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Summary: Beyond dying
Review: There is a factual error in the back blurb of the book Sir Vidia's Shadow by Paul Theroux -- it describes "the beginning, middle and end" of the complex relationship between these two great writers. In truth, there can be no real end, no dying, no death to a connection such as these two men fostered in their individual journeys in life. Instead Theroux beats upon the narrowness of our understanding of friendship which jumps like dust on a drumskin through his studied analysis. Other reviews accuse Theroux of being "nasty, cantankerous, hard-hearted" in his depiction of Naipaul, but they sadly miss the point. They see only the story of two characters they do not know, they see one man bitching about another, one voice strident, one voice silent save through recollected conversations. But these reviewers are blind to the fact that Theroux's message is a deeper one. Theroux himself follows the example Naipual always set for him -- tell the truth -- and this is a version of the truth that Theroux lived and breathed in his admiration and friendship of the older writer, a man he saw as mentor and guide. In what must eventually be seen as the light that fills a room at one moment, fills it with colour, humour, laughter, shape and form, Naipaul's non-conformism, his garrulous goading, Pat Naipaul's sweetness and sadness, Theroux's love affair with Naipaul which burnt brightly at one instant, dulled the next, but yet is always there. You do not forget the beauty. It is beyond dying. Theroux's vivid memories and recollection of this truth make that plain to the reader, who as an outsider is not asked to make a judgment. There are no judgments to be made. It is an intensely personal baring of Theroux's soul, written with perfect cadence, a sad yet colourful tableau. A window which Theroux has opened to let the breeze in. Read this book, it is an important one, if only to draw understanding in your own life about definitions of friendship and the temporary nature of human experiance.
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Summary: As a matter of fact I do read this page
Review: These comments from readers who have actually bought my book seem to me on the whole much more insightful than the reviewers, who have dealt with this book in the laziest way. While most of the amazon responders seem to have read my books, and Naipauls, none of the reviewers showed the signs of having done any homework. But it bores me when writers complain about reviewers; so I'll stop. A book makes its own way in the world in the dialogue of enthusiastic readers, and these days - seemingly - in the murmurings in cyberspace, which is like a return to talking across the back fence to a neighbor.
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Summary: Friendship or Worship?
Review: Paul Theroux has been criticized for betraying his mentor and friend V.S. Naipaul. Except for some mean-spirited jabs near the end, most of Theroux's account of their friendhip suggests that he is still in awe of Naipaul. One feels a little sorry for him that his hurt is so deep that it has driven him to the extraordinary act of writing this book. A good read, this book only reinforces Naipaul's reputation as a literary genius and an original. Theroux admits that Naipaul made him as a writer. He generously mentored him, encouraged him and spent time reading and criticizing his work. By contrast, Theroux complains in the book of being asked to write the jacket cover of one of Naipaul's works. I enjoyed the book because it gave me an intimate look at one of my favorite authors (Naipaul). I don't think less of him after reading it. My advice to Theroux would be the same as Naipauls, "Take it in the chin and move on".
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Summary: Thoughtful, insightful journey through a friendship.
Review: From the beginning of his journey with Naipal you can sense the demise of this friendship. It has a through the looking glass feel to it.
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Summary: A revealing and revieting account of a friendship shared.
Review: A revealing and riveting story of a friendship between two important writers. As an avid reader of Paul Theroux's travel epics, I was delighted to see the same level of detail in this account of his decades-long contact with V. S. Naipaul. A considerate reader of Theroux's non-fiction will find that this too is a truthful, thought provoking, sometimes humerous, sometimes sad unfolding of the lives of two men and the world in which they live. One will surely be inticed to persue some of both authors' earliest works, especially those set in Africa.
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Summary: A very inspired book
Review: I really loved this book . It described a plantonic love affair between writers... How one writer developed his style. The more dominant writer of the two was Naipaul whom I've read but now find myself copying the strengh of his personalty.. as described by Theroux ...he had as a strong personalty artfully deflecting all that would affect his self image.. A trait invaluable to one who needs confidence to express his art..but ugly when shown without purpose Theroux describes him lovingly when they are close and critically when they break apart.. quite naturally . The book is an acurate cronical of a friendship/mentorship between writers ..one young.. the other older and inspiries one to acheive one's best.
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Summary: Marvellous
Review: A wonderful book. What a frienship, what a rift, what an eye for detail. Marvellous.
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Summary: A fascinating description of the development of a writer
Review: Theroux keeps rewriting his life but every time it is fascinating. His descriptions of landscapes are always evocative, and his re-creation of dialogue is usually amusing and insightful. I think this is one of his best books even though he seems a bit obsessed with Naipaul's peculiar personality. But writers are obsessed people, or they wouldnt create great works of literature. Theroux's comments about the characters in his books sometimes seem harsh, but they often have the ring of truth. One of the best things about this book is the sense one gets of how a writer develops, how he must keep focusing on improvement, where he gets new ideas to write about.
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Summary: Delightful. Naipaul finally gets his due.
Review: V.S. Naipaul, well known for both his misanthropy and ungentlemanly behavior, finally gets his due, and at the hands of a former friend, no less. Theroux gets it right; even an accomplished writer has no excuse for callous, insensitive treatment of others. In Naipaul's case it is less comprehensible, coming from the descendant bonded cane-cutters in Trinidad. This book is a wonderful come-uppance for the miserable little fakir.
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Summary: a study of two creative people
Review: Creative people are aleays interesting and this book reveals much about both the author Paul theroux and his subject V. S. Naipaul. Theroux brings his strong sense of people and place, which make him such an acomplished travel writer, to this very personal narrative. The result is an interesting though frustrating book. Theroux describes his long running friendship with The distinguished prize winning author V.S. Naipaul. The author's relationship is that of pupil mentor, which oftens happens with a younger man seeking encouragement and knowledge from someone just a few years older and more advanced in his chosen field. Naipaul accepts the mentor's role, and though the author regards their relationship as mutual friendship it is clear from his own narrative that that aspect of their relationship is one sided. Vidia Naipaul comes ascross as a sometimes brilliant, larger than life obnoxious eccentric. This is a pose often used by people in the arts to draw attention to themselves. The frustrating part of this book is that Theroux, usually an astute judge of character, never sees through the act, and the real Naipaul remains hidden.
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