Declare Out Of Books My Other Life
| Title | : | My Other Life |
| Author | : | Paul Theroux |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 464 pages |
| Published | : | September 15th 1997 by Mariner Books (first published September 1st 1996) |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Travel. Cultural. Africa |
Paul Theroux
Paperback | Pages: 464 pages Rating: 3.8 | 940 Users | 62 Reviews
Chronicle Concering Books My Other Life
In the Washington Post Book World, Sven Birkerts called this exuberant novel "a complex and gripping work of invention and confession . . . I understood again how the prose of a true writer can bring us to a world beyond." The book spans almost thirty years in the life of a fictional "Paul Theroux," who moves through young bachelorhood in Africa, in and out of marriage, affairs, and employment, and between continents. It's a wry, worldly, erotic, and deeply moving account of one man's first half century - "among the strongest things Theroux has ever written" (New York Times Book Review).Be Specific About Books As My Other Life
| Original Title: | My Other Life |
| ISBN: | 0395877520 (ISBN13: 9780395877524) |
| Edition Language: | English |
Rating Out Of Books My Other Life
Ratings: 3.8 From 940 Users | 62 ReviewsCritique Out Of Books My Other Life
Very well written. Funny. Memoir-ish. A bit tawdry, nasty at times. Provocative, in that he is clearly referencing friendships by name and extrapolating some of the lewder bits of meat from his awkward social abilities and encounters. He nearly raises his own personality to the same sobering light, but stops short unfortunately, which can come off in a vaguely egocentric tone -- this is pre-self deprecating error of literature. But he is an adventurer, which is likable, always.A wonderful writer who blends genres in this biography. A marriage breakdown, insights into writing, relentless travel and hilarious interactions with a slew of characters, this is a masterful book.
From leper colony in Africa on to marriage to a British woman and having two kids, then life in Singapore. Both stories in leper colony and Singapore very extreme behaviour on his part! The family move to UK, life as a writer at home, wife working, kids after school, literary community in London in general, on to starting the rail and walking travels and books through quirky tales of eccentrics encountered in general life. Marriage breakdown. Setting up existence single back close to roots in
My heart initially sank at the epigram from Borges. "Not another thinly veiled autobiography, roman a clef, self-analysis masquerading as novel, under the forgiving blessing of 'I do not know which of us has written this page' bullshit," I thought. It turns out to be better than that. Essentially the story of 'Paul Theroux's' (the scare quotes are necessary) marriage and divorce, set against the background of his increasing commercial success. There are some lovely stories here--the novel
Don't know what to say about this book. I loved it and, at times, hated it. I know i did not like Paul (or the character). He had the same relationship with everyone he met. He came across as a bit of a wimp and i felt like kicking him up the arse most of the way through. However, the book was so well written and descriptive that i could not stop reading it. Thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the bit where he meets himself!
Elements of Paul Theroux's outlook & writing I find maddening, but as soon as I think, this guy's a self-absorbed prickwad with an amazing life, he writes a paragraph that endears me to his storytelling & perspective all over again. Notably I enjoy the patchwork quilt nature of the various phases of his life; this felt more lifelike and realistic because the narrative is full of being broke, making split-second choices that alter the next 9 or 10 years of his life, and toward the end,
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