Enjoyed 95% ( )

Kind of dragged at times but overall a great read... especially the chapters in India... great visuals presented ( )

His usual good stuff. ( )

Theroux retraces the route (with some exceptions) of his first train travel book [The Great Railway Bazaar] to muse on changes, both in places, and incidentally himself. The NYT published a scathing review of this book today. Much of it was an ad hominem attack on Theroux, and perhaps his tone, rather than his writing. I think he is an excellent writer, which flows from his powers of observation. He also is widely read which permits historical asides that enrichen the travel. Unlike the Times reviewer, I do not find Theroux arrogant, He is extremely competent and self confident and does not shade his opinions. People who are not comfortable in their own skins may mistake this for arrogance. He certainly has grown somewhat as a writer. His earlier writing was aptly described by some as relentlessly cranky. This book is less cranky; however, at one point he does react crankily to a description of his writing as caustic. In any event I do not mind crankiness as long as it is informed crankiness and Theroux's writing is well informed. The book gives you some additional insight into what he reads and what he thinks about other writers (other than Naipal). He visits Pico Iyer in Japan and they trade quips about other travel writers. If you enjoy travel writing then this is a great book by one of the best travel writers extant (I even enjoy his quirky fiction although I am not sure why) at the top of his game. ( )