A Marriage Sabbatical

by Sabina Shalom

The author describes her backpacking trip around the world, which gave her a new perspective on her marriage and her life

305 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1984

Reviews

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must read for any woman who loves to travel!

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book club selection, not a book I would have chosen myself. I have very mixed feelings about it. It is a memoir, basically a true story. On the one hand, I found it rather preposterous that a husband would allow his suburban housewife,an unseasoned traveler, to take a trip basically around the world, visiting many exotic, uniquely cultured lands, like Iran, Papua New Guinea, where she naively (stupidly) places herself in risky situations. On the other hand, she recounts her spiritual journey, one of self-discovery, independence and self-worth, and her subsequent resolution to save her dying marriage and create a fulfilling life for herself and her husband. That part of the book I truly enjoyed. Of her cathartic experience on Easter Island, she wrote, "I had been born for a fragile moment of magnificence and there a part of me would remain behind." Beautiful. And of the entire trip, "I had regarded this long, lone journey as an escape to freedom. Now, I realized, it had become a voyage of discovery."

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A blast from the past found at a used bookstore in Joshua Tree with book piles to the ceiling in every room. This woman traveled alone with a backpack around the world in the early 1980s on the cheap under $50 a day- she by sheer determination met Indira Gandhi, the King of Tonga and the Mayor of Sydney among many other colorful characters and adventures. She was alone with her thoughts for a whole year! She is a descriptive and engaging writer through it all like describing visiting Tehran while the Shah was away and people thought Iran was to keep modernizing, saw the extreme poverty in India and being served rat for dinner in the South Pacific- she declined it . I recommend this unique book by Sabina Shalom! What a name and woman!

[Suzanne Gibbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! Her honesty. Storytelling. And what parts of the trip she chose to tell, vs what she left out! Hurrah! Taking a trip of self discovery that all people, especially women, ought to embark on—in whatever form they choose!

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was a wonderful trip for a wonderful resourceful woman, who stepped right out of her comfort zone and did what very few of us would do.
I loved the way she wrote, very open and honest, showing her vulnerability and fears.
Well worth the read.