Oh hey guys...so yea I finished the book and totally forgot to post. I found it very..comforting? (not sure really which word I'm looking for here haha) while reading about how the Americans' perspectives on the natives changed. Some quotes about this that really touched me were on page 273 when Alfred Baylon, the paratrooper/medic/fellow Pilipino;) said, "they are a wonderfully carefree people," he said. "Living in a land of perpetual summer, they never worry about their next meal." And also the quote said by Margaret on page 276 when she said, "The natives of Shangri-La are a wise people," she wrote. "They are happy. They know when they're well off. They are too smart to permit a few chance visitors from Mars to change the rhythm of centuries." Though I'm very happy that the Americans experienced a happy ending, I got very angered while reading about how the Uluayek Legend pretty much came true and the valley underwent dramatic changes what with Christian missionaries and Indonesian troops flooded into the valley decades following the war. Just as Robert Gardner had said in the book, the people of the valley were "warriors and independent people" who ended up be becoming "serfs in their own country." Though I know I probably would never be living in America if not for this, I don't know why people can't just le native nations be. The people of the Shangri-La valley, though not as technilogically advanced as us, we're happy with the way they were living. They had such a simple life. There really was no reason for people to go to the valley afterwards, yet they did because they found just one more thing they could possibly get their hands on. How selfish! Boy did I get heated while reading this...I'm even getting mad just typing about it! But yea, that's how I feel.

Also, just like how it saddened me to read about the plane crash, my mood dropped when reading about how Walter, Decker, McCollom, and Margaret passed away. I felt like I had such a connection with them and didn't want the story to end. The survivors eventually died in the end just like how everyone will at some point. Guess that's just the circle of life (I watched lion king the other day with my niece and saw the connection hahaha:o All in all, great book!

And Mike...niccceeeeeee one with the penis gourd question hahhaha.

Background from Stephen King on his novel 11/22/63.
http://youtu.be/MVQxh79ZWtA

So what book are we reading next guys?!?!

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWIMzN4mk8U&feature=youtube_gdata_player "
Check this out guys!

Mike, youre twisted. And to Elliot, that's what I talked about in my first post! It's crazy to think that we live in the society that we live in while there are natives in other parts of the world that are completely secluded from our way of life. In the book, its bizarre to read about the New Guinea natives because their lifestyle seems so alien. For example, the way the dress (or lack of clothing I guess...) and their obsession with war seems so ancient. The chapter about the native lifestyle and how they were always starting wars as a ritual, and they cut of girls' fingers, doesn't even compare to the western world. It's do sad to think that, however "barbaric" and uncivilized the natives may have been, that the western world was bound to corrupt them.Shangri-La was a secluded valley and the people were protected from the western world. It's disheartening to think about how people felt the need to intrude on their lives just because they felt that they needed to be saved or helped.

Finished the book guys!! The story ended happily ever after, of course. For the Americans anyway. The natives and their culture seemed to spiral after the Americans left a stamp in the valley. As the author put it, the West left on Shangri-La what they were most famous for; inflation and disease. This reminded me of the White Mans Burden, and found it interesting that the aphorism portrays whites as the victims, but its really the minorities who get the burden (laid/layed)? upon them. I was intrigued that their (natives) discovery prompted Christian missionaries to establish a community there. That shows me that if you don't find Christianity, (like the natives who hadn't found it, in fact they didn't even know or care for its existence), Christianity will find you.
ANYWHO, hoped you guys enjoyed the book as much as I did. Thanks for letting me join!
What are your feelings for the natives? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT PENIS GOURD ON PAGE 302!?!?

I just finished Chapter 24. Up until now, I thought that the book had reached its pinnacle of obstacles and overall exhilaration. I was mind-blown with the gliders discrete importance as a tool of the Military. Haha, I thought it was amazing that that's what they are going to use!! Love the picture, it looks so... advanced...Can't wait until they get rescued!
Okay, I must admit, I strongly admire Walter's anthropologic observations. He has insightful conclusions about the natives racially, culturally, and religiously. Walter is redeeming himself as a character in my mind and is growing as a major component of the appeal of the story and the success of the mission.
Also, pictures add so much authenticity to the book! I love visual representations of words and the pictures made the words so much more enjoyable. What do you think is the most interesting aspect of the story? Though, Questions, Oppositions? Enjoy reading!!