The Motorcycle Diaries
by Che Guevara
Book Read on 20 / 12 / 2003
It wasnít bad, but he and his friend did seem like typical Argentine backpacker / dirty travelers. They were liars and thieves and muy muy Argentino. Occasionally there was some propaganda thrown in (which seemed like it was put in ex post facto). But mostly it was he and his friend looking for free food all through South America. There was a beautiful poem on page 16 by Miguel Otero Silva, ìI Heard on the Boatî
I heard on the boat
wet feet splashing
and felt faces dusk with hunger
My heart a pendulum between her and the street
What strength broke free from her eyes
Loose from her arms
She stood tears clouding her grief
Behind rain and window pane
But unable to cry: Wait
I'll go with you!
Che was another example of a white guy, with his biases and prejudices, trying to support a revolution that would kill him. I am reminded of the line from Six Degrees of Separation ìAnd we will know the revolution is a success when they kill us.î (Or something like that. That is very similar to the standpoint taken by Che in his epilogue/afterward. A rather mythical/ambiguous account of some encounter with a wise old man. Mostly though, I would up liking Che less and less the more I knew about him. I thought he might be an interesting guy. But he was a wanker. I donít think anyone read the book, actually, but if they did the reviewers were being PC, although Che wasnít.
Reviewer: William Koplitz
2 out of 5