Title: if only there were fewer of them
Review: Something of a disappointing book that took an age to finish and felt more of a chore than a pleasure. Theroux's writing is solid but the character that comes through is an irritable, perfectionist that makes little of those who do not agree with his world view. It's strange that he took the time to learn Chinese and then view them as such dullards. But hey, I've never been to China so perhaps that's how it is.The train rides in themselves do not allow much adventure - more or less a catalog of food eaten and persons who annoy the writer by sharing his cabin.I've liked Theroux's other writings but he felt jaded with his book and I think he did not find the positive in the Chinese character.
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