Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Giving up after 13 dates

My computer is finally "fixed" (in quotation marks because they actually replaced my hard drive, they didn't fix it, but I'm not going to complain too loudly), but now I don't have anything to review. What?! Nothing to review? you ask. Well, it's because I got mired in a book and refused to move on until I finished it. Unfortunately, two weeks later and unable to renew it at the library because I've already renewed it three times, I'm still not finished.

The book, Around the World in 80 Dates by Jennifer Cox, was recommended to me by a friend so I really wanted to like it. And I really did like the premise of the book. I LOVE travel essays and I've always, always, always wanted to take a trip around the world. The problem wasn't even that it was about finding Mr. Right (OK, maybe a little. What can I say, I'm a cynic), it was that I didn't connect with Ms. Cox. In the beginning I thought she was super funny and I liked that she didn't completely disregard all of her accomplishments in her career and in life just because she didn't have a man to stand by her side.

But as the story went on I found myself just being really annoyed with her. She wasn't whiny or anything. I mean, I can't really put my finger on it. I just didn't like her. Maybe it was just because I was jealous that she has the means to travel around the world looking for her Soul Mate (which seriously, by about Chapter 3 I was ready to strangle her for using Soul Mate - even if she believes we have more than one - and Mr. Right repeatedly). And perhaps a little because I didn't think of the idea first. I mean what better way to get a trip around the world paid for than to come up with a way to turn it into a book?

Anyway, if you don't hate women who are looking for love, you might like this book. She puts in tons of facts about the places she visits and even interviews some really interesting people and has some funny dating experiences. But I just cannot get through the book. Sorry I didn't like it Layla. I really tried though.

Huh, I guess I had a review in me after all.

Also, I want to give a shout out to my roommate Brian. I've been been reading his new blog and I pretty much love it for the way he captures (in photos) the spirit of my hometown and the California coast. He's a photographer and does tons of fun outdoors stuff that he documents with words and beautiful snapshots. So, check it out.

6 comments:

Michelle Fluttering Butterflies said...

I read this a couple of years ago whilst in hospital. I was in a lot of pain, so I needed a book to escape in and it was perfect for me. I wonder now if I would have liked it so much under normal circumstances :) I heard there were rumours of a movie, but I guess nothing ever came of it.

Becca said...

Michelle: Or maybe it's just me. I've been really cranky lately. Maybe I'm taking it out unfairly on this poor book...

Anonymous said...

To Quote Sex and the City:

How do you know Mr. Right, from Mr. Right Now?

Becca said...

Monica: Heh. Especially when you only spend a few hours with the guy before going to a new city and going on a date with another guy.

Kim L said...

Sounds like Eat, Pray, Love. I did like most of the book, but I kept getting jealous that the author got to go spend a year traveling to get over her divorce.

Anonymous said...

Hey, no need to apologize -- I'm sure I wouldn't like some of the books you've liked, so we're even. I think it could be, as you said, how well you relate to the author. I do relate a lot to her, and I'm always pondering the soul mate idea, and whether they exist or if we can have more than one.
-Layla