Mr. McSnotty-pants

Theroux is proving to be a big snob.  He actually wrote this after a fellow passenger offered him his Spanish language comic book: "Comics are for kids and illiterates." (pg. 351)  Oh, and university Deans, cuz my husband has a very extensive collection.

But, then he redeemed himself a page later with a pointed commentary on Che Guevara chic.  Noting that there is a high-end clothing store in London called Che Guevara, Theroux complains: "There is no faster way of destroying a man, or mocking his ideas, than making him fashionable.  That Guevara succeeded in influencing dress-designers [and I might add, college t-shirt designers] was part of his tragedy." (pg. 352)  Then again, that also sounds snobby.

Riding the rails

Thoroughly enjoying The Old Patagonian Express.  I especially like how grumpy Theroux often is.  This is not an omniscient narrator: he is opinionated, wary, pleasantly surprised, humbled, and riddled with altitude sickness (did you know that the pressure from a quick change in altitude can make a tooth with a cavity explode?  Me neither.).  For all of his personal flaws, Theroux has a big heart.  He sees the injustice of the class system in Peru and Ecuador - how poorly the Indians are treated and cared for in their local societies - and he especially mourns the fate of street urchins who are considered vermin, like rats.  Reminds me of Slumdog Millionaire.  Theroux, himself, connects the dots between the poverty and inhumane treatment of street kids in Calcutta.  Along his journey, on many different train rides, bus rides, airplane rides, Theroux meets many interesting, some disturbing, characters and tells some fascinating stories.  I'll share some next post.