Comments on: Paul Theroux’s Riding The Iron Rooster

By: Debbie

Debbie — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:18:34 +0000

I think Theoroux’s is a backward, whinning, shitty asshole. I would rather donate my money to some charity than to buy his books that degrades some nationalities with his disgusting, unprofessional, prejudiced, biased as well as racist mentality. Mate, not everyone is educated especially in a third world country..comparison of what you know to someone who hasn’t been to school in his whole life is not a levelled playground..weren’t you supposed to be the educated professional??

By: Carrie

Carrie — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 03:03:02 +0000

Theroux’s books are very hit and miss with me. I loved Riding the Iron Rooster, but one of the reasons why I loved it was because I had just moved to China and was doing a lot of travel by train. I also really enjoyed Dark Star Safari. I’m having a hard time getting through Ghost Train to the Eastern Star.It’s probably one of the few books on my bookshelves that I won’t finish. In all honesty, I’d rather read Bryson or Pico Iyer.

By: Jen Laceda

Jen Laceda — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 19:05:27 +0000

Sadly, I haven’t read any of Theroux’s travel literature (you I call myself a travel blogger?). However, I finally succumbed to the pressure and bought “The Great Railway Bazaar” last week. It’s sitting on my shelf, begging to be read. Why haven’t I read it? This thing called a 9-to-5 + 2 y.o. daughter. That’s my Life Math!

By: Daniel

Daniel — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:14:07 +0000

Agreed, Teresa. However, he needles people about their participation in, and impressions of the Cultural Revolution at every opportunity. While I was glad for the historical information, it had gotten old—and I mean really old—by the third chapter.

By: Teresa Laurence

Teresa Laurence — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 15:57:30 +0000

Theroux writes his account in China—all of his accounts for that mattter—with one part wit and three parts sarcasm. He casts a jaundiced eye upon everything and everyone. Because of this his account becomes suspect and probably owes more to fiction than non-fiction. Still, who can resist a good story?