Warming Up My Book Reviewing Muscles

As you can see on the side bar, I have a running list of the travel-related books that I am itching to read and review, and one of those is a book by Rolf Potts called 'Marco Polo Didn't Go There'.  You may also have noticed that I have recently added his blog on my blogroll and I am pleased see that he posts to it regularly.  

Having explored his site a little, I became intrigued and decided to borrow a book from my local library to see what his book-writing skills are like.   The dog-eared copy I borrowed is called 'Vagabonding:  an uncommon guide to the art of long-term world travel', published in 2003 by Villard, New York.  It certainly isn't the first book published on the art of vagabonding and it certainly won't be the last.  I thought it was endearing that he admitted in the book to thinking he had coined the term 'vagabonding' - reminds me of a time when I thought I had invented the slip-stitch but that's a story for a different audience.

I must admit that I feel a sort of kindred spirit-ness to this Rolf fellow in a totally platonic 'sure I'll share a bunkbed with you in our youth hostel dorm and stay up all night swapping funny travel horror stories' kind of way.  I like that his book is chockerbock full of interesting, personal tales from his travels and meaningful realizations about travel and life in general.  

Not only is his book full of useful, interesting information about other books and websites to visit for different topics, but he includes quotes from other vagabonders about their approach to the whole thing.  One of the things I like best about this book is his obvious love of Walt Whitman.  There are sprinklings of his poetry all throughout this book, and anyone who loves Walt that much is OK by me.

I remember when I was an impressionable 16 year old with an inkling that the world might be full of more interesting literature than what I'd been exposed to at home and in public school, and one day poking my nose into a Fair's Fair bookstore in Kensington.  I managed to find a beautifully bound brown leather early edition of the Leaves of Grass by Walt, and spent hours in the next coffee shop over reading it in one go.  It was one of those afternoons where paradigm shifts abounded, and many a time I stared off into space while the neurons in my brain re-adjusted, making my hair stand on end ever so slightly.

Back to Rolf.  I'm sorry Rolf, but I don't think your subtitle is the best choice of language for embellishing your book title.  By saying that your book is an uncommon guide to the art of long-term travel, you are implying that there is a 'common' or 'normal' way to travel long-term, and I think that by default, long-term travel is uncommon and bizarre to most people and that 'vagabonding' in and of itself doesn't even pretend to be anything but just that.  That is my only bone to pick with this delightful book.

It is 1/2" thick in paperback and ought to be slipped into the backpack of whatever youngster you know that is off on some exciting adventure.  This book should be a primer for anyone with a tinge of wanderlust.  I wish it had been written and slipped to me before I went on my European adventure in '96, but it was not.

I look forward to finding a copy of his latest book and devouring it.  Unfortunately my local library does not carry this title, so if you have a copy and are willing to share it, please let me know.