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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
I found the topic of this book quite interesting - one person living and building relationships across the world, but longed for a more thorough analysis of the power dynamics at play throughout this story. There is an epilogue containing acknowledgement that the author is only in the position to tell this story because of her American-ness, unlike the people who took her into their homes around the world. Throughout the book I found myself distracted by the author’s presumption, the lack of self awareness required to assume she would be welcome in the homes she asked to stay in. I wish the author had considered the unintended impacts that happen when we embed ourselves in others’ worlds. Yes, we all benefit, but also, how do we do it without doing harm?
Glad I got to the end because it’s a good story, but I wish the author weren’t in white savior mode, acknowledging the reasons she is able to travel and those she visits a aren’t traveling that way and incorporating that into the descriptions.
Glad I got to the end because it’s a good story, but I wish the author weren’t in white savior mode, acknowledging the reasons she is able to travel and those she visits a aren’t traveling that way and incorporating that into the descriptions.
I am torn about whether I hated or liked this book. On the one hand, it's a privileged white lady jetsetting around the world, going wherever she feels like and wanting to live amongst "the exotic natives" of whatever country she happens to be in. She exoticizes and others a good deal of the people she talks about. But on the other hand I see real human connection that happens, and I admire her ability to connect even without a shared language. There are some fascinating stories in here, and she does things I cannot imagine being able to do (travel extensively in countries where I do not speak the language, as an example). Then again, she says that we can't judge other cultures (good so far), even if the men beat their women (aaaaand I'm done). It's one thing to not judge cultures because they do it differently than us, but it's another thing entirely to allow violence against women to go on while shrugging and saying "welp, it's their culture so clearly I can't judge them". Because actually, you can. Beating women is shitty, and is not justified by any culture or beliefs.
This book was mostly like a better version of Eat Pray Love, in that the author actually seemed to give a shit about the non-white people she interacted with (who weren't yoga gurus). Pretty great narrative, and she often manages to tie disparate experiences together. Three stars because beating women is never excusable (would've been four if she'd just admitted that).
This book was mostly like a better version of Eat Pray Love, in that the author actually seemed to give a shit about the non-white people she interacted with (who weren't yoga gurus). Pretty great narrative, and she often manages to tie disparate experiences together. Three stars because beating women is never excusable (would've been four if she'd just admitted that).
I enjoyed this travel memoir that was part anthropological observation and part personal narrative of the author's visits to mostly far-flung rural communities.
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
It took me more than 10 years to read this book. I wasn't ready for it then. I was ready now.
The book, published in 2001, is about an American woman whose relationship falters so she takes off to explore the world for 15 years. The start is a bit like Eat Pray Love but this book predates that one and this author is less self centered.
Back when it was gifted to me, reading about travel made me think about how I wasn't traveling, myself, just then. Now that I am not yearning to travel so much myself and now that I am older and more settled, I find the book more interesting.
The lady travels mostly to poorer areas of the world and is really keen on getting to know the regular people who live in the communities she visits. She travels to Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Israel, the Galapagos in Ecuador, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Thailand.
The book, published in 2001, is about an American woman whose relationship falters so she takes off to explore the world for 15 years. The start is a bit like Eat Pray Love but this book predates that one and this author is less self centered.
Back when it was gifted to me, reading about travel made me think about how I wasn't traveling, myself, just then. Now that I am not yearning to travel so much myself and now that I am older and more settled, I find the book more interesting.
The lady travels mostly to poorer areas of the world and is really keen on getting to know the regular people who live in the communities she visits. She travels to Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Israel, the Galapagos in Ecuador, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Thailand.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of this book and found the second half to be okay. The first half of the book the author traveled the world and discussed cultural issues and norms that most travel writers avoid or ignore. I liked seeing a country and a people as it is, and not as we pretend it is. The second half of the book was more about the author herself.
There were many thoughts and feelings I can connect with and it definitely struck a chord with me. If you love to travel I think you would enjoy this book.
There were many thoughts and feelings I can connect with and it definitely struck a chord with me. If you love to travel I think you would enjoy this book.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
This book makes me long for travel to be as easy as it was in the 80s and 90s. Unrealistic for today. I found myself living vicariously through the writer.
The beginning is amazing and then slightly tapers off but it is a good read
2 stars only because I think it's important to recognize women seeking self-empowerment. It was largely unreadable though. Self-righteous and talked about people in much of the world as if they were part of a human zoo waiting for her to gawk at them.