The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

We all have heard stories about Ernest Hemingway, one of the finest writers of the twentieth century, but how much do we know about the man behind the myth? Although this is a work of fiction, author McLain has researched Hemingway for years and feels quite "proprietary" towards him as a subject and it shows in this book.

The story begins with Hadley and Ernest's first meeting at a party in Chicago. Hadley is a 28 year old quiet and respectable woman to Ernest's 20 year old lively self. The two become infatuated with one another, even as Hadley returns home to St. Louis, the two continue to correspond by mail. When Ernest proposes marriage and a move out of the country, Hadley accepts.

The Hemingways life in Paris was a whirlwind - befriending other creative types such as Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Gertrude Stein, the "anything goes" lifestyle of Paris in the 1920's is a big adjustment for the young couple. Although very much in love with one another, Ernest's larger-than-life yet extremely needy personality and prevalence of a willing partner, leads Ernest to betray Hadley with one of her closest friends.

The Paris Wife is first and foremost a love story between Ernest Hemningway and the woman he continued to love for the rest of his life. It is poignantly and sympathetically told, bringing the characters to life as well as Paris and the lifestyle favored by the "in" crowd. If you are looking for a gripping story of love and betrayal, look no further!

Little Princes by Conor Grennan

I was a bit skeptical when I picked up this book - it immediately made me think of Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea - but any concerns that I had were washed away as I lost myself in Grennan's tale of love, perseverance, heartbreak and self-discovery in Nepal.

When Conor Grennan decided to leave his job to travel around the world, he felt a little self-indulgent, so he made arrangements to volunteer at an orphanage in Nepal for a couple of months at the start of his trip. Plus, being a young single man, he figured the ladies would swoon over his obvious selflessness and sensitivity. He had no idea that his experiences in Nepal would be a life-changing event.

What Conor discovers during his brief stay in Nepal is that he cannot stay away. He returns a year later and becomes even more involved in the lives of the "orphans," who he discovers are not actually orphans. He discovers that they are the victims of a child trafficker and most, if not all, of their parents might still be alive. This leads him on an unlikely and unforgettable adventure into the Himalayas in search of the parents of the children.

What I like about this book is that it is so eminently readable. Grennan is a likable and self-effacing character, and his story is so inspirational. While there might be other more well-known stories of white-man-does-good-in-third-world-country, this one about reuniting families against near-impossible odds will stay with me. It truly demonstrates how one person, armed with a goal, good intentions and a heart can accomplish miracles.

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell

Sarah Vowell is a history nerd, and proud of it. Her fascination with the premature deaths of three American presidents who have been assassinated is the topic of this 2006 book and, despite what you might be thinking about such a topic, is incredibly both informative and entertaining!

Vowell has the unique gift of being able to bring the reader into the scene as she hunts down the well-known and not-so-well-known sites where grisly presidential history has taken place. Her road trip (ironic because she herself does not drive and she must entice her friends to take her,) takes her all over the U.S. in search of a piece of presidential assassination pie.

Her ability to put a human face on not only Lincoln, but the lesser-known James Garfield and William McKinley (I've learned much about both,) is a testament to her ability as a writer. Her irreverent sense of humor, wry observations and talent in interacting with and interpreting the events of our past ensure that the reader will enjoy every minute of this educational and interesting book.

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

With the recent release of the movie "Eat, Pray, Love," based on the book of the same name, I felt the need to revisit the 2006 bestseller by Elizabeth Gilbert to see if I had a different opinion a second time around. Sadly, I did not. If anything I found the book more irritating this time around.

I really love the idea of this book - solitary woman picks herself up after a difficult divorce, travels the world over to find herself, and, whoops, falls in love along the way - what's not to like? Well, for one thing, I was hoping for more of a travelogue - how the places and people she visits transform her life and vice versa. Instead it was more of, "look at me in Italy, in India, in Bali." The author seems unable, or unwilling, to look outside of her own narrow view of things long enough to grasp that there are people around her with far greater problems than hers.

Gilbert's journey also lacks credibility, as she is paid a healthy advance to write the story of her travels before she even embarks. Maybe I am a little jealous, but the fact that she's getting paid for all of this self-discovery prior to it even happening sort of sullies the integrity of her story.

I mostly dislike the book because it seems like such a wasted opportunity - Gilbert had a chance to be a heroine and an inspiration to not only women everywhere but anyone who has hit a point in their life where they do not know what direction to go. Rather than using this time to grow as a person and enrich her life and the lives of those around her, she instead chooses to focus more and more on herself and how those around her might assist her in achieving even greater levels of self-involvement.

Overall, despite my negative experience with this particular book, I would still recommend people give it a try - readers I have spoken with have either loved it or hated it, you might be the one who loves it.

The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World.

When three friends who are up-and-coming young professionals in New York City wonder if the corporate fast lane is all it's cracked up to be, they decide there is only one way to find out. Leaving their jobs, their boyfriends and their lives behind, Holly, Amanda and Jen embark on a year-long adventure around the world.

After carefully researching and budgeting, the women begin their quest in South America. From there, they head to various locations in Africa, Asia, and Australia. Some aspects of the trip have been pre-arranged, such as relief work in Africa or studying at an ashram in India, but in between, the women leave themselves open to itinerary changes in an effort to broaden their experiences as much as possible.

As an armchair traveler, I loved reading about the different locations and cultures that the friends visited. Each of the women have a background in journalism, so they each took turns writing their experiences - although I did not really relate personally with any of the authors, the different perspectives were really interesting. This book is both a fascinating travelogue and a study in friendship.

All Over the Map by Laura Fraser

Wow, I can see by the topic of books I've been reading that I am due for a vacation! My latest is titled, All Over the Map, written by Laura Fraser. She authored an earlier book called, An Italian Affair, which I would recommend reading prior to this one, but it's certainly not mandatory. In the earlier book, Fraser details her post-divorce relationship with a Paris professor, providing the reader a window into her broken heart and slowly-healing self image. It is a lovely little book.

Her latest autobiographical tale begins as she awaits the professor's company in Mexico on yet another romantic travel adventure. When he arrives, he shares some news with her that will end their relationship as she knows it. She leaves Mexico with renewed determination to find love, companionship and security. She undertakes this new mission the only way she knows how - by succumbing to her desire to travel, explore new places and meet new people.

It is on one of these adventures that she unexpectedly becomes a victim - something that shatters her confidence and steals the magic of travel from her. Will she ever be able to recover her love of travel and the nerve to wander on her own? Will she find the love and/or home she is searching for? Fraser is a gifted writer with a wonderful sense of humor. This book is great for any one who seeks love, adventure, and dreams of far off places. Think Eat, Pray, Love but way less self-absorption. Also check out Fraser's website at: http://www.laurafraser.com/