On the Plain of Snakes

Joseph Balderrama's fluency in Spanish enlivens his eloquent narration of the author's Mexican journey. His pacing, tone, and clear voice give authenticity to Theroux's immersive look at the nation--its brutality and beauty. The dialogue of those whom Theroux encounters on his road trip rings true. Balderrama made the effort to seek out the pronunciation of Zapotec words, and his work pays off in a thoroughly captivating reading. Theroux, a master travel writer, then age 76, converses with writers, pays off crooked cops, and meets those eking out a living. He is in fine fettle on this drive through Mexico, which encompasses extremes from the poverty of Oaxaca to the high culture of Mexico City. Takeaways pack every page, but the most important is that travel is more about people than about landscapes. A.D.M. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine