Read Tequila Oil Hugh Thomson 9780753826942 Books

Product details Paperback 240 pages Publisher Phoenix (April 14, 2010) Language English ISBN-10 0753826941

Tequila Oil Hugh Thomson 9780753826942 Books Reviews

• And not only humorous, but soulful, expressive and full of grit.
  
  In 1979, eighteen year-old Hugh Thomson finds out that he can drive a car from El Paso, Texas to Central America and possibly make a small fortune...from the get-go, it’s a go.
  
  We flank front seat next to Hugh in his newly purchased 1972 Oldsmobile-98 on a wild, hilarious road trip through Mexico to Belize. Speckled with portions of historical background on Cortes, the Aztecs and Mayans, Pancho Villa, Zapata, along with quotes from several 1930’s travel writers and how they depicted Mexico...to a plethora of most varied folks and occurrences along the way. A trip not to be forgotten.
  
  Thirty years later Mr. Thomson is back in Belize to rediscover himself and the Mayan ruins...soul searching after an illustrious career as film maker and explorer.
  
  Grab a case or two of your favorite motivating beverages and head on down the road with Hugh...you will not be disappointed.
• As I was nearing the end of the book (sadly), the question popped into my head "Is this man as wonderful as his writing?" Here we get a glimpse of the 18 year old adventurer when he was just becoming one. Thomson weaves words beautifully. One moment, the reader is learning something about history; the next observing the exterior landscape with Hugh wherever he is; the next, seeing the author's interior landscape; and the next, laughing out loud at one of his observations. Very seldom do authors have the capacity to weave all the threads together, but this author never fails to do so. This is the fourth book I've read by him, and none have disappointed.
  
  An older version of Hugh relays the story of his young self and his adventures in Mexico during 1979. We get to glimpse the Mexican landscape and its people, accompany Hugh on his adventures driving a 98 Oldsmobile across Mexico, and finally, get to see the author in his more recent past during a return trip to Belize. I will be forever grateful to the unknown airplane passenger who made the suggestion to Hugh - who would not have had this adventure without him, and we would not have this story.
• Mr. Thompson book is a wonderful, joyous read. His story of adolescent adventure in a foreign land is peppered with historical facts and anecdotes that bring his story to life more vividly while educating the reader as to the distant past connections of Mexico and Central America to today. His book educates and entertains. You will not be disappointed. -Bryan Mihalakis
• I enjoyed the trip through Mexico. I wasn't so much in the minutiae of the history, but some good points were presented.
• Not at all what I was expecting - but an excellent read - a travelogue, with history thrown in - pleasant surprise.
• As of late, I've been accustomed to reading as much travel writing as I possibly can, and this is one of the better ones, especially in the twenty-first century realm of books. It's interesting that the author combined memoirs from when he was 18 and 30 years after his first travels to Mexico into one book-- the author recognizes how he has changed, and sees this reflection in also how the vast desert country has changed.
  
  " We often assume as teenagers that adulthood and maturity await, even serenity-- that after a necessary period of transition, round the corner will come the perfect partner, job and life. But the period of transition can last, or reoccur, until the day you die. And the urge to keep traveling, at least for me, was as constant as ever."- Hugh Thomson
  
  Travel books can be so powerful because they take the reader to a place he or she may have never been, and have the potential to inspire someone to make a journey for themselves and form their own interpretations. The author's sense of humor shines throughout the book and the writing was definitely soulful, a term that is often used to describe music-- but in this case, I would make an exception. This book has a powerful soul.
  
  I'll have to read more by the author in the future. If you enjoyed this, you might enjoy my own travel book "Travel By Two Wheels", available on .
  
  Recommended.
• This Is a pretty infantile travel account from the author who drove an Oldsmobile through Mexico from north to south and returns 30 years later continues his travels through Bslize.
  The main purpose of both trips seems to have been to scrounge for everything in sight and to stay in one star hotels and wangle his way into 5 star hotels to use their facilities.
  There are a few items of interest but it is time the author grew up and wrote something useful and informative.
• Twenty years ago I read my first travel writing. This was by Paul Theroux. He made travel writing seem so effortless. Amusing, entertaining, informative and lucrative. I have read a lot since and found out just how rare good travel writing is. Very few people can turn their anecdotes into a "good read". Hugh Thompson is an experienced writer and has managed to turn an account of a trip he took in his youth into travel writing gold. This book is enjoyable, hair raising, informative as well as being a great coming of age account. The Mexico that Thompson writes about with true affection still exists and can still easily be found. This book is a very welcome change from all the scare stories and bad press Mexico seems to attract these days. A really entertaining read.