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“He has no illusions about the fact that he is just a passing visitor (a
privileged one at that), but that doesn’t make his observations, or
exquisite writing, any less engaging.”
— Entertainment Weekly
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“Theroux is at his best when he tells their stories, happy and
sad...Theroux’s great mission had always been to transport us beyond
that reading chair, to challenge himself—and thus, to challenge us.”
— Boston Globe
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“If this book is proof, age has not slowed Theroux or encouraged him to
rest on his achievements…Gutsy, alert to Africa’s struggles, its
injustices and history.”
— San Francisco Chronicle
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“Everything is under scrutiny in Paul Theroux’s latest travel book—not
just the people, landscapes and sociopolitical realities of the
countries he visits, but his own motivations for going where he goes…His
readers can only be grateful."
— Seattle Times
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“Theroux’s prose is as vividly descriptive and atmospheric as ever and,
though a bit curmudgeonly, he’s still wide open to raw, painful
interactions between his psyche and his surroundings.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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“His ability to map new terrain, both interior and exterior, and to
report from places that seldom make the news, remains undiminished.”
— Booklist (starred review)
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“In this intensely personal book, Theroux honestly confronts racism,
stigma, privilege and expectations…Reading this enlightening book
won’t only open a window into Theroux’s mind, it will also impart a
deeper understanding of Africa and travel in general.”
— Kirkus (starred review)