In this book, Paul Theroux returns to Africa to travel the continent and see what has changed since he lived there. He starts in Cairo, Egypt and slowly works his way down to Cape Town, South Africa, recounting everything that happened to him in between. Theroux uses the book to show Americans that Africa isn’t really as savage as we think it is; it may be behind technologically but it definitely isn’t full of cannibals. Throughout the book, Theroux quotes different people who have voiced their opinions about Africa to either support a point he is making, or point out that something incredibly naïve. As an American who used to live in Africa, Theroux provides the reader with basic knowledge, but he also seems to be learning as he travels, just like the reader. Even though the book was a work of nonfiction, it was interesting to read because it was written like a story instead of the author just throwing information at the reader. This book is pretty long, almost 500 pages, but it was not hard to read and increased my knowledge of the Africa and its people.
- Betty Crocker
This book sounds incredibly mind-blowing. It's so true that people in wealthier nations such as the United States underestimate countries within Africa. Though the majority of the continent lives in poverty, Africa has a lot of potential to become a great continent.
ReplyDeleteDid your opinion of Africa change as you read the book?
(last post was from -Nelson Mandela)
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds fantastic. My book also showed that Africa was not made up of wild savages and that was during the 18th century. The fact that Africa continues to be stereotyped as barbaric and primitive is surprising.
ReplyDelete-Queen Isabel
your book sounds very intriguing! I like that he is learning along the way and that the book is a story. sounds really good!
ReplyDelete-Pocahontas
This book sounds like a very interesting but at the same time educational book. It must have been interesting to read the different views from all of the people.
ReplyDelete-Christina Aguilera
Sounds interesting and it must be cool for a person to return where they grew up seeing what has changed.
ReplyDelete-Duncan Hines
This book appealed to me because the author is learning through his travels, just like the book I read. I would love to increase my knowledge of Africa and its people.
ReplyDeleteBritney Spears
My book also deals with travel and I find it so interesting about how much information the authors find on their travels!
ReplyDeleteMissy Elliot
Hey Betty -- Didn't you say that a friend of yours said this book changed his life? Did you think it was that powerful of a book?
ReplyDeleteI liked the way that Theroux described travel as a way to get out of your own rut.
Good work -
Mrs. McCabe