I was looking for a light and humorous read when I stumbled across this on my shelves. I mean, how could a collection subtitled Funny Women Write From the Road miss the mark on that, right? Well, either my funny bone had gone on vacation when I read this or I have a different sense of humor than the editor. This is a collection of essays, several of which are excerpted from longer works that I have already read (and nothing makes me crabbier than having paid good money for something that isn't new content), centered on the travel misadventures suffered by women who have a host of jobs that take them all over the world. A few of the essays did indeed inspire chuckles but there were an awful lot more that left me scratching my head as to why they were considered funny. Now, I generally find that essay collections by multiple authors do tend to be spotty in terms of holding my interest (some do, others, regrettably, just don't) but it was sad to realize that travel humor is equally likely to run the gamut of appeal for me. Of course, my sense of humor runs to the self-deprecating and thoroughly embarrassing (vomit, poo, clothing mishaps, etc.) so other readers may find more humor in the less obvious essays than I did. I loved the concept of the book but I wish I had gotten more out of the execution (or maybe it's just that someone wee'ed in my cornflakes the morning I read this).
I have to agree with you on one thing: there is nothing more annoying than picking up a book and finding out that you've read most of the stories elsewhere already! Recently I picked up a copy of fiction written by female Irish authors. I was so excited to read it, yet when I did, I found that I had already read most of the stories! Luckily it was from my library, so I could just return it, BUT that is definitely a pet peeve! I may pick up this book sometime, though, it is intriguing!
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you on one thing: there is nothing more annoying than picking up a book and finding out that you've read most of the stories elsewhere already! Recently I picked up a copy of fiction written by female Irish authors. I was so excited to read it, yet when I did, I found that I had already read most of the stories! Luckily it was from my library, so I could just return it, BUT that is definitely a pet peeve! I may pick up this book sometime, though, it is intriguing!
ReplyDeleteLOL LOL...great title, cover, but I think I'll pass.
ReplyDeleteI do like the title and the cover. That would make me want to read it, but it doesn't sound like something I'd really enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your review Kristen.
ReplyDeleteIt's true, we include some big name authors (with work excerpted from their previously published books) and plenty of unknown travel writers that submit their stories directly to us. It's the Travelers' Tales formula with more than 100 books to their catalog. I am proud to say that every book in the Sand in My Bra series (5 books) has won an award. Sand won the North American Travel Journalists grand prize the year it came out.
I loved hearing about the sense of humor you do have - >>Of course, my sense of humor runs to the self-deprecating and thoroughly embarrassing (vomit, poo, clothing mishaps, etc.)<<
That would match right up with our fourth book in the series, What Color Is My Jockstrap. We have seven bodily function stories in that anthology.
If you email me your address I'll mail you a copy.
jenleo@gmail.com
Again, thanks for reading our book and writing a review.
Jen Leo
I find that there are a lot of things that are supposed to be funny that I just Don't Get. Laurie Notaro, for example, completely turns me off. That Hypocrite in a Puffy White Dress one too. I do still enjoy travel humor, when I get to it.
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