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A review by toniclark
At Home in the World: Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe by Tsh Oxenreider
3.0
3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this travel memoir, a most interesting journey around the world with three children (ages 4, 6, and 10) in tow. I enjoyed the format and style of the book, hearing about the countries visited, the people encountered, the ups and downs, foods eaten, friends made, and all the novelties and pleasures, from Australia to Zambia. So many wonders and exotic locales. There were difficulties, too — long flights, jet lag, being overtired — but nothing too serious. A few lost items, some barfing, one small accident (resulting in two chipped teeth). Overall, everyone fared really well. I wish there’d been more detail about some of the countries, especially later in the book. I was looking forward to hearing about France and was just getting into the chapter when, vroom, they were off to Italy. Considering that this book covered nine months of travel, it could have been considerably longer.
I also appreciated the way the book led me to muse on the nature of home and, as one reader here put it, the tension between wanderlust and the comforts of cozy hominess. Oxenreider does justice to both of them. And she’s a good storyteller.
The God-talk irritated me. Most of the time, it’s not excessive, but Oxenreider was on a “spiritual quest.” Whatever. . . . I’m perfectly capable of appreciating natural beauty, cultural variety, and human kindness without the need to credit a Creator or see any of it as a manifestation of God’s divinity.
I listened to the audiobook, which is very well narrated by Oxenreider, herself. Occasionally, she mispronounces words (e.g., mores rhymes with forays, not doors) or gives an intransitive verb a direct object. This always threw me a bit. Sometimes it derailed me long enough to miss the rest of the sentence. But as narrators go, she’s pretty good and moves right along. Some audiobook narrators are too slow.
I also appreciated the way the book led me to muse on the nature of home and, as one reader here put it, the tension between wanderlust and the comforts of cozy hominess. Oxenreider does justice to both of them. And she’s a good storyteller.
The God-talk irritated me. Most of the time, it’s not excessive, but Oxenreider was on a “spiritual quest.” Whatever. . . . I’m perfectly capable of appreciating natural beauty, cultural variety, and human kindness without the need to credit a Creator or see any of it as a manifestation of God’s divinity.
I listened to the audiobook, which is very well narrated by Oxenreider, herself. Occasionally, she mispronounces words (e.g., mores rhymes with forays, not doors) or gives an intransitive verb a direct object. This always threw me a bit. Sometimes it derailed me long enough to miss the rest of the sentence. But as narrators go, she’s pretty good and moves right along. Some audiobook narrators are too slow.