Go Girl!: The Black Woman's Book of Travel and Adventure [Hardcover]

Elaine Lee (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 1997

The first travel book for the sisters!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Go Girl! is part travelogue, part guidebook for African American women. Author Elaine Lee first caught the travel bug from her mother, but it wasn't until she was in her late 30s that she realized travel could mean more than just a vacation. She began to systematically plan her life and finances in order to make travel a focal point, an accomplishment detailed inthe book's concluding essay. But Lee gives the reader plenty to think about before she reveals her own secrets--there's Maya Angelou in Africa, Alice Walker in Bali, Gwendolyn Brooks in Russia, and Jill Nelson on Martha's Vineyard, to name just a few of the 52 women who contribute their travel stories to Lee's book of travel and adventure. Along with the inspiration come snippets of practical advice and some very useful resources listed at the end--everything from travel magazines to cruises geared toward African American travelers. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

Globe-trotting attorney Lee assembled 52 travel pieces presenting the uncommon perspective of black women, mostly African Americans. Assembled under the headings "Back to Africa," "Sistren Travelin'," and "Trippin' All Over the World," many initially appeared in popular women's or travel magazines. Personal impressions based on chats with the locals is the preferred journalistic style, with articles extolling the dignity, demeanor, and dress of Ghanaian and Nigerian women; a cautionary tale about smooth-talking West Indian men; a whimsical account of experiencing a coup in Trinidad; discovery of "love, peace and happiness" in Bahia; and a flirtatious stroll during Carnival in Venice. Gwendolyn Brooks in pre-perestroika Leningrad, perceptive snapshots of Thailand and the former Yugoslavia, and too-brief accounts of visits to slave-sites highlight the collection. Much of the other material is of similar travelog appeal, though some practical advice is also provided. For all pubic libraries.?Lonnie Weatherby, McGill Univ. Lib., Montreal
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: The Eighth Mountain Press (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0933377436
• ISBN-13: 978-0933377431
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,261,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No hard information, but great stories, October 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Go Girl!: The Black Woman's Book of Travel and Adventure (Paperback)

Go Girl (by Elaine Lee, Eighth Mountain Press) is a delightful collection of travel stories by and for black American women. An inspiring collection of information and essays by Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, and others, Go Girl is the essential guide for a sojournin' sista. While there's a disappointing lack of hardcore information specifically for the black traveler, the beautiful first-person stories are treasures for any reader.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At long last, April 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Go Girl!: The Black Woman's Book of Travel and Adventure (Paperback)

I was really excited when I saw this book! Having traveled and lived abroad myself, the book brought back a lot of memories. This is as excellent choice for any African American or solo female traveler who is just beginning branch out on the globe. The stories by the various authors reinforce the truth that living in a society that's very different form one's own will change the way you see yourself and the world for the better. I definitely recommend it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sampling the World in Two Days., January 6, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Go Girl!: The Black Woman's Book of Travel and Adventure (Hardcover)

Reading this book sent me away from my comfortable armchair and t.v. mode. I tasted every city, country and town with each writer. The variety of places and points of view was refreshing. I can't wait for the sequel so I can sample more of the world. It took me two days to read and travel without the uncomfortable lack of leg room on the airplanes. For all the sisters who reach out, keep on going and sharing! You are a delight.