CROSSING THE SHADOW LINE: Travels in South-East Asia

by Andrew Eames ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 15, 1988

A perceptive but somewhat precious travel-memoir from a journalist based in Singapore. Eames takes his title from Joseph Conrad's ""shadow-line,"" the invisible barrier between youth and maturity. Unfortunately, despite the coming-of-age nature of Eames' travels, he stands on the junior side of the line through most of his book. Most irksome is his self-involvement that detracts from the exotic locales he covers--Thailand, Singapore, Moa, the Timor Sea, Australia. Thus, he is disturbed when, after some particularly ardous island-hopping, he disembarks onto an empty beach: ""I had visualized myself stepping off the trawler into the heart of an admiring beach community of travellers who would be impressed with my rugged method of arrival. . ."" Or, earlier: ""I was impressed by the way I handled Bangkok. . .it was time to try myself out on the countryside."" If Eames had avoided such off-putting sentiments, his work would have spoken--eloquently--for itself, for he has a sharp eye and ear for the sights and sounds of his locales, as well as a keen understanding of the social, political, and economic implications of his surroundings. Conrad's spirit informs Eames throughout this book; let's hope that the young writer's experiences during, say, a storm-wracked journey from Bali to Moa or on a frozen mountain pass near Tibet will allow him to step-with Conrad across the shadow line in his next book.

Pub Date: July 15, 1988

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton--dist. by David & Charles

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1988

Categories: NONFICTION