Travelantics [Paperback]

Adonis Stevenson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 2009

We've heard it all before - bored urbanite quits rat race for life of travel and adventure. Or have we? Thanks to superhuman naivety and a crippling lack of preparation, Adonis' story is an improbable barrage of comical escapades. Set against a shifting backdrop, ranging from ancient lost cities to strip clubs, his travels fling him from the terror of near death experiences to moments of life-affirming joy. Tales of guns, drugs, deadly animals, destructive forces of nature and cheerful muggings might make Adonis sound like one of those insane adrenaline junkies, but, incredibly, this is a true story about a normal person. This could be your story.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Bright Pen (September 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0755211731
• ISBN-13: 978-0755211739
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,532,945 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Adonis Stevenson is a graphic artist working and living in Guildford, England. Travelantics is his first book and is based on his round-the-world travels, which came about with the startling discovery that there was more to the world than making video games

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining Travel Journal, August 5, 2010

By 

Andrea Love "nanajlove" (Salt Lake City, UT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Travelantics (Paperback)

This entertaining travel journal/memoir is well-written and a truly enjoyable read. We follow the author after he has abandoned his ho-hum, deceptively stressful life designing video games, and sold all of his worldly possessions to fund almost a full year of travel. Beginning in South America, moving onto Central America, briefly in North America, Australia, the Philippines, and finally Japan, the author stays in hostels and participates in group travel opportnities. He humorously documents his reactions to the locals, their reactions to him, and the frustratingly hilarious obstacles one encounters when traveling with groups of strangers.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the LibraryThing book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

5.0 out of 5 stars ***Travel Opens Your World***, February 25, 2010

By 

Sharon M. Bressen "Mema" (Tarpon Springs, FL, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Travelantics (Paperback)

Travelantics
By Adonis Stevenson

A copy of this book was received from the Member Giveaways Program of LibraryThing.

Because I travel so much myself, I could relate to all the experiences that Adonis encountered on his trips especially in South America. Until you travel yourself, you can not appreciate what a smiling face of a child can mean when you are down on your luck or just feeling sorry for yourself. While visiting the Galapagos Islands, you learn that the animals are not afraid of us.

From not getting your long hair to dry for four days in Costa Rica to feeling the need to use a restroom when riding a camel in Jordan; travel opens your eyes to how the rest of the world struggles and how much alike we all are in our everyday lives.

This book reminds us that by stepping away from our ordinary lives we can learn more about live than we expected. You can follow his advice and learn so much about yourself.

I recommend this book to fellow travelers and those who are still dreaming about traveling. Take the leap...and become a citizen of the world.

3.0 out of 5 stars Needs polish, January 17, 2010

By 

C. "Chirtlb" (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Travelantics (Paperback)

I got a copy of this book as a review copy and appreciate the chance to review it. I am also glad I stuck with it. I very nearly stopped reading because at first it just seemed like a drunken romp across South America.

Initially, I found the tone a bit patronizing and colonial but it did amuse me at points, reminding me of friends and adventures from my time as a student. The fact that I was mildly amused was the sole reason I kept reading and in the end I was glad that I did. It was interesting to see the author's growth as a writer and changed attitude over the course of his travels and writing. Once I got past the first few chapters, I enjoyed the picture he painted of the places he visited and found his descriptions of both colour and landscape to be fantastic.

This book has a number of editing issues. I found a large number of typos throughout the book and places where words were omitted, plural when they should have been singular (or vice versa) and in improper tenses. I found these errors distracting and I felt that they interfered with the storytelling. Another editing issue I came across was the reference to the "Mayan" ruins on the Inca Trail (page 72). I don't believe the Mayans ventured that far south,or out of Central America. I think the ruins should have been referred to as Incan.

In the end I enjoyed the story but I think the book needs some polishing