Tuesday Book Review - Trouser People

I just finished a terrific book that you have to read. It is called The Trouser People, by Andrew Marshall. Travel writing usually interests me about as much as a day old loaf of Bunny Bread, but this book is intriguing and very funny.

I'm very tired as I write this. We are remodeling the bathroom and the whole house seems to be suffering for the process. Since I am an atheist, I have no comfort that the Lord will be of any help at all. It turns out that I am not intrepid. I am soft and like comfort. In a strange way, this paragraph works to introduce the book The Trouser People. Andrew Marshall, even though he often enjoys laughing at himself, is clearly intrepid. I have a feeling we wouldn't find him sobbing over the scraped wallpaper filling the bathtub. I'm not saying that I did that myself, but I might have. I'm capable of it.

So, about The Trouser People. It is about two separate journeys through Burma. I knew so little about Burma, I had to look it up in the atlas. The trips are about one hundred years apart. The first one is undertaken by George Scott on behalf of the empire builders during Queen Victoria's reign. The second is the modern retracing of Scott's trips by Andrew Marshall. By the way, George Scott introduced football to the Burmese.

Burma is one of those dreadfully tragic places that has rotted under a horrible military dictatorship. What is it with these dictators anyway? Are they never happy with ruling with no checks on their power? Oh no, they always have try out genocide, or some dirty business involving wrecking the environment of their country. Burma has one of these guys and he is reprehensible. Maybe its just me, but it doesn't seem like Burma gets a lot of press.

Andrew Marshall, believe it or not, manages to give us an amazing picture of the quiet bravery of the Burmese. He also gives us a witty and funny portrait of them and, most especially, himself. He casually mentions sitting around having a snack of fried chicken feet with some of his friends.

I know it seems bizarre that a book about a really downtrodden place could be so wonderful, but it is. Sure, maybe I've steered you wrong before, but trust me on this one. It is a good read. Best of all, this book is in paperback!

I don't want to say much more. The need to mention Sheetrock and Sheetrock dust coming on. We haven't had a bathroom sink for five days....

Okay, I'm back and here is a passage that illustrates why I liked The Trouser People so much:

“He was your classic Buddhist driver: one foot on the accelerator, the other in the afterlife. Twice we nearly skidded off the road and down the mountain. Sai Lek, who was your classic Buddhist passenger, laughed heartily both times, which meant he was either very happy or, like me, crapping himself. It was impossible to tell.”

George Scott, as you will read, had enough stiff upper lip for almost all of us. Andrew Marshall gives us a lovely and affectionate portrait of him. I hope you will give yourself the pleasure of reading it.

The Trouser People

Andrew Marshall

Counterpoint

$16.00