Recent reads: June 2013
The most eye-opening read this month was Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux. Theroux takes an overland journey from Cairo to Cape Town - by bus, train and car - avoiding air travel and trekking through some of the darkest corners of Africa. For those of you who have traveled to Africa, for fun or otherwise, I encourage you to take a read of Theroux's work. His honest look at providers of aid is unflinchingly honest and after reading his book, I'm not sure if I could, with good conscience, go to Africa for a jungle safari vacation.
Summer is notoriously a time for light reading but this week, I've plunged into William Manchester's The Last Lion: Winston Churchill. I have high hopes that July will be a good reading month as Manchester's tome on Churchill is already giving me chills, even in this summer heat.
Thanks for the recommendations! Dark Star Safari sounds so interesting! I will definitely check it out, it reminds me of "By Any Means".
ReplyDeleteThat Paul Theroux one looks interesting. I've always loved that notion of traveling there thanks to Peter Beard.
ReplyDeleteAnd The Secret History is my ALL-TIME fave book. I don't know why I love that book so much, but I do!
Hey Rooth, I'm traveling to Florida for 6 months soon and desperately need a few good books for me to depend on. Can you recommend any?
ReplyDeleteI love comedy, romance, adventure,and fantasy. :-) Or anything with all!
the theroux book sounds really good. i will have to check that one out. i know so many people who love gaiman. i tried to read american gods by him but i never did finish it. i still feel guilty about that, i really wanted to like it. i read the graveyard book which i loved . . . maybe this other one is worth trying. happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteoh, I love anansi boys. and thanks for reminding me of theroux. meant to read a few of his books for ages but somehow forgot about him... happy weekend
ReplyDeleteLooks like interesting books, I love the cover of "The mad scientist...", covers do so much!
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I wish more people read about Churchill today...and got chills. The titles on the middle row all sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteDark Star Safari sounds really interesting and if you reread Anansi Boys it's probably great. That reminds me I have bought Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman and haven't read it yet :D
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I ordered Dark Star Safari from the library and am waiting for it. I'm slogging my way through an 800 page book that was interesting in the beginning but now it has slowed down at pages 3-400 and I'm not sure if it will get better.
ReplyDeleteOoh Dark Star Safari does sound really interesting! My dad is from South Africa (and I *have* been on a safari...) and, given my profession, have complex feelings about missionaries and aid workers, beautiful people and horrible governments, so I'm curious to see what he has to say. Thanks for the recommendation!
ReplyDeleteI currently have a long list of books waiting for me on my kindle but I can't get it together and start reading any of them. Even lying in the sun yesterday, I still didn't feel like reading.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, a great list of books--I'm especially interested in the middle set. The middle set and Mrs. Queen, which I think sounds delightful!
ReplyDeleteI've not yet ready Anansi Boys, even though I own it. I read American Gods and didn't really love it--and I usually love Neil Gaiman. So now I'm skittish. :)
ooo dark star safari sounds interesting! judging from the review on amazon i think we have a similar approach to opinions on development in some african countries so i'm really looking forward to reading it now!
ReplyDeleteThese are some dark books! During my travelling next week, I'm going to work on Journey to the Center of the Earth!
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The book by Theroux intrigues me b/c I'm fascinated with books that discuss social/moral aspects of humanity and/or the way we do business/live/operate.
ReplyDeleteI heard a great interview with Paul Theroux recently about his new book The Last Train to Zona Verde - have you read it? I shall hunt out Dark Star Safari - back in the day we spent six weeks travelling independently overland through Africa - Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya, and Zimbabwe - it was mind-blowing. Really challenging and brutal, but utterly wonderful and beautiful too. Highly recommend it - although you may want to steer clear of Zimbabwe these days... What did you think of Mrs Queen takes the Train? I like the idea of it - as I'm sure she does too from time to time :)
ReplyDeleteahh, i haven't read much this year (sad!) but i might have to add a few of these to my to-read list. 'the girl in the flammable skirt' is one of my all-time favorites ^_^
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