A Book Report Of Peter Wabbit!

[Jingthing]

I am about three quarters through (it's long) with the latest, and perhaps/probably the last of the great Paul Theroux train travel book epics. In this case, Theroux (famous American novelist, Saint Jack, The Mosquito Coast, and travel writer) mostly retraces in 2006 a journey he took in 1973 and documented in his breakthrough travel book, The Great Railway Bazaar (which admittedly was a better book). This book takes him mostly BY TRAIN when possible all the way from London through China, passing through various countries in SE Asia.

This thread isn't meant to be a review of his latest book (many on the web, very mixed, with some hilarious pans) but suffice it to say if you are already a fan of Theroux you will also like this one, though it is clearly not his best, his reflections on aging and revisiting places you have visited long ago are exceptional.

The real reason I posted this is to mention some of the impressions I got from the book of Theroux's impressions of some Asean countries, including Thailand. Not to imply his opinions are more credible than others, he doesn't claim to be an expert on all the countries he writes about. SINGAPORE being a big exception, he is an expert on Singapore having been a teacher of literature for three years there as a broke young man and where he wrote his famous early novel Saint Jack about older Singapore (and of course until a few years ago, it was banned in Singapore).

Interestingly for punters, Theroux is always interested in the sex trade scenes in countries he visits, for both prurient reasons and also because he believes that tells a lot about a country. In his early African set novels (where he lived for some years as a young man) it is clear he was very active in it, now as a happily married man in his 60s (though he still travels alone) there is no indication that he indulges any longer, but he certainly is very curious!

Perhaps some of you have also read this book, its a big seller, and it covers Asian destinations.

OK, here are some of my superficial impressions of Theroux's impressions from the book ---

India (not Asean but on the way) -- The myth of the new India is still a myth. The wealth of a tiny slice of the population is built on the crushing poverty of the masses. There are too many people and the population explosion there is out of control. People feel very stressed by this. The Indian people though of course quite aggressive for survival are very talkative, very literate, eager to explain their belief systems to outsiders but not very interested in CONVERTING people. Overall, he likes Indian people but found the country a nightmare (a highlight was a walk in a large Indian city where he felt like he was going to be crushed to death by the crowd) overall and felt compelled to ESCAPE. Overall, I don't think the Indian tourism board will be referring to this book, ha ha

Burma -- crushed by the dictatorship. Totally decaying. Nothing improved since his last visit decades ago, all downhill. Sweet, but resigned, fatalistic people. Everyone hates the corrupt army, everyone, except of course the army.

Malaysia -- in a word, getting richer. Impressed by the modernization of KL.

SINGAPORE -- if you know Singapore, the Singapore part of this book is a MUST READ! It is probably one of the most cutting, scathing attacks on Singapore (and the way it was shaped by their Big Daddy Leader) that you will ever read. It is also very funny. Whether you agree or disagree, it is very entertaining, Theroux at his best, and a big highlight of the book. I don't think he will ever try to visit Singapore again. He would indeed be CANED!

Thailand -- Theroux was very impressed with Thai PEOPLE, with their dignity and independence. Poor people as well. Whores as well. He clearly feels Thailand is an Asean success story with substantive cultural differences from its neighbors. He visited in 2006 I think, at a month BEFORE the coup, ha ha. In the Isaan region (Nong Khai/Khon Khean, surroundings) he says something remarkable for such famously well traveled man. As many travelers do, we look at new places and wonder could I live here, would I want to live here. Theroux passing some idyllic countryside in Isaan says for the FIRST TIME in his life, he felt drawn to this region and could indeed imagine wanting to move/live here. I doubt his wifey back in Massachusetts would approve though. He also meets some farang expats there and pokes good, cynical fun at them, rather a Theroux trademark. Theroux also mentions the Thai racism towards Indian people, which he takes to be a real and pervasive thing, relating the famous kaek and snake story, but doesn't dwell on criticizing Thai people as he clearly admires them.

Cambodia -- Theroux being a sensitive man was overwhelmed with the ghosts of the killing fields there. Those impressions colored his entire Cambodia visit (he couldn't visit before because back then the massacres were actually happening). He doesn't feel Cambodia is over that yet at all. He took a bus from the border to Siam Reap, and interestingly, he was amazed that the countryside of Cambodia feels/looks almost exactly like rural AFRICA!

Vietnam -- He marvels at their success, their optimism, and wonders how much of their progress is due to simple power of positive thinking. He observes the utter lack of hostility against Americans, considering the history, and of course notices how forward looking the people are. He mentions that Thais told him they are worried that Vietnam will overtake them, and says they are right to worry.

OK, I do realize some of these impressions aren't really earth shattering or original. The book is mixed, some parts kind of pedestrian, but again worth it for the times it shines like the Singapore part of it.

Edited October 5, 2010 by Jingthing

[Thules]

In 1977, I lived next door to Paul in Elsynge road, Wandsworth, London. He had only recently finsihed his 'The great railway bazaar' book. (which, unfortunately, I never got around to reading). I knew him as a very pleasant and laid back American guy. He had a charming wife, and was raising 2 young kids at the time.

[Jingthing]

In 1977, I lived next door to Paul in Elsynge road, Wandsworth, London. He had only recently finsihed his 'The great railway bazaar' book. (which, unfortunately, I never got around to reading). I knew him as a very pleasant and laid back American guy. He had a charming wife, and was raising 2 young kids at the time.

That's very funny, as the new book details how writing that first rail travel book led to his divorce! BTW, Louis Theroux, his son is a Brit and a rather famous one at that.

Edited October 5, 2010 by Jingthing

[Thules]

JT, Thanks for the book reviews btw. Yes, I've seen Louis on TV many times. Louis must now be about the same age as his dad was when I knew him. As a reasonably good looking young man in his early thirties, travelling around Asia alone, I'm sure temptations were put in Paul's way... As we would expect to this day.

Sorry to hear of their divorce though. I never heard, so much as a whisper from inside their house.

[Jingthing]

JT, Thanks for the book reviews btw. Yes, I've seen Louis on TV many times. Louis must now be about the same age as his dad was when I knew him. As a reasonably good looking young man in his early thirties, travelling around Asia alone, I'm sure temptations were put in Paul's way... As we would expect to this day.

Sorry to hear of their divorce though. I never heard, so much as a whisper from inside their house.

Even funnier. I think I recall the book saying she was already going with another man while he was abroad on the 1973 journey, and had stopped loving him, so she was the impetus for the breakup. She did NOT want him to take the trip in the first place, did not support the travel writing career choice at all, in fact she was actively resisting it. Understandable when you consider the young children with their Daddy going away for so long. Remember at the time, he didn't have money and it was a very ballsy almost desperate move to make his career, which it did. The original journey was very shoestring budget.

Perhaps worth mentioning, there is no need at all to have read the original journey book that the new one relates back to. The new one stands quite well all on its own, and probably most people who read the Railway Bazaar book probably read it decades ago anyway.

Edited October 5, 2010 by Jingthing

[Thules]

Yes, ballsy indeed. In 1973, Louis and his brother Marcel, would have only been mere toddlers. As mentioned, they stayed in Wandsworth. In the 70's this was a pretty poor London borough, with few decent amenities, no London underground, dubious local schools, and certainly nothing resembling a 'Big C' within a couple of bus rides. They stayed in a four storey house, so must have a few quid behind them by 1977.

Never the less Paul did write his books, and all credit to him.

(For my sins, In the early 80's I had been posted to a very remote part of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia. Living there for 3 years, I travelled through Sumatra, Java, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore collecting on the way, more than enough anecdotes for a book.)

I'm off to read his Great railway bazaar !

[greasemonkey]

Jingthing, I was looking for ideas for a good book, and I think you may have hit the nail on the head. I wonder how many times you will get that joke?

Back on topic, will definately be getting hold of a copy. Should be interesting to see what he has to say about china taking over the world, shift in global power etc.

Cheers.

[Jingthing]

Jingthing, I was looking for ideas for a good book, and I think you may have hit the nail on the head. I wonder how many times you will get that joke?

Back on topic, will definately be getting hold of a copy. Should be interesting to see what he has to say about china taking over the world, shift in global power etc.

Cheers.

Indeed it will. I will soon get to the China part as I finish the book.

[Thules]

Having lived in Thailand for a long time now, I'm also interested in what / how we made Thailand our 'home', and what were the expats like llving here in Thailand over 35 years ago. No email, no Internet, no Cd's, scant electricity etc.

Do you think we've fundamentally changed much in nearly two generations ? I have no idea but I'm intrigued to find out

Any old hands out there who would like to share their view of Thailand in a bygone era ?

[Patsycat]

Learn something new every day!!

I never knew Louis was his son. He did some great stuff for TV. Most of which is on U Toob.

[Thules]

Sorry for digressing a bit, but The Theroux family is quite extraordinary when it comes to their collective international fame in literature and media. Paul's brother, Alexander is also an internationally known novelist, as is in turn, Alexander's son.

Paul's other son, Marcel is also well known as a British novelist and broadcaster.

[Jingthing]

A bit of an update.

This current book retraces a journey that finishes with a transiberian express ride, from east to west. It is not a retrace of Theroux's famous CHINA specific book, Iron Rooster. In this current book he does go into China just for a little bit and has very negative things to say about it -- about the greed and materialism and money lust being unseemly, etc (reminds him of Americans, ha ha). He has similar things to say about Russia, and thinks they are still living under a kind of dictator -- Putin. He sees Japan as the future, and not necessarily a great one, but the future nonetheless. He says another juicy thing about his marital problems in the early book. When he goes back to London and by then he knows he has been cuckolded, he admits in the book that he threatened to MURDER his wife (but didn't of course). He said the anger he felt about his wife was channeled into writing his first famous travel book. At the end of the current book, he wistfully states I COULD BE A HAPPY THAI. Cool.

Edited October 14, 2010 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

Oh, one more correction. Paul Theroux, though a Massachusetts native, has lived in the great state of HAWAII for a long time now with his current wife (happily). Can't blame him, I am sure he can afford it.