Purchased at Brisbane Airport 24/8 to use up the last of my Australian currency. Started somewhere over the Pacific between Brisbane and Los Angeles, finished this morning at O'Hare in Chicago.

I loved this book, I really did. Not only do we have travelling in common, but I can understand the author's feeling of unsettledness. As she learned, we're not alone either. Our generation is facing new challenges unknown to our parents. Or they occur in new forms.

I like what they learned about different countries, customs (not ordering meat by weight in France) and about themselves. Travel does teach you more than can be imagined.

Carne di cavallo... "It can't be true. I drop the tray in horror and take a few steps back, covering my mouth. It's, it's... Phar Lap." I laughed out loud at that, not only because we do end up eating a _lot_ of weird stuff while traveling, but I remember horse mania from my last Australian trip.

I know what 'over travelling' does to you and can sympathize with Katrina when all she wants is a lie in but there is no time. That's part of what made Prague different to other trips where if I wanted a do nothing day, my schedule was mainly flexible enough to allow it.

One thing that irked me, her going on about obesity in America and being shocked at the junk food in the supermarkets. Coles/Woolies/Safeway are no better and on a whole, many issues face Australians as well but so many travel writers notice only the fat American.

And yes, fuck is an adjective :)

I think this book reminds me a lot of "Ticket to Ride" in that the person doesn't realise how much they still have to learn. And then we as readers learn with them.

Possible ring if there's an interest.

RELEASE NOTES:

It's a not so R ABCK... :)

TramGirl was the only one who expressed an interest in reading this book so it's on its way to her to enjoy.

Arrived in the mail on Friday, thanks for sending it SKingList I'll read it and pass it along either at the ABC2007 or a Melbourne meetup if not quick enough (only 3 weeks until the convention!).

I really really liked this book, as someone who is about to turn 30 at the end of the year I sympathise with her feelings of unsettledness and wanting to have it all. I am someone who wants to be able to tick all my boxes and do things both personally and professionally right now! But I think I need to take a step back and write my life plan and make more time for me and what I really want, not what I think I need to do.

I also have the travel bug and identified, like SKingList did, about sometimes just wanting to stay in bed and be 'on holidays' not 'on tour'. Lucky when I stayed with my sisters in London earlier this year it was nice to have a lie in before heading out to enjoy the city sights.

RELEASE NOTES:

ABC2007 release! Taking along to place on the book table at the 4th Australian Bookcrossing Convention.

Passed to me as a recommendation at Friday night's gathering of the Australian BookCrossing Convention 2007, at the Mary Kehoe Community Centre.

I actually quiet enjoyed this - despite discovering that the author was a Nova radio personality, and assuming we'd have such different experiences of travel. I enjoyed reading through her development and realisation of what's important, and what she wants in life, really.
And loved the armchair travel, revisiting many places with Katrina that I have actually been to myself!

To be left with the books around for Chairs in Squares, in front of the Town Hall, as part of Sydney's Summer events.