Title: A Gentler Paul Theroux
Review: Nathaniel Stone brings to mind a gentler version of Paul Theroux or perhaps a more innocent Jonathan Raban. He relates the concept and experience of the short-term nomad with a skill that at times makes even Bruce Chatwin seem clumsy. And being an oarsman, though my voyages last but a few hours, I can attest that Stone captures the magical feel of sculling.But most impressive is the obvious joy and the wonderful people Stone finds during his travels. I read this book over three days when The Washington Post (my local paper) was filled with depressing headlines about the war-mongers Americans had just elected and the impending ruin of our environment. My wife and I were, half seriously, discussing to which city in Canada or Europe we should move. Stone snapped me out of my funk with his upbeat take on Middle America.
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