The Lost Heart of Asia

by Colin Thubron | Travel |
ISBN: 0140246193 Global Overview for this book
Registered by dododumpling of St. Neots, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on 2/17/2009
Buy from one of these Booksellers:
Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon DE | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Bol.com
1 journaler for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by dododumpling from St. Neots, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Thubron travelled throughout Central Asia in the wake of the break-up of the Soviet Union and documented the widespread social upheaval in a region reeling from political change. An inspirational writer, intrepid traveller and insightful observer, Thubron's "The Lost Heart of Asia" is an outstanding guide to the history, people and culture of a vast region resonating with history and politics.

Journal Entry 2 by dododumpling from St. Neots, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Friday, May 8, 2009
My reaction to finishing this book is one of relief. I’ve been reading it, on and off, since December (I *have* finished other books in the meantime!) and while I didn’t want to give up on it, it just didn’t draw me back.

It’s a PC book. I originally bought it (or was given it) soon after it was published, I guess. I visited parts of Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kirgizstan and Kazakhstan) in 1992, probably around the time Thubron also travelled there, and devoured all the travel literature available at the time. Since then, though, it’s been gathering dust on my bookshelf and I decided it was time to re-visit my travels.

This time around, though, I just couldn’t get into it and I think the main reason was that I didn’t like my travelling partner. I felt that Thubron moaned too much about money (this was a time of high inflation in the former Soviet republics, and the ever-increasing cost of living was, understandably, a pet subject for locals but this seemed to irritate Thubron), and I didn’t particularly like his writing style. Maybe the references to ancient civilisations were too learned for me. Finally, I’m guessing (although I don’t really know the current situation) that things have changed since the early post-Soviet days, so the narrative just felt a bit dated.

I’m not going to get rid of this book – it’ll remain in my PC – but I doubt I’ll be returning to it any time soon.

Are you sure you want to delete this item? It cannot be undone.