American travel writer paul theroux is known for the rich descriptions of. Works by or about paul theroux bibliography at internet archive. My other life by theroux, paul and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Paul therouxs latest novel, his 20th, is a kind of secretsharer story. Apr 08, 2020 paul theroux, in full paul edward theroux, born april 10, 1941, medford, massachusetts, u. My other life is a compelling collection of short memoirs that blur the. Books by paul theroux author of the great railway bazaar. Theroux graduated from the university of massachusetts in 1963. Spanning almost 30 years, my other life traces the journey of a fictional paul theroux from young bachelorhood in africa, to his travels between continents, being in and out of marriage, and through affairs and various means of employment. Mother land by paul theroux is published by hamish hamilton. Life of paul theroux, told in theroux novel the new york times. May 9, 2017 a welltraveled writer contemplates the long, menacing shadow his mother has cast over his life.
It is a study in tyranny and in other forms of domination among them, a mother serving food. Paul theroux s latest novel, his 20th, is a kind of secretsharer story, the comparison to joseph conrads short novel pretty. This brief statement could summarize a general paradox that drives the overwhelming majority of therouxs acclaimed novels and short stories, as well as his immensely popular travel. Its a wry, worldly, erotic, and deeply moving account of one mans first half century among the strongest things theroux has ever written new. The book is a collection of flowery vignettes that add up into an enthralling novel. Jay, the narrator of this bileinfused family saga, is a little like theroux deep south, 2015, etc. To have a more complete reading of theroux african experiences, i would certainly combine some of.
My other life is presented as a series of vignettesalmost short stories, reallyand focuses more though not exclusively on theroux s writing career. Paul theroux has spent his life crisscrossing the globe in search of the histories and peoples that give life to the places they call home. Life of paul theroux, told in theroux novel nytimes. Not one of its authors best books, but frequent infusions of wit and inventiveness rescue it from becoming what it might otherwise have been the cliffs notes version of the life and career of paul theroux. He was awarded the 1981 james tait black memorial prize for his novel the mosquito coast, which was adapted for the 1986 movie of the same name. It is the story of andre parent, a writer, a world traveler, a lover of every kind of woman he chances to meet in a life as varied as a man can lead. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Paul edward theroux born april 10, 1941 is an american travel writer and novelist, whose bestknown work is the great railway bazaar 1975. The segments are hit and miss, but the writing is always good. Read my other life by paul theroux available from rakuten kobo. 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.
Paul therouxs acclaimed novels include blinding light, hotel honolulu, my other life, kowloon tong, and the mosquito coast. Life, to the hero of my other life, has no apparent plot and so it seems messier than fiction. Paul theroux, the anglophile american travel writer and novelist has been the target. Paul theroux s acclaimed novels include blinding light, hotel honolulu, my other life, kowloon tong, and the mosquito coast. This is the story of a life if could have lived had things been different an imaginary memoir, he declares in a coyly obfuscatory authors note. The tao of travel paul theroux book my book store info. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading my other life.
I understood again how the prose of a true writer can bring us to a world beyond. My other life is a unique and brilliantly executed masterpiece that defies genre classification, and is, for me, paul theroux s best work and greatest book, superior to his earlier my secret history. It is the story of andre parent, a writer, a world traveller, a lover of every kind of woman he chances to meet in a life as varied as a man can lead. My other life is a compelling collection of short memoirs that blur the lines between biography and fiction as awardwinning writer paul theroux imagines what his life would have been like had he made different choices a writers epic account of another life, of other choices of turning fact into extraordinary fiction.
The book is so vividly compellingand melancholyas to remind a reader once more of how hugely talented. 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. The older theroux criticises his younger brothers travel books for. Paul theroux, in full paul edward theroux, born april 10, 1941, medford, massachusetts, u. In the washington post book world, sven birkerts called this exuberant novel a complex and gripping work of invention and confession. Like my secret history, this is a fictionalized account of theroux s adult life. To have a more complete reading of theroux african experiences, i would certainly combine some of my other life with some of his my secret life. Theroux has previously played with the identity of a novels protagonist in my secret history, but this time his work is considerably more personal and. In the washington post book world, sven birkerts called this exuberan. Now, as immigration debates boil around the world, theroux has set out to explore a country key to understanding our current discourse. There is a tantalising story in my other life in which the character called paul theroux goes to a psychoanalyst, and she makes some headway but eventually gives up because he refuses to.
Prolific and popular writer paul theroux turns himself on his ear in my other life, the story of a life i could have lived had things been different, as told by another paul theroux. The only connection is that they all involve the same person. My other life by paul theroux overdrive rakuten overdrive. In the washington post book world, sven birkerts called this exuberant novel a complex and gripping work of invention a.
His renowned travel books include ghost train to the eastern star, dark star safari, and the great railway bazaar. From his early education at the knee of a highly eccentric uncle, until his years as a fledgling novelist. Paul theroux is notorious for mixing fact and fiction in his books and refusing to say which is which, but this is nothing beside his slipperiness in interview. My other life is a unique and brilliantly executed masterpiece that defies genre classification, and is, for me, paul therouxs best work and greatest book, superior to. Until 1971 he taught english in malawi, uganda, and singapore. Lee my other life por paul theroux disponible en rakuten kobo. Buy this book theroux has previously played with the. My other life is a sort of fictionalized biography in which day to day life passing through the authors wealthy imagination turns into a picturesque adventure. Actually, he paul theroux, that is has just written a book about this very subject, called my other life. In my other life 1996, he describes a period of living alone in cape. Sep 01, 1996 my other life is a sort of fictionalized biography in which day to day life passing through the authors wealthy imagination turns into a picturesque adventure. What i learned from reading about their tumultuous relationship why sir vidias shadow, therouxs account of his 30year. Paul theroux has written many works of fiction and travel writing, including the modern classics the great railway bazaar, the old patagonian express, my secret history and the mosquito coast.
He has published numerous works of fiction, some of which were adapted as feature films. In his note to my other life, paul theroux writes that the book is the story of a life i could have lived had things been different an imaginary memoir. In this complex, candid confessional, paul theroux s newest protagonist is one of depth and great subtlety whose tragedy is uniqueor is it. My other life ebook por paul theroux 9780547525860. The book, arranged in sections that resemble stories more than chapters, traces a life that at times looks quite a bit like theroux s real one. Although labeled fiction, i never really know where theroux fiction stops and fact starts because he does such a good job of it. In the washington post book world, sven birkerts called this exuberant. Paul therouxs latest novel, his 20th, is a kind of secretsharer story, the comparison to.
In mother land, novelist paul theroux creates a portrait. One of the novels big surprises is an audacious ploy that revives an old scandal and mixes reality with fiction. I am tempted to think that my other life is therouxs revenge upon the new critics. Mar 31, 2011 my other life by paul theroux starts with a peace corps love affair in a malawian leper colony, and follows the author from singapore where he starts his family, to london, where he offers cunning insights on british culture, and finally ends in america. Endlessly inventive, beguiling, provocative and insidiously readable sunday telegraph. Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. For someone whose work has always had a surface plausibility, paul theroux has. My other life 1996 kowloon tong 1997 hotel honolulu 2001 nurse wolf and dr. Buy the paperback book my other life by paul theroux at indigo. Paul theroux books list of books by author paul theroux.
Feb 03, 2011 my other life is a compelling collection of short memoirs that blur the lines between biography and fiction as awardwinning writer paul theroux imagines what his life would have been like had he made different choices. Two of mexicos greatest living writers wrote these comments on the launch of paul therouxs newest book and first on mexico, on the plain of snakes. Life of paul theroux, told in theroux novel the new york. There is no greater praise for a writer opining about a country than the appreciation and approval of its native sons. Paul therouxs latest novel, his 20th, is a kind of secretsharer story, the comparison to joseph conrads short novel pretty apt in mr. Its a wry, worldly, erotic, and deeply moving account of one mans first. With no apparent plot, life, to the hero of my other life, is often messier than fiction sometimes it appears our hero is leading many separate lives. For a start, he didnt look remotely like the paul theroux i met 15 years.