Mousetrapped: A Year and A Bit in Orlando, Florida [Kindle Edition]

Catherine Ryan Howard (Author)

Book Description

The bestselling travel memoir by the author of Backpacked: A Reluctant Trip Across Central America

Three big dreams, two mouse ears and one J-1 visa.
What could possibly go wrong in the happiest place on earth?

When Catherine Ryan Howard decides to swap the grey clouds of Ireland for the clear blue skies of the Sunshine State, she thinks that all of her dreams (living in the United States, seeing a Space Shuttle launch and, um, owning a Starbucks card) are about to come true. Blissfully ignorant of the realities of moving thousands of miles away from home - and woefully unprepared for the logistics of setting up a new home once she gets there - Catherine trusts the Orlando of her daydreams will be waiting for her just as soon as she steps off the plane.

But not long into her first day on Floridan soil - and not long after a breakfast of Mickey Mouse-shaped pancakes - Catherine discovers that amongst Orlando's baked highways, monotonous mall clusters and world famous tourist attractions, park tickets are overpriced, pixie dust is hard to find and thick, wavy hair is downright impossible to straighten . . .

PRAISE FOR MOUSETRAPPED:

"A unique book by a brilliantly witty, instantly loveable author. I couldn't put it down."
--Trashionista.com, Top 10 Reads of 2010

"[A] unique story that proves that dreams really do come true."
--WanderlustandLipstick.com

"Catherine writes with such honesty and humor that this is one of those books that you just keep reading and reading until you find you have finished it . . . A very entertaining bit of escapism."
-- D. Jones, #1 Top Reviewer and #1 Hall of Fame Reviewer on Amazon.co.uk

See also More Mousetrapped: A Little Bit More From That Year and A Bit (e-book only)

PLEASE NOTE: To avoid disappointment, readers should note that Catherine worked for a global hotel chain at their property in Walt Disney World; Mousetrapped is NOT a memoir about working for The Walt Disney Company.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A unique book by a brilliantly witty, instantly loveable author... I couldn't put it down." --Trashionista.com, Top 10 Reads of 2010

"[MOUSETRAPPED] is a fun travel memoir that will appeal to anyone who loves Disney, NASA and/or Starbucks. Catherine writes ... with a fresh, chatty voice. You end up sympathizing with Catherine's trying moments, laughing at her funny ones, and celebrating her special triumphs." --AKindleinHongKong.blogspot.com

"[Catherine] writes with wit and humor about her time in Orlando. Thoroughly enjoyable and a great read!" --Talli Roland, author of THE HATING GAME

"[A] unique story that proves that dreams really do come true." --WanderlustandLipstick.com

"MOUSETRAPPED is an interesting, quirky tale with a conversationalist tone and a likeable narrator, packed with tales about space shuttle launches, religious theme parks and even a Bruce Willis story." --ChickLitClub.com

About the Author

Writer, astronaut, skinny: CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD wouldn't mind being any of those things. 

 

As well as working as a front desk agent in a Walt Disney World hotel (and then a housekeeping inspector in a Walt Disney World hotel, for a little bit), Catherine has administrated things in the Netherlands, cleaned things on a French campsite and stapled things together in various offices in her hometown of Cork, Ireland. 

 

Frequently over-caffeinated, she currently divides her time between her desk and the couch. 

 

Find out more at catherineryanhoward.com.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 362 KB
• Print Length: 234 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B003BNZC10
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #36,896 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #6 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Travel > Specialty Travel > Tourist Destinations & Museums
  • #7 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Travel > United States > Regions > South > South Atlantic
  • #10 in Books > Travel > United States > Florida > Orlando

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read and an honest tale by a girl full of dreams. August 21, 2010

By Andreas Müller

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I found this book more or less by accident (and a keyword search) and I am so happy I did. Catherine Ryan Howard manages to pull the reader into her world, her thoughts, her dreams and her feelings and generously shares all of them. You might be getting the book for one reason (for example because you're a Disney fan) and you'll be getting plenty to read about, but during your read you'll discover unexpected things that might even surprise you a little bit.
The author manages to write with such honesty about the things that are important to her that you cannot help but be moved, even by things you never even knew you cared much about.
Kudos to Catherine for taking the reader along on this emotional ride and for her very honest style of writing, which doesn't try to pander to her audience. A fact that in today's overly (and hideously) "PC" world deserves much praise indeed.
Oh yes, and it's funny, entertaining, exciting and well-spelled, too! And frankly, what more could you want? ;-)

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and easy to read, Honest and engaging March 27, 2010

By Jon Stueve

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Catherine's tail (pun intended) is an honest accounting of moving her life (with the help of a J-1 visa) across the Atlantic ocean to the land where dreams were made of, or at least attempted to be manufactured, Disney style. The story is engaging, and it drew me into the story of her life and times of 18 months and a bit in the world that Mickey built. Some of the best part is Cath's total engagement to the Kennedy Space Center; she really should be hired by NASA to be a historian and spruce up the Astronaut museum thingy. :)

Also the determination to stop the crazy train, and muster the courage to be real not only in her story, but in telling the story. Brave, emotional, and enjoyable. I bought the Kindle version, to read, and now I've bought a print version to keep.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable read for a DIsney/Orlando/NASA fan! February 7, 2011

By Michelle Heisler

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I stumbled upon this book during a search for Disney related books. I tried the sample on my Kindle and I was hooked! Read the whole thing during a trip to Orlando which I am sure added to my experience. I love Disney World and NASA/Space Shuttle related stuff so this book was a perfect combination. I found the storytelling very humorous and honest. Felt I was living a dream to work at Disney and see a space shuttle launch vicariously through the author. I recommend this book for any Disney fan.

More About the Author

CATHERINE RYAN HOWARD is a writer, blogger and coffee enthusiast from Cork, Ireland.

Before writing full-time, Catherine worked as an administrator in the Netherlands, a campsite courier in France and a front desk agent in a hotel in Walt Disney World, Florida. She dreams of becoming a NASA astronaut when she grows up. (She's 30. Almost 31.)

She currently divides her time between the desk and the sofa.