In 1978 Eric Hansen found himself shipwrecked on a desert island in the Red Sea. When goat smugglers offered him safe passage to Yemen, he buried s...
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reviews
Dec 08, 2011
Scott
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In 1978 Eric Hansen was shipwrecked on a tiny island off the coast of northern Yemen. While his fellow castaways frolicked carelessly in their new-found playground, Hansen worried over who in these troubled waters might eventually rescue them. Pirates and terrorists topped his list; so, he decided to bury his most valued possessions — travel journals recording a decade of vagabondage — deep in the sand. When deliverance in the form of Eritrean goat smugglers finally arrived, Hansen thought it be
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May 07, 2009
Beatles24
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One of THE best travelogs I have ever read. Hansen travels through Yemen in search of his lost travel logs from an earlier visit. I was absolutely in awe of the nuanced description of life in Yemen - replete with the usual cultural markers. There is this one piece (just to give you one example among the many) in the book about an Arab funeral which was narrated with such heart and passion. At the end of the funeral, while he does not grieve for the person for whom the funeral was held, he end
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Dec 31, 2011
Michael
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Despite more than a passing interest in geography, in places, and in the varieties of human experience, I’ve never been a big fan of travel writing. Part of the problem may just be that I am not crazy about travel itself. Travel broadens, as we all know, but it also narrows: a traveler generally travels to places that appeal to his or her interests and beliefs, and then concludes from this experience that the world is more or less in line with what was expected.
Then too, the reports More...
Then too, the reports More...
Apr 12, 2010
Brittanie
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Less a linear travel novel than a collection of stories and adventures, but many of Hansen's descriptions reminded me of my own absurd and picaresque adventures in Korea. There are some flaws in his storytelling style but they are easy to overlook. The book also made me think differently about Yemen, though I'm sure the country has changed considerable since the last time Hansen was there, nearly 20 years ago. Will definitely be seeking out his book about walking through the jungles of Borneo.
Feb 10, 2009
Leigh-ann
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I didn't find this book quite as exciting as Hansen's "Stranger in the Forest", but I think that's because I'm biased towards stories which feature a lot of flora and fauna. In his travels across Yemen, Hansen encounters a lot more humans than exotic species of lemurs, but I have to admit that the humans were pretty interesting (even without ringed tails and big, adorable eyes). I learned a great deal about life in this part of the world, and would be willing to continue reading on t
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Dec 13, 2010
Sharazade
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Travel writing at its best--plenty of cultural insights and details, and an engaging (and humorous) story to boot; several engaging stories, actually, since the book covers two separate journeys to Yemen 10 years apart.
I've been to Yemen, and his observations rang true to me--qat chewers, bureaucrats & their regulations, oddball expats, desert landscapes, islands, the remarkable Yemeni hospitality.
I've been to Yemen, and his observations rang true to me--qat chewers, bureaucrats & their regulations, oddball expats, desert landscapes, islands, the remarkable Yemeni hospitality.
Jan 12, 2009
bookczuk
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A fine little armchair travel, though I did find myself skimming a good bit of the book, just dipping in here or there for little tastes that interested me.
Being a journal keeper and also being in the process of going back over my old journals, I think that I, too, might have made the journey, but only to save myself the mortification of thinking that someone else might read my drivel!
Being a journal keeper and also being in the process of going back over my old journals, I think that I, too, might have made the journey, but only to save myself the mortification of thinking that someone else might read my drivel!
Nov 08, 2010
Diane
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Sometimes I really enjoyed this book. Since I know nothing about Yemen, it was very interesting. I kept wondering how much the country may have changed since 1991 when the book was first published. THe author's experiences certainly do not sound like these people are part of the "evil empire" at all, but generally welcoming and fun loving. One of my favorite lines refers to being able to solve a dispute with a poetry contest in the old days. But sometimes I was frustrated with the
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Jun 10, 2010
Barbara
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The saga of an adventurer attempting to return to his buried notebooks of previous travel at the site of a shipwreck in Yemen. Along the way, he meets many memorable characters and the reader is introduced to Yemen, its history, culture, food, and sights.
Jan 10, 2012
Becky
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An excellent travelogue of a country and culture I know little about (other than the negative rapport from the US media). A fascinating journey that spans a decade and encounters things most of us can't even imagine, much less dream of ever experiencing. I wonder how much has changed since 1989.
Jan 07, 2010
Rupert
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Incredibly lyrical and poetic travel writing. Although this book might be more truly called true adventure since most of it deals with a modern day shipwreck in Yemen and searching for long buried journals.
Jan 24, 2011
Dave
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A good travel book, like a kinder, gentler Rory Stewart "The Places In Between." A glimpse of a disappearing human landscape. However, after reading this, I fell no compulsion to travel to Yemen.
Jul 07, 2011
Patty "Need to Read"
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Seems to "gilligans island" to be true. A fairly modern day shipwreck? Really? And in the middle of the Yemen adventures I decided that no journal was worth this amount of trouble. Interesting look however into a country rarely heard from or about in mainstream media. A quick read worth quickly reading.
Apr 18, 2010
Britaini
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What a great insight into Yemen from a point of view that was a true travel experience. It makes me want to learn more about this beautiful old country
Jan 17, 2009
Michelle
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A really funny travelogue about a place I almost never hear about. It recently kept me amused through 10 hours of airplanes and airports.
Jul 07, 2011
Nancy
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A fun read that allows a glimpse into a different culture from an author who obviously repects and appreciates the variety of human expression.
Jan 17, 2008
L.J.
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Good travel essay as the writer crafts a unique story about his wayward journey in the Red Sea. Because there is not very many travel books coming out of this region it is one of the finest I have found, dated now as most of the events occured back 30 years ago but still entertaining. I thought he was very persuasive about getting to know his hosts and his likes of the Yemeni people and their culture. Not heavy on historical or cultural facts but it is a good first person account of the customs
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Aug 12, 2009
Kimberlyn
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a true story of a man's adventures in Yemin. Very truthful and interesting
Sep 22, 2007
Jen
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A friend recommended this book by Eric Hansen for a trip to Indonesia -- I was supposed to have picked up his 'Stranger in the Forest', but aboard the plane was 'stuck' with a story about a boondoggle shipwreck with buddies in the 70s in Yemen, and happily so. Supposedly true of all Hansen's books -- he seeks adventure in order to write about it. Great dose of humor made this my favorite travel book so far.
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Jan 29, 2012
Tom
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Wow - Just back from a camping trip in Oman, my first real taste of the middle east, reading this just makes me want more...
A chap sails from the maldives, gets stranded off Yemen, gets rescued by Ethiopian goat smugglers and returns to Yemen 10 years later to try and locate his travel journals (from his 7 years of travelling) that he buried on the beach when he was rescued.
Travel writing at its very best, insightful, philosophical, emphatic,informative and above all pret More...
A chap sails from the maldives, gets stranded off Yemen, gets rescued by Ethiopian goat smugglers and returns to Yemen 10 years later to try and locate his travel journals (from his 7 years of travelling) that he buried on the beach when he was rescued.
Travel writing at its very best, insightful, philosophical, emphatic,informative and above all pret More...
May 03, 2008
Shannon
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Holy effing gorgeous! Eric Hanson's journeys as a travel writer are so over-the-top they almost seem like b.s. But then again, I am not a bold, brash, adventurous travel writer who puts myself in crazy situations in order to get a great story. His stories are crazy, touching, frustrating, funny and beautiful. I LOVE when I get turned on to books I probably wouldn't normally pick up only to discover that they are amazing! Hooray for book clubs!
Jan 29, 2012
Jeff
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This book is fascinating. It's really two stories - first story is about how the guy got shipwrecked. The second story is about how we went back to Yemen to find his journal that he hid in Yemen upon being shipwrecked. It unfolds like a mystery novel. Although extremely detailed, it never feels like there are too many details, and never plods along. A fascinating story of the Yemeni people. It is on my re-read list.
