Dark Star Safari

#899
Title: Dark Star Safari
Author: Paul Theroux
Publisher: Penguin
Year: 2003
495 pages

I so enjoy Theroux's writing, but this one goes beyond curmudgeonly. Read it for the descriptions of landscape and people, but ignore the opinions (as, at 7:47 in the audiobook, he appears to advocate for letting children starve rather than providing aid).

As a reader, Thoroux makes you feel damned if you do, damned if you don't. Damned if you visit Africa, damned if you don't. Damned if you try to be helpful, damned if you don't. But definitely damned if you fly somewhere rather than take a bus. Damned if you look at "attractions" (unless you're Theroux). Damned if you generalize (unless you're Theroux). Damned if you're a white tourist, though non-white tourists seem to figure very little. Damned if you spoil his tourist experience by being in his way, asking questions, taking risks, or not taking risks. The impact of AIDS on national development is minimized. Everything was better when he was younger.

The audiobook reader adds a pompous, sarcastic element to Theroux's already generally snide pontification. The print version may give less tonal offense.

I may decide only to read older Theroux and his novels. This was rather tedious.