Four Corners: One Woman's Solo Journey Into the Heart of New Guinea

by Kira Salak

Book Overview

Following the route taken by British explorer Ivan Champion in 1927, and amid breathtaking landscapes and wildlife, Salak traveled across this remote Pacific island-often called the last frontier of adventure travel--by dugout canoe and on foot. Along the way, she stayed in a village where cannibalism was still practiced behind the backs of the missionaries, met the leader of the OPM--the separatist guerrilla movement opposing the Indonesian occupation...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1582431655
• ISBN13: 9781582431659
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Counterpoint LLC
• Length: 401 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 5.7" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A great story about the first Western woman to cross Papua New Guniea

I found this to be an excellent book in which the author, Kira Salak, retraces the journey across Papua New Guinea that explorer Ivan Champion took in 1927. This book provides amazing descriptions of Papua New Guinea. It takes you to all parts of PNG, from the cities to the inner jungles, and introduces you to the PNG native tribes and their spiritual and religious beliefs. Salak also meets with the rebel leader of a guerrilla movement fighting in Western New Guinea through a series of adventures that are reminiscent of a scene in a James Bond movie. Throughout the book, Salak discovers ways out of nearly impossible situations. What makes the book so readable and interesting is the vivid and powerful narrative that describes the journey from Salak's own perspective. This allows us to easily join Salak in this incredible trek across PNG as we read her story. The book begins with the events in the author's life that led to her taking this journey. Without this introduction, I think I would have spent the entire book wondering what would lead a person to take such a journey. I consider this introduction an essential part of the book, giving a unique insight into what leads someone to take a dangerous journey into the unknown. In this book you will find a rare glimpse into the hidden world of PNG as Salak works out her demons through this difficult journey. This makes for a book that cannot be put down. "Four Corners" is an inspiring real life journey into the unknown, and a story of survival and personal triumph. I highly recommend this book.

Wish there were more Salak books out there

I have read both of Kira Salak's books and thoroughly enjoyed them. I am hoping she will write another one soon. Four Corners was great and I was able to compare much of my trip to hers (although mine was not quite as adventurous). I don't feel she spoke too much on the dangers of PNG, as one reviewer wrote. The dangers are very real and different than other countries. I also enjoyed the excerpt on her travels through Mozambique included in this book. She has a gift for writing. Hurry up Ms. Salak and write another book soon!

moving and insightful

(Memoir) Salak decides to travel across Papula New Guinea solo and has some amazing and some frightening adventures. She gives some good insights into Papua New Guinea, and she also has some exciting internal discoveries that I found moving and insightful. She's a great storyteller: a great and thought-provoking read. Potentially offensive material: Some language, references to sex

Wonderful Book

I found Kira Salaks Four Corners a very good book. I have hardly been able to put it down.The only thing I found disappointing was that there were no pictures except for the cover. It would have been so nice to see these places where she went. I do hope we see another book from Miss Salak soon.

Rascals, leaches, and fever . . . oh my!

Kira Salak's book, FOUR CORNERS, is nothing less than a masterpiece of the travel genre. I checked the book out of our local library on a whim, and was thrilled when Ms. Salak's compelling narrative had me reading late into the night. The description "page turner" is seldomly used to describe a travel book, but Kira's remarkable account of her trip to Papua New Guinea (PNG) had me rivetted. It's a fantastic read, packed with poetric description of the lush yet unforgiving tropical jungle environment, as well as memorable portraits of it's colorful native inhabitants. But that isn't all. The book also provides great insight into the courageous, yet vulnerable and often confused, narrator. FOUR CORNERS is as much an account of Kira's own inner voyage as it is about her memorable trip to PNG. I came away from the book with the feeling that I had made a new friend in Ms. Salak. I can't wait to see what she creates in the future.