This heartfelt and revealing account of Paul Theroux's thirty-year friendship with the legendary V. S. Naipaul is an intimate record of a literary ...
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Jul 10, 2008
Jessica
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An excellent, highly engaging chronicle of a literary friendship between a writer and his mentor. Theroux is, it seems to me, a trust-worthy guide, an insightful observer and commentator. He offers acute observations on friendship, loyalty, the writing life, Africa, sex. Naipaul is a prick (but we already knew that), someone whose ideas, judgments and opinions become more and more calcified. Details abound. One admires the friendship between Naipaul and Theroux nonetheless, for its steadfastness
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Jun 21, 2007
Raghu
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This is the best book of Paul Theroux in my view. It is about his 30-year long friendship - literary friendship - with the Nobel laureate V.S.Naipaul, starting from 1966 and ending abruptly around 1996. Though most commentators castigated Theroux as being bitchy and catty in this book, I feel that they have not read his book with an open mind at all. What comes off in the book is Theroux's anguish at the end of the friendship by Naipaul. He gives due credit to naipaul for being his early mentor.
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Dec 12, 2008
Meredith
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I will never be able to read a VS Naipaul book, now that I have read "Sir Vidia's Shadow" - I know too much. I actually tried to read one of his books a couple of years ago, but never got very far. "Sir Vidia's" is an interesting look into the creative process for both Naipaul and Theroux. Theroux is, at the very least, an honest writer - painting himself as a bit of a cliche in the beginning (the "man's man" writer - a very Hemingway-esque guy who always satisfi
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May 03, 2008
Aileen
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A fan of both Theroux and Naipaul, this book was a voyeuristic journey throughout their lifes and friendship. Theroux portrays their relationship in which he is the underling, always expected to pick up the restaurant tab and listen to Naipaul's diatribes without comment. The lessons learned (and, I would argue, the contacts gained) from Naipaul justified the occasional harsh treatment. I met Theroux briefly in February and he told the audience that it was a book on the unexplored theme of frie
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Dec 29, 2011
Ty-Ti
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As mush as I disliked Paul Theroux in this book, credit must be given where it is due. He is a wonderful and skilled writer. I started reading this book for a literature class and had every intention of hating to the point of torching it immediately after my paper on it was written. The fact that I had to pay money for a book I did not want, in order to write a paper I didn't want to write, for a class I could have gladly lived without left me a little bitter. However, I was pleasantly surpri
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Jul 05, 2011
Michele
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This is my first Theroux book. Very impressed by his writing. The story of his friend and mentor V.S. Naipul and their relationship over thirty years seems frank (although, it could be hard to assess that really, as with any memoir-esque piece). It's readable, it's fascinating both because of the places you visit with Theroux and Naipul, but also because you get to see a friendship through someone else's eyes in retrospect. Although their friendship does end, the book, I think, is both generous
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Jan 07, 2011
ashok
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I did a second reading of this book recently. And I would rank it along side "The Mosquito Coast" as two of the best books written by Theroux -- all the travel books by Theroux are mere fluff.
This book is part biography, part autobiography, part deconstruction (and perhaps part fiction) of Theroux's complicated relationship with VS Naipaul.
Theroux is a struggling lecturer working for the peace corp in Uganda, he meets visiting eminent professor and famous writer More...
This book is part biography, part autobiography, part deconstruction (and perhaps part fiction) of Theroux's complicated relationship with VS Naipaul.
Theroux is a struggling lecturer working for the peace corp in Uganda, he meets visiting eminent professor and famous writer More...
Feb 03, 2009
Kit
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A wonderful read. There is a decidedly 18th century quality to this portrait of the literary friendship between Paul Theroux and V.S. Naipaul. Theroux clearly acknowledges this tone when he describes himself as playing Boswell to Naipaul's Johnson. A scene of a luncheon party at Naipaul's house is hilarious and could have come right out of Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson. I think it is important to keep this book in the context of literary history and not get too narrowly focused on whether
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Jul 06, 2010
Lance
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Having read a few of Theroux's fiction and non-fiction books (The Happy Isles of Oceania being my favorite), I went into this book knowing a little of his style. I was struck again by the honesty with which Theroux tells the story of his life. He includes many details of the prostitutes he frequented while a professor in Africa--details which I would be reticent to share, even with 30 years of space. Above all, this is the story of an evolving friendship. Although it takes an inexplicable tu
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Jun 21, 2011
Carolanne
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1/14/10
"you'll like this book because you like gossip."-Brandon
I did like this book, I love how Paul writes. so insightful. But Naipaul is a little BITCH! Seriously, I want to punch him in the face. Of course, two sides to every story blah blah.
A good book to read while sick in bed. What shall I read next of the great Theroux??
He reveals so much of his soul in his books, I love it! And knows how to move the plot quickly and efficiently.
Still want t More...
"you'll like this book because you like gossip."-Brandon
I did like this book, I love how Paul writes. so insightful. But Naipaul is a little BITCH! Seriously, I want to punch him in the face. Of course, two sides to every story blah blah.
A good book to read while sick in bed. What shall I read next of the great Theroux??
He reveals so much of his soul in his books, I love it! And knows how to move the plot quickly and efficiently.
Still want t More...
Jun 01, 2010
Linda
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This story is about the apprenticeship of Paul Theroux under the tutelage of V.S. Napail. Because I try to read all of Paul Theroux's non-fiction this one was on my list. I love Paul Theroux's writing and his travels and his writing about his travels. There is a palatable texture to his watchfulness and mindfulness and he listens very carefully to the people with whom he is traveling, strangers mostly. He sees things, out the window, in a fellow-traveler's eye, through a fellow-traveler's eye
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Nov 21, 2008
Pat
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This is a backstabbing memoir about the soured relationship between a loathsome genius (Nobel Prize winner VS Naipaul) and his erstwhile acolyte, Paul Theroux.
Literary gossip.
Guitly pleasure.
Highbrow trash.
Hard to say who I liked less in the end, but Theroux is nothing if not an engaging and fluid writer. Like Naipaul, he's great even when he's insufferable. And he is often insufferable.
Literary gossip.
Guitly pleasure.
Highbrow trash.
Hard to say who I liked less in the end, but Theroux is nothing if not an engaging and fluid writer. Like Naipaul, he's great even when he's insufferable. And he is often insufferable.
Aug 09, 2009
Yvette
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I don't normally read biography but my brother gave this to me to read on a plane and V.S. Naipaul is one of my all-time favorite authors. I was amazed by how much I enjoyed this book. Felt quite sad and lonely at the end, as I often do at the end of an especially good novel. I've decided to read more of Paul Theroux's work. I've been told his fiction isn't as good as his travel writing but I'm going to try Mosquito Coast.
Nov 29, 2008
Rosary
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Very fascinating read about the friendship and the disintegration of that friendship of two very strong-will (and egocentric) writers. Neither one comes off looking very good.
Feb 19, 2009
julieta
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If you love or hate Naipaul (I love him) this book is great. I haven't read anything else by Theroux, but this is certainly a great, and sometimes terribly funny book.
Dec 27, 2008
Sir Vidia's Shadow: A Friendship Across Five Continents by Paul Theroux (2001)
Feb 08, 2011
Kate
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Not only is Paul Theroux totally sleazy, he is also totally catty. Doesn't excuse Naipaul's behavior, but Theroux is almost equally bad and a much worse writer.
Apr 02, 2008
Oh how I love this book. Not only because the writing is excellent, but also because I so dislike both the leading characters.
I can't give it any stars due to my feeling that it's wrong to wash your dirty linen in public. But that feeling will not stop me re-reading this book with a feeling of horrified fascination every year for some years to come.
Highly recommended to anyone who wishes to read about literary infighting with a dose of competitive backstabbing bitchery More...
I can't give it any stars due to my feeling that it's wrong to wash your dirty linen in public. But that feeling will not stop me re-reading this book with a feeling of horrified fascination every year for some years to come.
Highly recommended to anyone who wishes to read about literary infighting with a dose of competitive backstabbing bitchery More...
Apr 14, 2008
Jeff
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I had forgotten about reading (well, listening to an audio tape) of this book about 5 years ago- the first and only to-date Theroux I've read, How could I have gone this long without reading more Theroux? I was very caught up in this book and could imagine myself feeling all the emotions the author was feeling. Very enjoyable!
Dec 17, 2009
Laurice
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One of my favourite books. It's about a 30 year friendship between Paul Theroux and VS Naipul that ended suddenly with Theroux trying to trace what unmade the relationship and unmaking himself in the process. By the end you will be sure that you wouldn't want to be his friend either.
Feb 01, 2008
Ainsley
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A memoir of the author's friendship with V.S.Naipaul, from their first meeting to the break-up. Raw and poignant. Read it as I was going through a Naipaul phase. Has dented my admiration of Naipaul a bit. A good read.
Aug 25, 2008
Lockhart
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A real writer's book and describes Theroux's development and mentoring by Naipul. Described as bitchy by many commentators, but hasn't Naipul become fussier and more snobbish as the years go by?
May 04, 2008
Cherie
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A- Interesting story of Theroux's friendship with VS Naipaul (who is an asshole, and finally Theroux realizes it); also about Theroux's life and his travels.
Dec 07, 2008
Kathryn
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This book was interesting for it's contrast. Namely, I enjoyed the writing, but I greatly disliked both the author and the author's subject, Naipaul.
Feb 01, 2009
Dayna
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I thought this was a great exploration of friendship - the lies, the loyalty, the inspiration and, inevitably as with most, the end.
Aug 02, 2007
Jon
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Mean-spirited but seductive story of Theroux's travels and apprenticeship in writing to V.S. Naipaul
