celeste072's review against another edition
2.75
I really, really wish this book had a huge trigger warning somewhere either on the cover or on one of the pages preceding the story or both. For anyone interested in this book, there is a scene in the second half where the narrator attempts suicide.
deb_prosp's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.75
Ursula Pike's experiences as a Native American Peace Corps volunteer in rural Bolivia was eye opening. It's definitely a needed voice in travel writing, and it's a humble voice that simultaneously recognises its own privilege within the context of LatAm. It was a personal story that I couldn't quite put down and I read it in one to two sittings. However, it did feel as though the end of the memoir focused completely on the personal love life of the author instead of looking at the community in which she was stationed. I wanted to know more about Teresa and Ximenita. What did they do everyday? Where did they go? What were their lives like? Perhaps I'm projecting my own unfair expectations on the very genre of memoir, but I was hoping this travel memoir would be more centred on others' stories, as the nature of a tourist-traveller is to exist within a liminal space that doesn't quite feel grounded. For that reason, this memoir felt like it never really started and never really ended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
Minor: Colonisation
mixedgirlreading's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Self harm
renatasnacks's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this and found it very relatable as an RPCV myself. It reflected the driftless chaos of my own PC experience--if you're looking for something like Mountains Beyond Mountains, this ain't it, but it is a thoughtful exploration of identity and privilege as related to international service work.
amberinpieces's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Classism, Infidelity, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Misogyny, Vomit, Colonisation, and Mental illness
Minor: Addiction, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Car accident, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, and Sexism
layiling's review against another edition
Finished this book in a couple of days. I hadn't heard of this book before stumbling on it in a bookstore; the bright cover drew me in, as well as the description. This perspective is rare, and I was interested in the nuances of identity and experience the author promised to present. Like the author says, I'm interested in seeing other reports by POC in the Peace Corps; I'm sure many come to similar conclusions (i.e. the 'giver' gains much more than the 'receiver'). Another review I skirted over before finishing the book complained the narrative dove too much into the author's affair. I agree; toward the second half, if began to read more like a romance novel, and I lost some interest. But this is a memoir, and clearly the author wanted to sort some things out through writing it.
I think this should be required reading for anyone looking to join the Peace Corps. As a general read, it was interesting and engaging, and short enough to read quickly.
I think this should be required reading for anyone looking to join the Peace Corps. As a general read, it was interesting and engaging, and short enough to read quickly.