Euphoria

A Novel

By: Lily King

Narrated by: Simon Vance, Xe Sands

From New England Book Award winner Lily King comes a breathtaking novel about three young anthropologists of the '30s caught in a passionate love triangle that threatens their bonds, their careers, and ultimately, their lives.

English anthropologist Andrew Bankson has been alone in the field for several years, studying the Kiona river tribe in the territory of New Guinea. Haunted by the memory of his brothers' deaths and increasingly frustrated and isolated by his research, Bankson is on the verge of suicide when a chance encounter with colleagues, the controversial Nell Stone and her wry and mercurial Australian husband, Fen, pulls him back from the brink. Nell and Fen have just fled the bloodthirsty Mumbanyo and, in spite of Nell's poor health, are hungry for a new discovery. When Bankson finds them a new tribe nearby - the artistic, female-dominated Tam - he ignites an intellectual and romantic firestorm between the three of them that burns out of anyone's control.

Set between two World Wars and inspired by events in the life of revolutionary anthropologist Margaret Mead, Euphoria is an enthralling story of passion, possession, exploration, and sacrifice fromaccomplished author Lily King.

©2014 Lily King (P)2014 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

• Audie Award, Literary Fiction, 2015

The story you think you know is never the real one

This is such a powerful book. A breathtaking tale of three Anthropologists studying tribes in New Guinea, in the 1930’s, it’s history when there were still discoveries made on this planet. Based loosely on the lives of Margaret Mead and her second and third husband, the love triangle develops into an intense character study that will have you feeling for each person at more than one point. The underlying tension that the author builds within the story is outstanding. I also liked how she was able to use small antidotes and scenes to paint whole pictures. The short sex scene in the first chapter just lays out every single thing you need to know about this couple’s marriage. What an extremely talented author.

I thought the audiobook was just a perfect means to tell this story. I enjoyed both of the narrators personally.

I can’t imagine a better, more surprising ending. I re-listened to the last several chapters several times because I was just so surprised by it.

If you were on MY Christmas list - you would alllll be getting this book.

Sublime!

I loved this book. I had resisted getting it, because of the "love triangle" thing, figuring it would just be some stupid soap opera. But it wasn't! It was beautifully done. The descriptions of the places these anthropologists were working, the portrayal of the relationship between the Nell and Fen, and the development of their friendship with Bankson-- all of it was sublimely done! This is one of those books that will stick with me because I could picture it all so well. I don't even want to see it as a movie- because movies always steal the scenes I've made up in my head while reading, and I love them and want to keep them there :-) The narration was perfect!

Great story, poor narration

Didn't like the female narrator's voice - very grating.

The male narrator was good but the female voice was very husky.

Beautiful Story

This is a story that touches a reader's heart in so many ways. It will be remembered and is worthy of reading more than once. Narration is beautifully done.

This was so interesting

I don’t really care if the anthropologic soundness of this is flawed. What struck and strikes me anytime I read or listen to stories of “primitive” people is the presumptive nature of people from the West. I’ll never understand the need to insert ourselves into traditions and beliefs of other cultures and expect to be given answers. I can say confidently that if some person from somewhere else came to “study and observe” me, I would not like it and would likely not tell all my truth. I believe the author’s purpose in the writing of this book is multi-faceted and I’m grateful it was written. Highly recommend if you enjoy historical fiction with a message.

Was this the life of a 1930s anthropologist?

For a book that used Jane Goodall as its muse, I couldn't help but wonder why we had to indulge in a love triangle for the sake of the arc of the story. I found the characterizations of the tribe that the 3 europeans were studying as derogatory but also belieavable asmost of the book framed Western philosophy as the normal. There were other times when several of the protagonists pushed back against this but I could not take it seriously.

Euphoria

A timely and compelling tale about white man’s greed and his inability to refrain from milking the bounty of the earth and those populations that hold it fast to their soul. It is a love story where to souls connect in a spiritual and momentous way. The descriptions are vivid and if you close your eyes you can feel yourself walking about these villages. Imagine being a modern day white man coming across these indigenous peoples and trying to understand their culture rather than possess it. I can recall walking about the museum of natural history when I was a small girl and staring with fascination in the halls of the indigenous peoples. I marveled at the totems and the jewelry and was transfixed. I have both read this book and listened to the Audible presentation and without a doubt the voices in this presentation are superb

Anthropologists in Love

Euphoria presents a classic love triangle among three anthropologists in New Guinea between the world wars. The main charcter is Nell Stone, modeled after Margaret Mead, a free-thinking, insightful, deeply empathetic student of native cultures. Her husband Fen is her opposite, cynical, greedy and dismissive of local sentiments. Between them comes Bankson, the narrator, looking back years later on their brief time together in a small village, trying to control their lusts but not their ambitions. The story is well told, more absorbing and suspenseful as the book progresses. The author, like Nell, has a quick feel for other characters. Minor characters are well drawn with a few telling details. You especially feel for several of the villagers whose lives are changed by their observers.

The audiobook has a serious flaw, namely, the drab narration by Simon Vance. Bankson should be an energetic, passionate, vibrant young force of nature, despite his failed suicide attempt at the novel's start. Instead, Vance reads as a depressed and weary old man. This drains the novel of much of its excitement. Xe Sands, reading as Nell Stone, is far better, with the right enthusiasm and wonder in her voice. Overall, however, this was an excellent book.

Mesmerizing

I've been taken somewhere deep in my memories, to a place I've never been. At once Out of Africa and Casablanca, and do worth it.

Transporting, Intelligent, Beautiful

Lily King's novel, "Euphoria", transported me into the jungle of New Guinea in the early 30's. It was a fascinating journey into the minds of the three main characters (Nel, Fen, and Bankson) each of whom were involved in anthropological studies of the tribes along the Sepik River. The novel is told mainly in retrospection by "Banks" but also includes the voice of "Nel" and her husband "Fen". Nel (whose character is based on the life of Margaret Mead) excites Bankson with her intellect and her brash ability to ask questions and explore the cultures while forming relationships and helping others in the tribes. She invigorates his work with her excitement and he falls in love with her. Utilizing exquisite literary abilities, Ms. King is able to create scenes where I felt I could practically smell the stench of Nel's festering wounds and feel the heat of the jungle. I was captivated by the intelligent curiosity of the characters and by the story itself which is believable (it is historical fiction), exotic, tense, rich with emotion, and full of history. The tribes' people during the years involved were largely untouched by European culture and the glimpses into tribal rituals and practices were fascinating and engrossing. Also explored in the novel was the fierce competition between the archeologists and the havoc such competition created. This was a relatively short novel and engrossing throughout. The narrators were absolutely flawless. If you are one who enjoys a love story, adventure, intellect, and history - this novel has it all. I highly recommend.