The Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux
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Book Reviews of The Mosquito Coast
Book Review: A haunting, disturbing read
Summary: 4 Stars
Save for an anticlimatic ending, The Mosquito Coat is what all literary novels should be: compelling without relying on excessive action or much going on at all. I have always considered that a tremendous feat; for a story to work when it seems like it shouldn't. The author has created a giant of a character in Allie Fox, all the while leaving the remainder of the characters in shadows. Even the narrator, the 13 year old Charlie, is not developed fully... except in context with the overwhelming nature of his Father.
We watch as Allie goes from an idealist with whom we can sort of identify with, who we almost want to root for, to a monster who is out to prove himself right no matter the cost to his family. One can't help but hate the man in the end. One can't help but feel sickened at the brainwashing effects of the man's personality on his children.
That is the beauty of the book, it is the story of a man's degeneration, mirrored in the surrounding landscape of the jungle, witnessed and attested to by the plight of his family under his (unintentionally?)brutal thumb.
In the end, we wonder how far the reach of Allie Fox will extend into the future of his family. I personally felt a sadness for the loss of an intellect of staggering potential squandered on the whims of a man in the throes of a personality disorder seeking to drag all down with him.
At times mundane, at times stunning in its scope, often disturbing and terrifying, this was one of my favorite reads in some time. A literary success on the same level as Remains of the Day, and as deceptively horrifying as Lord of the Flies.
Book Review: creative genius
Summary: 4 Stars
I never fully appreciated Theroux until I read his non train travel books. Both Mosquito Coast and The O-Zone are really creative works. Mosquito Coast is a good read and only the very ending is a bit gimmicky? Still there are so many truths in this book and the story keeps you turning pages what more can you ask?Book Review: The Mosquito Coast
Summary: 4 Stars
This book is extremely well written. Its subject matter of a dysfunctional family is somewhat of a downer.Book Review: good book!
Summary: 4 Stars
Very good book. I didn't care for the movie but I really enjoyed the book.Book Review: Genius desiring to play God
Summary: 3 Stars
I'm a bit surprised about how unanimous other reviewers are in praise for this book. It certainly has a powerful premise: someone hates America enough to actually get off the technology and mass media grid to move to the wildness of Honduras. This main character is a technological genius who can build an ice machine out of nothing but pipes and gasoline and seems to be able to tackle any challenge placed in front of him.
But I thought the narrative failed by being so focused on its premise that it did not make me really care about its main character. Allie, the inventor, is presented early on as someone who endlessly rails on about America and browbeats others with his views. His voice got shrill to me after awhile and I did not loathe him or love him. I just kind of got annoyed by him. His knee jerk reaction to rail against any religion was believable but annoying. Likewise, he was endowed with almost too much the perfect inventor that he wasn't but so believable to me. Invention and creation often require struggle and work. While that struggle and work are mentioned in the book they aren't developed. I don't feel the effort and care and the how of his machines very well. The ice machine invention wasn't that believable to me and made the book into a parody for me when it could have been much deeper. I guess the point of the book was to create a repugnant stick man to beat down, but I didn't care about him enough to make this book one of my favorites.
The book was salvaged for me by Charlie and his complex relationship to his inventor father. You see how out of touch he is with modern America, and his ambivalent relationship to duty and respect for his father and anger at some of the things his father dares him to do.
I got the sense that the author's strengths were in creating a sense of place and creating an unusual character that would make many readers think. I was frustrated by the casual way some of the science behind that genius was created and the scientist in me wants something more substantial. I suppose this book is an ambivalent attack on those who want to rail against America and use their intelligence to play God.
Okay, but not the best thing I've read lately by a long shot.
3 stars
--sd