Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: A man goes to the Central African Republic, with minimal preparation and next to zero knowledge, to drive an abandoned car back to Europe. Of course, he runs into border guards and various officials, who eventually become fodder for his "wit". This account of his "adventure", even though it may be completely true, leaves much to be desired: the author is annoyingly whiny and both an egoist and egotist. He goes for laughs, not much else, and only partially suceeds.Somehow this book reminds me of Abbott and Costello's "Africa Screams" -- everything about Africa in "Malaria Dreams" is told in a ridiculous and exaggerated manner. The key difference is that we know that Abbott and Costello are comedians (and their movie is a half century old), while "Malaria Dreams" wants to be accorded the respect due to a non-fiction book. This is one of the poorer examples of the every-foreigner-who-goes-to-Africa-thinks-he-should-write-a-book phenomenon. Better examples of this genre are: "The Ponds of Kalambayi" by Mike Tidwell; "French Lessons in Africa: Travels With My Briefcase in French Africa" by Peter Biddlecombe; and
"Native Stranger: A Black American's Journey into the Heart of Africa" by Eddy L. Harris.
Rating: 
Summary: Quite good, actually
Review: Considering that I'm not that interested in Africa and consider the author rather as self-important than as someone I'd actually like to travel with, I was quite astonished how much I liked this book. Quite adventurous, at times funny and mercifully almost completely free of the stupid generalizations Stevens chose to share with us in Feeding Frenzy, this is a fine read for people who are not so eager to haggle with heavily armed border guards themselves.
Rating:
Summary: Informative African Tale But Lacks Charisma
Review: Contrary to fellow readers, I found "Malaria Dreams" to be rather dull. Although a quick read, "Malaria Dreams" seems to drag on and often leaves the reader feeling that Stevens repeats himself in some of his adventures. For instance, Stevens spends a great deal of time whining about his car problems while traveling through the Sahara, which is the entire novel, Stevens traveling through the Sahara. Exciting stuff. We get the point Mr. Stevens. Granted, everything he accounts is pure fact, the entertainment value of this novel is minimal and never once did I expel a laugh while reading this book (contrary to the reviews on the book jacket which claims that the reader will be unable to contain his laughter). Although I am only a junior in high school, my seminar class has studied Africa in depth and I have a wide range of knowledge concerning problems that affect sub-saharan Africa, so I am not writing this review as a layman to the continent. If you are interested in a truly entertaining piece of writing dealing with adventures while traveling, I recommend "Baghdad Without a Map" by Tony Horwitz. His writing style is much easier to to get into and his adventures in Northern Africa and the Middle East have all of the entertainment value and informational accuracy that a reader wants to see. I apologize Mrs. Diamondstone, I know that you loved this book!
Rating: 
Summary: The book I want to write...
Review: I have travelled more than the average and as a result, most of my reading tends to be travel guides and the travelogues of others. "Malaria Dreams" easily ranks as my favorite. Most travellers to the third world and particularly Africa will appreciate the truth in the stories which Mr. Stevens tells. I have lent the book to at least 15 other people and only one has not enjoyed it (he had lived in Africa for a number of years and said it was just too real for him to enjoy). I am now on my third copy of the book--the first I lent and never got back, and the second I passed on to some friends who were starting their second cross-Sahara trip. If I ever get around to writing about any of my trips, I hope that I can retell the story in as engaging and humorous a way as Mr. Stevens has.
Rating:
Summary: An entertaining and insightful account of travel in Africa
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed Stuart Stevens' account of his journey through the C.A.R. and across the Sahara. His flexible and open-minded point of view lent credibility to his descriptions of scenes and situations that might otherwise have taxed the imaginiation. Although quick to see the humor in many of the outrageous situations in which he and his traveling companion found themselves, he didn't allow this sense of humor to obscure his other sensations of frustration, awe, concern, discomfort, and moments of joy. The book is a very quick read, full of vivid images, interesting people, and seat-of-the-pants adventure. It left me hungry for more -- I particularly wish that he had included a little more detail about the crossing of the Sahara. I will certainly read his other existing books and anything he comes up with in the future!
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, a fast read
Review: If you enjoy reading about travel disasters and the frustration of arguing with soldiers in a military dictatorship who would just as soon shoot you, then you will enjoy Malaria Dreams. Driving across the Sahara is certainly not something I'd ever entertain... so reading the adventures of someone who was crazy enough to attempt this dangerous journey was a joy. Well-written, funny, excellent descriptions and good characterizations.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining, a fast read
Review: If you enjoy reading about travel snafus; AKA dealing with the red tape of a military dictatorship whose inept pencil-pushers are intent upon thwarting your trip, then you will enjoy Malaria Dreams. Driving across the Sahara is certainly not something I'd ever entertain... so reading the adventures of someone who was crazy enough to attempt this dangerous journey was a joy. Well-written, good characterizations.
Rating:
Summary: A terrifically funny tale based on "the African Experience."
Review: Since I served in the Peace Corps in the CAR and had also visited neighboring countries, I found myself chuckling and nodding animatedly throughout my reading of Malaria Dreams. Stuart Stevens is a gifted writer; he is able to put words together in a way that creates vivid images which are hilarious in their truth. Stuart expressed well the mixed emotions one feels when visiting the dark continent: it is remarkably frustrating for First World folk to function in the African system, but at the same time there is something so wonderful about the African experience and the African people. I had a great time reading Malaria Dreams and riding along on the journey. Once you've returned home from a stay on the dark continent, Africa continues to lure you back by tugging on your heartstrings.
Rating:
Summary: The most accurate, and funniest, portrait of Africa
Review: Stevens has painted a brilliant portrait of Africa the way it really is. Some of the instances seemed so far removed from anything known in the first world, but believe me they are all very possible. Having lived in Africa I totally emphasize with Stevens and know how exasperated he must have been feeling! I laughed the whole way through the book and have since recommended it to several people, all of whom loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Wildly entertaining - but something's missing
Review: Stevens' comedy of misdirection and misadventure in Central Africa as he and a lady companion attempt to drive a friend's Land Rover from the Central African Republic to the Mediterranean is some of the most deftly funny travel writing I have encountered. Their near-disastrous passage across the Sahara in a barely functional Land Cruiser (the Land Rover having been commandeered by a CAR bureaucrat)is simultaneously alarming and chucklesome. The overall mood of the book reminded me of the old madcap black-and-white comedies of the 20's and 30's. But when I turned the last page I wasn't satisfied. Stevens doesn't seem to learn much through his adventure. He goes to great effort to overcome physical, mechanical, official, and environmental obstacles. He navigates through a throng of juicy characters, African and European. Yet in the end, he doesn't seem to grow from his experience. These mad escapades are loads of fun to read through, but when the stock of anecdotes runs out, you ask, "So what?" (By the way, his earlier book "Night Train to Turkistan" had the same flaws, but was less well written. I'd give that one a 4.)
|
