Author: Rachel Friedman
Published: March 29, 2011
Genre: travel, memoir
Paperback: 320 pages
Source: personal copy
My Rating: 4 stars
Synopsis (from GoodReads): Rachel Friedman has always been the consummate good girl who does well in school and plays it safe, so the college grad surprises no one more than herself when, on a whim (and in an effort to escape impending life decisions), she buys a ticket to Ireland, a place she has never visited. There she forms an unlikely bond with a free-spirited Australian girl, a born adventurer who spurs Rachel on to a yearlong odyssey that takes her to three continents, fills her life with newfound friends, and gives birth to a previously unrealized passion for adventure. As her journey takes her to Australia and South America, Rachel discovers and embraces her love of travel and unlocks more truths about herself than she ever realized she was seeking. Along the way, the erstwhile good girl finally learns to do something she’s never done before: simply live for the moment.
My Thoughts: While reading Rachel Friedman's travelogue about her adventures in Ireland, Australia, and South America, there were several times where I found myself packing my bags, about to jet off on my own adventure. Friedman writes very casually, describing her experiences in each place. While she does talk about the places that she's in, this book isn't focusing on the locations as much as it is Friedman discovering who she is and what she wants in life. It's her personal journey that makes this book so good and how she tells it that makes me wish that the book were longer (or that she will publish another book in the future!)
It is difficult to write reviews for memoirs because I find it impossible to judge someone's experiences with something. For me, this was a great book that had me captivated and longing to plan a trip abroad, to go and see more of this world. If you enjoy travel memoirs, are a fan of Bill Bryson, or just looking for something to pull you out of a reading rut, then I would definitely recommend this book. It will make you feel as if you are going to all of these places without having to leave your hometown.
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