Reece Gesumaria

I borrowed this book from the uncle of the author. I knew the author when she was a child as her parents were my neighbors in Maryland. I'm happy to meet Reece again in the pages of this book. I must say that the cover design of this book is quite the attention-getter!

This book is a self-published book with some editorial mistakes that could use correction. Other than my noticing them, this did not interfere at all with my enjoyment of the story.

What a fun book! It reminds me of being a young twenty-something traveler myself. This book is like time travel back 40 years for me. Reece and her friend Marie traveled though different cities than I did with my own friend, but what amazes me is how similar our experiences were...chasing an Italian man down the street to punish him for his behavior, climbing to the top of a hill to explore an abandoned castle, finding friends in the middle of a vineyard... Yes, yes, and yes! I traveled once overseas alone but I never had the nerve to hitchhike anywhere alone. Some of us are more timid than Reece!

I have to say that the more I read, the more I felt a bit of apprehension for Reece. Ours is not always a kind world, but Reece is so ready to love all strangers. I began also to get uncomfortable with the amount of liquor and weed consumed and inhaled during her travels and maybe even with the episodes of nudity. Reece is a free spirit, and I do want her to be safe.

Reece has an acutely perceptive and apt way of expressing how she feels about the world around her. I love that!

I experience a pretty intense realization that perhaps what I thought was friendship was only kind words, a shiny outer appearance filled with hot air, like one of those big inflatable flailing people you find outside of mattress warehouses.

I much enjoyed reading this book, although the longer Reece's travels went on, the more her many individual experiences seemed to blur as I was reading. By the end of the book, it almost seemed as if I were reading more of a diary rather a travel adventure.

Looking back on this book as a whole, I can see now it from two contrasting viewpoints. I remember my own carefree days of being young, independent, and a traveler. I look upon that time with great reverence and joy. I very much identified with Reece in many, but not all, of her travel adventures. As a parent, I can now reluctantly step into the shoes of my late dad who worried about everything I ever did, my independent travels included. Would I have given up my freedom to do what I wanted at that time? Never. Would I do my same travels again were I single and young once more? Absolutely, yes, because my travels were a most amazing part of my life.

Okay, maybe this book is best for those of us who once have once "been there and done that", but I love the fact that Reece was able to get that feeling of adventure so accurately down on the pages of her book. I would recommend this book highly for those whose travels as a young person are a bit off the beaten track.… (plus d'informations)