A wonderful piece from Bowles: Morocco, Sri Lanka, Central America, and Morocco once more. Bowles is truly a remarkable traveler. He shows great patience when it comes to details, which enriches his accounts. His sense of humor shines through, making the reading not only informative but also highly entertaining. Moreover, his insights are profound, offering unique perspectives on the places he visits. This work is truly a delight to be enjoyed during a trip. It can transport the reader to far-off lands, allowing them to experience the cultures, landscapes, and atmospheres that Bowles has so vividly described. Whether you are planning a trip to one of these destinations or simply looking to embark on a virtual journey, Bowles' writing is sure to captivate and inspire you.

Traveling is truly in the small details. It's about those little moments that often go unnoticed but hold great significance. It's also about the big freedom that comes with being on the road, away from the constraints of daily life. And let's not forget the things that go wrong, for they add character and adventure to the journey. The stumbling-onto of unexpected things can lead to the most memorable experiences. Paul Bowles writes about all of this so beautifully.

How does one manage to get the job of recording the tribal musics of Morocco for the Library of Congress? What an amazing and unique job that must be. It gives one the opportunity to explore the rich and diverse musical traditions of a foreign land.

And his description of one's experience of the Sahara is truly EPIC. The vastness and beauty of the desert, the harsh conditions, and the sense of isolation all come alive in his words. It makes one long to experience it for themselves and be a part of that adventure.

I have an intense love for Bowles’ non-fiction “scenes”. I happened to pick up a rather ratty first edition in Morocco, a place where a significant number of these captivating travel pieces are set. It is truly an early multimedia treasure.

As you read about the arduous trials and difficulties he encounters in his pursuit of finding the musicians, you can simultaneously listen to all the enchanting music of the remote tribes that he recorded for the American Library of Congress. He skillfully manages to blend reportage, a touch of humor, and astute observations on the diverse shades of the Muslim religion during that era - specifically in the late 50s.

Of course, the French also figure prominently in these accounts. The collection is further rounded out by the time spent in the former Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka, and a smattering of Latin America. Sadly, no one writes in this unique style anymore, most likely because it seems nearly impossible to replicate.

It has become my favorite choice for reading while traveling. Currently, I am in Martinique, sweating out a bout of heat exhaustion, and this book provides the perfect escape and companion.

Boules was truly at his best during his travels. His impressions were not limited to just Morocco but extended to other parts of the world as well. He had an incredibly sensitive eye, which allowed him to notice the tiniest details and nuances of every place he visited. What was even more remarkable was his great deal of humanity, especially towards the marginalized. He would take the time to listen to their stories, understand their struggles, and offer a helping hand whenever he could. His travels were not just about seeing new sights and experiencing different cultures, but also about making a positive impact on the lives of those he met along the way. Boules' travels were a true testament to his character and his ability to connect with people from all walks of life.

North Africa is a land of captivating beauty and rich history.

The vast deserts stretch as far as the eye can see, their golden sands shifting with the gentle breeze.

The ancient cities, with their magnificent architecture and bustling souks, tell tales of a bygone era.

The vibrant colors and unique cultures of the people add to the allure of this region.

Parrots, on the other hand, are fascinating creatures.

Their bright plumage and ability to mimic human speech make them a favorite among pet owners.

In the wild, parrots live in flocks and communicate with each other through a variety of calls and sounds.

They are intelligent and social animals, and their antics can bring joy and laughter to those who observe them.

Whether in the deserts of North Africa or in our own backyards, parrots are a wonderful addition to the natural world.

My parents’ wedding photographs always remind me of a frontier town in an old Western.

Fintan O’Toole, a longtime journalist and writer, has written a recent history of Irish history that uses his lifetime as the scope. It is partially a memoir, but only in the sense of using his specific impressions and experiences to serve the larger question of what it was like to live through the changes the country went through in the 65 years or so covered by the book. The style is mostly serious, well-researched, and earnest, but with a periodic wryness and irony. However, because the history covers some rather atrocious events and people, the seriousness is also important. A major theme of the history involves interrogating the self-serious moralism of the Catholic church, its influence on the dominant ruling party, the conservatism (and Conservatism) of much of Ireland’s national government throughout the period, and its failures to live up to its moralism (presented as an arrogant moral superiority).

There is a lot of new information here for me, and many events that I either didn't know about or knew very little about. He mostly spends a single chapter investigating individual moments or series of moments, and then longer chapters on connected events. There are several chapters related to the “Troubles” and sectarian violence, as well as several chapters about the hypocrisy of the Catholic Church, especially related to abuse scandals. There are also several chapters related to birth control, women’s health and privacy, and of course abortion. One of the prevailing themes in many of the chapters on birth control is the idea that there was a lot of public performance of these strict controls, but a kind of blindness to what was actually happening in real life. As an American, I hope for the same as the next two decades unfold, but Catholicism and right-wing Protestant fundamentalism are not exactly the same thing.

One of the best chapters details the subversiveness of television when it arrived on Irish shores.

In general, this is a somewhat curated look at recent Irish history and is quite enjoyable. I think you might need to have a general political inclination to enjoy it, but I enjoyed it, so it doesn't matter much to me if others didn't.

Paul Bowles was an absolutely incredible writer. It truly disappoints me that it took me all the way until the age of 33 to start delving into his work!

Another reviewer made a comparison between travel writing and time travel, and in this particular instance, I wholeheartedly agree. His descriptions of Morocco in North Africa, Sri Lanka, and even a touch of Latin America are simply fantastic. However, it must be noted that attitudes have changed significantly since this work was written.

Bowles dedicated many years to recording Moroccan folk music on behalf of the U.S. Government. Amazingly, you can still access and listen to these recordings through the Library of Congress website. I highly recommend that you do so when you reach the later passages of his work. It will vastly enhance the overall experience and allow you to better immerse yourself in the world that Bowles has so vividly created.

Recommended by Curtis A. Guy (Sugar City)

This article comes highly recommended by Curtis A. Guy from Sugar City. Curtis is a respected individual in the community, known for his discerning taste and knowledge in various fields. His recommendation holds significant weight as he has a reputation for being thorough and reliable in his assessments.

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Then there is the sky, compared to which all other skies seem faint-hearted efforts.

The vastness and beauty of this particular sky are simply breathtaking. It stretches out above, a seemingly endless expanse of blue that makes one feel small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

This book is great. Paul Bowles is an amazing writer. His words have the power to transport the reader to another world, to make them see and feel things they never thought possible.

His descriptions are so vivid and detailed that one can almost picture themselves standing under that magnificent sky, experiencing all its wonder and glory.

With each page turn, the reader is drawn deeper into the story, unable to put the book down until the very end. It is truly a masterpiece that will be cherished by readers for years to come.

Parts of this book are indeed quite racist, clearly reflecting the era in which it was penned by the author. The author held the belief that European ways were civilized, while "the other" was considered unsophisticated.

However, it's not all bad. The chapter on parrots was truly the best. It was filled with quite funny stories about his birds, which brought a touch of lightness and entertainment to the book.

Moreover, many chapters are dedicated to his work for the Library of Congress. In this capacity, he endeavored to tape record tribal music played on unique instruments. Fortunately, I was able to locate his recordings by conducting a search on the web.

These recordings are very interesting and I'm truly glad that he took the initiative to record the Riffian music before it had the chance to disappear completely. It's a valuable contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage.

Overall, despite the presence of some offensive views, the book also contains elements that are worthy of attention and appreciation.

Some truly amazing travel essays have emerged, vividly and richly describing the various places he visited in his pursuit of cultural recordings.

Not only is the detail of his work meticulously presented, but also the details of the places he takes you to are written with such finesse that this becomes an incredibly interesting piece, even if it may not be the kind of thing you would typically read.

Moreover, there are some rather wry and amusing stories within. I was particularly drawn to the man who objected to the way his people were being described. Bowles had stated that so many of them could not read. However, the man passionately objected, claiming that they all could read and some had even been taught how. It was an extremely insightful comment, and just one of the many such thought-provoking moments in the essays.

The world he described may have largely vanished by now, but we can be truly grateful that a writer of his caliber took the time and made the effort to record life as it was not so many years ago. This allows us to catch a glimpse of a bygone era and gain a deeper understanding of the cultures and societies that once existed.