Scan barcode
tracy_land's review against another edition
3.0
I read this on the recommendation of a trusted book friend. It was ok. As an experienced traveler, I had some issues with the writer and her "nomadic" travels. Who stands around a hotel lobby looking for strangers to eat dinner with because the thought of eating alone is so abhorrent? And some of her interactions with travelers along the way were, truthfully, a little hard for me to believe knowing the behaviors of seasoned travelers. As someone who has lived in other countries, I had issues with some of the ways she viewed the locals in the countries where she spent longer amounts of time. They were quite transactional to her. A "What can they do for me?" type of thinking. As someone who would live a "nomadic" life of sorts if the circumstances were right (Come to think of it...there was a 5 year period in my 20s where I could have been classified as a nomad for sure.), I wasn't awed by the fact that she picked up her life and did this. I was more interested in how it widened her perspective of the world. And at the end it felt like a toss up. As a specific note, her time in Bali and identifying with a spiritual-ness that isn't respected in the western world spoke to me quite strongly. I am sure if I spent time there respecting the earth and one's ancestors, I would find what is truly spiritual for me, too.
altosax's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
As one who has traveled all over the world, I had to shake my head in astonishment at parts of this story. While quite often people of other cultures are kind and welcoming, traveling the countryside alone as a woman is never the best choice. It’s reckless and dangerous, and author Rita Golden Gelman was fortunate not to meet with any mishaps. Throughout the book she relies often on the decency of strangers to ensure that she is not led astray, though she does gradually become more cautious regarding the risks of a woman traveling alone, and fortunately she never suffers any serious misadventure. When she began her journey it was the mid-80s, and perhaps this, as much as anything else, speaks to what a different time that was.
And frankly, her initial attempts at “field work” in “anthropology” are off putting. The absolute peak of colonial white privilege is to insert yourself into an impoverished culture such as those featured in this book with absolutely zero research or preparation. Zero consideration for the fact that these people are allowing you to stay because they are starving and need the money. A little over a third of the way through the book, after three years of roaming and as she prepares to travel to Indonesia, she finally asks about customs prior to her departure, and it becomes apparent that she has finally learned, or is learning, to respect the cultures she visits.
There was a lot about this book that I found uncomfortable. While I do believe that the author had the best of intentions, and in the long run she likely caused no lasting harm, her travels often took her to places she had not been invited. And she assumed that because the people were kind and open and hospitable, she was welcome, often staying for weeks or months. It never seems to have occurred to her that in many cultures hospitality is an obligation. While she clearly made an effort to blend in and become a part of each of the communities she visited, I do not see that there is much difference between her and the missionaries she thinks so poorly of.
I will admit that my perception is most likely colored by my own ancestral history. But I would point out the fact that this author selected developing countries for her travels specifically because the people were in need and her available funds would go further. Unintentional or not, this is entitlement and exploitation. The very least she could have done was to secure invitations prior to inserting herself into these communities, and not once in the course of this book does she seem to question the appropriateness of her actions.
I read this book as part of a challenge. When I was selecting it I had narrowed my options to two travel books written by women and I flipped a coin to finalize the selection. I won’t know for certain until I read the other book, but I’m not so certain that coin landed in my favor with this one. I finished the book, because I wanted to give the author a fair chance and see if she wised up. She never did, and I came away from the book irritated.
jonimaree's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed Rita's journey as a discovery of self in new cultures ( especially loved Spanish and Asian). However, about 3/4 way through the book, no new and interesting characters were introduced. I soon became bored with Rita and her self centeredness. I love the idea of remaking a life while exploring the world, though. I wish Rita well.
lisa_ye's review against another edition
2.0
The author traveled to so many places that I want to visit. She left her "normal" life at the age of 47 and traveled the world. Who doesn't dream about doing that? I have so many countries that I want to visit but responsibilities to my family seem to get in the way every time. I liked hearing that she took off to travel the world. I liked that she made an effort to participate in the everyday life of each place she lived in. She didn't stay in hotels and remain a tourist. However, she also pushed herself into people's lives and justified it by saying they are kind and wanted to feed and house her and she repaid them by teaching them English and giving them a children's book that she wrote. She makes a big point (continuously) about not wanting to eat alone, which really surprised me, considering she was traveling alone. She makes a big point of mentioning that every place she travels to has a family who considers her to be a part of the community and to be part of their family. She repeats this as a mantra. It is almost like she is convincing herself or trying to convince the reader that she is loved everywhere. I didn't like the portions of the book that tried to convince us that she is an amazing person. I did enjoy hearing about the travels and the food. She was able to pull this off because she was already a children's book author, so she could continue this work and still make an income. She was able to live a life she really wanted which was amazing.
supertalya's review against another edition
4.0
Rita Goldman Gelman, an accomplished children's book writer and the wife and mother of two grown children, decides that she does not want the privileged life she has. For the next fifteen years she travels the world, learning Spanish in Mexico to living in a royal palace in Bali. She has the most amazing adventures. I felt so connected to the author that I felt like I was there during her adventures and mis-adventures. Not every escapade that Rita went through was positive and that is what I loved about the travelogue, it was real. I have traveled alone as a woman, and I know how difficult it can be. I recommend this book to any woman who have a desire to travel the world.
randomname7's review against another edition
4.0
Great book for the nomad in all of us... even if it's only a nomad of the mind.
eclipse27's review against another edition
4.0
Great book for the nomad in all of us... even if it's only a nomad of the mind.
amymadd's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. Definitely got me excited to get traveling again.
ehaase's review against another edition
5.0
Inspiring and terrifying--a recently divorced middle-aged woman tells her true story of giving up everything to travel around the world for years, living on the kindness of others (and royalties from her writing). Inspiring, because she shows that you don't have to be rich or athletic or a man or have the top-of-the-line backpacking equipment to enjoy the best places on earth. Terrifying, because as my study abroad program did a few years before this, it made me unsatisfied with life-as-usual, to want to just pick up and go, leaving everything behind. This book made me terribly jealous.
hannibal812's review against another edition
4.0
This was a really fun read about starting over and LIVING your life as a participant. Live your life as a HUMAN and not an American. Smile more, say YES to trying everything life has to offer. A great reminder that you can't take it with you and that you don't need a big house full of stuff. We need so little to live a full rewarding life that can impact others and sometimes make a difference in many peoples lives. From my University President, Minor Myers, Jr.: “Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.”