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83rd out of 575 books
—
603 voters
The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost: A Memoir of Three Continents, Two Friends, and One Unexpected Adventure
by
Rachel Friedman (Goodreads Author)
Rachel Friedman has always been the consummate good girl who does well in school and plays it safe, so the college grad surprises no one more than herself when, on a whim (and in an effort to escape impending life decisions), she buys a ticket to Ireland, a place she has never visited. There she forms an unlikely bond with a free-spirited Australian girl, a born adventurer...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
March 29th 2011
by Bantam
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On the surface, I should have LOVED this book. But because it hit a little too close to home, I didn't love it. Maybe if I had read it like 10 years ago I would have liked it more, but the fact is I could relate too much to it, which took away from my enjoyment. The author and I are the same age. We have done a lot of the same things. Why does she have a (not spectacularly good) book and I don't? Oh yeah, it's because her parents are rich, work in publishing and she is from the East Coast. Just...more
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I've been in such a funk lately when it comes to reading travel memoirs. I have discovered that they really are my favorite genre of books, but that means I sometimes place unrealistically high expectations on them. After reading Wanderlust by Elisabeth Eaves, I was unsure I wanted to jump into another travel essay so quickly. But I did, and I'm happy about that decision. The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Lost by Rachel Friedman turned out to be a surprisingly good reading experience - just when...more
I read this book in one sitting because I could not put it down. I completely relate to Rachel's angst because I am also the very definition of a "good girl". I've always worked very hard to fulfill expectations of me in hopes of feeling worthy. I married young, and still love him 32 years later, but I had little opportunity to explore myself as an individual before attaching myself to responsibilities and additional expectations. I raised 3 amazing daughters and that is the best and most import...more
..."What if, instead of grasping at something to hold on to, we pull up our roots and walk away? Instead of trying to find the way back, we walk deeper and deeper into the woods, willing ourselves to get lost. In this place where nothing is recognizable, not the people or the language or the food, we are truly on our own. Eventually, we find ourselves unencumbered by the past or the future. Here is a fleeting glimpse of our truest self, our self in the present moment. After that, maybe we can fi...more
This book is written in a breezy style that captured my attention from the start. I felt almost as if I were there with Rachel during her travels and escapades. Often times humorous, there were also moments that caused me to step back slightly, as Rachel apparently did, and take a look at an idea or issue with, what seemed like, a new set of eyes. I loved reading about all the different places she visited and people she encountered. For me, it got a bit tedious after awhile listening to her bemo...more
I picked this one up from the new non-fiction section of the library and for the most part I'm glad I did - occasionally the writing got on my nerves (I hated how she wrote in present tense and yet it is a memoir) but it was something I needed to read right now in my life. I like the travel stories but more than that the idea that maybe college and then work and then die isn't what everyone wants or needs, and that maybe it is ok to be undecided and unsure and actually treasure your time explori...more
Rachel can't decide what she wants to do with her life, so she decides to go to Ireland, and ends up on a year-long journey that takes her not only to Ireland, but Australia and South America, as well.
The book started off slowly, bogged down by dumb "imagery" words that sounded like this book was written for a high school English class. Then the words gave way to drier choices, which made it sound like it was a journal; I had to keep reminding myself that this was just a memoir and not a fiction...more
The book started off slowly, bogged down by dumb "imagery" words that sounded like this book was written for a high school English class. Then the words gave way to drier choices, which made it sound like it was a journal; I had to keep reminding myself that this was just a memoir and not a fiction...more
I wanted to love this book. I think it may have hit a little too close to home for me to fully enjoy it? I think everyone now is questioning what to do after college - is this all we do in life? I want so badly to have a purpose, but with the constant work work working, am I missing out on what the world has to offer? However much I loved her depiction of Ireland and the ease in how she settled into life in Australia, the South America portion of the book just gave me anxiety the entire time. I...more
Rachel Friedman's coming of age memoir is unlike many others written today, tales of triumphs over adversity and trauma. The triumph here is simply growing up, discovering who she wants to be, and taking responsibility for that. She discovers an adventurous side previously hidden from view, and she ignites a passion in herself for travel.
Her travels take her to Ireland, Australia, and South America, and lead her through the sort of soul searching everyone should do as they sift through the myria...more
Her travels take her to Ireland, Australia, and South America, and lead her through the sort of soul searching everyone should do as they sift through the myria...more
I think almost backpackers or travelers have gone more or less the countries the author did. I am sure every backpackers can relate to her experience. As a traveler, I can only relate to her very first time traveling without parents. I didn't do the roughing it up since I take fast routes to everywhere and paying more to be comfortable. It was nice to read about other travelers' experience especially a backpacker who roughed it up.
I will recommend the book to others who haven't done the backpack...more
I will recommend the book to others who haven't done the backpack...more
I'd like to give this book 3.5 stars, but rounded up because it was an enjoyable read. I've always wanted to backpack around Europe for a month or so, which is why my dad got me this book, I presume. What I did love about this book is that it really got me thinking about backpacking again, and now I'm as excited to do that as ever, and I've also widened my travels to maybe include other continents. What annoyed me about this book is that it seemed at times a bit too preachy. It felt like after a...more
This is a great book for anyone who has fallen in love with travel in such a way that they find themselves in minor throes of angst figuring out what their path in life should be to allow them to see more of the world.
Until the author started traveling through South America (with the exception of Cusco which I was just in last year), I had been to all the cities she was in, in Ireland and Australia. I felt that I was refreshing my memories by reading about hers which of course means that now al...more
Until the author started traveling through South America (with the exception of Cusco which I was just in last year), I had been to all the cities she was in, in Ireland and Australia. I felt that I was refreshing my memories by reading about hers which of course means that now al...more
I'm a sucker for traveling to find yourself and find the world books and this falls neatly into this category. I really get the "I don't want to do what I'm expected to do with my life but I really don't know what I want to do with my life" feelings that Friedman had. I still have those feelings and I'm in my 50's! This book showed how she grew with her various travels and expanded her realm of consciousness. She has an easy way of describing herself and her journeys and the people and experienc...more
Ugh. Why is the author's voice so annoying? I'm trying to pinpoint exactly why it bothers me so much, but I can't quite. Her prose are fine, and I found her descriptions of her locations and activities enjoyable, but she just comes off as a spoiled rich brat. I feel like she is one of those people who travel for the bragging rights, or to prove how tough they are. She is also one of the unhappiest travelers I've read about. She starts off in Ireland, where instead of exploring the area and enjoy...more
I would rate this 2.5 if I could. I liked how the author described her adventures - felt like I was along for the ride! What I didn't like was the constant internal struggle she had with her purpose for traveling. Over and over (and over) she cries 'what am I going to do with my life after I'm done with this trip'. After awhile it grated on me. She kept saying that travelling was changing her but doesn't describe how/when this occurs. Maybe if I was in my 20s I would have appreciated/related to...more
I won this book on Goodreads first reads giveaways (a very GOOD read).
I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly entertained by this travel memoir. In-between chapters I found myself looking in travel magazines and searching for flights for my next adventure.
I enjoyed Friedman's writing style as she humorously relayed events from her months abroad in Ireland (and lugging around "Big Red"), learning about Australian sarcasm (watch out for the dangerous "Drop Bears") and abbreviations, and her bout...more
I was pleasantly surprised and thoroughly entertained by this travel memoir. In-between chapters I found myself looking in travel magazines and searching for flights for my next adventure.
I enjoyed Friedman's writing style as she humorously relayed events from her months abroad in Ireland (and lugging around "Big Red"), learning about Australian sarcasm (watch out for the dangerous "Drop Bears") and abbreviations, and her bout...more
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Rachel struggled with something a lot of us face at one point in our lives or another: that fear numbing place where we have to take stock, figure things out and move on. What she does really well is bringing to life that nebulous spot between “taking stock” and “figuring things out”. And what made this a really interesting read was that “spot” including a cool travel journal.
Except for one weird area where Hans & Carrie turn into Stefan & Rachel (editor's fault, I'd say), this was techn...more
Except for one weird area where Hans & Carrie turn into Stefan & Rachel (editor's fault, I'd say), this was techn...more
I really enjoyed this story of a girl trying to find herself and then ending up backpacking around Australia and South America with a feisty Australian she meets in Ireland (get all that?). I didn't enjoy the South American section as much-too much, "and then we drove 17 hours on a windy road"...makes me not want to go to South America ever! I also wish she included pictures!!!! Yes, she described the places well, but since it's memoir, she could have included pictures! Why didn't her publisher...more
A good girl goes traveling instead of getting a Wall Street job. Rachel Friedman's book is a breezy addition in the TwentySomething Finds Herself Through Enlightening Travel genre, and while it lacks much insight other than "I was afraid and didn't know what I wanted" and "now I really live in the present." With that said, I found myself wishing that I had had a similar opportunity at some point in my life.
I loved this book and would give it 4.5 stars. It was a great story of self doubt followed by self discovery. I could relate to her feelings of not knowing what to do with one's self after college. Part of me wishes I had taken that year to travel instead of going to grad school. Then again, I also can't imagine backpacking in South America. Rachel is much braver than I. I really hope she does a follow up on her time with Martyn. :-)
Anyway, this was a great read that I recommend for anyone who...more
Anyway, this was a great read that I recommend for anyone who...more
My life has, in many ways, paralleled Rachel's in this book. I was 20 years old when I went to Europe for four months, and I'm now 22, anchored into a job, paying back student loan debt and barely saving any money after all my bills. But, the travel bug won't stop biting. It's more of a yank at this point.
I found myself holding on to every word written. I'd highly recommend it.
I found myself holding on to every word written. I'd highly recommend it.
An enjoyable travel memoir. Friedman is at loose ends after university and deciding not to follow a career in music. So she heads to Ireland to work. She meets Carly, traveler and adventurer and Australian, which eventually leads her to several months living and traveling in Australia, before she and Carly brave South America. A great armchair trip...though I'm pretty sure I'll never be a backpacker type of traveler!
I love this book. Rachel Friedman tells a story so well, it was hard to put the book down. As someone who is also a music school drop out, who had a period of "WTF do I do now??" afterward, it was really easy to connect to the feelings she was sorting out on her travels. She brought each place to life, and it was so much fun to read about the adventures she had in each country, and how each trip changed her life just a little bit. Highly recommend!
Rather than face 'real life' (finishing her degree and finding a job - and I'm not judgement-calling, this is how the author describes it) Rachel goes to Ireland for several months. And then Australia. And then South America. It's an engaging and fun story that acknowledges the deeper issues behind her urge to travel while not spending unnecessary time belaboring them. Her travel stories are marvelous.
I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book, which I added to my list after seeing it on one of those "new paperback" tables at the bookstore. Given the somewhat cliche title, I was afraid it might just be some sort of hastily written Eat Pray Love rip-off, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was actually exactly what I wanted from Eat Pray Love but didn't really get: some nice armchair traveling mixed with introspection, minus the smugness. Many of Rachel's travels were similar...more
I really wanted to like this book. I did. But I was so bored that it was a struggle to finish. There was nothing humorous or interesting, just someone who kept going on and on about the anxiety that everybody feels in their early 20s over the future. I have been there and I still know the feeling (still in my early 20s) but holy crap! No. No. No.
Friedman has a end-of-college crisis when she decides not to be a professional musician after all. So she takes off to Ireland for the summer, where she drinks a lot and meets new people. When she graduates from college, she does the same thing, but with Australia. I got tired of listening.
Enjoyable read about a young American woman who's caught between wanting to make her parents happy (hence the good girl in the title) by starting a career and having a strong urge to travel to faraway places. I liked her travel tidbits about the different countries she visited.
Like "The Lost Girls", "Good Girls..." was an easy, fun and witty read for all those female travelers at heart. I appreciated Rachel's blunt honesty with not only her travel experiences, but also her analysis of herself. As a post-grad also looking for meaning in life, and a direction for where to go, I could relate 100% to her anxiety and stress on choosing a career path and being generally directionless.
Her conversational writing style allowed me to connect with her on a deeper level and huma...more
Her conversational writing style allowed me to connect with her on a deeper level and huma...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I felt like I was backpacking right along with Rachel and Carly. She made herself so accessible and her humor was such an unexpected gift to this story. I laughed out loud...a lot. A Must read for any girl who's ever been "lost".
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| What's The Name o...: Travel book featuring American woman in Galway, Australia, and South America [s] | 6 | 21 | Sep 07, 2012 04:39pm |
