The Reluctant Traveller

by Bill Lumley

Forced to make good on a drunken promise to travel to Ethiopia to document a journey to the pinnacle of the lost mountain of Wehni, the author sets about annoying his mate Gar, his fellow travellers, and a huge number of Ethiopians.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

348 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2010

Reviews

[TC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Bill is afraid of all sorts of things, and it seems usually has ready-prepared excuses to keep himself out of harm's way. So a climbing trip to find a lost mountain in Ethiopia was never going to be his perfect holiday. Shame he managed to agree to the trip while under the influence and amazing he didn't manage to wheedle his way out of it.

I found this account of his travels in Ethiopia and the hazards he encounters along the way laugh out loud funny, there are some great one liners, but also very interesting. His descriptions of the places may not win him any friends at the tourist board but have painted a picture for me (who definitely doesn't have Ethiopia on her list of places to see) and I now feel like I have a better feel for the geography and climate of the place, as well as what might face the intrepid travellers who do go there. I also picked up a few facts which might come in handy for the pub quiz.

This was a funny, easy read and well worth every penny.

[Wendy Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

a pleasant read

I enjoyed reading this book, it was entertaining and didn’t hold back on the dirtiness of their journey. Well done

[Tony · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best that can be said of this book is that it fills Lumley's contractual obligation to write a book about his trip to Ethiopia. It's a book. He wrote it. He's not as funny as he thinks he is, and he's nowhere near as charming as J. Maarten Troost or Bill Bryson. If you're looking for insights into Ethiopian culture, forget it. He's not interested in that. He'd much rather tell you about how much a beer costs in Addis Ababa, and how much he hated being in Ethiopia at all.

He occasionally starts to say something interesting, but then drops it and goes back to whining.

I gave this book a generous two stars, because it does fill the spot on the shelf reserved for modern Ethiopian travelogues. We can only hope that someone more interested (and competent) will journey to this interesting and overlooked country in the near future.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really 2.5 stars - I didn't regret having bought it, but I wouldn't really encourage others to either. It's 200 pages of the author's whining and complaining, but manages to be okay in spite of that. I came away with the impression that it was mostly schtick, and he wasn't that bad during the trip. There are some self-effacing moments - a bus ride which he is forced to make in feces-coated clothing as he'd unknowingly just used a filthy toilet (bathroom), etc. Would've been a better book if he'd gone for more travel observation, and less forced humor.

[Ceri-lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

It just doesn't flow. Switching from personal whining to historical fact, it was hard to know if you were reading a true story or learning a course book in history. No real plot or characterisation. The ending was a huge anti-climax.

[Emma Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amusing story of a man who travels no further than his local for a pint, drunkenly agreeing to a trip to Ethiopa to search for a lost mountain with some over enthusiastic mountaineers. His utter dislike for anything outdoors, wildlife and lack of home comforts keeps the giggles coming

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mildly humorous "travel" book from someone who doesn't like travelling. I must admit I couldn't really empathise with someone who couldn't be bothered to change his underwear for two weeks.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting facts about Ethiopia but the book didn't paint a very positive picture of the country or the people.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny as hell