I appreciate the opportunity to review and read, Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah, as an LT member giveaway.

McKee is a keen observer with vivid storytelling skills. The history of the places he travels is interwoven into the story by his thoughts and questions, a refreshing approach because as a natural social observer, it's authentic for him to live in the world that way. I enjoyed the explanation of the author’s self-awareness of the role curiosity played in his youth as a precursor to his life in Borneo as a man. The related NBFS story was a creative and witty surprise.

McKee did not purport a romantic notion of altruism for the drive to join the Peace Corps; rather an opportunity of an international experience that ultimately yielded self-discovery and purpose which the book chronicles very well. He shares his life as a journey on foreign soil that serendipitously introduced him to key people in his life and revealed his vocation.

He seemed to enjoy and benefitted greatly from embracing an authentically and unique multi-cultural life without succumbing to the complexities required to live peaceably with others. The photography and glossary are insightful accents for the reader to join in this creative nonfiction experience. ( )

Finding Myself In Borneo is a colorful memoir with a difference! The book is described as author Neill McKee's honest and buoyant chronicle of a young Canadian man's adventures during 1968-70, while teaching secondary school as a CUSO (Canadian University Service Overseas) volunteer in Sabah, Malaysia (North Borneo). But it is much more than that for any reader. Neill relates with detailed, vivid descriptions his ups and down with the various cultural, social, and political markers of the era that readers will recognize.

However, for me, this is less a memoir and more of an immersive adventure for the reader who might be interested in memoirs but is also bitten by the travel bug and the desire to explore foreign climes and cultures. Neill has a descriptive style of writing that is quite wonderful. He is able to insert into the narrative an enormous amount of information about the country, the climate, the cuisine, the culture, and the mindset of the people without overwhelming the reader. The writing could be described as cinematic as I certainly found myself absorbed in the narrative and was able to visualize the colorful details especially with the inclusion of photos in the text.

Neill is totally honest about his experiences, ranging from learning to teach in a totally foreign environment to learning about life in general and indeed learning about love in particular. His interpretations of the people and religion, politics and culture come from a positive and open mind, and a willingness to embrace a new ethos. The years of his stay in the region were punctuated with disruption and danger at times, clashes between various groups and political rumblings. This was the dark side of the seemingly paradisiac environment in which he felt he’d initially arrived. Interestingly, his time in Borneo sparked his enthusiasm for movie making and an adventure taken as a young man resulted in a career and a life of travel and exploration.

One of the most charming features of this book was the discovery that North Borneo is, indeed, J.R.R. Tolkien's famed Middle-Earth of The Lord of the Rings! He and his American Peace Corps buddy, Peter Ragan, established the North Borneo Frodo Society, an organization Tolkien joined. What an honor! Interestingly, Neill was able to match up various elements of the story with the landscape, including the discovery of Mount Doom! A history of the NBFS is found at the end of the book. I liked the references at the close of the book for readers interested in learning more about the region and its history. There is also a detailed bibliography. A brief history of North Borneo as an end note puts the location into historical and political context. A glossary of Malay words and expressions is also included. ( )