Cocaine Train

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Travel Writing / Mediocre Family History
Review: "Cocaine Train" is essentially three books, mixed together in one. I will rank these three parts according to their narrative quality and their ability to hold the reader's interest. First, there is a sharp-witted description of Colombia's violent beauty. These sections are beautiful reading, and will interest the amateur political scientist, the lover of unusual cultures, and the sports fan alike (owing to the focus on football, as the book was written during the '98 World Cup). Second, there is a travel guide and a history of Colombia's aging, decrepit railroad system, which will truly fascinate only railroad buffs, but is moderately interesting reading for the rest of us. And finally, there is a family history centered on the author's British grandfather, Leslie Frost, the man who guided the construction of the Colombian rail system half a century ago. These sections are the least interesting, unless the idea of meeting long-lost relatives from other countries really gets you going.

Smith's book starts slowly, meandering through snapshots of Grandpa and rickety train rides through jungles, but by the time he hits Medellin and begins discussing the drug trade, the civil war, and the fortunes of the Colombian national soccer team, the book "gathers steam" (no pun intended) and hits a pretty good pace. I recommend "Cocaine Train" for any train buffs, family history buffs, Latin American buffs, soccer buffs, cocaine buffs(?) or curious people in general. Just be prepared to skim through a few slow parts and the book should be great reading.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Travel Writing / Mediocre Family History
Review: "Cocaine Train" is essentially three books, mixed together in one. I will rank these three parts according to their narrative quality and their ability to hold the reader's interest. First, there is a sharp-witted description of Colombia's violent beauty. These sections are beautiful reading, and will interest the amateur political scientist, the lover of unusual cultures, and the sports fan alike (owing to the focus on football, as the book was written during the '98 World Cup). Second, there is a travel guide and a history of Colombia's aging, decrepit railroad system, which will truly fascinate only railroad buffs, but is moderately interesting reading for the rest of us. And finally, there is a family history centered on the author's British grandfather, Leslie Frost, the man who guided the construction of the Colombian rail system half a century ago. These sections are the least interesting, unless the idea of meeting long-lost relatives from other countries really gets you going.

Smith's book starts slowly, meandering through snapshots of Grandpa and rickety train rides through jungles, but by the time he hits Medellin and begins discussing the drug trade, the civil war, and the fortunes of the Colombian national soccer team, the book "gathers steam" (no pun intended) and hits a pretty good pace. I recommend "Cocaine Train" for any train buffs, family history buffs, Latin American buffs, soccer buffs, cocaine buffs(?) or curious people in general. Just be prepared to skim through a few slow parts and the book should be great reading.