Customer Reviews

All Over the Map

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I ordered this having read "An Italian Affair." I was really impressed with the author's honesty about some topics that women aren't typically very forthcoming about (loneliness, relationship troubles, over 40 and single) and some other tough topics I won't reveal, so readers have the chance to find out themselves about some of her struggles.

She points out early on (and she's right) that her earlier book, "Italian Affair" came out way before Eat, Pray, Love, and actually is very similar in some ways. But the national craze didn't follow her story.

Like that book, there is a fair amount of self-absorption here. But that's not a negative. It's her story, and hence, she's absorbed in telling us and revealing to us what makes her tick.

I'm a happily married wife and mother who found much of what she had to say very fresh and honest. I admire her for that because our lives are very different, but she gave me a real window into hers.

I think it would make an interesting book club book for women in all kinds of situations and at various points in their lives.

Nicely done.

Lucia P.

I am an adventure traveler and an avid reader of travel literature--both contemporary and classic. "All Over the Map" is a worthy addition to the travel literature category. But Fraser provides added personal depth to her recollections of remote Pacific islands, Andes treks, and Mexican sojourns. Her travel itineraries are a jumping off point for her to recount tales of love and loss. This creates a work that is a flowing mix of insight and poignancy. Boiled down to its essence, "All Over the Map" is a deeply retold human tale of journeys--both geographical and metaphorical. I recommend the work to anyone who loves travel, another person and, indeed, life itself.

I loved this book. The author paints beautiful word pictures of the exotic places she visits, but this book is much more than travel literature. It is the personal story of a woman at mid-life who has accomplished so much and yet wonders if she has missed something along the way. She writes about seeking love and stability in her life. In spite of her insecurities, she takes advantage of every opportunity and is constantly trying new things, learning new skills, and taking risks. Her stories range from laugh out loud funny to poignant. She tells of being assaulted in Samoa, being given ayahuasca by a shaman in Peru, and of getting dumped by a boyfriend on her 45th birthday. Every woman can relate to situations in this book. This is a perfect book club read. It would also make a great gift for your sister or friend.

This book offers rich slices of the excitement and boredom that are at the heart of extensive business travel. It also gives an honest and truthful look at the realities of the traveler's life. Good, bad, exhilarating, depressing, informative and vibrant and magical experiences are all here. I wouldn't call it light or fluffy. It is fascinating and insightful. Many readers will go where they have never been globally. Many will learn from and admire this emotionally honest portrayal. Once started, I had a hard time putting it down. I was sorry to see it end. (It has a great and very appropriate title, too.)

Related to so much of her book, from her feelings of intimidation while at Wesleyan and apprehension over going to her reunion as a single woman, to her swearing off online dating, to her trying out tango, to her cleaning out her apartment. Also, her travel stories are fascinating and insightful. Well done.

I was anxious to read this book, having seen it recommended in many magazines and newspapers. However, it seems that Ms. Frasier's search for fulfillment has everything to do with self and nothing to do with soul. I was hugely disappointed to find that her traveling consisted of sleeping with anyone and then waking with regret. Really???? The one redeeming quality was her descriptions of the locations she visited. Having traveled some myself, I could appreciate the sights and scenes that she described and marvel at the awesome beauty of our planet.

I have to admit, I fell in love with this story from the get go. All Over the Map chronicles the life of Laura Fraser, a freelance writer and journalist who is trying to answer one of life's great questions; can a woman be independent and free spirited with a great career while at the same time establish and maintain a long lasting relationship? Her soul searching journey takes her to the four corners of the world and you'd be surprised with the answers that she finds.

All over the map reads like the sequel to The Italian Affair, Fraser's earlier work yet the book can easily stand on its own. There are many references to the latter story but this is only done to give the reader some perspective on where Fraser has come from. Some readers may also find this story a close resemblance to Eat Pray Love by Melissa Gilbert but my jury is still out on that matter.

The story offers something for everyone. It's devoted to those of us who wish we could "go there someday". The reader lives vicariously through Fraser who, with each new location, does a great job recreating the sights and smells of the place in vivid detail. If that wasn't enough to get your attention, foodies will be delighted to find out that their passion is given equal treatment. You can almost taste the meals as you read. Aside from the great locales, the story is a treasure trove of ideas, concepts and beliefs about life that is both relevant and pertinent to modern women.

Set up like a memoir, this story gives the reader a sense of being in the author's head. It's a great tactic for first person narration since in gaining the perspective of the author, you also begin to identify with her. Though the crux of the issue takes place in midlife for Fraser I couldn't help but wonder if it possible for this juncture in life; finding a balance between being intelligent, successful and independent while finding and maintaining a great relationship, to come earlier? I think that most young woman of my generation are holding fast to those same feminist ideals that Fraser expounds in her book.

The other advantage of the writing style is that you can look at her life from an outsider's perspective. Fraser is most comfortable on the road, running from her problems and she at times refuses to face her reality. It's funny because she always gets placed in situations where she has no other choice but to face the facts. I found great examples of this on the retreat and at her class reunion.

The characters that we are introduced to the readers are just as rich and dynamic as the places that Fraser visits. Her inner circle stays true to her lifestyle and comprises of people from around the world. Though there was not a lot of emphasis placed on them at times, there present certainly made Fraser's journey seem less lonely.

There is truly no happily ever after except for the ones that we create and All Over the Map embodies that premise perfectly. I really enjoyed reading this book but I also came out of the experience much wiser about what I want and do not want in life. If you haven't read this book yet then you should. This book should definitely be in your to-read pile.

I love the theme of this book--how one woman measures up to the we-can-have-it-all claim of the liberated generation. With a light sense of humor and a few swear words, Laura beautifully articulates her personal truth about the midlife dilemma she is headed toward: missing out on marriage, children, and home because she excels in meaningful work, travel, and fun. True love becomes her accelerated target, fueled by inner change. Her search is relatable to any self-sufficient, single woman over thirty-five aiming for the traditional life who finds that such prescription eludes her. ALL OVER THE MAP is like EAT, PRAY, LOVE on steroids but with a different beginning, no ashram, and a different ending. Which makes it sound nothing like EAT, PRAY, LOVE. But by the end of both books, I felt like I had a new friend propelling me to design the life I wanted rather than bemoan the one that "eluded" me. Maybe we can't have it all, but instead, we can create something better. Bravo for us all! And thank you, Laura, for this gem.

I gave this book 3 stars because I think future readers should not choose this book in anticipation of another "An Italian Affair". I did and I was quite disappointed after reading the first few chapters or so. Unlike her previous book, miss Fraser almost focused entirely on her own internal struggle, her race against her own clock, her effort to overcome her midlife crisis, wherever she visited, and thus in my opinion failed to capture the readers' interest with her travel. I found myself racing through the pages many times to fast forward to her next trip.

On the other hand, this book was quite easy to read. It was honest, unpretentious, and quite revealing. In fact, it may be a bit too honest and revealing for a male reader such as myself. (Perhaps the female readers would think otherwise.) However, I must say that her writing in this book is much more eloquent and profound comparing to "An Italian Affair".

To borrow Lillian Hellman's words, I think miss Fraser "left too much of [her] unfinished because [she] wasted too much time" looking for someone to make her life complete. The last chapter however was very poignant and in my personal opinion brought some closure to miss Fraser. At least that was how I felt at the end.

I finished reading "All Over The Map" despite many times I wondered if I had chosen the wrong book. In the end, I did like the book for what it was. It just was not what I had looked for in the beginning.

When I first picked up this book, I thought, "Oh no, another 'Eat, Pray, Love'". It took me a couple of days to get past the first five pages because I was convinced it wasn't going to hold a candle to "EPL", but once I actually sat down to read it, I realized it was nothing like it. I loved the story and thought several time while reading it that this could have been my life had I not chosen to get married and become the old woman that lives in a shoe (with so many children, she didn't know what to do). I found myself living vicariously through the author and her many travels. Great summer or rainy day read.