Robert Macfarlane
rips Paul Theroux and his latest book,
Ghost Train to the Eastern Star, a new one in today's NYT book review. Theroux in his latest book retraces his 1973-74 lap around Eurasia, mostly by train, which he documented in
The Great Railway Bazaar.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKk2_QI5kgtRCk3o_-g4op25QA6Cj1bgMgIk8-GzvR7eFO5t5dYFzYRHDM-BhZ11bpSXXotgIpk919jNa7rsk3hvt_LfMwTFprj28-IW6frdBMXL3d5gL7NnhvOXKCTcTPkMlf/s320/014024980X.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg)
There's no question that Theroux is a curmudgeon with an overinflated ego. But that's what makes his travel tales and observations so entertaining. Macfarlane criticizes Theroux's lack of intellectual curiosity and vigor, but Theroux is not writing a post-doc paper for a foreign policy think tank. It is, in the end, just travel lit.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiceEFELbqK_NNjGTniJ0JfXFpKvII8wKuQle4-u9J_X6HxIy-A6a92CSOWf-2J-WlNBoxb00YFU2FNojg-KhxZPKK90N3sP7AuX5R6C-zKVhjtNBSclF1YrDUL_VPT4FmPtVq9/s320/arar01_theroux.jpg)
Macfarlane does make a Seinfeld-ian observation in his comparison between BO and writing style:
"Certain writers have a style that can be best likened to body odor: irresistible to some, obnoxious to many and apparently imperceptible to the writer himself. Theroux’s lack of self-awareness, his failure to observe the basic hygiene of modesty, is compelling in its way. How can anyone be this narcissistic, you wonder in disbelief, in appalled fascination."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3g3PfS23i6suqnmYxCdl402t3qDcynYOavcjk9eb6SAfj6fWnfsCYlbSTeFBgpASfS9RvnY6xe5yYGRW9S-MZ8DTDFtUHcL4c19YwiUGR4vad-r72XqDuoogjuZKOXEyALoR/s320/pc-theroux533.jpg)
Despite the review, and perhaps because of the review, I look even more forward to reading Theroux's latest work. I intend to approach it slightly differently. I will read one chapter of
Bazaar, followed by the corresponding chapter in
Ghost Train, then back to
Bazaar, etc. I think this will best illustrate, in my mind's eye, the changes in the countries Theroux visited over the last 30 years, and the changes in Theroux himself.
As a side note, I came across
Ghost Train at the local book store yesterday for the list price of $28. It is available on Amazon for $18. Unless you have a lot of disposable income
and are committed to supporting local businesses, I don't see why any sane person would pay full price. I, for one, am getting mine on Amazon with the free shipping option.
CKY