I'm reading...

For someone who hopes to one day write a fiction bestseller and retire on the proceeds ;-) I sometimes read awfully little fiction. The latest non-fiction goodie to find its way onto my bedside table, courtesy of my friend C, is Paul Theroux's Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town. It tells the story of veteran travel writer and ex-resident of Malawi, Paul Theroux, traversing Africa from north to south by means of pretty much anything other than planes (dugouts, rickety trains, you name it) and it makes a really interesting read. However, if you're looking for the romantic 'out of Africa' experience, forget it, this book is pretty gritty and the author does not mince his words when chucking bucketloads of disdain at all the do-gooder aid companies who think they're helping the continent, but who he actually accuses of throwing it further into despair and dependence on charity. You'll never look at Bono in the same way again ;-) He also sneers quite a bit at safari-goers and their privelaged somewhat unreal view of Africa - still, no amount of sneering is going to make me chalk going on safari off my '100 things to do before I die list'.