In which we are reminded of why it's important to only smoke hash with good friends, or even better yet, alone.

Smoking hash can have various effects on a person's state of mind and perception. When in the company of good friends, there is a sense of trust and shared experience that can enhance the overall encounter. However, there are also times when being alone allows for a more introspective and personal exploration.

As we delve into the blockquote, it presents a profound reflection on life. It emphasizes that a life should possess all the qualities of the earth from which it springs, along with the awareness of having them. The individual in the text has a moment of clarity, where a series of ideas unfold in his mind effortlessly, like music or the exposition of geometry.

He realizes that he has been looking at his life through the wrong end of a telescope, seeing it in intimate detail yet far away with an almost painful clarity. He had always believed that there would be an opportunity to finish his childhood, but one day he awoke to find it gone. Despite this, he still feels connected to it through countless invisible threads of memory, believing he has the power to recall and change it.

This passage serves as a reminder that our lives are complex and filled with memories and experiences that shape us. Whether we choose to smoke hash with friends or alone, it is important to be mindful of our surroundings and the impact it may have on our state of mind.

I wanted to read it because I was going to Tangier and I wanted to soak it in.

However, wow, it was a difficult read and I gave up 100 pages from the end.

But I just couldn't take it anymore.

Yet, the author's life is cool and the fact of visiting his house kept me in the reading.

But once I came back, the charm no longer worked.

Maybe it was because the anticipation I had before going to Tangier was so high that the book couldn't quite live up to it.

Or perhaps my mind was already filled with the excitement and new experiences of being in a different place.

Either way, it was a bit disappointing that I couldn't finish the book.

But I still have some memories of the parts I did read and the connection I felt to the author's life through his descriptions.

Maybe one day, when I have a different mindset or when I go back to Tangier again, I'll pick up the book and give it another try.

Exotic and dark.

These two words immediately paint a vivid picture in our minds, transporting us to a world that is both mysterious and alluring.

Trippy and insightful.

The combination of these qualities suggests an experience that is not only mind-bending but also offers profound revelations.

I literally felt like I'd been part of someone else's experience.

This statement emphasizes the intensity of the encounter, as if the author had been thrust into a reality that was not their own.

Like a dream that still sorta haunts me, and it wasn't even mine.

The comparison to a dream further enhances the sense of unreality and the lingering impact it has had on the author.

It's as if this experience has left an indelible mark, a memory that continues to surface and fascinate, even though it belongs to someone else.

Overall, this description creates a sense of intrigue and curiosity, making us eager to know more about this mysterious and captivating encounter.

Classic Bowles.

It is Orientalising, presenting an alluring and exotic charm that seems to draw one in. The voluptuous nature of it gives an impression of sensuality and richness. However, it also has a somewhat adolescent quality, perhaps a touch of naivete or inexperience. And when viewed from a distance of over half a century, the ennui that it once exuded can now feel a bit tired and worn.

But despite all these aspects, it remains self-aware. It has a brilliant sense of place, as if it truly understands and embodies the essence of the location it represents. It makes one long to go and live in Tangier too, to experience the same atmosphere and allure that Bowles so vividly描绘s.

It is a complex and multi-faceted work that continues to fascinate and intrigue, even after all these years.

Maratona de leituras Bowles for an article about Tangier.

Tangier is a captivating city with a rich history and unique charm. It has been a melting pot of cultures, influenced by various civilizations over the centuries.

The architecture in Tangier showcases a blend of different styles, from Moorish to European. The narrow streets are filled with bustling markets, where you can find a wide variety of goods, from spices to handicrafts.

The city also offers beautiful beaches and a vibrant nightlife. Whether you want to relax on the sand or dance the night away, Tangier has something for everyone.

Overall, Tangier is a destination that is sure to leave a lasting impression on any visitor. Its combination of history, culture, and natural beauty make it a truly special place.

Paul Bowles is a remarkable writer who, with his finesse and gentleness, leads us into a truly marvelous universe.

In his works, we witness the fascinating meeting of the East and the West.

When the rain falls in Tangiers, that enchanting city, and the wind carries the memories and essence of Africa, there is an undeniable magic that pervades.

It is as if Bowles has the ability to capture the very soul of a place and bring it to life on the page.

His writing is not only a beautiful exploration of different cultures and landscapes but also a profound study of the human condition.

We are drawn into his world, captivated by his words, and left in awe of his talent.

Paul Bowles is truly an admirable writer, one whose works will continue to inspire and delight readers for generations to come.

It's not entirely clear to me whether Dyar travels to Tangiers with the intention of killing himself, or if it is the very act of going to Tangier that ultimately leads him to take his own life. In either case, his name is rather fitting, and his story is both eerie and, somewhat surprisingly, not overly engaging. At certain moments, I had the distinct impression that we were observing him as if he were an insect pinned down. That being said, Bowles' writing is clear, almost musical at times, and often quite powerful. I generally found the characters likable, despite their seeming indifference to all manner of petty horrors. And I did appreciate Dyar's downward spiral towards doom and his almost nonchalant acceptance of it. The book essentially consists of a series of misadventures, each more harrowing than the last, and the only lingering question is which one will finally catch up with him and bring about his end.

In general, I believe Bowles fares better in the realm of the short story than in the novel. He has the ability to create very powerful images and scenes, but for some reason, he seems to lack the endurance required to write a fully captivating and coherent novel. I liked this particular work less than The Sheltering Sky, but I think I will once again turn to the short stories that I haven't yet read before delving into The Spider's House.

I’m truly starting to have a deep appreciation for Bowles as a writer. He is on the verge of becoming my absolute favorite! His descriptions are so vivid that they seem to leap off the page, and his exploration of the inner selves of his characters is truly remarkable. This book contains two of the best descriptions of being under the influence of drugs that I have ever come across, along with an incredible account of a man’s descent into madness. Here is a brief review with some plot spoilers (to the extent that Bowles’ books have a clear plot).

Bored banker, Dyar, takes a job in Tangier and checks into the Hotel de la Playa. He wonders if he made a mistake coming to this not-so-nice hotel. He meets a dodgy boss and receives an invitation to a dinner party at a Marquesa’s mansion. There are sick cats, expats mingling, and the awful Eunice Goode. Lesbian frolics occur, and then there’s Hadija. Hadija and Dyar have a romantic walk on the beach and have sex in a cave. But things get complicated when there are three people involved and it doesn’t work out. Poor Hadija! There are speedboats, fishermen, a dodgy deal that goes wrong, Jewish moneylenders, Hindu shopkeepers, and the Rick Arab brothers. There’s also a driving incident like in “Driving Miss Daisy.” Then there are mind-bending experiences with majoun and kif. By the end of the book, it’s frustratingly brilliant and brilliantly bleak. The most sympathetic character for me was Hadija, and I deduct a point because her story is left unfinished and also because of the shocking last quarter of the book.

At first glance, the novel seems to unfold at a rather slow pace. However, as one delves deeper into its pages, little by little, a spring of excitement and unexpected twists begins to unwind.

What makes this reading experience even more captivating is the opportunity to immerse oneself in the rich and vibrant Moroccan culture that the author so skillfully weaves into the narrative.

The descriptions of the landscapes, the traditions, and the people transport the reader to a world that is both exotic and familiar.

After reading this novel, I have developed a newfound appreciation for the author's work and I am eager to explore more of their literary offerings.

I have a feeling that each new book will be just as engaging and enlightening as this one, and I can't wait to see what other stories and cultures they will introduce me to.

Initially, it is a crime novel where the characters and storylines are intertwined into an incomprehensible intrigue in which everyone turns out to know everything about everyone. Ending in a bad trip that - although written breathtakingly - smothers the novel in hash vapors.

The complex web of relationships and secrets in this novel keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Each character has their own motives and hidden agendas, which gradually unfold as the story progresses. The author skillfully weaves together the different plot threads, creating a sense of mystery and suspense that is difficult to resist.

However, the ending of the novel is somewhat disappointing. The "bad trip" that the story culminates in feels a bit forced and detracts from the overall impact of the narrative. While the writing is still engaging and the descriptions are vivid, the resolution of the plot leaves something to be desired.

Overall, this is a well-written crime novel with a captivating premise and interesting characters. Despite its flaws, it is still worth reading for fans of the genre.

There's a reason that this book isn't a classic. It's simply not very good.

Bowles, following Burroughs, was the most renowned inhabitant of Tangiers, Morocco. Among all the expats, he appeared to have done the most for the city. He lived there throughout his adult life, writing about it and documenting its music. There is even an entire Bowles wing in the American Legation. A recent trip there inspired me to read this. But it ultimately turned out to be a complete waste of time.

Bowles' descriptions of the landscape are vivid, and at times, his narrative is strong and interesting. However, his characters are truly despicable, not in the Sopranos' sense of "they're murderers but we love them" or in an anti-hero way. They are just horrible people; it's really difficult to care about them. They don't resemble the exciting, wild members of the Western elite that Burroughs associated with in 1930s Berlin (the cocaine set that Kerouac mentions in On the Road). They are boring, vile, and self-obsessed. They don't venture out into the vast expanse of the Orient. They are the remnants of the decaying colonial project.

I read somewhere that Burroughs' move to Tangiers was influenced by Bowles' books. I hope it wasn't this one.

On the surface, Paul Bowles's Let It Come Down has a distinct Graham Greene vibe, particularly in its setting.

We are transported to Tangiers in the late 1940s/early 50s, a place with a diverse society encompassing colonial officials, long-term expats, arrivistes, bohemians, old-money types, exiles, and spies.

Not to mention the panoply of locals belonging to various tribes, ethnic groups, and social classes.

However, it's Graham Greene without the Catholicism, morality, or a thriller-like plot.

And with a Tangiers that's constantly cold and rainy, it's far from the romantic Casablanca.

The protagonist, Dyar, has fled his dead-end and soul-deadening life working in a bank in New York, "in a cage."

He arrives in Tangiers hoping to turn his life around, embark on a new adventure.

But from the moment he steps off the ship, he worries that he may have simply traded one cage for another.

We have little sympathy for Dyar as he struggles to find his place in Tangiers.

Bowles portrays him as a selfish, self-absorbed individual with little interest in learning about Moroccan or Arabic culture or the people he meets.

His intuitions are poor; he mistrusts those who might assist him, fails to recognize the ill-will others bear towards him, and clearly doesn't understand the broader context of most situations he encounters.

He's out of his depth and unable to read the signals.

Paul Bowles clearly aims to paint a picture of the kind of American he believes has no business moving to Morocco, perhaps the sort who might disrespect the culture or get into trouble, thereby ruining things for other expats.

This is an excellent, eye-opening novel!

While the story centers on Dyar, the narrator delves into the minds of half a dozen other characters as well.

We follow an unhappy, thrice-married, high-society Latin lady, an independent yet alcoholic (and unhappy) lesbian, a Moroccan prostitute with a bisexual orientation, and an unhappy, good-for-nothing Moroccan man who has been ostracized from his wealthy family.

He befriends Dyar while also attempting to profit from him.

The novel is an exciting read as these disparate characters are brought together by Dyar's clumsy entry into their world.

But at times, it also slows down when depicting Dyar's descent into his thoughts and darkness.

The novel seems ahead of its time, not necessarily due to its bleak outlook on life but because it is aware of cannabis, sex, and homosexuality in ways we wouldn't expect until several years later.