I have just tramped down through Africa in the footsteps of Theroux, sighing and tsking, yet unable to put the book down. Grrrrr! Oh how this man irritates yet enthrals me! I'll bet he took a big bottle of hand sanitizer everywhere he went, he just didn't write about that.
I can admit that the book has some insightful or well written passages, but in general I think it's another white person thinking he's got Africa down. If you want to write a travel book, write a travel book and don't be so bloody sanctimonious! Don't travel in crappy cars or eat bad food just so you can prove that you've "lived like an African." How condescending, to assume that Africans don't know anything better.Ĭan anyone tell that this guy annoys me? And yet, I'll probably read another of his books because I want to actually feel like he's not as much of a schmuck as I think he is. If you want to write a book about Africa, write about AFRICA and about how cool you are because you can travel there and not have any concern for your safety. I agree that the current Western participation in African affairs is getting Africa nowhere, but I don't assume that makes me a genius or that I have my finger on the pulse of African issues. He wants Africa to make leaps and bounds in its economic and political policy, but then how would he be able to write so endearingly of the street urchins and the poverty? After all, seeing those things and writing about them makes him strong and experienced, right? Just because you have a backpack and a history with Africa doesn't make you an expert, and Theroux whining about the fact that Africa hasn't lived up to its promise since he was there last only makes him look like all the people he criticizes. Instead I'm annoyed by his arrogance and his assumption that he's different from other white people in Africa because he "knows" that the aide system is faulty or because he lived there in the 60's.
WHY do I keep reading books by this man? For some unknown reason I assume that I'll garner some great knowledge form his books or be more amused than frustrated.
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