Comments on: Famous travel writers I don’t like

By: Eva

Eva — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 12:47:40 +0000

I’m late to the party here, but Antonia, I have to respectfully suggest that your explanation(s) for the popularity of Eat, Pray, Love is just as patronizing as Rolf’s. (And yes, his review most definitely rubbed me the wrong way.) I think I would rather be a sucker for “emotional porn” than simply be written off as having bad taste, or pitied as an exhausted 21st century woman dreaming of a better life.

Couldn’t all the EPL haters just accept that some people (many, many people, in fact) genuinely enjoyed the book, without judging us or subjecting us to some sort of in-depth psychological evaluation?

By: Antonia Malchik

Antonia Malchik — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:10:59 +0000

Great comments, Pam! >>Every time I read Theroux, it underscores both my suspicions of his misogyny and my respect for his skill as a writer. I hate that.<< That statement of yours pretty much nails my relationship with his books, too.

I’ve been talking more with various neighbors of mine, who’ve all read Eat Pray Love, and the consensus is pretty much that they were disappointed in the quality of the writing and narrative, but what kept them reading it was that filling of a spiritual hole. Or maybe it’s exposing the spiritual hole, a new way for them of viewing their own lives. NOT emotional porn, though!

By: pam

pam — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:15:56 +0000

I’ve had a rather rocky relationship with Theroux from the get go. I’ve always suspected he’s something of a misogynist, but I find myself suckered in by his skill in taking you somewhere. I read Hotel Honolulu recently and all the women in it, jeez, the pretty much fell into two categories, awful or sex objects, but the book also really made the seedier side of Hawaii tourism a real thing. Every time I read Theroux, it underscores both my suspicions of his misogyny and my respect for his skill as a writer. I hate that.

I enjoyed the first section of Eat Pray Love, after that, wow, I was SOOOO bored.

By: Antonia Malchik

Antonia Malchik — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:37:13 +0000

Caitlin, Tim’s right that you should read at least one Theroux. I might not like his personality, but he is a great writer. Just one I think I’ve read quite enough of

By: Tim

Tim — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:54:56 +0000

Caitlin, you need to read at least one Theroux book, preferably one of the earlier ones—or Kowloon Tong, which unlike the Wendy above, I thought was pure brilliance. (It’s shorter than most of his too.) Like V.S. Naipaul or Salman Rushdie, he may drive you crazy but there’s no denying the dazzling talent. Reading people like that make you a better writer. Plus Theroux gets kudos for truly changing the genre. Before he started, there wasn’t much dialogue in travel books and few had the permanence of a novel.