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“In Patagonia is Bruce Chatwin's exquisite account of his journey through "the uttermost part of the earth," that stretch of land at the southern tip of South America, where bandits were once made welcome and Charles Darwin formed part of his "survival of the fittest" theory. Chatwin's evocative descriptions, notes on the odd history of the region, and enchanting anecdotes ”
denee g wrote this review Sunday, October 19 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“The ultimate South American (Southern Chile and Argentina) travel book.”
Luz L wrote this review Friday, September 26 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Something about singing.”
Anne M wrote this review Sunday, June 8 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I've always heard such great things about this book, so was rather disappointed with it when I finally got to it. There were about 4 nice little vignettes in the book (about Butch and Sundance, Ancient Mariner, etc.) but overall I felt it lacked focus. Also - what's with the chapters? It seems like he had a set amount of space between each chapter and just stops mid-sentence (mild exaggeration)when he got to that set amount.”
Brad B wrote this review Saturday, May 10 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Learned from "Songlines" that it's best to read Chatwin after you've been to the destination. So I waited until the flight home. Amazing. What he does is capture the elusive spirit of a place and it's people. Patagonia is odd, dramatic and kooky, but that's what makes it so unique and wonderful. ”
Ellen W wrote this review Friday, February 8 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A terrificv book. Did not want it to end.”
paul s wrote this review Saturday, December 22 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Before you embark on a trip, regardless of the destination, do yourself a favor and read this book. ”
Rudy B wrote this review Sunday, December 16 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I just returned from a trip to Patagonia and carried a copy with me. In the hostel/lodge, I asked one of our Dutch roommates, a friendly middle-aged man traveling with his wife, if he had read the book. He had not, because he thought it would be irrelevant since it was written in the 70s. This is not the case. Chatwin brings in a lot of interesting historical tidbits that give us a fuller picture of the cultural and demographic influences at play in this part of the world. Patagonia has attracted all sorts of riffraff since it's early settlement. A Frenchman who fancies himself "King," fugitives from the Wild West, and lots of regular people craving freedom and space. He tells the tale by introducing us to the history and then contrasting it with his personal encounters in the area. Mostly with people who settled here from Britain, Scotland, Russia, etc. In reading some reviews on Amazon, I found that some complained that there is not enough of a "native" voice represented in the book, or that he focuses too much on the absurd instead of the regular lives of ordinary people. I argue that the book provides an interesting perspective that is is enjoyable to read. It is not intended to be a professional ethnography of the Araucanian people. It is not supposed to be a historical reference, though it seems the author has done his research and is a genuine history buff. It is a travelogue. Chatwin's experiences and how he makes sense of what he is seeing by linking up with his "own" people living in Patagonia. ”
Stephanie C wrote this review Wednesday, November 28 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I've always dreamed to going to Patagonia, the land of giants. Where sheep go blind from staring at the sun (well, they're sheep. What else can they do?). Miles and miles of driving without seeing anybody. I can say, "Cerveza, por pavor, senor," "Gracias," "Hijo de puta," "Caray," but I can't say this is where I want to die. Close to Tierra del Fuego, the land of fire.
angbukaw wrote this review Saturday, January 12 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Passport. Passport. Passport.”
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