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A review by peixinhodeprata
Travels with Myself and Another by Martha Gellhorn
4.0
This book was recommended to me as a travel book. And yet I cannot think of another book more capable of dissuading us of ever leaving the conforts of our home, as it is solely based on "horrour journeys". The Russia chapter is a particularly good example of this, even knowing the author made this journey during the iron curtain times.
Despite all the horrid descriptions, it was an amazing book written by an amazing person.
She experienced China and Africa when they were "unspoiled" by the globalization, with all the good and bad things that come out of it. She did see these countries in crucial times of their history, met interesting and role defining people, and lead a full life.
Even if one can no longer stumble accross elephantes, rhinos and hippos at every corner of West Africa, it is still mesmerizing to read about it from someone who experienced it first hand, and is humble enough to tell you the truth about the journey and not only the romaticized version.
One of the last chapter's, called "What Bores Whom?" makes a fairly accurate depiction of what I find interesting in travelling and what bores me to death, which can be much different from person to person.
It is a book well worth reading, and I also recommend reading about the life of this very interesting woman.
Here are two of my favourite quotes:
I think I was born with a weak memory as one can be born with a weak heart or weak ankles. I forget places, people, events and books as fast as I read them. All the magnificent scenery, the greatest joy of travel, blurs. As to dates - What year? What month? - the situation is hopeless. I am still waiting for the promissed time, said to arrive with advancing age, when you forget what you ate for breakfast but the past becomes brilliantly clear, like a personal son et lumière.
---
I don't own a car because I don't need one. I regard the getting and keeping (and the upkeeping) of possessions as a waste of life. No one can be wholy free but one can be freer, and the easiest trap to open is the possessions trap. I have the things I require and neither covet nor collect from choice. Or rather I only covet airfares and would not say no to a season pass on all airlines.
Recommended to all the travelling addicts, and everyone who likes to history.
Despite all the horrid descriptions, it was an amazing book written by an amazing person.
She experienced China and Africa when they were "unspoiled" by the globalization, with all the good and bad things that come out of it. She did see these countries in crucial times of their history, met interesting and role defining people, and lead a full life.
Even if one can no longer stumble accross elephantes, rhinos and hippos at every corner of West Africa, it is still mesmerizing to read about it from someone who experienced it first hand, and is humble enough to tell you the truth about the journey and not only the romaticized version.
One of the last chapter's, called "What Bores Whom?" makes a fairly accurate depiction of what I find interesting in travelling and what bores me to death, which can be much different from person to person.
It is a book well worth reading, and I also recommend reading about the life of this very interesting woman.
Here are two of my favourite quotes:
I think I was born with a weak memory as one can be born with a weak heart or weak ankles. I forget places, people, events and books as fast as I read them. All the magnificent scenery, the greatest joy of travel, blurs. As to dates - What year? What month? - the situation is hopeless. I am still waiting for the promissed time, said to arrive with advancing age, when you forget what you ate for breakfast but the past becomes brilliantly clear, like a personal son et lumière.
---
I don't own a car because I don't need one. I regard the getting and keeping (and the upkeeping) of possessions as a waste of life. No one can be wholy free but one can be freer, and the easiest trap to open is the possessions trap. I have the things I require and neither covet nor collect from choice. Or rather I only covet airfares and would not say no to a season pass on all airlines.
Recommended to all the travelling addicts, and everyone who likes to history.