BOOKS

"The Last Train To Zona Verde" - Paul Theroux

Disturbing book. It recounts the writers journey in Africa from Cape Town through Namibia and into Angola.

This acclaimed writer travels via road, train etc. No luxuries.

What he describes in his book is absolutely shocking as in the way people eek out a living both in rural and urban areas.

Gross corruption in these named countries that have wealthy resources but whose governments dont give a sh*t about their people.

And it's not just the above countries but most of Western Africa and beyond.

Africa is a powder keg that will explode some day.

An interesting observation is the number of Chinese interests that are growing up in Africa even in the worst areas. These are Chinese criminals sent abroad to spend their sentence. However these Chinese don't mix with local but through corrupt means are building hotels /casinos for mostly rich Chinese and foreign businessmen. No locals are employed on these ventures. It would seem that like Asia and even Europe (Dublin has a Chinatown) this appears to be part of a greater Chinese plan to exert major influence abroad without going to war.



Edited by Biker Pat - 21-November-2019 at 07:27

They are taking over the world! When we were on our bus tour in Miami last week the guy kept pointing out new apartment and hotel developments funded by the Chinese - ditto in Nassau ...

... lol Joey, I'm sure I saw a couple lurking in the bushes here last night! I'm afraid to look under the bed !!!

I'm sure I told this story before, but just in case. Pal of mine is a Chinese guy, data analyst with Bet365. Lives in the UK now. During the bust here we were discussing things - I was still working "for the Government"! He made the suggestion that we should ask the Chinese Goverment to dig us out of the hole and then let them run the country! He was quite serious! I think he thought I might bring the idea to the powers-that-be! With that kind of mindset the world will be speaking Chinese in 30 years time !!!

Any good Pat?

I'm just finishing off "Knife" by Jo Nesbo. A grisly enough crime thriller book, part of a series of books about a fictional police detective. Set in Norway, and written originally in Norwegian, then translated to English. Each book stands pretty much on its own, they don't need to be read in sequence or anything. This is the third or 4th book I've read in this series, and while I found the first couple to be riveting, excellently written, I'm having difficulty finishing this one cos the character (Detective Harry Hole) and his various travails are getting too familiar to me. But if you've never read any of them I'd highly recommend giving one a try - "The Snowman" would be an excellent one to start with...

Cheers Pat

Hmmmmm ... one for my list so, Pat

The Beekeeper of Aleppo- by Christy lefteri ,,

"Waiting for Snow in Havana" - Carlos Eire.

Interesting surname not related to Ireland.

The true memories of the author as he grew up as a kid in pre Castro's Cuba and life after Castro came to power.

Castro ousted President Batista on 1 January 1959.

Cuba descended into chaos. Christmas banned, possessions and homes and businesses confiscated, mass executions, etc...

14,000 children (including the author and his brother) exiled from their family to America.

After reading this I realise what monsters Castro and his sidekick Che Guevara were. Forget that painting Jim Fitzpatrick did of Guevara. He and Castro were thugs. Commandeering prize mansions whose previous owners along with hundreds of others were summarily executed, Castro and Guevara lived well and drove around in luxury. Like all despots they ruled by fear.

And what about the Bay of Pigs disaster.
Counter insurgents trained in the US were dropped into Cuba to oust Castro. Kennedy had promised these insurgents that Castro's air force would be destroyed. Never happened and the insurgents were mowed down by the hundreds or captured, tortured and shot by firing squads.

All described in this wonderful book.

"Fatherland" - Robert Harris

Interesting book against the concept that Germany won WW2.

Based on many facts a detective investigating a murder uncovers shocking Nazi papers about the Final Solution and describes life in Germany under continued Nazi rule.

"Daddy's Gone A Hunting" - Mary Higgins Clark.

Excellent thriller that has you guessing till the end.