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Title: Motorcycle Diaries: A Journey Around South America by Ernesto Guevara, Ann Wright ISBN: 1-85984-066-3 Publisher: Verso Pub. Date: 01 November, 1996 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.41 (29 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Motorcycle Diaries: A Journey Around South America
Comment: While the topic of Che Guevera's South American travels is worthwhile, the title is a bit misleading. Guevera and his traveling companion abandon their motorcycle, "La Ponderosa II" before they're a quarter way through their trip. Thus, from the perspective of an adventure motorcycle journey log, it disappoints. However, from the perspective of learning more about the development of Che's socialist philosophy, it's most valuable. Guevera well documents some of the incidents during this trip that help fuel his allegiance with the prolitariat. Written in a narrative form, this is not a day-by-day, hour-by-hour dry account of Che's journey. Rather, it appears that upon returning to Argentina, he reviewed his diary notes and distilled them into narrative prose. All in all, it was a worthwhile, if quick, read.
Rating: 4
Summary: Guevara Pops a Wheelie
Comment: It is a little deceptive to refer to this book as "The Motorcycle Diaries" because the motorcycle ( a 500cc Norton) is featured in less that half of the book. However it is an excellent record of Guevara's travels around South America with his friend and colleague Dr. Alberto. If you don't share Guevara's political viewpoint you'll still find the book enjoyable. It is also well written, at times lyrical . It made me wish I read Spanish better because I imagine it is even more descriptive in the original language.Finally, from a historical perspective you can see the beginnings of Che's evolution into flaming Communism. This paleo-conservative gives the book 4 stars and a high recommendation, even if you've never ridden a motorcycle.
Rating: 5
Summary: In his own words
Comment: Felix Rodriguez, an anti-Castro Cuban who was sent to assasinate Che, said he was a fascinating man he wanted to know better and felt sad at having to hunt him. He protested at Che's execution.
With that insight, I eagerly read The Motorcycle Diaries. They are very well written, amazingly entertaining, witty and occasionally insightful and the translation is not only excellent, but well-referenced where terms are transliterated.
Personally, I wound up detesting the little troll. He and his friend masqueraded as experts on leprosy, which they milked for guest space and food. They stole liquor, whined about hospitality until they got even better fare and generally were locusts on the local economy. Che complains mightily about bureaucracy and control that keeps him from his wants (The lack of border stops some places, which made it harder to cadge rides from passing trucks), yet makes a point of mentioning his illegally carried revolver and knife that he smuggled through other border checkpoints (and heck, who wouldn't, when traveling like that?). In other words, "If I want it, it's good government. If I don't, it's bad." The true moral dishonesty of the Latin communist comes through.
And yet...he was honest enough to preface the book with a note that it represented only a momentary view of his life at that time and place. He didn't edit out any of the bad. The contrast and complexity is fascinating, and I'll have to find more to read about a no doubt highly intelligent man.
Love him or hate him, the book is honest in its documentation and pulls no punches. It's a great period piece, a great low-budget travelog, and a journal of a young, brilliantly stupid college punk like lots of us were. I can't recommend it highly enough. If you want to understand the Latin communists or Che, you must read this.
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Title: Chasing Che: A Motorcycle Journey in Search of the Guevara Legend by Patrick Symmes ISBN: 0375702652 Publisher: Vintage Books USA Pub. Date: 15 February, 2000 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Guerrilla Warfare: Che Guevara by Ernesto Guevara ISBN: 0803270755 Publisher: University of Nebraska Press Pub. Date: 01 December, 1998 List Price(USD): $8.89 |
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Title: Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life by Jon Lee Anderson ISBN: 0802135587 Publisher: Grove/Atlantic Pub. Date: 01 April, 1998 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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Title: The Motorcycle Diaries : A Latin American Journey by Ernesto Che Guevara, Cintio Vitier, Aleida Guevara ISBN: 1876175702 Publisher: Ocean Press Pub. Date: 15 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Companero: The Life and Death of Che Guevara by Jorge G. Castaneda ISBN: 0679759409 Publisher: Vintage Books USA Pub. Date: 01 November, 1998 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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