I have very mixed feelings about travel writing. Most writing teachers constantly say "show don't tell", but especially in travelogues I think their needs to be a bit of "telling" so that the reader can connect with the writer and get a sense of not only what the writer's experiencing but also who they are.
J. Maarten Troost does the most wonderful job displaying that new age group in recent generations that flounder between adolescence and adulthood generally anywhere from 22-35. Following a slew of college degrees, Troost moves with his girlfriend Sylvia to an atoll in the South Pacific. In their two years on the island we see the author encounter sharks, sea storms, political corruption and far too many playings of La Macarena.
J. Maarten Troost's style occasionally reminds me of the conversational tone of Elizabeth Gilbert's writing. Troost's relaxed thirst for adventure is very entertaining and can be thoroughly appreciated by anyone who's ever experienced culture shock.
B
*Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers
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