73. Tales of a Female Nomad

Rita Golden Gelman. 2001.

When I travel, I love finding a couple of memoirs or novels based in the place I am visiting.  It is one of my favorite things to do.  So, when I recently went to the Galapagos Islands on a trip to celebrate my 25th wedding anniversary, I went searching for something to read and this came up.  I started it on the trip, but changed my mind a few minutes in since it is a memoir about a woman my age who gets divorces, gets rid of everything she owns, and leaves the States to live in developing counties (with stops in Vancouver BC, Seattle, and New Zealand).  I decided that might not the best read for that trip, but when I got back, I picked it back up again and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it when I did.  At the start I was worried it was going to feel narcissistic or be focused on her processing the horrors of capitalism and the institution of marriage in ways that were neither interesting, nor original.  But that was not what this was at all.  Instead, it was a pretty traditional travel log, but written by someone who really wanted to experience the world and different cultures.  Her goal was to connect with people, not as a tourist or even as an expat.  I was shocked at the things she ate and did, but impressed by how her willingness to do that gave her access to communities and families that would not otherwise have welcomed her.  I ended really loving the book.


Recommend.

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