Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World

Interesting Stories. Annoying Style

While I admire the courage of her travels, I found this book to be very irritating. She overstates the whole; "I am an independant woman who doesn't need a man so I can live my life how I want. So there." After a while it sounds like a cliche 1972 Woman's Lib manifesto. She is a very self absorbed baby boomer. Another annoying tactic she uses is by just putting on a native dress she proclaims herself "one of them." Sorry, sister but you ain't. I've sat in Jamaican slums smoking ganja with Rastas playing Bob Marley songs on a guitar. Does that make me a Rastafari? No. It makes me a friendly visitor. There is also a simplistic left wing political view throughout. Anyone who is a little well off is thinly veiled as am imperialist, capitalist, slaver. Poor people are good. And as far as the Nicaraguan Sandanista "they are the people!" No mention of the pesky problem of their viscous human rights violations.

2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

The best traveling book Ive read

From the moment I finished the first page I was hooked. The whole time I was reading I felt as if I were there with Rita, it encouraged me to go traveling. A week after I finished the book I packed up what I had, and went on a trip that lasted nearly a month, it was wonderful. When I got to my destination 'In the San Juan Islands' nearly 700 miles away from home I took on a new outlook on traveling and geting to meet people.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Inspiring

This was excellently segmented for busy readers that do not have long stretches of time to sit and read an entire chapter. It was an exotic vacation I could actually afford. Highly recommended for travelers, humanitarians, and those of us who feel like we've abandoned our dreams. Written in a simple, yet sensitive, style that brought me into her experiences.

Interesting reading, well written

The author, at the age of 48, decided to live in various countries around the world, with the local population as one of them. She no longer has a fixed address and has been living out of a suitcase so to speak for decades. Her adventures are interesting and her writing is good but something did not entirely engage me. I'd give it a B.

Getting Around the Planet on the Cheap

This book did not begin for me until Ms. Gelman arrived in the Galapagos Islands and achieved "total freedom." From this point forward, I was intrigued with how ingenious she was about getting hosted by various government entities, and families about the globe using her children books as her calling card. Trusting in herself and her instincts and in the kindness of strangers, she takes exotic and exciting treks for a fraction of the cost it would take the average person. Being an amateur anthropologist, she craves to live with families of indigenous tribes and even spends sometime living on an orangutan preserve getting to know the nuances of her fellow primates. I am not given to such intimacies, but I enjoyed receiving her insights. Though a thoughtful, caring traveler, I did want her to interfere when the activities she described that were of an environmentally threatening nature. Her stance is one of objective observer that reports on a circumstance, but does not take action that would lead to change. This is more a memoir than a travel narrative relating more about her personal interactions with family and friends, dinners she ate and less about describing the places she visits. Still, an enjoyable informative read that made me want to move to New Zealand and try every green mussel recipe she talks about in her book.
Linda Ballou
Author of Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler's Tales

Amazing!!!! Must Read!!!

this book feeds your soul. its in depth and invigorating! Makes you want to give everything up and travel the world to reconnect with all things lost in te real world. It has been in my top 20 since it was published and thats hard to attain...a serious MUST READ!

Travel Writing at its best!

This is the best travel writing book I have ever read. Forget "Eat, Pray Love"! This is better by far! It is what Under the Tuscan Sun could have been if Frances Mayes really got divorced (as happens in the fictionalized movie) and travelled beyond glamourous Tuscany. Rita Golden Gelman really gets out there. She rids herself of worldy possesions, takes risks, goes alone to places most of us would never dream of, and above all enriches her life and finds new purpose later in the game. This book doesn't tell of vacations. It tells of immersing oneself in different cultures so as to grow and learn from them. It tells of letting one's guard down and really living without reservations. As a bookseller, I highly recommend this book to all customers!

Embracing the Passion for Life

I loved reading about Rita's travels and adventures in life. Life is too short. You have to run out and enjoy everything about it. Rita teaches us to embrace life to the fullest, as well as humanity. She teaches a common respect and friendship with others when it comes to finding a familiar ground (such as cooking). We can all make friends all over the world, even if we don't speak the same language. I've dusted off my passport and started planning my various trips around the world. This year: Montreal, Ireland, Czech Republic and Switzerland. Next year: Buffalo, NY, Bali and Morocco.

A Great Adventure

This book captured my imagination. I found myself leaping from one page to the next just to find out the next place that she would discover. I find it remarkable that this successful women of luxury as she put it so boldy enters into the world of the unknown with such gusto and enthusiasm. I not only found myself personally woven into her experiences with the people, the Orangutan's, the land, the food, the culture but also her family. If you live the Nomad lifestyle or are in search of it you will find this book very inspiring.

dreamer

I lived vicariously through her, amazing read, takes you miles away

Good adventure, but she thinks so highly of herself

I enjoyed reading about the adventures. It was an inspirational book, and definitely made me want to pack up and go. I did, however, get tired of her bragging. She acts like she is the only person who has ever taken off on an adventure. Although it's commendable that she did it at her age, she didn't need to go on about how great everyone thinks she is.

not plausible

The premise was good but the experiences often not believable. As a recent traveler to Oaxaca I doubt that she was hitchhiking on that road nor invited to live in a Zapotec home without a complete command of their language--she has a good imagination

Perfect for anyone who loves cultures or loves to travel

This book is any easy read that will restore your belief in serendipity and general goodness of people throughout the world. I too love to live in other places and live not like a tourist. This book chronicles one amazing woman's various choices of living places. If you long to travel, long to see the world and embrace other worlds, this is a great book to get you completely excited for the trips. I can barely sit still now!

Inspirational, empowering, and fun!

As an American woman who 'rushed through' backpacking trips in the past, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. It's so great to know that just because we hit speed bumps in the road, that the journey doesn't have to end. You can keep up with Rita's ongoing journey on her web site too. After reading this book, I feel compelled to thank you her for sharing her life, and to spread the word around. Enjoy!! :)

Gutsy

It takes courage to make such a journey alone. I'd like to think I could do such a thing, knowing full well I couldn't. But oh, what an inspiration to read of someone who did.

Aw! Why did this book have to end so soon?

I really, really liked this book! One testimonial says, '...I just inhaled your book. I could not read it enough.' That is how I feel. I wish it had been a lot longer. I wish that she would have gone into even more detail. I wish that there would be a sequel. What has she been doing since the book ended? I am intensly curious!!!!! An intersting facet is that her episodes are not seen through rose colored lenses. She is an ordinary woman. When faced with these extraordinary circumstances, she experiences lonliness, self-doubt, fear, etc...just as we would. In addition, she experiences the guilt of leaving her loved ones behind just as most women would. She mentions that when meeting married couples in the US, she feels negative emotions from the husbands. She realizes, with surprise, that they do not like their wives' fascination with her lifestyle. The husbands do not like their wives asking her questions. They do not like hearing the enthusiasm in their voices as they discuss Rita's experiences. It comes as no surprise that I recommend this book! :-)

Fascinating

Have read other travel books, but this is the first by a woman who has discarded possessions and is without a permanent home. Truly unusual and spectacular. She word paints exotic, memorable experiences. Highly recommended.

Fantastic and courageous

This book is engaging from the very first page, the author is very "real" about her emotions and observations in a very down to earth manner. I found it very easy to relate to her experiences, regardless of location because they are "human" experiences. I appreciate her humor in circumstances such as finding acceptance in a small village and her sense of humor is apparent. It's a fantastic book for women looking for a boost of encouragement to explore the unknown corners of the world.

Excellent Travel Essay

The fact that it is a true account of a woman's traveling experience is simply spectacular. She's honest about her feelings and her views and thoughts. This is not a travel book in which you will learn what places to see in the various countries that she has visited. This is more about her experiences abroad, from her perceptions of the other cultures (but not so much in an analytical manner), her serendipitous encounters as well as mishaps, her emotions, and many funny side-stories. She does an excellent job in putting traveling into perspective, in particular for single female travelers. I have learned a lot from her experiences and have tried to relate them to my own. As soon as I finished reading it, I lent it to my other friend who is also an avid traveler (and often times traveling solo) and will appreciate her stories just as much.

Inspirational and fun.

Couldn't put this book down. I loved the fact that Rita wrote in the present tense, which made me feel like I was right there with her. She is truly an un-met friend!