>Happy Isles of Oceania by Paul Theroux - If you like Theroux you > will probably like this book. > >> > >Theroux at his usual unlikeable self. Judging from this book, Oceania is peopled by brutish louts living in filthy conditions. > > > >I've read several of Theroux's travel books and he seems to > >be totally disgruntled at everyone he meets. I frequently find myself > >staying "Paul, why don't you just stay home?" Yes, but you did read _several_ of his books! I feel the same way: Since I read "Great Railway Bazaar" while riding an Indian train in 1979, I've been amazed that Theroux almost always sneers at those he meets. But I keep reading him, both fiction and nonfiction. He's just a first-rate writer, with an individual voice and perspective. And there is an honesty there, missing from many other travel accounts, in which everyone encountered is funny or helpful or noble or saving the environment. Although he apparently chooses to paddle alone, I somehow feel that if he encountered a paddler, or a villager, in trouble at sea, he would work hard to help. And he probably wouldn't write about it, because it would be too much of a feel-good for his style of story. And it does seem that he is mellowing. I hope he continues to mellow, and I hope he doesn't stay home! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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