Castaway 2000: the book (Castaway 2000 - Mark McCrum)

Member Name: Hope

Product:	Castaway 2000 - Mark McCrum
Date:	17/01/01 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A fascinating follow-up for Castaway viewers

Disadvantages: Does not cover the full year

If you enjoyed the TV series, you will certainly enjoy this book. However, do not really expect "the full inside story" as the front cover suggests. For a start, the story ends in October to allow for the publishing process! Secondly, the material in the book is derived from interviews with the castaways and from access to their diaries and letters, but in fact there is not an awful lot that we have not already seen on our screens.

The rather lengthy book (382 pages) begins with the conception of the programme idea, and outlines briefly some details of the selection process. This part I found a bit dull and wondered whether I was really going to enjoy the book. However, by chapter 3, the castaways were deeply involved in the stresses of catching flu and having no suitable accommodation apart from the hotel on Harris, and by then I was hooked!

The rest of the book was fascinating, covering all aspects of the island life from many different points of view. It seemed that many of the castaways were more ready to divulge personal feelings as the months went by, so that the book became quite difficult to put down. The series may have been a psychological experiment in itself, but it is also interesting to see just how nosy viewers and readers have become - it is easy to feel that we really "know" the people involved.

At times the book shows signs of having been put together rather hastily. For example there are quite a few misprints and passages which jump alarmingly from one diary excerpt to another, leaving the reader unclear which castaway's words are being read.

Of course, the information in both the book and the series has been manipulated towards the desired point of view. For example, the series showed Ben as the golden boy and Peter as the all-time baddie, whereas the book tried (only a little in Ben's case!) to compensate for this. Similarly, the book placed a greater emphasis on the fact th
at several members of minority groups eventually felt that they had to leave the experiment early. Was this a "failing" of the community itself? Or was it due to certain difficult characters failing to adjust their behaviour to fit in with the dominant section of the community ie the white, middle-class, youngish group which we saw so much of on camera?

Quite a thought-provoking book as well as an entertaining one.

It's a shame its only in hardback form so far, and therefore quite expensive, but I notice that it is presently (Jan 2001) available at half price online from http://www.uk.bol.com

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