Author: Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett, and Amanda Pressner
Format: Paperback
Published: Harper Paperbacks: Apr. 2011
Pages: 560
Genre: Travel memoir
Rating: B
Source: TLC Book Tours
Synopsis: Friends Pressner, Baggett, and Corbett were all busy climbing the corporate ladder of Manhattan media when they realized that, in their late twenties, they weren't sure they wanted the golden handcuffs of New York success. Reprioritizing, they decide on a rebellious, extreme course of action: quit their jobs, abandon their boyfriends, and take a year-long trip around the world. In this group memoir, the three take turns chronicling a journey from Peru to Kenya to Vietnam to Australia, and everywhere in between. Though they don't always get along, the three learn to rely on each other, keep their minds open and throw themselves enthusiastically after every adventure that comes their way.
My Take: I was so excited to be able to read the book. Sure the idea of taking a year off to really assess my life appeals to me, but more than that I am about to (God I don't even want to say this!) turn 30 in a few months and am planning a large trip around my birthday with my boyfriend to some place I've never been so that I can do things I've never done (and also lay on the beach awhile!). So yeah, I must say, I wanted to read this! I felt like I could relate!
This book was a true story alternately told from three women's point of views: Jennifer, Holly, and Amanda. These ladies were friends who had great jobs and lived in New York but felt that something from their lives were missing. They loved to travel and knew they travelled well together (always important to know that about yourselves ahead of time!) and so decided to hatch a plan to travel around the world. This is a bold move. It's one thing to leave for a couple of weeks or a month even, but a year? This is your life you are talking about. When you are in your late twenties and in this economy it's not like you can have a guaranteed job when you return. You will leave all of your friends behind and if you have a relationship, well that's a serious discussion you are going to have to have. These women were willing to weigh their options and decide that it was worth it. They wanted to go for it. This is what they wanted out of life. There is something incredibly admirable about it and totally worth reading for that reason alone.
So the journey begins. We get to travel with them through South America, Africa, India, Australia and New Zealand. They figured they could get farther on their money by going to countries that were generally third world or cheaper and pick up work if they needed. They had some bucket list items they wanted to be sure to knock off on their trip, and the rest, they were just going to roll with!
The story was very easy to read and it didn't matter whose point of view it was being told from, Amanda, Jennifer or Holly, it all virtually read the same. Whatever country they were in the story was very interesting and you could tell the women were growing and learning more about themselves and each other. The only thing was it did get a little repetitive after awhile. It was a long book and they constantly wanted to hammer it home how unusual it was, and how wonderful they were, for having done this. It got a little old, this whole self-horn tooting. There were also chapters that were more rewarding introspectively and those I related to more, say Kenya and India then the ones that were about partying, say South America as a whole and I felt that's not really what I was looking for.
Were these women's lives totally changed by this experience? I think it's more they discovered they wanted something different out of life in the end, not so much that they were different women. I do believe books find us at certain times in our life, I've said this before and I'll keep saying it, and I did enjoy going on this journey with these three women at this time in my life.
Cover Lust: This cover totally made me want to go on a vacation ... now! It is the perfect cover for this book!
For more opinions about this book, you can check out the full TLC Tour Schedule here:
Tuesday, April 26th: Book Journey
Wednesday, April 27th: A Bookish Way of Life
Monday, May 2nd: Book Club Classics!
Wednesday, May 4th: Reading on a Rainy Day
Thursday, May 5th: Write Meg
Tuesday, May 10th: 2 Kids and Tired Book Reviews
Tuesday, May 10th: Books in the City
Wednesday, May 11th: Good Girl Gone Redneck
Thursday, May 12th: My Reading Room
Friday, May 13th: Amused By Books
Monday, May 16th: The House of the Seven Tails
Tuesday, May 17th: Books Like Breathing
Wednesday, May 18th: Steph and Tony Investigate
wow, interesting read, but I must agree that I get a little annoyed when you read a book and they are obviously patting themselves on their back for job well done.
ReplyDeleteIt does not make me wanna read it, but it does make me wanna go on a vacation, cos that cover is wonderful
ReplyDeleteSo where are you going for your big trip?
ReplyDeleteI never did any big trips to mark any milestones. I sort of wish I had but money was tight then and it's tight now and with the kids and all, airfare for a family of four is tough to swing.
If I make any big, adventurous trips it will be after the kids are both grown.
I love the idea of this book. Of course, I love the idea of just being able to leave it all and do it. Since I know that's not going to happen reading about someone else doing it may just be fun.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to take a year off to travel. This books sounds like a fun and inspirational read.
ReplyDeleteOn one hand, you have me interested enough to at least explore other reviews on tour. On the other hand - bleh. I would rather do it all myself than read one more book on how somebody else did something I want to do.
ReplyDeletebut YOU, have a great trip!!!!
Ti - We are looking into going to Bali and I am seriously excited about the possibility!
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice to take a year off to travel, learn and reflect. I know that will never happen for me so maybe reading the book is a way to do it in a different way. this does sound like it would be a wonderful read.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you for your upcoming trip! Sounds like this was the perfect time to pick up a book like this one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour. I enjoyed seeing what you thought of the book!
This does sound like the perfect book for you right now. I hope you get to go somewhere fabulous for your 30th birthday!
ReplyDeleteI liked this book for many of the same reasons you did and I was especially impressed by their willingness to leave it all behind - I don't think I have the guts for that but wish I did!
ReplyDeleteI see you are considering Bali - I went a few years ago and LOVED it! Let me know if you need any hotel recommendations - I really like both places we stayed while there. It truly is paradise- a great way to mark a milestone bday!