Scan barcode
jeanetterenee's review
1.0
I read the first 95 pages of this book, which was 95 pages too many. Everything I heard about it led me to believe it would be very entertaining, so I kept reading hoping it would get funny, or at least interesting. A couple of nights ago I was struggling through another page, when suddenly I was awakened by my own snoring!!
tippycanoegal's review
1.0
Ackerley is smart and funny and an excellent observer of life around him. I wanted to love this book. I know a bit about Ackerley and I like the fact that he was an openly gay man traveling in the 1920s. I love his voice and sharp observation and good humor. Unfortunately, for me, the book became quite quickly tiresome because of the implied pedophilia that was presented as all in good fun. I recognize that the shock value of the narrative at the time might have been titillating to British readers, but I am not terribly interested in hearing about the beauty of the young boys who were virtual slaves and were used as puppets and playthings by the Maharajah of the book, and yes, even by Ackerley himself. That left me with a bad taste in my mouth and I was unable to ignore it and relax into the amusing spirit of the narrative. The unexamined assumptions of privilege just left me cold and although Ackerley is wonderful at poking fun at his fellow Brits, he does not seem to have a great deal of self-awareness as he eggs on the Maharishi to acquire still more beautiful, very young boys for his collection.
More...