Honeymoon with My Brother: A Memoir (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "Amid the pine tree windbreaks and foamy Pacific shore, Sea Ranch, California, is a wonderful place to be dumped..." (more)
Key Phrases: Newport Beach, The Irvine Company, Orange County (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Franz Wisner had the world by the tail. He was engaged to the beautiful Annie, with whom he shared a passion for conservative politics and a command of quotes from the movie This Is Spinal Tap. He worked as a government-relations official for a California real-estate giant, rubbing elbows with bigwig politicians. But then his fiancée dumped him days before their wedding, and his boss demoted him. So he dragged his younger brother, Kurt, a Seattle realtor and divorcé, to Costa Rica for his already-scheduled honeymoon, where Wisner spilled his guts to a prostitute in the hotel bar. ("Not once did it occur to me that I was having a heart-to-heart with a woman who faked orgasms for a living.")

Both inspired and desperate, the two quit their jobs, sold their houses, gave away their belongings, and traveled the world for two years, romping through Europe in a newly purchased Saab, then hitting the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South America, and Africa. Along the way, Wisner got to know his brother in a way he never had ("Kurt had become ... my new best friend") and fought to move past his failed relationship.

Wisner's story is straightforward, heartfelt, and highly readable--though without any true, biting insights--and should connect with readers who've gone through a breakup, career change, or midlife crisis, or fantasized about quitting the rat race. His best travel tip? Throw away the guidebooks, and talk to the locals instead. --Andy Boynton

From Booklist

Coming soon to a library (and movie screen) near you is this true story of two brothers rediscovering each other and the meaning of life during 24 months of world travel. Jilted by his fiancee mere days before the wedding and demoted at work, Wisner collared his brother, Kurt, a Seattle Realtor, to celebrate his Costa Rican nonhoneymoon. That experience, with the help of a Saab purchase in Sweden, grew into subsequent lengthy trips to Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Sandwiched between the chuckles are letters to their grandmother and short, pointed chapters on best trip advice--for instance, attend a professional soccer match to understand culture--and some good lessons in hustling (bid against yourself, pretend there's a language barrier, among others). Humorous and heartening, it will be fun imagining which Hollywood hunks will star. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st ed edition (January 27, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312320906
• ISBN-13: 978-0312320904
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (168 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #539,620 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Bros on a Journey of a Life Time, December 29, 2005

By	Quang X. Pham (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The last thing I wanted to do was to read about two good-looking straight guys from Orange County, Calif., who traveled the world to bond with each together and with exotic women. I thought I had nothing in common with them; I grew up without a brother and a father plus I read mostly military and political books. The clincher was watching my wife read "Honeymoon" in two nights, often laughing aloud.

Boy was I wrong.

"Honeymoon" took me for a ride, through California politics and business, then to the altar where Franz, the author, got dumped. Instead of becoming a sour puss, he took Kurt, his estranged brother on his non-refundable honeymoon that lasted for two years. Together they reconnected and shared their dispatches to a bunch of envious desk jockeys back home. Their grandmother gave them the ultimate approval--she was the glue.

I get weird responses whenever I recommend this book to my male buddies, especially Marines. But I'll continue to do so because it's funny, it's personal and it's adventurous. Live a little. Life is short. Never look back. Look for the movie and a sequel in the near future.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Live Vicariously, May 3, 2005

By	Literary Crew "Stacy" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

Had a bad day? Lost a job? Relationship troubles? Why not just go travel for a couple of years? This book made me want to go on a Honeymoon with My Brother. I enjoyed living vicariously through the Wisners. What a refreshing read. It made me laugh (the "dating" stories). It made me cry (LaRue). It made me remember my own travels (Prague). The writing was honest and real. I was impressed with Franz's ability to share so many personal experiences so openly. The adventures were fascinating. I had a hard time putting the book down and was bummed when I was finished with it. My book club read it and enjoyed it tremendously. We have read memoirs before but found this one to be one of our favorites. We cannot wait to read what Franz and Kurt are up to next. And I keep thinking of ways they might need an extra person (to carry a backpack?) so that I can go along...

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps you interested and makes you laugh...a GREAT combo!, May 3, 2005

By	Suzette Mendonca - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For anyone who loves to travel but may not have the opportunity here is your chance. Reading this book you get the chance to explore the world...one day Indonesia, the next Brazil! It is wonderful! The added bonus is getting the chance to relate to two real people, real brothers who go through a journey of finding themselves while getting to know one another. I can not emphasize enough how much this book is worth reading, if not for traveling around the world for the life lessons learned. Read it, think about it, take its advice and travel anywhere when you get the chance!