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Book Review of The Enigma of Arrival

The Enigma of Arrival
eadieburke avatar reviewed on + 1618 more book reviews


Book Description
The story of a writer's singular journey--from one place to another, from the British colony of Trinidad to the ancient countryside of England, and from one state of mind to another--this is perhaps Naipaul's most autobiographical work. Yet it is also woven through with remarkable invention to make it a rich and complex novel.

My Review
I found Naipaul's writing to be fascinating and inspiring at the same time. This book starts out slow and there is not much happening but there is a lot of detailed description and you begin to realize how Naipaul sees the common everyday experiences as something beautiful and not so common. His writing flows and is very easy to understand. He describes all the characters in such detail and is very aware of all their behaviors and psychological tendencies. Even without a basic plot, Naipul's command of language keeps the reader turning the pages. This book was definitely worth the effort as it is truly a rare and beautiful book and I look forward to reading more by this remarkable writer.