Customer Reviews

The Cloud Forest: A Chronicle of the South American Wilderness (Library Edition)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Matthiessen always teaches,in a quiet sober way.The extent of his experience coupled with a wonderful style has always made his subject fascinating.The Cloud Forest is no exception.From ornothology,Buddhisum,indigious peoples,spirituality,the environment,to his fiction... on every subject he gives the reader a clear insight.Quammen, Lopez,Finnegan,Mcgune,Proulx et al,all in one.Simply the best.

Macchu Picchu, a giant fossilized mandible, steam ships, and Allen Ginsberg. What can be wrong with a book that features all that. Seriously, this is a great book. Good culutral anthropology without all the anthropology to get in the way. From his depiction of the natives to his own almost childlike desire to explore and see, Matthiessen conveys a great story in a great way. Not exactly up to the Snow Leopard's level, but a great read.

What I like about Matthiessen's account is that he has no clear destination (e.g, through "some remarkably bad planning, I crossed the Andes nine times in five months")., and hence open to adventure and experience. He writes of what he sees and what affects him. He also is reflective about how he effects the local residents or native Machiguenga guides. I have some sadness that the tribes he encountered (1960's) may no longer be there. He writes honestly, not claiming superiority, for example he takes pistol shots at crocodiles. His adventure down the Urubamba was particularly compelling ... would he find the giant crocodile bones, would he find the lost city ruins? Along the way he manages to accomplish something remarkable (the traverse of the Pongo), and as any proud adventurer, tries to understand if his adventure was historically unique. For bird watchers, there is an added enjoyment of trying to identify some of the birds he describes along the way. This travel journal sets a standard for other adventurers and for my own daily journals.

Matthiessen's account is an honest travelogue of South America, dedicating much of its time to the Peruvian jungle. His narrative portrays a paradoxical mix of racial insensitivity, ignorance, enlightenment and progressive views. He refers to some cultures as almost subhuman, at one point proclaiming that one tribe would be better off killed at birth than living their miserable lives while at other times sympathizing with and even trying to interact with the indigenous peoples he encounters. He dislikes both Evangelical and Catholic attempts at "civilizing" the Indians thinking them more dignified when left alone and away from outside influences but he abhores the Quechua and Aymará ascribing them all manner of derogatory traits which teach the reader more about his own prejudice than about these cultures. Matthiessen refers to numerous prior works on South America and the Amazon and it seems that many of these colonial 19th century views on race have influenced his own. As someone who has lived in Bolivia for many years, I find his adventures fascinating, his accuracy and prose commendable but must also strongly caution readers that many of his derogatory descriptions of entire cultures are both wrong and offensive.

I bought this book because, having extensively traveled in Peru and horse-packed in the Peruvian Andes, I was interested in what the book had to say. Although the book was written 24 years before I first went to Peru, it was interesting to see how little had changed in those ensuing years. Not having been in the Amazon basin, I cannot speak to Peter Matthiesen's observations about the Indian tribes in the area, although I detected a lot of "gringo" condescension on his part. I flat out disagree with his characterizations of the "altiplano" indians, finding them warm, humorous and interested in "turistas" and travelers. The young children are amazing! They have no creature comforts, tend llamas, alpacas, and spin wool at the tender age of three or four, yet have the most beautiful smiles and natures! Peter Matthiesen is obviously a expert, dedicated birdwatcher, and naturalist, detailing many of his sightings. Matthiesen's encounters with Peruvian "artful dodgers" are well told and his many travails, particularly on the Urabamba river are exciting.

With the exception of the last chapter, which comprises one hundred plus pages, this is basically a mental travelogue.

I was hoodwinked by the back cover where it mentions the author traveled 20,000 miles through South America. It does not inform the reader that the majority of his movements were by plane, train, bus and auto for half the book. Misleading.

The final chapter does deserve its place in adventurous undertakings though. Rafting down the menacing Peruvian Urubamba River and through the unforgiving Pongo Rapids does have its rank in historical accomplishments. Searching for primitive mandible bones and lost ruins in such a merciless environment is good arm-chair exploring.

I could have done without the other chapters, comparable to watching a mind-numbing documentary.

What I like about Matthiessen's account is that he has no clear destination (e.g, through "some remarkably bad planning, I crossed the Andes nine times in five months")., and hence open to adventure and experience. He writes of what he sees and what affects him. He also is reflective about how he effects the local residents or native Machiguenga guides. I have some sadness that the tribes he encountered (1960's) may no longer be there. He writes honestly, not claiming superiority, for example he takes pistol shots at crocodiles. His adventure down the Urubamba was particularly compelling ... would he find the giant crocodile bones, would he find the lost city ruins? Along the way he manages to accomplish something remarkable (the traverse of the Pongo), and as any proud adventurer, tries to understand if his adventure was historically unique. For bird watchers, there is an added enjoyment of trying to identify some of the birds he describes along the way. This travel journal sets a standard for other adventurers and for my own daily journals.

The writing is so beautiful and so full of a sense of place, it pulls you along. The descriptions are startling and poetic and he seems to be always scanning the horizon for birds and butterflies and flowers. Even the most desolate places he travels through seem to be filled with creatures and visions. Even Allen Ginsberg makes a surprise appearance.

If only I wrote like this, I would quit my day job and be on the first cargo ship out of here.

Matthiessen writes a great piece of travel literature. His images remind me of my own trip to the Tropics and his words are incredibly honest.