I don't think I can honestly say that I like this book. It's one of those books where you wonder why you keep on reading, especially at the beginning where Port & Kit was playing so off-handedly with their relationship. They're supposed to be thinking so much about their true self and being reckless with other people. I suppose their sin is being young & well to do. There's nothing like having to earn your living to cure the silliness of youth. A funny thing, reading this I'd thought of Port as a jaded at least 40years old guy; not until the French lieutenant described his youth did I realized that Port most probably still his twenties. In fact I was rather confused reading this scene and thinking that the lieutenant is actually meeting Tunner instead of Port, I wonder why. The second part was better with Port dying and all & there's this air of desperation around where it's really reason for it instead of chronic personal desperation. This is the part where I have to really control myself and not take a peek at the ending.Then the third part came and at first I was cheering Kit for her bid of freedom until she relinquish it so easily. Then everything went pretty much down hill for me. The end is admirable just because she basically shows her finger to the world, but then again, if at the end of the day this is what we'll find out about Kit then it wouldn't matter much to me if the story ended right at the end of the part before it. At least I'll have the imagination of her having the same end as the 2 sisters having a tea in Sahara. But I guess Bowles couldn't resist the temptation of dashing the hope some people might have that a western woman can fare well alone in Maghreb. Not that I will be foolish enough to think that this could happen, money or no money.Apropos the setting, I read this on account of being set in Morocco. I currently have this urge to get to know this country more. Rather too late and pointless, but still... Anyhow, Sahara is one thing I regret not having seen when I still got higher chance to. A city girl that I am, I don't think I'll survive being in it for a day or two, but I wished at least to see it from the edge. Besides, some days the thought of a complete desert silence seems to be very alluring compared to city bustle.
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