The Old Patagonian Express

The Old Patagonian Express by Paul Theroux. While Mr. Theroux's grouchiness and disagreeable temperament made this difficult reading at times, forcing me to take a week-long break at one point due to his unrelentingly dour take on everything, this was definitely worth the read. While he never seems to get swept away in the magic of what he is doing, there are moments of excitement that make me glad to take the ride with him. When he meets Borges and spends several days visiting with and reading to the blind author, his usual crustiness goes away.

As I read this, I felt like I was hearing the thoughts of some people I know. His disdain for human beings in general was close to unrelenting.

If you like travel memoirs, let me warn you, this isn't a tale of someone who went, found wonderful magical places, met fabulous people and had wonderful memories. His descriptions are concise and accurate, but there is never an aha moment where he understands something about himself or about people that he did not already know. If you don't need that, you may appreciate this one man's take on a journey to the southernmost tip of South America reachable by train.

This is: A KEEPER

The Beginnings

Here in Baltimore, my bookshelf is pitifully small. In fact, I don't own a bookshelf here, my few books are stacked on the floor, a pathetic state for someone who loves books as I do. My plan for this blog is to tell you about the books I read--what I like, what I don't like, whether I'm keeping it or putting it back into circulation.

I will state that my preference is for hardcovers with intact paper sleeves. Some of my favorite books I am in the process of replacing; my worn, read and re-read paperback editions held together with clear packing tape are gradually being replaced with the hardcover editions with the (sigh of rapture) paper sleeves intact.

Yet here, where I haven't found a job, have no friends to socialize with and limited funds for exploring, I can always get lost in a book. I will confess to a little secret--I like all kinds of books. I like literature, memoirs, science-fiction/fantasy, children's books, some pop literature and even, on occasion, will read a fluffy romance/women's lit book. I look at it this way. We shouldn't live on a steady diet of eclairs, fudge or cotton candy, but every now and again, you just want a little light fluffy treat. I feel that way about reading. Occasionally I just want a light fluffy read. Some of these succeed, some fail.

So let's get started: