Ghost Train to the Eastern Star: On the Tracks of the Great Railway Bazaar

This one is almost as good as the original Railway Bazaar. I agree with some of the reviewers that the start was a bit pretentious and I wished that he'd just get on with it. But when he does, he's as good as ever and true to his style. I don't understand why people complain about him being 'cranky' and negative - I think he's one of the few travel writers ( probably the only) who doesn't...more

This one is almost as good as the original Railway Bazaar. I agree with some of the reviewers that the start was a bit pretentious and I wished that he'd just get on with it. But when he does, he's as good as ever and true to his style. I don't understand why people complain about him being 'cranky' and negative - I think he's one of the few travel writers ( probably the only) who doesn't romanticize places just because they're 'different' and wants to be politically correct. He says it as he sees it and he's blunt. Being from India, I was particularly curious about his take on modern India and he doesn't disappoint - he talks mostly about what the 'modern India miracle' seekers don't - poverty, greed, inefficiency etc. ( BTW, it's clear that the his book Elephanta Suite was written on this trip) Also loved his encounters with other writers on the trip. ( I wont give it away!) And as always, I'm following up on some of the books that he'd been reading on the way - "Ali and Nino" in particular.   hide

Felt a bit like a greatest hits book. Recommend his earlier works on train travel.

The first book I have read by Paul Theroux. It won't be the last. Of all the travel writers I have read, Theroux is the most perceptive.

It got better as you went along. He's a little cranky and a little bit of a travel writer snob in parts but overall I enjoyed the read.

Read the Great Railway Bazaar first. This is a retracing of his previous journey.

Not his best work. More of a rehash of a previous journey. Becomes more interesting towards the end as the more eastern nation comments have more depth and the changes in those places have been more dramatic (Asia/Japan/Siberia). Second half of the book significantly better than the first, so its worth ploughing through.

Sequel to previous travel books to Asia and Europe. Fantastic read.

Great sequel to Ride the Iron Rooster and The Great Railway Bazaar.

Not one of his best, too much like a person's day to day journal of observations and comparisons between earlier trip and this one. Great travel writing His other books are better, too much complaining.