker / Germany / international
juhturo / Hungary / Europe if possible
katyan / Finland / Europe if possible
lunatum / Finland
Fire-dragon / UK
bartonz / USA < -- Here
charlenemartel / Canada

Note - It belongs to the last person to do what they like when they're done.

Journal Entry 7 by hobbit from Poughkeepsie, New York USA on Monday, October 23, 2006
I put this in the post to Alvhyttan this morning. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 8 by Alvhyttan from Nora, Västmanland Sweden on Friday, October 27, 2006
Got it in the mail today, thanks hobbit for sending it to me.
I will read this little book this weekend so I can send it to Sheepseeker on Monday.

Journal Entry 9 by Alvhyttan from Nora, Västmanland Sweden on Sunday, October 29, 2006
I love folktales! And I think those ten legends in this book were really interesting and most were very different from each other. Some of them tells about geography and history, but the most fascinating one, in my mind, is the one about the people from the under world. And I also liked the legend about how the wild hibiscus was born.
I am glad I got to read those legends, thanks!
Will mail it tomorrow.

Journal Entry 10 by Sheepseeker from Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Thursday, November 2, 2006
The book arrived today. Thanks Alvhyttan, also for the bookmark!

Journal Entry 11 by Sheepseeker from Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Sunday, November 5, 2006
I also like folk tales and I liked these. They could have been a bit longer, but were by far the most enjoyable from all those I read from the Oceania region. I agree with all the other readers before me: The stories much more fit in the context of an oral traditon.

Thanks for sharing this book with us! It will travel to Hungary as soon as I get juhturo's address...

This is my Cook Island read for the Olympic Challenge!

Journal Entry 12 by juhturo from Székesfehérvár, Fejér Hungary on Thursday, November 9, 2006
I am very happy to get this! :o)) It was a bit hard to read the BCID for me, but I managed to enter the correct combination for the third time.

I will read this tomorrow!

And then once again, to keep some of the tales in mind.

I'm reading this book as part of the 5 books 5 continents chalenge of ... sheepseeker :o)))

Journal Entry 13 by juhturo at Post office in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, November 17, 2006

Released 17 yrs ago (11/17/2006 UTC) at Post office in Mail, Bookring -- Controlled Releases

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

I liked the first and the last one best. Mailed it today wia surface post to KATYAN.

Journal Entry 14 by katyan from Detroit, Michigan USA on Monday, November 27, 2006
This book arrived here today! Thank you!

Journal Entry 15 by katyan from Detroit, Michigan USA on Sunday, December 3, 2006
I really enjoyed reading these small stories from Cook Islands, they were so different from what I normally read. I think this is a great way to get to know something about other cultures, I was just thinking it would be great to read something about each place you travel, it's so nice to know all the legends of different places.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, I'll send it soon to lunatum!

Journal Entry 16 by lunatum from Savukoski, Lappi / Lappland Finland on Thursday, December 21, 2006
This book arrived two days ago.

Merry Christmas for previous readers!

Journal Entry 17 by lunatum from Savukoski, Lappi / Lappland Finland on Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Nice short stories. I liked them.

This book is part of my Book From Every Country -challenge (Cook Islands).

EDIT 6.6.2007: I sent this book to Fire-dragon last December.

Journal Entry 18 by Fire-Dragon from Newtown, New South Wales Australia on Saturday, July 14, 2007
I have been a very naughty BookCrosser. Thank you very much for sharing this with me and I'm so sorry I stalled the ring. The book has been MIA but I have finally found it so I will PM the next in line and try to send it off on Monday.

Lunatum sent me this book at the start of the year and it was not until Hobbit sent me a PM last month that I realised a) I hadn't journalled the book and b) it was a bookring and there were people after me. Then I couldn't find the book!

I have read the first story and should be finished over the weekend so I will make another journal entry before I post it.

Journal Entry 19 by Fire-Dragon from Newtown, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, July 15, 2007
I enjoyed this. It was interesting to see the folk tales from another place, as I am mostly familiar with European, Persian (eg 1001 Nights), Chinese (eg Monkey Magic) and Australian Aboriginal folk tales.

I agree with what others were saying about it feeling a little bare, like this was the bones that the story hangs on and in reality you would either have more words or a bit of a performance. For this reason, I thought the length of the book was good. It was quite short and it might have been a bit dull if it were much longer.

Journal Entry 20 by Fire-Dragon from Newtown, New South Wales Australia on Monday, July 16, 2007
Posted to Bartonz airmail today.

Journal Entry 21 by bartonz from Bellevue, Washington USA on Monday, July 23, 2007
It's here! I look forward to reading this very short book of folk tales.

Journal Entry 22 by bartonz from Bellevue, Washington USA on Thursday, August 16, 2007
This was a great little book giving insight into another people group! I''ve tried to raise CharleneMartel several times to no avail. If I don''t hear from her by the next round of the Passport to the World VBB, I''ll put it in the box.

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