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The Traveller
Sometimes to get the measure of your life you just need a break from being yourself.
A family man struggling in his pursuit of a work/life balance embarks on yet another trip at the whims of his tyrannical bitch of a boss. But on this trip he is a world apart from his usual self. Suddenly confident, capable and unafraid of his manager, reclaiming his life becomes less about corporate advancement and satisfying his ego than outright revenge on his boss. With nothing but success in his wake and seemingly limitless potential at his disposal, being coerced to work with his nemesis in a remote corner of the world provides the opportunity for not just a confrontation, but a final solution to what he sees as the bane of his life. Succeed or fail, either way this trip will be the making of him or the end of him.
Sometimes to get the measure of your life you just need a break from being yourself... because nothing lasts forever.
A family man struggling in his pursuit of a work/life balance embarks on yet another trip at the whims of his tyrannical bitch of a boss. But on this trip he is a world apart from his usual self. Suddenly confident, capable and unafraid of his manager, reclaiming his life becomes less about corporate advancement and satisfying his ego than outright revenge on his boss. With nothing but success in his wake and seemingly limitless potential at his disposal, being coerced to work with his nemesis in a remote corner of the world provides the opportunity for not just a confrontation, but a final solution to what he sees as the bane of his life. Succeed or fail, either way this trip will be the making of him or the end of him.
Sometimes to get the measure of your life you just need a break from being yourself... because nothing lasts forever.
- GenresContemporary
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Garrett Addison
3 books463 followersGarrett Addison is an Australian revenge author keen to bring something different to people’s reading. Forget your formulaic storylines and cliched characters, Garrett wants to sucker you in to something light, readable, enjoyable and ultimately help you discover (or rediscover) the joy of being totally immersed in a book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 21, 2014
Whoa. I'm so glad I stuck with this book. The first like 80-100 pages were so dry that I wasn't sure if I should go on, but Addison really turned the book around after that first dry stretch.
So when first reading the book, the main character, who is never named, seemed really regular. He was livin' an average life, travelling everywhere at the fancy of his boss (his boss is really effing annoying by the way), doing anything at the "anti-Christ's" every whim.
So as our man the Traveller gets called on another trip, his wife (on the first page, mind you) mystically proclaims that this trip will be different from all the rest. As you can imagine, my eyes were rolling before she even finished the sentence. In the beginning, I expected nothing more than a man's bitch-fest about his boss. Then, miraculously, the Traveller becomes a 3-D character. Gone is the shy, meager, annoyed guy who complained about his boss and tiredly went about his life, replaced by a man who was magically enthusiastic and a super maniac with his work.
So honestly the plot of the book was just alright, nothing there was overly special (although it gets a bit sinister and unbelievable at times, which is deeply contrasted with the mundane nature of the Traveller's life to begin with). But the reason I loved this book so much is the way it touched upon really sensitive and intimate topics in the Traveller's life without ever even telling us his name. It reminds me that life is mundane, and that stuff like crappy bosses and boring jobs happen in real life. Addison manages to bring about sensitive issues such as the struggle for power and the balance of work life and home life. The book renders intimate parts of the Traveller's life not so intimate, making this book seem so much more like real life than just fiction at times. The beauty of this book is really how well it captures the modern day, and I'd definitely recommend it.
The themes of revenge and power and just getting out of a boring rut are all hit upon so well by Addison - this is a fast read and one that you'll want to finish in one sitting. Thank you so much to the author for gifting me a copy of this ebook in exchange for a fair and honest review :)
So when first reading the book, the main character, who is never named, seemed really regular. He was livin' an average life, travelling everywhere at the fancy of his boss (his boss is really effing annoying by the way), doing anything at the "anti-Christ's" every whim.
So as our man the Traveller gets called on another trip, his wife (on the first page, mind you) mystically proclaims that this trip will be different from all the rest. As you can imagine, my eyes were rolling before she even finished the sentence. In the beginning, I expected nothing more than a man's bitch-fest about his boss. Then, miraculously, the Traveller becomes a 3-D character. Gone is the shy, meager, annoyed guy who complained about his boss and tiredly went about his life, replaced by a man who was magically enthusiastic and a super maniac with his work.
So honestly the plot of the book was just alright, nothing there was overly special (although it gets a bit sinister and unbelievable at times, which is deeply contrasted with the mundane nature of the Traveller's life to begin with). But the reason I loved this book so much is the way it touched upon really sensitive and intimate topics in the Traveller's life without ever even telling us his name. It reminds me that life is mundane, and that stuff like crappy bosses and boring jobs happen in real life. Addison manages to bring about sensitive issues such as the struggle for power and the balance of work life and home life. The book renders intimate parts of the Traveller's life not so intimate, making this book seem so much more like real life than just fiction at times. The beauty of this book is really how well it captures the modern day, and I'd definitely recommend it.
The themes of revenge and power and just getting out of a boring rut are all hit upon so well by Addison - this is a fast read and one that you'll want to finish in one sitting. Thank you so much to the author for gifting me a copy of this ebook in exchange for a fair and honest review :)
June 10, 2013
The Traveler by Garrett Addison
A morality play depicting a overworked and under appreciated corporate traveler.
Whether intentional or not, I have no recollection of the protagonist name and I just finished the book and hour ago. My thought is that the author’s intent is that you focus on the protagonist’s actions rather than mundane aspects like names. Of course in college I disagreed vehemently with my literature professor on what Robert Frost really meant when he took a walk in the woods. So assuming I know what the author meant is probably what assumptions are usually worth.
The female boss of said corporate drone is the epitome of evil. Anyone who has worked in any structured environment has encountered this type of individual. They advance over the bodies of the weak.
The premise of MBA short term thinking is questioned by the plot of the book. Are consultants working for the common good or the quarterly report? Sadly the newspaper business sections bulge with companies that have collapse because they have focused on short term concerns and ignored long term success.
The book has some epiphanies that clarify the overall direction of the plot. In a lot of ways the book was depressing as there are entirely too many folks stuck on this dreadful treadmill. Too me the message was wake up and smell the roses before you get sucked into the sewer. I don’t know if that is what Garrett intended but that is what I got.
Sadly I think this is an accurate description of too many lives.
A morality play depicting a overworked and under appreciated corporate traveler.
Whether intentional or not, I have no recollection of the protagonist name and I just finished the book and hour ago. My thought is that the author’s intent is that you focus on the protagonist’s actions rather than mundane aspects like names. Of course in college I disagreed vehemently with my literature professor on what Robert Frost really meant when he took a walk in the woods. So assuming I know what the author meant is probably what assumptions are usually worth.
The female boss of said corporate drone is the epitome of evil. Anyone who has worked in any structured environment has encountered this type of individual. They advance over the bodies of the weak.
The premise of MBA short term thinking is questioned by the plot of the book. Are consultants working for the common good or the quarterly report? Sadly the newspaper business sections bulge with companies that have collapse because they have focused on short term concerns and ignored long term success.
The book has some epiphanies that clarify the overall direction of the plot. In a lot of ways the book was depressing as there are entirely too many folks stuck on this dreadful treadmill. Too me the message was wake up and smell the roses before you get sucked into the sewer. I don’t know if that is what Garrett intended but that is what I got.
Sadly I think this is an accurate description of too many lives.
March 30, 2014
This is a story you might not pick up from the basic outline with the thought that it would be exceptional. it is basically about a travelling management consultant with a horrible boss, making his own review of his life. if you thought that it would be dull you would be wrong and for good reasons
firstly the confident, sweeping use of language tells you this writer is fully aware of his ability in his craft. I mean it is flowing and very difficult to put the book down. the writer uses his skill to draw you into a story that may otherwise not appeal to you and keep you interested
secondly the character and that review of his life is undeniably fascinating. I wont and cant give much away to ruin this for a reader but it is the kind of review where the demons are being exorcised, and there are many of them. the character needs to find all that is lacking and unrewarding in his life and for all his successes to come to nothing before he comes to realize all he had to lose. it is quite a brilliant read and I only wish there was more of it
firstly the confident, sweeping use of language tells you this writer is fully aware of his ability in his craft. I mean it is flowing and very difficult to put the book down. the writer uses his skill to draw you into a story that may otherwise not appeal to you and keep you interested
secondly the character and that review of his life is undeniably fascinating. I wont and cant give much away to ruin this for a reader but it is the kind of review where the demons are being exorcised, and there are many of them. the character needs to find all that is lacking and unrewarding in his life and for all his successes to come to nothing before he comes to realize all he had to lose. it is quite a brilliant read and I only wish there was more of it
December 11, 2013
The Traveller by Garrett Addison is a story of the life of businessman who spends his career on the road for an unappreciative company. Then one day he comes alive with both confidence and the “Midas touch” in his business dealings. He goes from being underappreciated to a hot commodity in his business.
The book is well written and has several interesting plot twist. Overall, I found the story to be slow and dragging. After the initial excitement the storyline became very repetitive.
I also had trouble identify with the lead characters. This only made it harder for me to get into the book.
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
The book is well written and has several interesting plot twist. Overall, I found the story to be slow and dragging. After the initial excitement the storyline became very repetitive.
I also had trouble identify with the lead characters. This only made it harder for me to get into the book.
[Please note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.]
November 4, 2013
I will say from the start that this is a VERY unusual book, both in the style it is written and the subject matter that it covers and it "probably", although I shall use that term loosely won't appeal to everyone. In reality, if I hadn't been sent this book to review, I "probably" wouldn't have gone anywhere near at as it is most definitely not the type of book I would normally consider and I would "probably" have assumed that I would have been bored witless by it.
I would have assumed WRONG!! The Traveller, engaged me from the opening sentence and kept me hooked right up until the very end. I started the book a few weeks ago as my bedtime reading and found myself constantly thinking about it and looking for opportunities to pick it back up. In fact, it is fair to say there were times when I was incredibly frustrated by the fact that I didn't have time to read it!
The Traveller, is a first person account by a travelling salesman whose name remains anonymous throughout the entire novel. It opens with him setting off an another long haul trip and being forced to leave his long suffering wife and family behind again. He is under performing and completely dissatisfied with his life and also has to contend with his bitch of a boss, whom he absolutely hates. Early on in the trip, he undergoes a complete transformation and is suddenly ultra confident and can do no wrong and I am surprised to say that in spite of the fact that most of the story involves detailed accounts of his day to day working life, I was completely drawn into his selfish, hedonistic, misogynistic world. I should have hated his arrogance, his unfaithfulness, but I actually found that part of his dubious appeal! There are elements of blatant sexism which I am sure, will have some readers cringing and hurling their kindles across the room in disgust, however, I felt it was completely in fitting with the character and the plot and I wanted more...
There is a definite distance between the reader and the characters: Hardly any are actually named and whilst in other novels this would be incredibly problematic, it completely works in the Traveller. I loved the bromance between unnamed salesman and the boss of a rival firm, Emile, and I felt that by giving him a name the author cleverly wove in an element of stability that would otherwise have definitely been missing from the novel.
The Traveller's hatred of his female boss was surprisingly compelling, because I kept wondering where this was going? I appreciate that other readers may have liked to see the whole picture, however I loved the fact that we only saw it from his point of view and as I am a lover of all things first person, this totally worked for me!
I was slightly disappointed by the way the book drew to a close, because for all The Traveller got a happy ending, it wasn't the happy ending that I wanted for him and I did feel like it was somewhat of an anti-climax: Sex without the orgasm if you get my drift!
Overall though, this is an incredibly well written, unusual story which totally captured my imagination from beginning to end and I will definitely be reading further works by this author.
You can find me at www.ingridhall.com
I would have assumed WRONG!! The Traveller, engaged me from the opening sentence and kept me hooked right up until the very end. I started the book a few weeks ago as my bedtime reading and found myself constantly thinking about it and looking for opportunities to pick it back up. In fact, it is fair to say there were times when I was incredibly frustrated by the fact that I didn't have time to read it!
The Traveller, is a first person account by a travelling salesman whose name remains anonymous throughout the entire novel. It opens with him setting off an another long haul trip and being forced to leave his long suffering wife and family behind again. He is under performing and completely dissatisfied with his life and also has to contend with his bitch of a boss, whom he absolutely hates. Early on in the trip, he undergoes a complete transformation and is suddenly ultra confident and can do no wrong and I am surprised to say that in spite of the fact that most of the story involves detailed accounts of his day to day working life, I was completely drawn into his selfish, hedonistic, misogynistic world. I should have hated his arrogance, his unfaithfulness, but I actually found that part of his dubious appeal! There are elements of blatant sexism which I am sure, will have some readers cringing and hurling their kindles across the room in disgust, however, I felt it was completely in fitting with the character and the plot and I wanted more...
There is a definite distance between the reader and the characters: Hardly any are actually named and whilst in other novels this would be incredibly problematic, it completely works in the Traveller. I loved the bromance between unnamed salesman and the boss of a rival firm, Emile, and I felt that by giving him a name the author cleverly wove in an element of stability that would otherwise have definitely been missing from the novel.
The Traveller's hatred of his female boss was surprisingly compelling, because I kept wondering where this was going? I appreciate that other readers may have liked to see the whole picture, however I loved the fact that we only saw it from his point of view and as I am a lover of all things first person, this totally worked for me!
I was slightly disappointed by the way the book drew to a close, because for all The Traveller got a happy ending, it wasn't the happy ending that I wanted for him and I did feel like it was somewhat of an anti-climax: Sex without the orgasm if you get my drift!
Overall though, this is an incredibly well written, unusual story which totally captured my imagination from beginning to end and I will definitely be reading further works by this author.
You can find me at www.ingridhall.com
September 5, 2013
We had the honors to be asked to review The Traveller. I must say, it's not my usual read but once I read the blurb, it sound pretty good and interesting, so I thought why not. Really didn't know what to expect from this, so totally fresh from the very first page.
I must admit the start of the book is quite slow and I felt it dragged on a little bit until later on once you hit the main plot of the story it got more interesting about the traveller's life moving around. Obviously the whole book is about the Traveller, a businessman that has to leave his family behind and consistently sent from one destination to another. His job has been a daily routine, boring and dull but it was necessary in order to feed his family. His job as always been the same, making him think he isn't improving or finding the motivation or challenge, he just know he's go there or here this time for the same thing. Until one day he decide to take a change of fate and challenge himself as well as the company. That's where the story change but of course its still about him doing business but differently, with more confidence and value. You can really tell the old and new him, the author really put it through the change.
However, as I kept reading I felt it was still on the same wave line, it didn't get more interesting, I wasn't drawn into it. After the first few chapter you kind of got the picture of a traveler's life but it just continue the same though the rest of the book. At some points I felt sorry for the guy on how boring his life was, that it kept going round in circles. Towards the middle-ish it became the battle of the sexes with his boss. I guess it is a dog eat dog world out there, not just within the company but out as well, very competitive. The ending was a little surprising, interesting.
"Sometimes to get the measure of your life you just need a break from being yourself... because nothing lasts forever" I definitely agree...we all need to take a break from time to time and refresh what our priorities are, treasure what you have as nothing last forever and fight for change if you've not happy.
Overall, I enjoyed that I got a insight of the businessman world and consistent travelling isn't as good as people make it out, well probably not for business anyway. But I'm not sure if it appeals to me as much as the blurb did after reading the whole story, maybe it's just not my cup of tea as the guy do likes scotch more :)
I must admit the start of the book is quite slow and I felt it dragged on a little bit until later on once you hit the main plot of the story it got more interesting about the traveller's life moving around. Obviously the whole book is about the Traveller, a businessman that has to leave his family behind and consistently sent from one destination to another. His job has been a daily routine, boring and dull but it was necessary in order to feed his family. His job as always been the same, making him think he isn't improving or finding the motivation or challenge, he just know he's go there or here this time for the same thing. Until one day he decide to take a change of fate and challenge himself as well as the company. That's where the story change but of course its still about him doing business but differently, with more confidence and value. You can really tell the old and new him, the author really put it through the change.
However, as I kept reading I felt it was still on the same wave line, it didn't get more interesting, I wasn't drawn into it. After the first few chapter you kind of got the picture of a traveler's life but it just continue the same though the rest of the book. At some points I felt sorry for the guy on how boring his life was, that it kept going round in circles. Towards the middle-ish it became the battle of the sexes with his boss. I guess it is a dog eat dog world out there, not just within the company but out as well, very competitive. The ending was a little surprising, interesting.
"Sometimes to get the measure of your life you just need a break from being yourself... because nothing lasts forever" I definitely agree...we all need to take a break from time to time and refresh what our priorities are, treasure what you have as nothing last forever and fight for change if you've not happy.
Overall, I enjoyed that I got a insight of the businessman world and consistent travelling isn't as good as people make it out, well probably not for business anyway. But I'm not sure if it appeals to me as much as the blurb did after reading the whole story, maybe it's just not my cup of tea as the guy do likes scotch more :)
August 1, 2013
This review courtesy of topoftheheapreviews.com
Sometimes to get the measure of your life, you just need a break from being yourself…because nothing lasts forever. That’s the tag line of the book. It sounds intriguing. Read on to find out!
I’ll be 100% honest here. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to finish the book. The first 75 pages of this thing were dry, un-eventful, and I felt like I was just reading about a day in the life of the mundane average Joe. I contemplated just sending an e-Mail to the author, saying thanks, but it’s not my cup of tea. I’m glad I didn’t. At some point in the book, the character changes. He no longer is a push-over, he begins to prioritize his life, and figure out what is really important in life, and then it’s all turned on its head.
Garrett Addison is able to create this nameless, faceless character into something that you hold close. You become witness to his turmoils as he wrestles with his self, and as he wrestles with the corporate world around him, and as he wrestles with his family.
The book is all about character. The Traveller has that. As the reader, you get to grow with him, and be apart of his quest for revenge on his boss, and ultimately his downfall resulting in paying for the consequences of his actions, and his redemption by taking responsibility for his actions and to his family.
The Bottom Line: While I may think that the writing style is a bit dry for my taste, the story as a whole stands on it’s own and outweighs any stylistic differences I might have had. You won’t find something incredibly fast paced, it’s a slow build, a very slow build. To make a comparison (I don’t like making comparisons, but I’m making an exception because the build was similar in my opinion), the build reminded me of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I had almost put that down several times as well because it just didn’t grab me from the beginning. As most of us seem to think, that was one stellar novel. While I don’t think The Traveller stands on that level, it’s still an incredibly good book that will leave you reflecting on your own life, and prioritizing things around you, so that you can become a happier person.
Sometimes to get the measure of your life, you just need a break from being yourself…because nothing lasts forever. That’s the tag line of the book. It sounds intriguing. Read on to find out!
I’ll be 100% honest here. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to finish the book. The first 75 pages of this thing were dry, un-eventful, and I felt like I was just reading about a day in the life of the mundane average Joe. I contemplated just sending an e-Mail to the author, saying thanks, but it’s not my cup of tea. I’m glad I didn’t. At some point in the book, the character changes. He no longer is a push-over, he begins to prioritize his life, and figure out what is really important in life, and then it’s all turned on its head.
Garrett Addison is able to create this nameless, faceless character into something that you hold close. You become witness to his turmoils as he wrestles with his self, and as he wrestles with the corporate world around him, and as he wrestles with his family.
The book is all about character. The Traveller has that. As the reader, you get to grow with him, and be apart of his quest for revenge on his boss, and ultimately his downfall resulting in paying for the consequences of his actions, and his redemption by taking responsibility for his actions and to his family.
The Bottom Line: While I may think that the writing style is a bit dry for my taste, the story as a whole stands on it’s own and outweighs any stylistic differences I might have had. You won’t find something incredibly fast paced, it’s a slow build, a very slow build. To make a comparison (I don’t like making comparisons, but I’m making an exception because the build was similar in my opinion), the build reminded me of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I had almost put that down several times as well because it just didn’t grab me from the beginning. As most of us seem to think, that was one stellar novel. While I don’t think The Traveller stands on that level, it’s still an incredibly good book that will leave you reflecting on your own life, and prioritizing things around you, so that you can become a happier person.
May 14, 2013
"Wake, eat, work, pause for food, continue work, break for the evening, food, drink, sleep. Repeat."
Such is the life of the narrator of Garrett Addison's novel "The Traveller." A businessman with family-work balance issues, his hamster-wheel existence is directed in large part by a boss he has come to believe is pure evil, a woman whose sadism appears to respect no bounds.
As "The Traveller" opens, he's been summoned on yet another long-distance assignment. His wife prophetically declares, “This trip won’t be like the others."
The narrator - who is never named - steps off his long, red-eye flight feeling oddly confident and preternaturally competent, and launches into his assignment with unusual aplomb, assertiveness, even arrogance. Emboldened to defy his bitch-of-a-boss he treats himself to perks he figures he deserves, on the company credit card.
Soon he is juggling competing job offers with a cool audacity, displaying none of the timidity or self-loathing he has grown accustomed to under his bitch-of-a-boss.
Our narrator's story takes on a more leisurely pace as we approach the end of the first half of the book, and the reader may begin to wonder if the rest of the story will turn out as dry as a board meeting. But then the plot takes a sudden and sinister turn and we can do little but hang on tight as the book races toward an end that is both surprising and not, a relief with a nervous chuckle.
And just when you think the story has ended, wait. There is more, a climax that is as satisfying as it is delicious.
A recurring motif in Addison's book is "priority" - precisely the conundrum our narrator must face and solve. His dilemma will be unnervingly familiar to millions whose work demands leave them absentees in their families.
Likewise his visceral desire for revenge. As Addison pushes us to the brink of what we would consider acceptable a final dastardly act by the boss-bitch may inspire even the meekest of us to cheer him on.
And ultimately, you will cheer for "The Traveller."
"The Traveller" is a winner of The Bookcast's "Book of Exceptional Quality" award.
Such is the life of the narrator of Garrett Addison's novel "The Traveller." A businessman with family-work balance issues, his hamster-wheel existence is directed in large part by a boss he has come to believe is pure evil, a woman whose sadism appears to respect no bounds.
As "The Traveller" opens, he's been summoned on yet another long-distance assignment. His wife prophetically declares, “This trip won’t be like the others."
The narrator - who is never named - steps off his long, red-eye flight feeling oddly confident and preternaturally competent, and launches into his assignment with unusual aplomb, assertiveness, even arrogance. Emboldened to defy his bitch-of-a-boss he treats himself to perks he figures he deserves, on the company credit card.
Soon he is juggling competing job offers with a cool audacity, displaying none of the timidity or self-loathing he has grown accustomed to under his bitch-of-a-boss.
Our narrator's story takes on a more leisurely pace as we approach the end of the first half of the book, and the reader may begin to wonder if the rest of the story will turn out as dry as a board meeting. But then the plot takes a sudden and sinister turn and we can do little but hang on tight as the book races toward an end that is both surprising and not, a relief with a nervous chuckle.
And just when you think the story has ended, wait. There is more, a climax that is as satisfying as it is delicious.
A recurring motif in Addison's book is "priority" - precisely the conundrum our narrator must face and solve. His dilemma will be unnervingly familiar to millions whose work demands leave them absentees in their families.
Likewise his visceral desire for revenge. As Addison pushes us to the brink of what we would consider acceptable a final dastardly act by the boss-bitch may inspire even the meekest of us to cheer him on.
And ultimately, you will cheer for "The Traveller."
"The Traveller" is a winner of The Bookcast's "Book of Exceptional Quality" award.
January 9, 2015
Travel can be a wearying task, even when associated with leisure and recreation, but it can be murder when it’s a major component of a person’s job. The anonymous narrator of this book has to travel…A LOT. It is a strain on both him and the family that rarely sees him. He is also ill used and unappreciated by his employer; to top it off, his boss is a woman he can describe only in allegorical terms—a vampire, a harpy, a soul-sucking demon, the alien who burst from that guy’s chest in the film. As is the case with many of us, his boss is an inhuman beast who never passes a chance to humiliate, torment and crush him, all the while executing all sorts of machinations within the company to make him look the fool while claiming his successes as her own. Is it any wonder that she ends up…well, no, I won’t spoil it for you.
What begins as yet another trip to Asia to grind one more client company into dust, destroying their management style and laying off scores of workers for short-term gain, quickly turns into something else. It seems that sometime during the long, alcohol-laced flight our narrator experienced an epiphany, one that was emotional, intellectual and physical. Suddenly, women want to be with him, men want to be him, and the client hangs onto his every golden word. After a mythic journey into a modern day version of the Inferno, he emerges from the wilderness a transformed man, in a vivid plot twist.
Had the story ended with the plot twist and the transfiguration, the story would have been disappointing, though only mildly so because it was still an exhilarating ride. No, the story goes on to an even more surprising plot twist and an extremely satisfying conclusion. It’s hard to liken this book to anything you’ve ever read before, being part Willy Lomax from “The Death of a Salesman,” part “Twilight Zone,” and part Joseph Campbell’s “The Power of Myth.” It is a unique story, one which you might find as instructive and enlightening as it is entertaining.
What begins as yet another trip to Asia to grind one more client company into dust, destroying their management style and laying off scores of workers for short-term gain, quickly turns into something else. It seems that sometime during the long, alcohol-laced flight our narrator experienced an epiphany, one that was emotional, intellectual and physical. Suddenly, women want to be with him, men want to be him, and the client hangs onto his every golden word. After a mythic journey into a modern day version of the Inferno, he emerges from the wilderness a transformed man, in a vivid plot twist.
Had the story ended with the plot twist and the transfiguration, the story would have been disappointing, though only mildly so because it was still an exhilarating ride. No, the story goes on to an even more surprising plot twist and an extremely satisfying conclusion. It’s hard to liken this book to anything you’ve ever read before, being part Willy Lomax from “The Death of a Salesman,” part “Twilight Zone,” and part Joseph Campbell’s “The Power of Myth.” It is a unique story, one which you might find as instructive and enlightening as it is entertaining.
June 22, 2013
The main character is a consultant who feels he is totally inept in everything, in his life. This is the story of a very angry man and rightfully so, because he wants to have a successful balance between work and family and he is failing at both.
He has a boss whose interactions with him are always a complete nerve breaking, and abusive language. She keeps him totally off his life by making sure he’s never home with his family, keeping him traveling, all the while making sure he feels inadequate and miserable at his job. She seems to want nothing but failure from him. The worse boss you can imagine.
While packing his bags for yet another trip, his wife is sick of all this business trips. However, the opportunity comes even for him, and now he has the chance to get back at his boss. Garrett Addison makes him the ultimate everyman. He gives us the opportunity to see what reclaiming power and speaking you’re mind can do to a man and how that affects our life’s.
Just when you think the story has ended, there is more to it. The story takes a sudden turn and you have to hang on tight as the book races toward an end that is surprising, a relief from all the problems and the nerves.
"Wake, eat, work, pause for food, continue work, break for the evening, food, drink, sleep.”
I loved how the character finally stood up for him and left his shyness behind. I think everyone who works in that environment would react the same way he did. I especially loved the book spoke the truth about life and what sacrifices you have to do for a job. Thank you Garret Addison for the opportunity of reading you’re book.
He has a boss whose interactions with him are always a complete nerve breaking, and abusive language. She keeps him totally off his life by making sure he’s never home with his family, keeping him traveling, all the while making sure he feels inadequate and miserable at his job. She seems to want nothing but failure from him. The worse boss you can imagine.
While packing his bags for yet another trip, his wife is sick of all this business trips. However, the opportunity comes even for him, and now he has the chance to get back at his boss. Garrett Addison makes him the ultimate everyman. He gives us the opportunity to see what reclaiming power and speaking you’re mind can do to a man and how that affects our life’s.
Just when you think the story has ended, there is more to it. The story takes a sudden turn and you have to hang on tight as the book races toward an end that is surprising, a relief from all the problems and the nerves.
"Wake, eat, work, pause for food, continue work, break for the evening, food, drink, sleep.”
I loved how the character finally stood up for him and left his shyness behind. I think everyone who works in that environment would react the same way he did. I especially loved the book spoke the truth about life and what sacrifices you have to do for a job. Thank you Garret Addison for the opportunity of reading you’re book.
January 5, 2015
The Traveller is an interesting look at the mundane life of businessman, who, one day, decides to step outside of his comfort zone. The "new" person he unleashes is bold, assertive, and nothing like the man he used to be. Get ready for a wild and entertaining twist full of surprises.
As the businessman prepares for yet another trip away from his family, in a job with little to no professional satisfaction, he vows to make this trip unlike any other. Trying on a new hat, he starts telling it like it is, he's confidant and self-assured and to his surprise clients and executives respond. But, even with his new found success, his boss never ceases to undermine him and continually puts him down. His new personality envisions an untimely death in his boss's future. This thought brings him much joy, but can he pull it off without getting caught? Forced to work directly with her in an obscure location, he may get his chance. But can it really be that easy?
I found The Traveller to be well composed and original. When the businessman, who is never named, begins speaking his mind it's almost comical. At first he's not sure how his colleagues will react, but when their response is favorable he takes it to the next level. I think the story is appealing because we've all felt animosity towards a superior at one time or another. Most of us don't act on the feeling, but the businessman, who could be any one of us, does what we sometimes wish we could. And the unexpected ending is the best part of all!
I recommend picking up a copy.
As the businessman prepares for yet another trip away from his family, in a job with little to no professional satisfaction, he vows to make this trip unlike any other. Trying on a new hat, he starts telling it like it is, he's confidant and self-assured and to his surprise clients and executives respond. But, even with his new found success, his boss never ceases to undermine him and continually puts him down. His new personality envisions an untimely death in his boss's future. This thought brings him much joy, but can he pull it off without getting caught? Forced to work directly with her in an obscure location, he may get his chance. But can it really be that easy?
I found The Traveller to be well composed and original. When the businessman, who is never named, begins speaking his mind it's almost comical. At first he's not sure how his colleagues will react, but when their response is favorable he takes it to the next level. I think the story is appealing because we've all felt animosity towards a superior at one time or another. Most of us don't act on the feeling, but the businessman, who could be any one of us, does what we sometimes wish we could. And the unexpected ending is the best part of all!
I recommend picking up a copy.
August 7, 2013
Garrett Addison wrote a pretty good book here. The first part was slow, in a way that made you think "this is his life". It is a narration and a direct pov which takes some getting used to. Faye was the spouse who hated that her husband was a consultant who did too much traveling. While the traveling part is probably the best part of his life, his friend Emil is the best co-worker, in my opinion. The way they call the boss, who is a woman the "Anti Christ" is hysterical to me.
The book shows the totally mundane life lead by the traveler. While enduring the life of a consultant, he contemplates family, life general and murdering the anti Christ. I couldn't really relate to his anger that much, seems like he needed a way to vent about work and the boss lady. Well no spoiler he may get a way.
When is able to create this nameless, faceless character into something that you hold close. You become witness to his turmoils as he wrestles with his self, and as he wrestles with the corporate world around him, and as he wrestles with his family. The overall story and plot were good. I might have a few say the beginning is slow, but stick with it.
The book shows the totally mundane life lead by the traveler. While enduring the life of a consultant, he contemplates family, life general and murdering the anti Christ. I couldn't really relate to his anger that much, seems like he needed a way to vent about work and the boss lady. Well no spoiler he may get a way.
When is able to create this nameless, faceless character into something that you hold close. You become witness to his turmoils as he wrestles with his self, and as he wrestles with the corporate world around him, and as he wrestles with his family. The overall story and plot were good. I might have a few say the beginning is slow, but stick with it.
August 13, 2015
"A Management Consultant's Self Analysis"
Remember the song, "I'm A Travellin' Man" ... I've made a lot of stops all over the world, and in every port I own the heart of at least one lovely girl..." Well, in ways, this story reminded me of the advantages some travelling businessmen partake. Let's face it, it's hard to be a frequent travelling man. Just too often his departures spur discontent with a wife who had to cope with life without him. It's hard to have a boss from hell, and a wife wishing him home more. How can a man balance his life? This is a difficult story to get absorbed in because it comprises almost totally just the events and thoughts of The Traveller, who is not identified by name. There are only two characters with names, Fanny and Emile, and there is very little dialog. I was unmoved reading this book until I got to about 52 percent. At that time, my imagination was sparked and the story got more, and more, enticing. I suddenly realized that this is very similar to some horror tales written by Edgar Allan Poe. In this respect, this author is very crafty ... he really pulls off a great tale. So take a chance, read this book. It will utterly surprise you!
Remember the song, "I'm A Travellin' Man" ... I've made a lot of stops all over the world, and in every port I own the heart of at least one lovely girl..." Well, in ways, this story reminded me of the advantages some travelling businessmen partake. Let's face it, it's hard to be a frequent travelling man. Just too often his departures spur discontent with a wife who had to cope with life without him. It's hard to have a boss from hell, and a wife wishing him home more. How can a man balance his life? This is a difficult story to get absorbed in because it comprises almost totally just the events and thoughts of The Traveller, who is not identified by name. There are only two characters with names, Fanny and Emile, and there is very little dialog. I was unmoved reading this book until I got to about 52 percent. At that time, my imagination was sparked and the story got more, and more, enticing. I suddenly realized that this is very similar to some horror tales written by Edgar Allan Poe. In this respect, this author is very crafty ... he really pulls off a great tale. So take a chance, read this book. It will utterly surprise you!
January 14, 2014
If was like reading about your own like, but it was more exciting !
The cover makes you thinks of mystery and suspense, but once you open this book you will not put it down until you are done.
This story open with an flash and keep you on your toes thru out the book. The author takes you on a fantasy like adventure, but keep you grounded at the same time.
In the Traveller, the main character spends most of his career on the road for an unappreciative company , most of us can identity with today. This story touches close to home, it was like the author took a piece out of my like, but made it exciting.
Great plot and very well written so if you are looking for an exciting read, this is the book for you. Dreamers we got a hit!
So pick up your copy and come tell me your views and dreams on this book***
I was given this book by the author for my honest review***
http://cometomefantasy.blogspot.com
The cover makes you thinks of mystery and suspense, but once you open this book you will not put it down until you are done.
This story open with an flash and keep you on your toes thru out the book. The author takes you on a fantasy like adventure, but keep you grounded at the same time.
In the Traveller, the main character spends most of his career on the road for an unappreciative company , most of us can identity with today. This story touches close to home, it was like the author took a piece out of my like, but made it exciting.
Great plot and very well written so if you are looking for an exciting read, this is the book for you. Dreamers we got a hit!
So pick up your copy and come tell me your views and dreams on this book***
I was given this book by the author for my honest review***
http://cometomefantasy.blogspot.com
September 9, 2016
Mr. Addison's story is unique and unusual in several aspects. I give it an extra 'Star' for this.
Living inside the main character's head, feeling his angst, phobias and feelings of manic ecstasy was both intriguing and painful at times. I got to experience his every thought and revelation through a slightly bizarre series of business trips. This could be repetitive and draining at times.
I found myself rooting for the Traveler one moment and disliking him immensely the next. At times I could not reconcile his words and deeds and that threw me off the story. It did eventually make sense though.
Definitely well written with some very clever plot twists.
Mr. Addison's writing style and character development will pull you into the story. The action will keep you wondering...
Living inside the main character's head, feeling his angst, phobias and feelings of manic ecstasy was both intriguing and painful at times. I got to experience his every thought and revelation through a slightly bizarre series of business trips. This could be repetitive and draining at times.
I found myself rooting for the Traveler one moment and disliking him immensely the next. At times I could not reconcile his words and deeds and that threw me off the story. It did eventually make sense though.
Definitely well written with some very clever plot twists.
Mr. Addison's writing style and character development will pull you into the story. The action will keep you wondering...
September 10, 2013
A unique genre for a unique book, it is part of a lot of things, I might say that this sound more like real life than fiction. It comes to a point where people just lose track of themselves and invents a personality as a coping mechanism. It seemed that way to me at first, but as I read on, I realise that the hero, nameless as he is, takes control of his life for the first time.
An interesting read as the author's unique way to expressing the hero's point of view shines through. A fun yet quick read.
An interesting read as the author's unique way to expressing the hero's point of view shines through. A fun yet quick read.
August 23, 2013
This book was really not to my taste but it had some clever things. The ending was pretty interesting.
Most of us can relate to working for someone that we disliked at some point or another in our careers and how we would love to get even with them. I did not like the main character much but the book was well written.
I received this book as a free copy from this website. thanks for the opportunity to read it.
Most of us can relate to working for someone that we disliked at some point or another in our careers and how we would love to get even with them. I did not like the main character much but the book was well written.
I received this book as a free copy from this website. thanks for the opportunity to read it.
February 1, 2020
Exceedingly clever, the plot twists in The Traveller by Garrett Addison will be beyond anything you can or will expect.
A world-weary business traveler plodding through life with the credit-stealing ‘an- ti-Christ’ of all bosses will slowly suck you in, but keep in mind ‘revenge is best served cold’.
Addison’s creative writing skills are never more apparent than thinking you know exactly how a book will end and being astonished by how wrong you are.
If you like twisty, compelling suspense, like me, this is the book to read. Well done!
A world-weary business traveler plodding through life with the credit-stealing ‘an- ti-Christ’ of all bosses will slowly suck you in, but keep in mind ‘revenge is best served cold’.
Addison’s creative writing skills are never more apparent than thinking you know exactly how a book will end and being astonished by how wrong you are.
If you like twisty, compelling suspense, like me, this is the book to read. Well done!
March 17, 2017
A dark, compelling adventure. This was one of those books that fills you with a morbid curiosity early on, you just have to keep reading to find out what happens next. Good ending!
December 24, 2015
Summary:
A management consultant who spends more time working than at home with his family has to drop everything and fly out to see a client thanks to his uber-demanding boss… again. This assignment though is not like the others. He steps off the plane a new man, one brimming with confidence, great ideas and endless possibilities. Over the next few days, he travels around the world as his company’s go-to man, sought out for his expertise in various crises, much to his boss’ annoyance. A climactic confrontation between the two leads him to do something he never thought possible…
My Thoughts:
Even though I liked “The Traveller,” the main character’s transformation made me hate the story at times. The book is well written and progresses at a decent pace, but I had so much trouble identifying with him that it made it tough to get through at first.
Here’s a guy whose boss treats him like crap. He’s forced to choose between work and family, but the need to make a living and support his loved ones means work usually wins out. Thus, he endures a never-ending workload and heaps of verbal abuse from his manager. At this point, who wouldn’t sympathize with the poor man? Hold on though, the plot thickens.
A mysterious surge in confidence results in our guy accomplishing more in a few days’ time than he has done in years. Many doors open with opportunities he never even dreamed of, not to mention he earns the respect of influential businessmen who are now fighting over him. So what’s the problem you ask? There’s a difference between proving your worth and losing sight of your morals and priorities. He clearly falls in the latter category in his quest to climb the ranks.
He becomes extremely arrogant. He sleeps with other women without a thought to his wife waiting for him at home, makes outrageous demands thanks to a new sense of entitlement and treats others condescendingly. In short, he becomes a huge jerk, and that’s putting it mildly, which explains my earlier statements. Just as quickly as you’re cheering him on, you switch sides and want him to fail. This is not the same character we could relate to in the beginning - that person knew the difference between right and wrong. This guy now embodies everything you come to expect of a villain.
However, the subsequent twists and turns completely throw you for a loop. They redeem the book and make any earlier reading struggles worthwhile. I never include spoilers in my reviews, but trust me, there are some “doozies” in this one that will leave you reeling! It truly is unlike anything you’ve probably read.
The message of “The Traveller” is clear: everything comes with a price. It’s up to you to look past your circumstances and decide where you stand in the grand scheme of things.
A management consultant who spends more time working than at home with his family has to drop everything and fly out to see a client thanks to his uber-demanding boss… again. This assignment though is not like the others. He steps off the plane a new man, one brimming with confidence, great ideas and endless possibilities. Over the next few days, he travels around the world as his company’s go-to man, sought out for his expertise in various crises, much to his boss’ annoyance. A climactic confrontation between the two leads him to do something he never thought possible…
My Thoughts:
Even though I liked “The Traveller,” the main character’s transformation made me hate the story at times. The book is well written and progresses at a decent pace, but I had so much trouble identifying with him that it made it tough to get through at first.
Here’s a guy whose boss treats him like crap. He’s forced to choose between work and family, but the need to make a living and support his loved ones means work usually wins out. Thus, he endures a never-ending workload and heaps of verbal abuse from his manager. At this point, who wouldn’t sympathize with the poor man? Hold on though, the plot thickens.
A mysterious surge in confidence results in our guy accomplishing more in a few days’ time than he has done in years. Many doors open with opportunities he never even dreamed of, not to mention he earns the respect of influential businessmen who are now fighting over him. So what’s the problem you ask? There’s a difference between proving your worth and losing sight of your morals and priorities. He clearly falls in the latter category in his quest to climb the ranks.
He becomes extremely arrogant. He sleeps with other women without a thought to his wife waiting for him at home, makes outrageous demands thanks to a new sense of entitlement and treats others condescendingly. In short, he becomes a huge jerk, and that’s putting it mildly, which explains my earlier statements. Just as quickly as you’re cheering him on, you switch sides and want him to fail. This is not the same character we could relate to in the beginning - that person knew the difference between right and wrong. This guy now embodies everything you come to expect of a villain.
However, the subsequent twists and turns completely throw you for a loop. They redeem the book and make any earlier reading struggles worthwhile. I never include spoilers in my reviews, but trust me, there are some “doozies” in this one that will leave you reeling! It truly is unlike anything you’ve probably read.
The message of “The Traveller” is clear: everything comes with a price. It’s up to you to look past your circumstances and decide where you stand in the grand scheme of things.
February 4, 2014
Originally posted here: http://dreamingwithopeneyesreviews.bl...
See full review here: http://dreamingwithopeneyesreviews.bl...
First of all, I'd like to say thank you to Garret Addison for sending me a free copy of this book. I received the book in an exhange for an honest review.
The first thing which cought my eyes was the great quote on the cover. "Sometimes to get the measure of your life you just need a break from being yourself... because nothing lasts forever" This is a very true statemant. We all need to take a break from time to time and refresh what our priorities are, treasure what you have as nothing last forever and fight for change if you've not happy.
As I was reading the blurb it sounded interesting and I wanted to give it a go. I didn't know what I can expect of this so it was a fresh start for me. This book is very different from the books I usually read. Unfortunately it was not my cup of tea.
The story is about a businessman, the traveller, that travels very often and lives out of his suitcase.
His wife is not very happy with that situation either. He has to leave his family behind and consistently sent from one destination to another. His job has been a daily routine: Wake, eat, work, pause for food, continue work, break for the evening, food, drink, sleep. Repeat.
His job as always been the same, making him think he isn't improving or finding the motivation or challenge, he just know he's go there or here this time for the same thing. Until one day he decide to take a change of fate and challenge himself as well as the company. That's where the story change but of course its still about him doing business but differently, with more confidence and value. You can really tell the old and new him, the author really put it through the change.
Mr. Addison is a good writer and I'm sure that there are a lot of people out there enjoyed reading the book but it was just not for me. I was struggeling getting hooked of the story und it didn't happen until the end. That might because I couldn't relate to any character. Between the pages I sometimes felt a bit lost and didn't knew what is it actually about.
The reason why the book is unique is because that the charakters are not named. Not the main character neither his wife or the boss. This is a very interesting idea for a story. It worked in the Traveller and I kinda liked it.
I recommand this to readers who are looking for something unique, or who are a traveller themselves. I'm sure they would really love this story.
2.5 rating
See full review here: http://dreamingwithopeneyesreviews.bl...
First of all, I'd like to say thank you to Garret Addison for sending me a free copy of this book. I received the book in an exhange for an honest review.
The first thing which cought my eyes was the great quote on the cover. "Sometimes to get the measure of your life you just need a break from being yourself... because nothing lasts forever" This is a very true statemant. We all need to take a break from time to time and refresh what our priorities are, treasure what you have as nothing last forever and fight for change if you've not happy.
As I was reading the blurb it sounded interesting and I wanted to give it a go. I didn't know what I can expect of this so it was a fresh start for me. This book is very different from the books I usually read. Unfortunately it was not my cup of tea.
The story is about a businessman, the traveller, that travels very often and lives out of his suitcase.
His wife is not very happy with that situation either. He has to leave his family behind and consistently sent from one destination to another. His job has been a daily routine: Wake, eat, work, pause for food, continue work, break for the evening, food, drink, sleep. Repeat.
His job as always been the same, making him think he isn't improving or finding the motivation or challenge, he just know he's go there or here this time for the same thing. Until one day he decide to take a change of fate and challenge himself as well as the company. That's where the story change but of course its still about him doing business but differently, with more confidence and value. You can really tell the old and new him, the author really put it through the change.
Mr. Addison is a good writer and I'm sure that there are a lot of people out there enjoyed reading the book but it was just not for me. I was struggeling getting hooked of the story und it didn't happen until the end. That might because I couldn't relate to any character. Between the pages I sometimes felt a bit lost and didn't knew what is it actually about.
The reason why the book is unique is because that the charakters are not named. Not the main character neither his wife or the boss. This is a very interesting idea for a story. It worked in the Traveller and I kinda liked it.
I recommand this to readers who are looking for something unique, or who are a traveller themselves. I'm sure they would really love this story.
2.5 rating
August 18, 2015
Review - The Traveller - Garrett Addison I came across Addison because he's not only passionate about books, he's passionate about the book community. That was why I jumped out of genre and tracked down a physical copy of one of his books.The Traveller started in an unusual way. A man who had been nothing but warm embers for a good number of years, was suddenly fanned to blasting flame. How? And by who/what? The mystery was afoot and I wanted an answer to this. Was he fed drugs? Was it by his now, strangely compliant wife? I mean, hostesses are jumping in to bed with this guy, so someone must have performed plastic surgery on him while he was sleeping, right?! ... that's where my thoughts went after the opening.I had problems with the pacing in places; I think Addison could have made more of some key events. A few, "events," also niggled at me as well in the first third of the book. I got confused on page 39 of the physical book because I wasn't quite clear who had serviced who and been in what parts of who's previous company to ... er ... well, I just lost track.This book was initially going to be a three star. The first two thirds of the book and journey read to be very cerebral. I felt as if I was reading a Grand Master playing a game of chess. But then, isn't the classical opening always to take the King's pawn forward? It didn't really hit on the emotions, if you know what I mean. But perhaps I was looking to take the wrong thing away from this story. It seemed to be about planning. It seemed to me that revenge was a dish best just served. Screw sticking the thermometer in the middle to see if it is at the desired temperature, just serve it up already. What pulled it back to a tentative four was the last third. White took both Blacks bishops in a stunning offensive move, although a knight and two rooks laid down their lives in the process and White's queen was exposed during part of the manoeuvres. Or was she? There was one point where I felt, "Oh no. Tomato juice. He isn't ... oh hell, he is," and my stomach just sank; but Addison rescued it reasonably well.Addison's technical writing is good but a number of things just felt too co-incidental even for a fiction. I think that even the protagonist mentioned the extraordinary luck, or chance, of one key event. It was a good journey, worth sticking with for some of the twists. Any time-served traveller will recognise some of the circumstances and sympathise, plus there is also a journey in to ethics and morality in there to boot.
February 3, 2014
I have to start off this review by saying that The Traveller is possibly one of the oddest books I’ve read in a long time. That’s not a bad thing, but it’s probably fair to say that this is not going to be a book for everyone, particularly if you’re more a person who only dips their toes into Adult fiction every once in a while.
I went into The Traveller not really having a clue what it was going to be about, and I think that was probably the best way to read this book. The plot and the characters within The Traveller were completely different to any other kind of book I’ve read, and I don’t think there’s really a summary that could have done justice to the plot, at least not for me. I enjoyed parts of the plot, but there were times (normally the scenes that took place in the boardroom or dealt with business-type things) where it just went completely over my head and I kind of floundered a little until the man character began talking about himself once more.
I found the main character (who I don’t think was actually named) an interesting man, as he started off as this guy who was totally brow-beaten and worked to the bone but soon transformed into this overtly confident, arrogant and at times, downright dislikeable man. The change was a great twist though, and I was kind of sucked into his arrogance and self-confidence, to the point of where I was sure that he wasn’t the same character who I had started reading about at the beginning of the book. It was really interesting to see the difference between his boss and himself. Even the confident, arrogant man was nearly destroyed by this awful, awful woman who I’m pleased got the ending she deserved.
The writing style in The Traveller was kind of difficult to get into. I couldn’t break from reading very long as I felt I had to submerge myself fully into the story, and it took me a good couple of chapters to get used to Addison’s original writing style. I found it interesting how only two characters were actually given names, everyone else remained nameless which at times was confusing but also pretty clever too.
The Traveller is a very different kind of Adult fiction that took me by total surprise. It’s not a bad book by any means, but it is very different in a one-of-a-kind type of way.
I went into The Traveller not really having a clue what it was going to be about, and I think that was probably the best way to read this book. The plot and the characters within The Traveller were completely different to any other kind of book I’ve read, and I don’t think there’s really a summary that could have done justice to the plot, at least not for me. I enjoyed parts of the plot, but there were times (normally the scenes that took place in the boardroom or dealt with business-type things) where it just went completely over my head and I kind of floundered a little until the man character began talking about himself once more.
I found the main character (who I don’t think was actually named) an interesting man, as he started off as this guy who was totally brow-beaten and worked to the bone but soon transformed into this overtly confident, arrogant and at times, downright dislikeable man. The change was a great twist though, and I was kind of sucked into his arrogance and self-confidence, to the point of where I was sure that he wasn’t the same character who I had started reading about at the beginning of the book. It was really interesting to see the difference between his boss and himself. Even the confident, arrogant man was nearly destroyed by this awful, awful woman who I’m pleased got the ending she deserved.
The writing style in The Traveller was kind of difficult to get into. I couldn’t break from reading very long as I felt I had to submerge myself fully into the story, and it took me a good couple of chapters to get used to Addison’s original writing style. I found it interesting how only two characters were actually given names, everyone else remained nameless which at times was confusing but also pretty clever too.
The Traveller is a very different kind of Adult fiction that took me by total surprise. It’s not a bad book by any means, but it is very different in a one-of-a-kind type of way.
January 10, 2015
The traveller is a story about a business person (who is not named) whose life is made miserable by his work situation. He is belittled by his boss and felt to be unworthy of the employment given him. His wife and family are also forced into the misery triage since each portion of their lives has been interrupted by this sadistic boss. The book covers what we learn to be a final trip and upon leaving his wife to catch a plane the business man is very discomforted that his wife does not complain but rather takes a role of support and understanding. He is not used to this kind of attitude and is unsettled by it. His task is to consult on performance matters after a long flight. On the flight there is a turn in personality and our business person turns into a virtuoso of consulting. He is sharp and to the point. He so impressed his client that he gets a job offer and the client complains to the company headquarters about his boss. He now has two job offers to consider and is in a rush to determine exactly what he wants to do. if the story ended there it would be a wonderful tale. The story does not end and there are several twists before we reach the satisfactory conclusion.
I found Mr. Addison’s writing to be rich and filled with the kind of descriptions that let the reader feel a part of the story. Several times the narrator explains his actions and the motivation of each is very clear. It is refreshing when a narrator says “I just didn’t care,” to explain letting something gone undone.
As a victim of the kind of boss described in the Traveller, I felt Mr. Addison had an excellent grasp of relating the psycho fueled ego that worked to guarantee the narrator would fail. I loved the line when after making love to her employee (forcibly) the boss says. “I have two things for you. One I’m ovulating and two, I have Herpes.” This line summed up the boss in a nutshell although there is plenty more said about her.
I found the book entertaining, well written and a good choice for a fast satisfying read. I would recommend it to anyone wanting a quality story.
I found Mr. Addison’s writing to be rich and filled with the kind of descriptions that let the reader feel a part of the story. Several times the narrator explains his actions and the motivation of each is very clear. It is refreshing when a narrator says “I just didn’t care,” to explain letting something gone undone.
As a victim of the kind of boss described in the Traveller, I felt Mr. Addison had an excellent grasp of relating the psycho fueled ego that worked to guarantee the narrator would fail. I loved the line when after making love to her employee (forcibly) the boss says. “I have two things for you. One I’m ovulating and two, I have Herpes.” This line summed up the boss in a nutshell although there is plenty more said about her.
I found the book entertaining, well written and a good choice for a fast satisfying read. I would recommend it to anyone wanting a quality story.
May 5, 2014
Italian Poet F. T. Marinetti is known as a pioneer of the avant-garde movement in fiction for his idea of “words in freedom.” Fiction that explodes the traditional boundaries and formulas and calls to the reader to read the words but look within for the meaning. “The Traveller” by Garret Addison, for this reader, fits into that avant-garde genre. Whether intended or not, the narrative gives a vibe of being deeply symbolic and requiring deeper thought on the part of the reader.
The unnamed protagonist is living an ordinary life with his family. A life he seems to dread. As he prepares for the trip with his wife the reader gets a sense of crushing routine. He packs the usual clothes in the usual suitcase and contemplates the inevitable blow to his ego that yet another encounter with his soul crushing boss will bring. She doesn’t trust him and makes clear that he is incompetent at every opportunity. He seems unwilling through obligation to the other unnamed characters in a situation destructive to his sense of being. When his change comes it does so sort of without explanation or cause. The protagonist experiences a great deal of introspection within the story because the real story is his evolution within the setting. The realizations that what he does drives his life.
Despite it’s unusual structure, “The Traveller” is a quite easy book to follow. There are greater themes but they are displayed in somewhat common activity. It seems our protagonist is prepared to rise above his daily existence when we meet him and he’s as surprised with who he becomes as we are.
If you’re looking for an action packed, thrill-a-minute kind of novel “The Traveller” may not be the right novel for you. If you’re looking for something a bit abstract that brings readers to their own conclusions about what’s really going on in the story (I won’t spoil the story by telling you the conclusions I drew), “The Traveller” might just be the perfect novel for you.
The unnamed protagonist is living an ordinary life with his family. A life he seems to dread. As he prepares for the trip with his wife the reader gets a sense of crushing routine. He packs the usual clothes in the usual suitcase and contemplates the inevitable blow to his ego that yet another encounter with his soul crushing boss will bring. She doesn’t trust him and makes clear that he is incompetent at every opportunity. He seems unwilling through obligation to the other unnamed characters in a situation destructive to his sense of being. When his change comes it does so sort of without explanation or cause. The protagonist experiences a great deal of introspection within the story because the real story is his evolution within the setting. The realizations that what he does drives his life.
Despite it’s unusual structure, “The Traveller” is a quite easy book to follow. There are greater themes but they are displayed in somewhat common activity. It seems our protagonist is prepared to rise above his daily existence when we meet him and he’s as surprised with who he becomes as we are.
If you’re looking for an action packed, thrill-a-minute kind of novel “The Traveller” may not be the right novel for you. If you’re looking for something a bit abstract that brings readers to their own conclusions about what’s really going on in the story (I won’t spoil the story by telling you the conclusions I drew), “The Traveller” might just be the perfect novel for you.
August 16, 2014
‘The Traveller’ is something that strays from that path of action-packed, plot-driven novels. It’s almost like an avant-garde writing that you either love or hate. It’s different in the sense that it reads like a long drawn out speech of a nameless man who despises his lady boss, up to the point that the hatred consumes him.
In the beginning, the man comes across as an unremarkable corporate slave, but as the story progresses, he inexplicably transforms into an arrogant, Narcissistic, invincible man who just couldn’t do no wrong.
It gets interesting when the real conflict finally surfaces and there was a bit of action. But that, too, dissipates and it’s back to lengthy monologue. The anti-climactic ending was a bit of letdown, but it triggers the change that the nameless character has been contemplating all along.
In the beginning, the man comes across as an unremarkable corporate slave, but as the story progresses, he inexplicably transforms into an arrogant, Narcissistic, invincible man who just couldn’t do no wrong.
It gets interesting when the real conflict finally surfaces and there was a bit of action. But that, too, dissipates and it’s back to lengthy monologue. The anti-climactic ending was a bit of letdown, but it triggers the change that the nameless character has been contemplating all along.
January 6, 2015
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Traveller (Kindle Edition)
This was a very intriguing read for me. The story was well-structured and the plot was unique in nature from anything else I've read in this genre. I think it would appeal to a technically-minded individual, but even as a writer and English major, it took a little extra effort for me to stay on course because of the 'wordiness' of it. (I personally just prefer fiction to be an easy read with occasional big words thrown in for variation). But, I'm glad I saw it through because the ending was worth the work:)
All in all, I would recommend this book to individuals who enjoy a challenging, intellectual read--because he is a talented writer!
This review is from: The Traveller (Kindle Edition)
This was a very intriguing read for me. The story was well-structured and the plot was unique in nature from anything else I've read in this genre. I think it would appeal to a technically-minded individual, but even as a writer and English major, it took a little extra effort for me to stay on course because of the 'wordiness' of it. (I personally just prefer fiction to be an easy read with occasional big words thrown in for variation). But, I'm glad I saw it through because the ending was worth the work:)
All in all, I would recommend this book to individuals who enjoy a challenging, intellectual read--because he is a talented writer!
November 5, 2013
I didn't like this book. I wasn't looking for any deep meaning in it and I certainly didn't find any. The book was slow to start and then it became farfetched as the protagonist underwent a complete change in character and personality. The story just kept getting more unbelievable as it went on. The book didn't make sense until the end.
July 16, 2016
I wasn't sure at first, but I kept on and then looked forward to it. I was intrigued, we've all had a bad boss or workmate but this one is truly awful-and he's trapped because he has a family to look after, I just had to get to the end-glad I did
August 17, 2016
Worth the wait
For a while, I was confused as to where the story was headed and why. But when it all started coming together it was worth the wait. Hang on and stick with it for the prize.
For a while, I was confused as to where the story was headed and why. But when it all started coming together it was worth the wait. Hang on and stick with it for the prize.
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