Customer Reviews

Off the Map

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found this book at a used book shop and was curious enough by the title and the opening sentences to buy it. I'm so glad I did.

I'm not sure if the author is writing under a pseudonym, but if so, I hope she one day reveals her true name, as I would love to read anything else she writes. She has a beautiful grasp of the language, a very strong, unique voice that lingers in the reader's mind long after the last page is turned. I've done my share of backpacking (mostly solo, occasionally with a friend) and sometimes find myself frustrated with the self-absorbed, pointless travel literature penned by some of my colleagues on the road. This, however, is a stunning first (?) effort.

There are few blow-by-blow, word-for-word, moment-by-moment descriptions of events and adventures -- she doesn't dwell on the minutiae of backpacking; rather, the writer often expands her field of vision to embrace not just the many practical aspects of traveling but also the nature of friendship, love, longing, loneliness, beauty, and humanity, and does so in a way that's not self-conscious, self-serving, or cynical. She admits that she can't be cynical, and indeed, the book exudes hope, a feeling not often associated with the anarchist movement. It's an optimistic tale of two girls in search of more than adventure, something that already distinguishes it from the hundreds of traveler's tales on the bookshelf.

I wish there were a sequel, or at least something to let us know what happens to these extraordinary women once they reached their destination. There's no information on the Crimethinc Web site (the publisher) about the author, nothing to indicate whether or not they found their way home, or if they decided to seek their dreams elsewhere.

If you do decide to purchase this book, I would recommend going straight to the publisher (Google Crimethinc). It's much cheaper than going through Amazon, even with S&H thrown in.

Off The Map-Hib ****1/2

Off The Map is essentially the punk On The Road, only set in Europe. This is part of a two part series from Hib (the author) and Hibickna the author of the other book.

This follows the two girls as they travel from squat to squat in search of adventure and piece of mind. It's an entertaining read and certainly one anyone can enjoy. Though I must admit I did have to motivate myself to open it up sometimes, though it was very rewarding once I did.

Off The Map is for those who never ever give up on their dreams and are always chasing new ones. off The Map was a refreshing read.

"Those people who claim to be fighting for radiacal change-they claim success when they enter negotiations with their opponents, but that isn't change. It's just a different round of obedience." (pg.114)

This is a joint review for Off The Map and Evasion, posted under both. Why? They both have essentially the same issues and same basic (lack of) structure, and I don't want to be redundant. Both books are travel narratives, by punk rockers, and both are written casually and with more personal reflection on what they saw than descriptions of the same. Both were published by Crimethinc in relatively nice packaging. Both have some black and white photos, with and some hand-scribbled notes/drawings. Both are (as far as I can tell) written by healthy, young, middle class white people who are astounded that more people don't just live off the system the way THEY do, because it's just that easy. I'd love to see a single black mother or a guy with a chronic health condition write a book like this. Maybe we'll see that, someday. Of course, there's little reflection on the fact that their role in relationship to this civilization is that of parasites, symbiotes, and/or scavengers, depending on how favorably we view them. That is to say, because more people like me work full time than spend our entire lives backpacking like them, they can live without working really easily. I don't begrudge them their lifestyle, but it would be nice to see some acknowledgement of its practical causes and effects somewhere in these books. They clearly begrudge others their own lifestyles and opinions though--the Evasion author expresses a clear dislike of people who use intoxicants, hold down jobs, don't steal, eat meat, and/or dress differently. He also says that if poverty isn't fun, you're doing it wrong. If you can go back to your mom and dad's house or mooch off a girlfriend (as he seems willing enough to do) then, umm, you're not really living poverty, you're more just having a low-budget vacation. The girls who wrote Off The Map detail some really condescending attitudes towards people who helped them out, and at one point angrily leave a squat they've been allowed to crash at because there was a (possibly) mildly sexist element in a mural on the wall. Dissing your hosts in print is really such a spoiled and fanatical way to act that I wonder if they're leaving some details out about other aspects of the trip. Neither book is without value; both have some very good descriptive writing and admittedly both made me want to get out and travel more. And at heart, I like kids like these when they're thoughtful and not acting like spoiled brats; travel is great, adventure is great, and lord knows living with less material crap would benefit us all. But there's an evangelistic and ugly tone, and refusal to acknowledge reality, in both books, and I just couldn't hang with it. Your mileage may vary. 2.5 stars.

In a world where cinicism takes hold of an otherwise promising youth culture, this story of two adventurous heroins is a sign of hope. The two travelers set upon an adventure through Europe in a quest to live with what the world around them provides. As they find solice in various squats across Europe they make poignent insights into the world around them as though every facet of ordinary life were as beautiful now as it was when we were younger. The story is beautifully written and anyone who knows that there is more to life than being the girl that " boys in adventure stories get crushes on," will love this novel.

This little book is sure to become a classic as more and more people read it. A very simple, strong, and pure story about life in our modern world from a unique perspective. The two authors take us on a journey detailing all the beauty of the ordinary, while on a journey through what is thought to be the extraordinary: hitchiking through europe. The price can't be beat and this books is sure to brighten your day and add a little spring to your step, and is very suitable as a gift for any women in your life, young or old (and men too, of course, though the connection will be less obvious).

a little to idealistic for me. dont get me wrong, im a big fan of change. but they seem to think that all problems can be solved by becoming like themselves in which is highly hilarious because they want this society to fall which they are totally reliant upon. and dont get me wrong again, i am an anarchist, but theres some things in this world that have happened and you can't change that...i guess i am saying that it seems a bit of naive which makes sense they are pretty young and im sure they grew up in some wealthy middle class family and this is all fun and games for them and not that makes them any less of a person but it does make some things not understandable for them. but anyways, im rambling...a great fun read, some good characters and a autobiography that you dont get to read too often.

I found the authors writing to be very descriptive and illuminating. Her descriptions of the places they traveled were very open and amusing.

I love this book! I has inspired me and many of my friends. In a world where hitch hiking gods like Jack K. are all men and anrcist movements are all fasion , two women speak up for the rest of us and tell their story.
the squaters movement has always been a story of resistance. It puts imideate human need over arbitrary law.

This book will change the way you not only look at the world, but your own backyard. This book shows how revolution can be a lifestyle! Green Alert! Printed in Canada by Unionized workers on 100% post consumer recycled paper with soy-based ink!

yo, i don't believe this book for a SECOND. this is NOT to say that i don't believe that two rad girls can travel around europe on the cheap, staying in squats and having adventures. hell--i know tons of girls, both crusty and non, who've done that and more.
what i don't believe AT ALL is the introduction. it claims that this was a zine in its original form, and once its circulation exceeded 20,000 it was turned into a book. HELLO!!?! i have been involved with zines for over ten years at this point, and i've never heard of a xeroxed zine that has a circulation that high. i believe they said that each and every copy was scammed. do you have any idea how hard it is to scam even a thousand copies of a zine, let alone the absolutely ludicrous number of TWENTY THOUSAND!?! do you realize how much it costs to mail those out? and of course these girls are typical crimethinc girls. white, ablebodied, don't ever seem to work. constantly chuckling to themselves about how easy it is to "live off the system" without ever acknowledging that the system is tailor-made to benefit THEM.
and the writing! is not consistent at all with any sort of zine writing. it reads like third-rate speculative fiction. a lot of the dialogue seemed really trite and/or implausible.
i gave this two stars because it was mildly entertaining. i couldn't stop reading it, even though i groaned at nearly every page.