The Lost City of Z

I thought this book was underwhelming. Nonetheless, a fine read.

In the prior month, I finished David Grann's other book, The Wager, Alfred Lansing's Endurance and Peter Fitzsimons' Mutiny on the Bounty. All were epic tales, expertly written and enjoyed. This was not that.

This book falls somewhat flat, partly because it doesn't have a satisfying ending and partly because the narrative arc is loose. We never find Fawcett's trail; we only get the author travelling into the jungle briefly to talk to some Indigenous folks. It's true that sometimes there isn't a satisfying ending, which is fine, but I feel the author sets the book up to uncover something and does no such thing. I think there is an argument to say this ought to have just been a book about the life of Fawcett, not a history-cum-travel-book that tries to tie two loose threads together.

For all its flaws, the book is still readable, interesting enough and short. I never knew about Fawcett's life before I began, and I enjoyed it in that regard. Moreover, it made me realise I have no appetite for travelling deep into the jungle. I will give it to Fawcett, exploration in the Amazon is hard. It is brutal. I have no envy for their lives like I did with those travelling to Tahiti in Fitzsimons' Bounty.

One thing I did enjoy is the author's attempt to help the reader understand the Indigenous peoples of the Amazon. He gives us a good, albeit brief, explanation of these people and their ancient and impressive lives before the Colombian Exchange, after which millions died due to Old World diseases.

I would still recommend this book to those who want to learn more about Amazon exploration, as it is a quick read. Any longer, and I would have felt the cost-benefit might lend itself to an alternate read.