Today’s Whatcha’ Readin’ Wednesday takes a look at “Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World” by Rita Golden Gelman.
I started this book with great enthusiasm. I had already read “Female Nomad and Friends”, which was a collection of food-centered travel vignettes (written by other women, but assembled by Ms. Gelman) and quite enjoyed it. I knew the first book didn’t have the food theme but I was anticipating a very pleasurable read when I opened to the first page.
Aaaannnnd…
*m’eh*
It’s certainly not an unpleasant read. I didn’t have to struggle to make myself finish it, by any means…, but I also wasn’t as wowed as I’d expected to be.
Let’s back up a little.
The (true) story is that Rita Golden Gelman’s marriage was falling apart. During their trial separation, she decided to travel to Mexico for two months - but she didn’t simply hit the tourist spots. She traveled deep into the country and lived in a small village with a family. (Kind of in their shed, but still…)
This is the beginning of what will become a most marvelous adventure of a life.
Her marriage ends, she sells home and goods, and off she goes, to explore the world!
Guatemala, Nicaragua, Israel, the Galapagos Islands, Borneo, Canada, Bali, New Zealand, Thailand... Gelman documents many, many extraordinary experiences.
In a lot of ways, it really is inspiring.
Wouldn’t you think I’d love it?
There were just too many little things that didn’t work for me, however.
For one thing, it turns out that Ms. Gelman was an established children’s book writer, able to work from anywhere… and still get paid. I’m not making light of the fact that she had the gumption and willingness to live an unfettered, nomadic life — but she didn't have the money worries that most of us would have to, and that took away some of the magic for me.
(Which is probably an unfair quibble but the pitch was for a "free spirit throwing it all over and figuring it out as she goes" sort of adventure story. To find out that the free spirit had a steady (and fairly reasonable) income throughout her travels was, frankly, a letdown.)
Secondly, I thought that a number of the chapters needed more time in editing. The stories just sort of… ended. Not even “petered out”, just ended. They felt like, “I did this, then I did this, then this happened, then that, then I left.” Granted, that’s how life is, but that’s not how a story should be. (At least, not the ones I like to read.) Gelman had a HUGE scope of adventures to work with. If one approach for each journey didn't pan out nicely, surely there was another one that would have... But she chose instead to leave me with many moments of “yeah, and…?” as I finished a chapter. *bah*
Finally, I couldn’t love the book because I simply didn’t warm to any of the characters. Yes, it’s a travel/adventure chronicle but nobody was presented as anyone I’d enjoy traveling with... Gelman had such success at getting to know the locals and forming tight bonds with them that you have to believe she must be a warm, likable person.
I would have liked to have been shown that woman…
Over all, this book was a disappointment for me, probably because I had such high expectations when I started. But I just couldn't get past the fact that although I could see the adventures, I was never really drawn into them - and I thought that was a shame.
Anyone have a different experience of this?
