Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

Though this book's a few years over a decade old I found the stories in it relevant to today. This book was written geared towards me, a Black woman, and many other Black women who feel the urge to travel. It was not only written with that in mind, it was written towards those of us who want to travel but who haven't yet due to random circumstances (lack of funds, time, feeling fear, etc.). It's a book that's written to convince us to stop holding back and just do it.

The stories are written in sections: one section is about trips to Africa, one is about trips throughout the African Diaspora, and the the final section is in regard to trips in other continents (i.e., places around Europe and Asia).

I think where this book downfalls a little is how too many of the stories focus on these women being too fixated on their "Blackness" and their "otherness." As a Black woman I know that this cannot be erased and that we'll always be judged by our race and gender, but it shouldn't be to the point of running your life. Some of the women were hellbent on avoiding non-Blacks in other countries and harbored prejudices, but at least in the end of their specific stories they came around.

There are quite a few grammatical errors in this book as well, such as "it's" being used instead of "its" in one story, a woman being called "a women" in another, and one woman's name switching from Afiwa (the actual name) to Aiwa (the typo name) quite a few times in that specific story. I wish a stronger eye for editing had been used, but it didn't detract too much from my reading these stories.

I also liked the blurbs throughout the stories, but felt their placement throughout the paragraphs made it easy to be detracted. They would've been better placed at the end of each page or story as a footnote. The blurbs added a complement to the story (more information about the country being described, or a paragraph with the same theme of the story) and some gave great travel tips.

I have to comment about the one reviewer (a Black man, I assume) who said Elaine Lee needs to compile a book of stories for Black men. I wish men would realize that when we women have something written specifically for us, then it is not a woman's responsibility to cater to the men. He should follow his own advice and write his own travel book.

I hope Elaine Lee one day writes an updated version of "Go Girl!" with newer stories. Maybe one of those stories will be one of mine.

I bought this book before going overseas for the first time and found the stories compelling and informative. Rich with tips and tricks, it is unique in that it is written from the viewpoint of Black female travelers. From China to Yugoslavia, across the African diaspora from Africa to the Caribbean, and other points abroad, these stories of world travel are often funny, sometimes reflective, and always interesting.

One of the reasons we don't get the chance to see the world, the author says is a need for a travel companion and lack of money. Elaine Lee says that it can be overcome. In this book, there are essays that will help the traveler get a feel of what it is like to be in another country and enjoy traveling without a companion. In this book money shouldn't be an issue if you plan accordingly and find deals on flights and stays. This book is a reference for not only black women, but African-Americans who want to have a chance to see the world.

Go Girl is an excellent book for anyone who wants to listen to the stories of kindred adventurers. The stories are interesting, often humorous, and always engaging. They inspired me to venture out. Elaine Lee's planning and preparation chapter was especially helpful.

I think that this is the best book that I have read which features the thoughts and emotions of African American women travelers. Their shared experiences certainly helps me become more appreciative of them and not to take them for granted. As they travel the world, they are looked upon as beautiful, bold women. Certainly, the "Go Girl" Guide brings that out in each experience of these travel writers. As the author of The African American Travel Guide, I strongly feel that Elaine Lee has done an outstanding job in choosing the experiences of these particular women to help me understand and learn more about Black culture throughout the world. The guide also shows how the world reacts to us as Black people in a foreign culture. When will Elaine produce the "Go Guy's" travel guide for men - or maybe I should write that. Great job, Elaine.