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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
She was really unlikeable. It was hard to read and not focus on how little respect I had for her, and she trivialized things like poverty and tied them up in cute little boxes, filed under ‘cultural experiences.’ I really wanted to like this book; what a disappointment.
Exquisite detail- took me a really long time to get through this book for some reason though! The story is super interesting but can get a little repetitive at times!
Well written. Really takes you on a trip like you went yourself.
I thought this book was from the point of view of a very preachy self righteous traveler. We have all "discovered" (for lack of a better term) ourselves on the road but it takes a special talent to sound like you're constantly looking down on other cultures while rebelling the story.
I love that this woman's goals focus on the present: "When I am writing I am inside the sound and meaning of the words....When I am eating, I luxuriate in the taste and texture of every bite. When I am alone I listen to and communicate with the silence within me.... And, when I am with people, I am really with them."
An amazing read. I highly recommend this to any woman who feels that she isn't strong enough to take on a challenge, whatever that challenge may be.
Now I am just an observer- I am not to judge or place my ideas as something better than what the book intended.
Actually that statement was just an inside joke with myself- as I felt the author at least once every other chapter reminded the reader that she is like an academia anthropologist and she is just there to observe and learn culture and not change it. As if she is trying to ease her own conscience by explaining why she didn't get involved when she was met with unjustice of a culture.
And I found that kind of annoying. If a woman is being beaten you shouldn't just hide- Humanity is the greater culture regardless of a countries mores.
Secondly she made some small side note about how she would try to treck up the mountain and meet and indiginous tribe there before the missionaries got there and changed everything.
I don't know if she meant it this way but it is like she would rather preserve and keep the culture as is, no improvements or technology- and I frankly find that naive. The ebb and flow of life is the give and take, In order for people to survive they must adapt. In order for culture to survive it must adapt. Just as language is ever expanding and inclusive so is the culture and mores also adapting to new situations, letting go or changing what works and adding to improve.
In the end, this is a less popular- not as well marketed book like EAT, PRAY, LOVE.
I think my disappointment with both of those books is that it is less about the culture around them and more about the person writing the memoir.
So note to self- when I write my first traveling book I will not focus it on myself.
Actually that statement was just an inside joke with myself- as I felt the author at least once every other chapter reminded the reader that she is like an academia anthropologist and she is just there to observe and learn culture and not change it. As if she is trying to ease her own conscience by explaining why she didn't get involved when she was met with unjustice of a culture.
And I found that kind of annoying. If a woman is being beaten you shouldn't just hide- Humanity is the greater culture regardless of a countries mores.
Secondly she made some small side note about how she would try to treck up the mountain and meet and indiginous tribe there before the missionaries got there and changed everything.
I don't know if she meant it this way but it is like she would rather preserve and keep the culture as is, no improvements or technology- and I frankly find that naive. The ebb and flow of life is the give and take, In order for people to survive they must adapt. In order for culture to survive it must adapt. Just as language is ever expanding and inclusive so is the culture and mores also adapting to new situations, letting go or changing what works and adding to improve.
In the end, this is a less popular- not as well marketed book like EAT, PRAY, LOVE.
I think my disappointment with both of those books is that it is less about the culture around them and more about the person writing the memoir.
So note to self- when I write my first traveling book I will not focus it on myself.
sometimes i was really annoyed with rita and sometimes i loved her. i couldn't get over the fact that she was able to travel so much and do all of these things because of her status as a well known children's book writer. she makes it seem like anyone can pick up and do what she did when that's just not a reality. that said, her experiences were interesting and i loved hearing about the little ways in which humanity is similar all over the world. it made my wanderlust even worse (it's pretty bad already).
I REALLY wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't get into it. I'm sure Gelman's writing style is fantastic for children's books, but it came off as incredibly detached and sterile - something that doesn't lend itself to an engaging memoir.
Yes, her life sounds as though it's been amazing and full of adventure thus far - this book, unfortunately, is not.
Yes, her life sounds as though it's been amazing and full of adventure thus far - this book, unfortunately, is not.
Something about it felt preachy and pretentious