Dustin, The Wind. (2024)

Wanna be scientist, historian, and cult leader.

17/07/2024

1. Shantaram written by Gregory David Roberts

The most gripping, page-turning book I read while away!! I loved this book!! Shantaram tells the story of Linbaba, an Australian prison escapee who winds up in the Indian underground, working for the mafia. He’s not long to realize that his new freedom is his new prison. He steps off the bus in Bombay, meets a nice Indian man with a toothy smile and tender disposition, and he decides to trust him. One thing leads to another and each decision carries its own consequence— all the way to Afgahnistan.

Shantaram is desperate and it’s hopeful, it’s barbarous, and it’s tender and raw. It’s love and betrayal, hatred and forgiveness. Power, greed. Roberts spins a web of vibrant characters and he brings India to life on the page. He uncovers the underground— the black market, the mafia, and terrorists..terrorists? Well, who’s to say? He takes us to the darkest places and he shows moment of tender loving compassion. It’s a lovely story.

A lonely, disconnected man with violent inclinations seeks salvation and inner peace in a chaotic world. Linbaba seeks to answer to two key questions: What is an objective, universally acceptable definition of good and evil? And, what is the relationship between consciousness and matter? Is the consequence of any given decision driving us closer to, or away from, God (Ultimate Complexity)?

I couldn’t get enough. All the way through 900+ pages I felt myself stuck inside a prison in my mind, with the front gates wide open for me…yet I couldn’t bear to walk through to the other side. Lost in Linbaba’s life like it was my own story, and trapped by agonizing ruminations of my own mind. I couldn’t get myself to walk out. Instead I stayed put, wallowed in my own pity, and chain smoked American spirit to***co and spliffs. But at least I could get lost in Linbaba’s world for a time.

Shared with me in Rishikesh by a friend with great taste. Within minutes of finishing the book I gave it to a stranger at a cafe.

16/07/2024

2. Dark Star Safari written by Paul Theroux

A nonfiction account of Theroux’s overland journey from Cairo to Capetown in (I believe) the late 1990’s. I began reading this travelogue a week before leaving the USA for Uganda and finished it during my second week in East Africa. It’s an expose of unrelenting criticism of western humanitarian efforts in Africa. He’s a generational talent in the travel writing world and he spent two decades working as a teacher in Malawi before returning later for his cross-continent overland journey. On his return, he leaves his rose-colored glasses at home and what he sees from aid efforts in Africa sickens and angers him, if not also depresses his soul. He sees no progress, in fact he sees degradation and corruption. He sees a system which has encouraged handout reliance from Africans. This do-gooder idealism, or modern day virtue-signaling does nothing but subvert actual progress and equity on the African continent.

His writing no doubt shaded my own view of the situation when I landed in Uganda. Though I didn’t actively engage in any aid efforts myself, I saw and felt the ramifications all around me. The people (adults and children), like nowhere else on Earth, blatantly and constantly stuck their hands in my face saying, “Give me money.” These people didn’t need my money; they simply knew that if they asked a white person for money he would likely give it up. That’s how they’ve come to see the world. The same “President” has ruled over Uganda for nearly 40 years. What does he do for the Ugandan people? He stuffs his pocket with corrupt money, while keeping the people fed just enough (along with humanitarian aid programs) that they don’t resort to revolution. Humanitarian aid efforts in Africa encourage the continuation of corruption. I only spent 3 weeks in Uganda; my experience is limited. This book had a profound effect on the way I saw Africa (Uganda) in those 3 weeks.

There is a lot of light in Africa. Children are always the ray of hope shining on a brighter future. I hope to go back one day, and another too.

15/07/2024

3. Island written by Aldous Huxley

“Attention!” If the Russian’s couldn’t figure out life’s great questions, perhaps the Palanese people of Huxley’s fictional island, Pala, have good news for us.

A white-boy from the UK shipwrecks, delivered by Providence, on the shore of the utopian island Pala. His mission as co-conspirator and scoundrel is to aid in the downfall of Pala and their non-Western, utopian way of living. Why? Because, military might and need for oil demand it be so.

As William Farnaby learns, the people of Pala have a lot to teach a ship-wrecked white boy (me) about mindfulness, compassion, and the pursuit of enlightenment. They practice mahayana buddhism, ta***ic buddhism, hinduism, psychedelic ceremony, yoga, science, and community. They mix it all up in one samadhi swirl. It’s so perfect, they’ve figured out the good life. It’s not a world without death and despair, it’s a world of remedy; manageable in a single island community, but tough to scale in the wider world.

They have the answers! Then again, maybe they don’t. Maybe the Paleness are frozen in time as the rest of the world leaves them behind. They are a mere obstacle for the global machine to bulldoze over. Another old growth forest burned, and ancient lake dried up. To the rich get richer, the mighty mightier. Human bodies and souls are simply grist for the mill. And besides, humanity has no right to such a peace; right? “Attention!”

I couldn’t decide yesterday what to do with #2 and #3 books. Island goes #3 despite being the book I read twice. The message from book #2 (spoiler: Dark Star Safari) just feels a little more hopeless than Island and happens to be nonfiction. Though the story of Pala is a very real story. Idk.

I carried Island with me from home. Read in India, and Indonesia and left it on Nusa Penida Island.

13/07/2024

Coming in at #4

“Anna Karenina” written by Leo Tolstoy

My first walk with Tolstoy; what a treat, but I’m so sorry I can’t stay long. Russian literature– so full of complexity, melancholic existentialism, realistic humanism, and philosophical undertaking, must be taken in turn– or else one risks sinking into despair along with its characters. I identify with all the characters at one point or another. Levin, Anna, Vronsky, Alexei….they’re all going through it. Connected, but separate. Mostly separate.

What makes Levin special is the fact that he’s not special at all. He’s just like so many of us. He wants a quiet life in the country with a loyal dog, a loving wife, and some children. Away from the Joneses and pinky up society. Some days he’s not sure he even wants all that. Some days he wonders if he should live alone, just him and the land. He wants to make a difference in his community, but apart from directly connecting with the soil through his own hands he finds very little comfort in the society he lives in. Levin’s struggles strike home with me.

Like Shantaram (a novel coming further up the list), the vast number of characters adds an exciting complexity to the story. Our lives too are filled with many characters; plates to spin, relationships to manage. All the while we are stuck in our own heads, attempting to make sense, find meaning, maintain hope and dignity.

What is it all for? Is there any point in any of it? What is a good life, what does it mean? Can you ever truly know someone? Can we ever truly know our own heart’s desires? Or understand why we behave and act the way we do? Even further, can we properly express our desire to the ones we love or wish to love? In art, maybe. Is life in society just a matter of appearances? Is life in society a masquerade ball of deceit, where we only see one’s black tie and mask? Who are we in a lonely dark room with the mask off?

Some find peace in a saving grace. Others fall prey to ultimate sin…knowing…and still they can’t help themselves.

12/07/2024

For all my fellow readers- casual or hardcore- out there I present to you the 5 best books I read while traveling from Oct ‘23- June ‘24.

At #5 it’s “Kafka on the Shore” written by Haruki Murakami

I want to say, “My first trip with Murakami and I’ll leave it at that. IYKYK.”

In part because I hardly know what else to say…how about weird? Unlike any writer I’ve encountered. Kafka on the Shore is magical realism. It’s a book full of freaks, philosophers, and oddities…whats the difference?? It’s Freudian, it’s funky— it’s a book full of surprises, twists, and turns. It’s Jungian archetype and synchronistic delight. Murakami weaves the magical and the real, the philosophical and the mundane in a tapestry irresistible to the mind’s eye. He tells a fun and compelling story that’s easy to get lost in. Then he wraps it up with a beautiful bow. Leaves plenty to the imagination; plenty for the rabbit hole digging Redditors to keep themselves busy with… “What did Murakami mean?!” That’s the beauty of a work of art…once released to the ether it belongs only to the observer’s impression.

I bought this book in Amritsar, India upon recommendation from a friend. I passed it on in Indonesia and the next reader was as enthusiastic about her first encounter with Murakami as I was.

Bonus travel tip: while it’s interesting to visit the border of India and Pakistan, one of the worlds most dangerous international borders, I highly recommend skipping the obnoxious nightly “India-Wagah” border ceremony. A better (more dangerous and real) adventure would be to visit the “Line of Control” section in Kashmir. This bu****it display of “brotherhood and cooperation” at Wagah is one-sided obnoxious taunting on the part of India. In my humble opinion…

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