Customer Reviews

Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals: Adventures in Love and Danger

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I loved this book from start to finish. It made me laugh and it made me cry. Probably because of a non-typical childhood, Ms. Dale chose to live an unorthodox life while traveling. In so doing, she experienced the countries she's traveled to in a wholly different way than most American travelers. It did me good to see the side of Latin America that she describes. We here in the "States" think we know all there is to living. I think we need to think again. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to enjoy some laughs, some suspense and, some tears of joy. It is an enjoyable read.

I have been all over the world, and have had some insane things happen to me, so perhaps I liked this book so much because I can personally relate to it. In parts, at least. I have never in my lifetime descended into the crucible of insanity that Wendy describes in "Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals."

Self-indulgent? Of course it is! This is Wendy's travelogue, after all, so by definition it ought to be a little self-indulgent. It's not overbearingly so and could very easily have been. Wendy writes about some truly awful experiences with worldly (but not stuffy) insight. Her dry sense of humor skilfully belies the gravity of the situations that Wendy describes. And her writing style is gripping. This is one of those books that I started reading in the morning, and read cover to cover practically without putting down.

Sure, Wendy Dale isn't Douglas Adams or Dave Barry. And that's OK, because she's not a humorist and this book really shouldn't be funny at all. The story wouldn't work if it weren't seen through the entirely authentic lens of a naively adventurous young woman in love. And it's obviously true--there are some things that you just can't make up.

It took tremendous courage for Wendy to bare her soul like this. Her exceptional sense of humor keeps the book both lighthearted and fun despite the often heavy, obsidian subject matter. Admittedly, this book isn't for everyone, but it should be required reading material for anyone with both wanderlust and a sense of adventure.

Wendy Dale's adventures and her perspective on them are dry, witty and downright hilarious. It's like listening to stories from your best friend when she returns from a long journey. There are some poignant moments of realization as well -- which is the hallmark of a good trip. This is a great summer read and will make you appreciate any vacation you are able to stay out of jail.

A Must Read for somebody who needs to find a better meaning in their life (lives). A Must Read for somebody who just needs a good laugh. A Must Read for serious people who only think one path and one path only. A Must Read for somebody who thinks they know everything and have experienced everything. A Must Read for somebody experiencing a broken heart. A Must Read for people who have it all and are so rich they can buy just about anything. In my opinion, it's a must read for anybody because the book is so well-rounded and so well thought out it covers a universal meaning and in the end, you realize the choices you make in life shape you as a person to become a better person for the next phase and challenges you will be facing. Wendy Dale will touch all of your senses! (At least it did for me anyway)

I completely enjoyed this book. Wendy is a person I liked, her family is very very funny, and her adventures are interesting and entertaining. She's got a witty eye, and a thoughtful style; there were parts that suddenly affected me strongly and other parts where I laughed out loud. I can't wait for her to write another book!

I just finished reading this book and it was as much fun as a mini-vacation without having to endure airports/packing/customs. Her family, friends, and love interests are an amusing cast of characters, and the unusual places she visits give the book an exotic flavor of adventure, reminiscent of "Romancing the Stone." I especially enjoyed her South American escapades. Her descriptive writing gives a strong feeling of being there, and is delightfully witty and entertaining. Overall a fun summer read, but there are parts that draw you in poignantly to her problematic and romantic encounters. Highly recommended to anyone for an enjoyable travel/romance/zany read.

Although it had it's moments, this book is largely non-fiction beach trash. Wendy wastes most of her time in bed instead of our experiencing the rich cultures these countries offer.

Product Placement and a catchy title really are important. I, who have zero interest in Travel, happened by this section in my quest to find the "Horror" section, which by the way, does not exist at my local B&N. And this book, nicely displayed on the aisle, caught my eye. I picked it up, and as I usually will do, read the first page of a book to see if I would want to read further. After about 15 pages, and getting weird looks from other customers for standing there like an idiot failing to stifle my laughing out loud like an idiot, I decided it would be easier reading it at home so I HAD to buy this book. Even a person who has no interest in travelling will find this book hysterical.

Move over, Paul Theroux. Wendy Dale has now taken the stage with a travel book that redefines travel writing in a way no one else can! Witty, charming, funny, comic, insightful, biting, ironic,sarcastic, philosophical ... this is a travel writer worth waiting for. If you read one good book this summer, read this one. And for expats around the world, dig in!

I read this book when I'd knocked flat by a horrible flu. Wendy's vivid detail of the equatorial weather, cuisine and nightlife are what cured me, I'm convinced. "Adventures in Love and Danger" couldn't be titled any more appropriately.... conjugal visits in third world prisons, black market shopping and a willingness to chuck everything safe and dive headlong into the circumstances that make a story worth telling... this book doesn't leave anything out. It's full of the stories that most people wish they could tell about their boring year abroad. A fantastic read.