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cwl's review
3.0
Bad Tourist: Misadventures in Love and Travel by Suzanne Roberts
#BadTourist #NetGalley
“The smoke hung in the air like a question.“
A series of essays telling of short, self-contained events - Bad Tourist may seem a lot like a compilation (we all love to hate those). The stories are sharp, funny, very self-aware and brimming with great details of each specific misadventure. Starting off each one, you’re given a year and a location. Roberts then proceeds to bounce all over physically and temporally. The challenge here is that Roberts’ self-awareness forces interjections about" "Why I’m a bad tourist" and at times, this seems tacked-on. Instead of letting her story breathe and organically offer the lesson, some of that feels off.
Does Tourist have a good narrative structure? About ten percent of the book in, I wasn’t really sure there would actually be a story to follow. And, true, there doesn’t seem to be one here, but I would say that these very tight, small essays are placed together well - as to fit and flow from theme to theme - like sex, for example. The vignette style does seem to get old fast however, and I just kept hoping for something to keep me hooked from story to story.
This passage early in the book had me thinking: “Nothing will force you to face the reality of your life, and what to do with your aliveness, like the fact of a burning body.“ There is much to behold in the travels of others.
Stories like “One Degree of Separation” are very short and, I felt, less satisfying. Other stories were longer and more interesting. But, as you can imagine the quality varies. “Scary Flyer” foils the perspective to decent effect. The Burning Man story is wild and at once scary.
In sum, I’m not quite sure I find Roberts a likable protagonist of this book. It IS called Bad Tourist, and, well I don’t find her tourist-ing all that bad and she just doesn’t seem terribly likable. Maybe it’s the nature of travel writing or her writing, but I needed to temper my expectations here.
Bad tourist will be released in October of 2020.
#BadTourist #NetGalley
“The smoke hung in the air like a question.“
A series of essays telling of short, self-contained events - Bad Tourist may seem a lot like a compilation (we all love to hate those). The stories are sharp, funny, very self-aware and brimming with great details of each specific misadventure. Starting off each one, you’re given a year and a location. Roberts then proceeds to bounce all over physically and temporally. The challenge here is that Roberts’ self-awareness forces interjections about" "Why I’m a bad tourist" and at times, this seems tacked-on. Instead of letting her story breathe and organically offer the lesson, some of that feels off.
Does Tourist have a good narrative structure? About ten percent of the book in, I wasn’t really sure there would actually be a story to follow. And, true, there doesn’t seem to be one here, but I would say that these very tight, small essays are placed together well - as to fit and flow from theme to theme - like sex, for example. The vignette style does seem to get old fast however, and I just kept hoping for something to keep me hooked from story to story.
This passage early in the book had me thinking: “Nothing will force you to face the reality of your life, and what to do with your aliveness, like the fact of a burning body.“ There is much to behold in the travels of others.
Stories like “One Degree of Separation” are very short and, I felt, less satisfying. Other stories were longer and more interesting. But, as you can imagine the quality varies. “Scary Flyer” foils the perspective to decent effect. The Burning Man story is wild and at once scary.
In sum, I’m not quite sure I find Roberts a likable protagonist of this book. It IS called Bad Tourist, and, well I don’t find her tourist-ing all that bad and she just doesn’t seem terribly likable. Maybe it’s the nature of travel writing or her writing, but I needed to temper my expectations here.
Bad tourist will be released in October of 2020.
sarahlw96's review
4.0
“Travel is only glamorous in retrospect.” -Paul Theroux
A quote that I've never heard before but is perfect for this book and the nostalgic feeling for travel that it stirred in me. This collection of travel essays will make you cringe, laugh and shock you with its realness (that's a thing, right?) This is not a sort of travel guide that will advise you on the "must-see" sights of each place, but instead tells the story of Robert's journey into self acceptance and happiness.
The book is not structured in chronological order which, lent itself beautifully to Robert's chaotic emotions. Anyone who has an interest in travelling or has travelled themselves in any capacity will be able to relate to this on some level. It's terrifying, brilliant and brutally honest.
*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
A quote that I've never heard before but is perfect for this book and the nostalgic feeling for travel that it stirred in me. This collection of travel essays will make you cringe, laugh and shock you with its realness (that's a thing, right?) This is not a sort of travel guide that will advise you on the "must-see" sights of each place, but instead tells the story of Robert's journey into self acceptance and happiness.
The book is not structured in chronological order which, lent itself beautifully to Robert's chaotic emotions. Anyone who has an interest in travelling or has travelled themselves in any capacity will be able to relate to this on some level. It's terrifying, brilliant and brutally honest.
*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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