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A review by jr2234
Displacement: A Travelogue by Lucy Knisley
2.0
To start with what I did enjoy, the illustrations in this are lovely and vibrant. It was the writing I didn’t enjoy. The author was reflecting on what seemed a profound experience for her, but it wasn’t necessarily unique in the way she reflected on it.
I was disappointed that the author’s reflection lacked any semblance of empathy for other individuals. There are many examples, but to give one, near the book’s end, the author requests a seat next to her “grands” on an airplane despite not having reserved the seat. The man already seated refuses to move and the author immediately assumes him to be self-centered and rude. Could there be another explanation? Perhaps this man had a bad hip that made it hard to move. Perhaps he was having a bad day himself or wasn’t feeling well.
The author’s default, in this and all other situations, from the beginning of the book to the end, is to assume her situation is the most difficult and that others are selfish and rude. Her writing, I think, would benefit from stepping outside that lens.
I was disappointed that the author’s reflection lacked any semblance of empathy for other individuals. There are many examples, but to give one, near the book’s end, the author requests a seat next to her “grands” on an airplane despite not having reserved the seat. The man already seated refuses to move and the author immediately assumes him to be self-centered and rude. Could there be another explanation? Perhaps this man had a bad hip that made it hard to move. Perhaps he was having a bad day himself or wasn’t feeling well.
The author’s default, in this and all other situations, from the beginning of the book to the end, is to assume her situation is the most difficult and that others are selfish and rude. Her writing, I think, would benefit from stepping outside that lens.