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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Frankly, I was not expecting to like this book as much as I do. The inevitable tensions manifest precisely as we would expect, but the authenticity and genuine compassion of both characters and of the writing see a treatment of those tensions that I found quite compelling. This book meets my "will probably read it again" rating - I hope to read more by Clara, and hopefully more tales from her no-baggage journeys. I am inspired ...
No Baggage was an insightful about how an adventure has many twists and turns and the last thing you might need to worry about is what you packed. If I implemented one idea from this book right now, it would be to pack less and experience more on trips. The weight of suitcases only makes travel more difficult. I would describe the book to a friend as a reminder that we can live with less and experience more.
a sweet light little memoir about traveling with nothing but the clothes on your back with a madman while battling existential woe and anxiety disorder.
This travel memoir is so different from anything I've read before. When I think about it, I enjoyed the personal development of the author far more than the actual travel. She met someone on OKCupid and left with him just weeks later on a 3 week trip beginning in Istanbul, with no luggage, no reservations, and no commitments. It is a unique tale.
The other reviews that I read praised Clara for her bravery, for eschewing luggage and all the paraphernalia that one brings on vacation. Actually as you read the book and think about it, that is the easiest way to travel and I'm surprised that most people don't travel that way. I applaud her bravery on just getting over a two year bout of psychological issues, with dropping everything in her life, meeting a new man and just taking off without being paralyzed by fear that while thousands of miles away she might relapse. This is a book well worth reading.
I can't remember if someone had recommended "No Baggage" to me, or I had been referred by other means, but the connection that I had with this book is quite peculiar. Within 10 minutes of reading the book, I recognized the story as one that I had originally read in Salon magazine a couple years prior. The interesting thing about this story, is that I had come to know Jeff, one of the main protagonists, through couchsurfing about 8 years prior. And even more peculiar, it seems that I came across this book at a time when I'm questioning my own trajectory and goals in life. Coincidence is a theme in this book, one that I feel I understand in questioning various connections in my life.
To start, this is less of a travel memoir, and more of an analysis of a burgeoning romance and navigation of a modern day relationship against the turmoil of one's own baggage. To be brutally honest, I wanted to rate the book more at 3.5 leaning toward 3.75 as I found some of the relationship analysis to be somewhat repetitive and boring after awhile. However, the story and concept is pretty unique from my perspective. I quite enjoyed the uncertainty of the adventure. Her introverted personality really resonated with me at times.
While the novel isn't perfect by any means, Clara has a way of stringing together thoughts that are interesting and lively. Her story is inspiring as it will encourage even the most broken and uncertain to throw off the shackles that bind us, and reach out for adventure.
To start, this is less of a travel memoir, and more of an analysis of a burgeoning romance and navigation of a modern day relationship against the turmoil of one's own baggage. To be brutally honest, I wanted to rate the book more at 3.5 leaning toward 3.75 as I found some of the relationship analysis to be somewhat repetitive and boring after awhile. However, the story and concept is pretty unique from my perspective. I quite enjoyed the uncertainty of the adventure. Her introverted personality really resonated with me at times.
While the novel isn't perfect by any means, Clara has a way of stringing together thoughts that are interesting and lively. Her story is inspiring as it will encourage even the most broken and uncertain to throw off the shackles that bind us, and reach out for adventure.
A fun read... and made me really want to plan another trip to Europe, ASAP!
slow-paced
Loved loved loved this book & her writing style. Keep traveling and putting it down on paper.