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A review by vforvanessa
Crazy River: Exploration and Folly in East Africa by Richard Grant
3.0
I enjoyed reading this book while I was travelling through Malawi - many of Grant's observations and insights about African culture and travel resonated with my experiences and with the stories I'd heard from other travellers, and I agreed with his views on aid.
I'm not a big fan of travel writing in general, though. Reading books like this usually makes me feel like I'm swapping tales with other travelers (which I do enjoy), except without being able to relate my own experience or get into deeper discussions/arguments about the issues.
I've also noticed that travel books tend to include far too many overwrought insights into the author's state of mind and emotions for my tastes - somehow I never seem to find myself having the same sorts of crises of conscience or emotion or identity while travelling. The few male travel writers I've read, this one included, also seem to spend a lot of time in bars, commenting on how beautiful the women around are - something I'm not particularly interested in reading (male readers may feel differently!).
I'm not a big fan of travel writing in general, though. Reading books like this usually makes me feel like I'm swapping tales with other travelers (which I do enjoy), except without being able to relate my own experience or get into deeper discussions/arguments about the issues.
I've also noticed that travel books tend to include far too many overwrought insights into the author's state of mind and emotions for my tastes - somehow I never seem to find myself having the same sorts of crises of conscience or emotion or identity while travelling. The few male travel writers I've read, this one included, also seem to spend a lot of time in bars, commenting on how beautiful the women around are - something I'm not particularly interested in reading (male readers may feel differently!).