I think this is the first book I’ve read by this author. I’ve been interested in trying out his writing, especially about travel, and apparently this is his newest book.
The idea of this book is his exploration of finding “paradise”, and exploring what that word has meant to people throughout history and across the world. It is a pretty ambitious theme, and maybe since I had few expectations I wasn’t really disappointed with the result. It was interesting to read about some of the places that we have been – Sri Lanka, Bali, India, and Japan. Some of the holy sites that he visited were completely new to me.
The writer’s writing style is pleasant to read and tends towards dramatic prose. He seemed to look beyond what he was seeing and add some kind of spiritual element to just about everything. In fact, most of the book seemed centered on spirituality, religion and the metaphysical. Writing about paradise I suppose will slant the book a certain way, but I prefer to read more reality-based writings (for example, Paul Theroux).
In contrast to other travel books there is less interaction with local people. There were hired guides in this book, but unfortunately few conversations with people who live in these places. That makes us depend exclusively on the writer’s view of these places.
One thing that comes up a lot is the author’s friendship with the Dalai Lama, and it seems like his name and his words are over-invoked to explain all sorts of things.
I wonder if his writing is similar in other books. For the time being I got my fill, but it wasn’t as interesting a book as I’d hoped for.
The next book I’m reading is As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner.
