In Kazakhstan, a dedicated group of Tolkien readers pretend to be the Hobbits of Middle Earth. In China, a doctor attempts to cure cancer by creating a comprehensive book of English slang. In Zanzibar, Vanilla Ice-influenced hip-hop is the reigning musical genre. Journalist Forman set off with her husband on a year-long international journey, determined to find these and other offbeat cultural tidbits. From Tonga to Amsterdam, Forman "planned to experience these exotic countries through the eyes of those on the margins... to see if our otherness would bind us." Her account is a richly woven narrative that highlights a single person or group of people from each country, whether the Lemba of South Africa (Jews descended from one of the lost tribes of Israel) or the Fakaletti of Tonga (not-quite male/not-quite female transvestites). Forman can be grating as she repeatedly claims her "Weird Girl" status; her book is similar to other "off-the-beaten-path" travel books. She sets her book apart, though, by sharing glimpses into her personal life. Traveling for a year with her husband is no honeymoon--at times the two seem on the verge of divorce--and while Forman doesn't tie up the loose ends of her relationship satisfactorily, those personal details give her memoir a center and put more at stake for Forman. Armchair travelers will be sated by these smart, well-written tales.

Such amusing stories about traveling the world for a year! I really appreciated the author's honesty and the way she travels, getting to know individuals on a deeper level. It is vertical travel rather than horizontal travel - fewer places with more in depth experience at each. She manages to find so many characters! Doctor Bi, Joeren, Edwin - all gave me a fuller appreciation for places new to me in the world.

Sending this one off to MsJo.

Sending to MsJoanna. Enjoy!

Looks like fun. Thanks for passing it along.