http://rbhardy3rd.blogspot.com/2009/0... ( )

The Enigma of Arrival is one of V. S. Naipaul's masterpieces. In it he brilliantly conveys the atmosphere of the English countryside as the narrator meditates on his original journey from Trinidad to England. The feeling of the place is palpable and the evocation of place is underlined by the physical effects and the history of the people and their artifacts. Through the mind of the narrator we experience the fictional reality of the world-a world of Naipaul's making. This seems a quiet book, but a powerful one. ( )

Quiet--relaxing--a nice break. If you're looking for a relaxing read through the English countryside, this is a good choice. It does get off to a slow start in some ways, but the landscape is described so beautifully that if you are willing to take your time with the text, it's nearly as if you're there and taking a vacation yourself. It's also a really interesting look at writers and writing; if you're interested in country house literature, writing, or transcontinental ideas of literature, I highly recommend this. ( )