Dark Star Safari

For me this is the best Paul Theroux that I have read.It was better (in my opinion) that his other travel non fiction ([b:The Great Railway Bazaar: By Train Through Asia 3141840 The Great Railway Bazaar Paul Theroux https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1332464018l/3141840.SY75.jpg 811411], [b:The Old Patagonian Express 1426730 The Old Patagonian Express By Train Through the Americas J.E. Tate https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1183497003l/1426730.SY75.jpg 1197157], [b:Riding the Iron Rooster: By Train Through China 261547 Riding the Iron Rooster By Train Through China Paul Theroux https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1315259745l/261547.SY75.jpg 2891703]), and I think there are a couple of reasons.Firstly, in Dark Star Safari the travel was not all by train. This meant there was more to write about. In his other books (which I also enjoyed - don't get me wrong), there is only so much he can describe about the train itself, and the method of travel. This book opened the door for more descriptive writing about travel method.Secondly, and probably more importantly, while Theroux was his usual pessimistic, fault finding, negative self, he was being far more accurate with his assessment of Africa. What I mean is, in other books where he tears into the people, the places & the culture, they are often not all as bad as he makes them out to be. In this book, a lot more often than not, the situations he describes negatively are in fact pretty dire. So this brings an accuracy to his pessimism. Thirdly, Theroux has an opinion which he spends a lot of the book discussing - his premise that continued foreign aid in Africa has a negative effect rather than a positive effect - and this lets him examine and re-examine with examples this theory. The fact I buy into this, probably makes this book more enjoyable for me as a reader.So to the book - Theroux travels overland (mostly - there was a short ride in a small plane due to border difficulties) from Cairo to Capetown. He takes in Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Some places he is visiting for the first time, others he is returning to, and has a frame of reference. He spent time in Malawi in the Peace Corps, and as a teacher in Uganda, so has some comparisons to make there.Along the way, he makes literary references - some involving people he knows and meets, others purely by reference. He also reconnected with people he knew from his previous time in Africa, including the President of Uganda!“I had some good friends - really funny ones. My best friend was a guy called Apolo Nsibambi. We shared an office at the Extra Mural Department at Makerere, and then I got a promotion - became Acting Director - and I was his boss! I used to tease him for calling himself “Doctor” - he had a Ph. D. in political science. I mocked him for wearing a tie and carrying a briefcase and being pompous. I went to his wedding. He came to my wedding. And then I completely lost touch with him. I wonder what happened to him.' ‘Doctor Nsibambi is the Prime Minister of Uganda.”All up, one of the best books I have read this year. Five stars.

Funny. I had a Paul Theroux on my shelf for years, untouched, and finally decided to take it with me to the Chicago Book Festival last summer where I released it. Theroux was speaking so I thought it would be cool to release one of his books just outside the tent where he was speaking. I left the book next to one of the tent stakes and went inside to hear him talk. He was a fabulous storyteller and I immediately regretted that I had given away his book. I went out to try to retrieve the book, but it had already found its way into the hands of a couple who loved the whole BookCrossing idea. Never did journal the book, but I definitely knew the book had a good home. And I've been itching to read Theroux ever since I heard him speak. I vow not to let this book go before I've given it a thorough reading.

Later:
I've been reading this book in bits and pieces for a couple of weeks. What a great safari it has been. Theroux has guided me through Egypt and Sudan, Kenya and Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. His adventures and misadventures have led me to conclude that I will never visit Africa outside the pages of a book. A wonderful, awful trip to a wonderful, awful place.