Do you prefer PT as a novelist, an essayist (articles, collection of essays), travel writer, short story writer...

So far I've no quibble with anything he's written. I prefer the travel writing, but even as I mention that I remember how very much I've enjoyed his novels, and travel writing goes along with essays, as far as I can tell.

i started hotel honolulu (in german this time - to admit) but had to put it away, was actually bored - something i have never experienced in decades of reading his travel monologues... -

so, should i give it another try? if yes, which title then?

regards s.f.

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http://www.paultheroux.de.tt

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Must be individual tastes--I just finished Hotel Honolulu last month and absolutely loved it--the episodic nature, the odd characters, the inner struggles of the main character, to name a few of the qualities I loved.

I could recommend anything. Mosquito Coast is great, if you need something else to get started on.

Yeah I really liked Hotel Honolulu because it was so easy for me to get into, it felt like I was watching it on tv, time passed quickly and before I knew it it was over. I thought the humour was some of his best (lthe carpenter story and the drowning) and it still had solid content and the writers inner struggles as well as having to deal with changes in his lifestyle. Im surprised when I hear it was difficult for people to get through.

I'm gonna go with...being the world's biggest travel snob!! I love his writing but seriously, does this guy like anyone? You travel too much/not enough/try to help too much/not enough. You're too local/too foreign/too rich/don't spend enough. Why not live and let live? You're not going to be the only one who travels so let others travel the way they want to. And if that involves group tours, safari trips or occasionally eating a burger, then hey - what the hell?!?!

Also, he's amazing at meeting people in the unliklieat locations who always speak perfect English. And he's a wordsmithmeister!!

Jenny