Pillars of Hercules by Paul Theroux (ISBN:0449910857)

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		Pillars of Hercules
	
				(9 reviews)			
(262 Readers)

			Paul Theroux		
	
"DAZZLING."--Time"[THEROUX'S] WORK IS DISTINGUISHED BY A SPLENDID EYE FOR DETAIL AND THE TELLING GESTURE; a storyteller's sense of pacing and gift...more
 "DAZZLING."--Time"[THEROUX'S] WORK IS DISTINGUISHED BY A SPLENDID EYE FOR DETAIL AND THE TELLING GESTURE; a storyteller's sense of pacing and gift for granting closure to the most subtle progression of events; and the graceful use of language. . . . We are delighted, along with Theroux, by the politeness of the Turks, amazed by the mountainous highlands in Syria, touched by the gesture of an Albanian waitress who will not let him pay for his modest meal. . . . The Pillars of Hercules [is] engrossing and enlightening from start (a damning account of tourists annoying the apes of Gibraltar) to finish (an utterly captivating visit with Paul Bowles in Tangier, worth the price of the book all by itself)."--Chicago Tribune"ENTERTAINING READING . . . WHEN YOU READ THEROUX, YOU'RE TRULY ON A TRIP."--The Boston Sunday Globe"HIS PICARESQUE NARRATIVE IS STUDDED WITH SCENES THAT STICK IN THE MIND. He looks at strangers with a novelist's eye, and his portraits are pleasantly tinged with malice."--The Washington Post Book World"THEROUX AT HIS BEST . . . An armchair trip with Theroux is sometimes dark, but always a delight."--Playboy"AS SATISFYING AS A GLASS OF COOL WINE ON A DUSTY CALABRIAN AFTERNOON . . . With his effortless writing style, observant eye, and take-no-prisoners approach, Theroux is in top form chronicling this 18-month circuit of the Mediterranean."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)   less

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
Travel around the Mediterranean coast by every conceivable form of water transport.

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							Ramaprasad
						
							few weeks ago						
Paul travels along the mediterranean coast starting at the Gibraltor capturing the slice of life along the coast. Recommend to anyone interested in knowing more about life in the mediterranean region. Also, amazing way of travelling.

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
This book begins with Theroux's disdainful observation of tourists taunting monkeys on the Rock of Gibraltar. It continues in a similar, amusing vein around the Mediterranean basin.

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
Before:
"Round the Mediterranean and on the off-beat track - off-beat= talking about the apes of the Rock of Gibralter which really seem to be more civilized than the tourists who annoy them and then get bitten :) :)...Another interesting tidbit-Oliver Cromwell actually sent out people in ships to cut off the neck of Gibralter from Spain to make it an island and wholly an English colony ..the...more
 Before:
"Round the Mediterranean and on the off-beat track - off-beat= talking about the apes of the Rock of Gibralter which really seem to be more civilized than the tourists who annoy them and then get bitten :) :)...Another interesting tidbit-Oliver Cromwell actually sent out people in ships to cut off the neck of Gibralter from Spain to make it an island and wholly an English colony ..the lengths people go to!!! (the ships were captured by Spain-plan didn't work out thankfully)...promises of more interesting stuff to come...
After:
On the off-beat less trodden path once again clearing so many false notions of "exotic" places which seem like the perfect holiday destinations and revealing the immense diversity along that entire coast of the "White sea" -the Mediterranean - So it's not all about the olives, the wine, the Riviera and La Dolce Vita  :)   hide

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
Another travel book by Paul Theroux, that would cause a person to stay home.

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
This is the first of a few Theroux books I have read. I absolutely loved it. The book provides an excellent portrayal of people in the context of their history and culture. He travels to cities and regions along the Mediterranean that many of us wouldn't otherwise give a thought. One really gets a feel for what life is like in each town. This book, like his others, highlight the difference...more
 This is the first of a few Theroux books I have read. I absolutely loved it. The book provides an excellent portrayal of people in the context of their history and culture. He travels to cities and regions along the Mediterranean that many of us wouldn't otherwise give a thought. One really gets a feel for what life is like in each town. This book, like his others, highlight the difference between a traveler and being a tourist.

I've given the book only 4 stars because your ability to enjoy the book will depend on how you feel about Theroux's voice. He is a critical individual with a huge ego. Imagine Anthony Bourdain without a sense of humor. 

If you find this tone off-putting, you may not enjoy the book. He does seem more annoyed in this book than in others, probably because there are more tourists around. Personally, I was so wrapped up in Theroux's excellent prose that I hardly noticed.   hide

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
Disappointing travelogue - too many places, too quickly.  I found it all became an impersonal blur of countries, cities and towns.  Not half as good as Dark Star Safari.

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
I picked this up because I had read Theroux's fantastic account of hitchiking through Africa, "Dark Star Safari" and loved the premise - a year long travel around the mediteranean from Gibralter to Tangiers in the troubled mid-90s.  The first half is pretty disappointing and sloppily written account of Spain, France, and Italy.  I almost gave it up but when Paul reaches war torn Croatia and...more
 I picked this up because I had read Theroux's fantastic account of hitchiking through Africa, "Dark Star Safari" and loved the premise - a year long travel around the mediteranean from Gibralter to Tangiers in the troubled mid-90s.  The first half is pretty disappointing and sloppily written account of Spain, France, and Italy.  I almost gave it up but when Paul reaches war torn Croatia and super-backwards poverty stricken Albania the book shines, I mean really shines.  It might be worth picking up the book for the Albanian chapter alone.  I also enjoyed his chapters on Egypt, Syria, Israel, and Tunisia.  Makes me want to travel again.  Overall a worthwhile read if you can make it past the first 200 pages.   hide

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
paul theroux at his finest.

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							A Reader
						
							few weeks ago						
Good travel book. Packed with experience.  Lots to absorb.  I would often find myself remembering something and reading through the relevant passages again, years later.

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