Dark Star Safari

Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town by Paul Theroux
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A marvellous read and moving read.  Theroux, having lived in many of the countries along the east coast of Africa, returns to them to find many of them worse of economically, socially and developmentally than they were in the 1960's.  His message appears to be that the aid dollars given to African nations may be helping in little ways here and there, but these efforts are not helping with the overall improvement of the human and economic conditions in many of the countries he visited.  While help from other nations is important, Theroux repeatedly stresses that African countries must help themselves deal with their own troubles and difficulties.  I have only ever been to one African country so I am not familiar with the complexities of many of the issues.  This book shed some light on these issues, and I will watch and learn more about these nations and their work to become more stable environments for their people.


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To Timbuktu for a Haircut

To Timbuktu for a Haircut: A Journey Through West Africa by Rick Antonson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An amazing book about a well-known travel writer who has always to go to Timbuktu for a haircut (inspiration from his dad).  With time to spare in his life between projects, his spouse suggests he finally takes the trip and he departs.  Full of historical information, stories of ancient European travellers, and the sites and sounds of his long over land travels I was transported through places I will likely never see.  I wish he would have spent a little more time describing several locations into which he ventured but the read was incredibly interesting, educational and enlightening.  Along the way he met a variety of people who will remind each of us of several people we may know.  Wonderful read!


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