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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
This was a fast read: funny, and ultimately somewhat disappointing. Newman's travel stories focus on self-deprecating and bodily humor while occasionally touching on issues of self-esteem, commitment, and the narrowing availability of choices we face as we age. I wasn't looking for a political tract or a self-help novel, and this is my first foray into the modern travel memoir -- I've happily managed to avoid Eat, Pray, Love so far -- but I was surprised by how shallow I found this to be.
The near-complete silence in this book regarding money was also striking. I know that finances are personal, but so is sex, and there was lot of that in here. My best guess is that sex can easily be funny, whereas money is rarely made the subject of a joke by anyone who suspects they have more than the people they're talking to. (I should disclaim that like the author, I'm coming from a WASP-y American perspective; comfort levels with that humor could vary across cultures.) Perhaps Newman saw no value in including such an seemingly unfunny subject in what is meant to be, and is, a funny book.
Still, I know I'm not the only person who reads about trips and says -- okay, but how did they afford it? How did money affect them, if at all? As far as having "hobbies" or "experiences" go, travel is expensive. I don't want to see a W2, but a certain acknowledgement of finance would have been honest and reflective of the overall tone of the memoir.
The near-complete silence in this book regarding money was also striking. I know that finances are personal, but so is sex, and there was lot of that in here. My best guess is that sex can easily be funny, whereas money is rarely made the subject of a joke by anyone who suspects they have more than the people they're talking to. (I should disclaim that like the author, I'm coming from a WASP-y American perspective; comfort levels with that humor could vary across cultures.) Perhaps Newman saw no value in including such an seemingly unfunny subject in what is meant to be, and is, a funny book.
Still, I know I'm not the only person who reads about trips and says -- okay, but how did they afford it? How did money affect them, if at all? As far as having "hobbies" or "experiences" go, travel is expensive. I don't want to see a W2, but a certain acknowledgement of finance would have been honest and reflective of the overall tone of the memoir.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Only for the travelers and those pining to be a traveler..
And if you haven't had at least one "vactionship" (as Kristin refers to it), I'd question whether you are truly a traveler.. and question you picking up this book.
And if you haven't had at least one "vactionship" (as Kristin refers to it), I'd question whether you are truly a traveler.. and question you picking up this book.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
I know this was a memoir, but I struggled to find the point of it. I respect her story of struggling between wanting to be single while also wanting a partner, but the book didn’t do much for me.
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Newman’s was the first book I bought in a genre I’m dubbing “burnt out woman ditches life to rediscover herself by traveling.”
Hearing her stories excites and encourages me to make and write about my own.
Hearing her stories excites and encourages me to make and write about my own.
I had been waiting to read this book a long time and had really high hopes for this book as a result.
I found myself enjoying the book and laughing out loud while reading at points but the reality is, this book isn’t really about being childless and wild; it’s about wishing you were not where you are in life and being devastated by your own reality that you’ve created. As someone who often solo travels and has no desire for children, I really hoped to read a story of a woman who felt the same but instead I read the story of a woman who decided to travel instead of marry and have kids until later in life. Which is perfectly fine, it just wasn’t what I had thought the book would be about.
The book did however make me question my own relationships and intents with holding onto people in my life instead of letting them go, and for that I will say it is absolutely worth reading if you’re asking yourself the big questions. The book also made me more certain about my desire fo travel to certain places named in the book.
I found myself enjoying the book and laughing out loud while reading at points but the reality is, this book isn’t really about being childless and wild; it’s about wishing you were not where you are in life and being devastated by your own reality that you’ve created. As someone who often solo travels and has no desire for children, I really hoped to read a story of a woman who felt the same but instead I read the story of a woman who decided to travel instead of marry and have kids until later in life. Which is perfectly fine, it just wasn’t what I had thought the book would be about.
The book did however make me question my own relationships and intents with holding onto people in my life instead of letting them go, and for that I will say it is absolutely worth reading if you’re asking yourself the big questions. The book also made me more certain about my desire fo travel to certain places named in the book.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
“Trading awesome for awesome.”
I thought I would connect with this book so much more, and I think I would have more in my 20s. Still, I respect and appreciate the single gal, childless woman sharing her story without shame. And good for Kristin Newman for finding a career that allowed her to truly live up her single life, traveling around the world and diving into any experience thrown her way!
Her story ends with finding her own little family and life lessons—trading awesome for awesome that just happened to include the single life longer than all of her friends!
I'm not one to outwardly show enjoyment often, but I laughed aloud on more than one occasion reading this book-- in the break room at work, on the train, wherever I happened to be. It's hilarious, deep, bawdy, honest, and relatable. It will make you want to be her, or at least be her friend so you can get invited on all her trips.
She outlines her rules for good travelling, and I like to think I follow at least most of them (add later).
She outlines her rules for good travelling, and I like to think I follow at least most of them (add later).