Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World

Read this book ! You will learn something and you will laugh and maybe cry. Oh to be a nomad!

My book club chose the book for discussion at our February meeting. I was reluctant to read it because I found the title off-putting. I considered skipping the meeting. I am glad that I decided to read the book and participate in the discussion. I was among the majority that liked the book. There were a few that were highly critical of the style and the stories. The experience made me realize that I have a tendency to become deeply involved in the story and oblivious to style and critical reflection. The author tells stories showing courage, compassion, selfishness, and luck. She certainly is not a stereotypical Jewish mother. Although both children had finished college and were starting careers, they still needed her. But she was mostly unavailable searching for fulfillment in remote areas of the world. From her comments about the Reagan administration's support of the Nicaraguan contras, the Indonesian control of Papua, and the American health care system it is obvious she is politically liberal. I do not take issue with that, but it caused surprise when she hardly mentioned Palestinian issues during her tale about living in Israel. She was the beneficiary of so many fortuitous events. Chance meetings led to contacts and experiences almost beyond belief. I think this is particularly true about her introduction to Tu Aji and her subsequent life in Bali. Most of the discussion group agreed that the Bali tale was the most interesting. I felt she discovered more about herself during that time. She took a lot of chances and ignored potential danger. I doubt that others would enjoy positive outcomes repeatedly. I was envious and vicariously enjoyed her adventures.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not only is the author's unique path in life inspiring, but the experiences described are a much more intimate look at people from other cultures than what you typically find. Gelman forms relationships with the people she meets - mainly because she lives among them and isn't traveling as a tourist. Even if you don't end this book wanting to buy a backpack and a one-way ticket to anywhere, this book will remind you that people are the same everywhere, just the clothes, customs, and food are different. I had to edit my review after reading some of the surprising comments about Gelman's ego/arrogance, America-centric viewpoint, etc. The jaundiced tone of these reviews doesn't gel with my impression of the book - or of the author. I was fortunate to meet Rita recently and found her very down-to-earth. A group of us had a delightful lunch, talking, asking, listening. As for the criticism that the book is very America-centric in its assumptions about the rest of the world, I don't see it. Gelman is very respectful of other cultures, exactly what most Americans abroad are not. And my favorite section of the book was Bali...the section of the book that seems to have received the most negative comments. I was completely drawn in to the story of those years.

This is one of those books that I couldn’t put down. Rita’s ability to trust and connect with people is what allowed her to have such beautiful and authentic experiences and adventures around the world. In today’s society where we’re afraid to pick up hitch hikers or offer help to stranger in an airport or welcome someone to our home, it’s refreshing to read a true story of someone who opened her heart to the world no matter where she was. She blindly trusted that the people are genuinely good and that humanity is what bonds us all together. As a wanderlust seeker myself, this book inspired me to step outside my comfort zone and seek more meaningful connections not just with the places I visit but with people that live there. I will seek to be a part of a community in every place I visit, give back as much as I can learn from the world around me. Thank you for such beautifully written book! May your life bring you many more wonderful adventures!

I had just finished reading Holy Cow! about a woman's 2 years in India and thoroughly enjoyed it so I bought this book. On the one hand, I deeply respect the author for not sinking into self-pity about her fate as an older single divorced woman after her husband pushed her into a divorce. She showed a lot of gumption and it is inspirational that she did not fall into that trap of self-pity, letting her failed marriage define her life for her. But... as others have noted, it feels like she replaced self-pity with self-centeredness. She does rely entirely on others hospitatlity and kindness (especially her adult children) for her needs while stating that she doesn't want to be a taker. Yet, she definitely is a taker more than a giver. Its nice that she thanks her kids for letting her not be there as a mother but its also kind of telling about her self-centered view of the world that she never realized they might miss that until one of them told her. At times she really gets you to connect with characters who have adopted her like family and feel for them, its therefore surprising when she leaves them because they are not interesting enough anymore and she must move on. Though I found the book interesting, I did not like her personally. Also the writing was a little weak. Some of the descriptive passages remind me how I was taught to construct sentences in high school writing class. I will say though that I think for women who feel trapped with their place in the world and want to hear from someone who did it differently, it could be a very good read.

An amazing writer and storyteller. Very descriptive and entertaining. I loved the book and the honest way that Rita connects with people and tells you about it. I think she is an amazing woman that did something that a lot of people would only dream about. Bold, funny, honest and touching, this is how I feel about Rita and all the experiences she wrote about. This is an amazing book for anyone who loves and dreams about travelling the world.

This book did not begin for me until Ms. Gelman arrived in the Galapagos Islands and achieved "total freedom." From this point forward, I was intrigued with how ingenious she was about getting hosted by various government entities, and families about the globe using her children books as her calling card. Trusting in herself and her instincts and in the kindness of strangers, she takes exotic and exciting treks for a fraction of the cost it would take the average person. Being an amateur anthropologist, she craves to live with families of indigenous tribes and even spends sometime living on an orangutan preserve getting to know the nuances of her fellow primates. I am not given to such intimacies, but I enjoyed receiving her insights. Though a thoughtful, caring traveler, I did want her to interfere when the activities she described that were of an environmentally threatening nature. Her stance is one of objective observer that reports on a circumstance, but does not take action that would lead to change. This is more a memoir than a travel narrative relating more about her personal interactions with family and friends, dinners she ate and less about describing the places she visits. Still, an enjoyable informative read that made me want to move to New Zealand and try every green mussel recipe she talks about in her book. Linda Ballou Author of Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler's Tales

Rita has a glamorous life, one we all think we would love, but it does not satisfy her deepest longings. That's the full story; however the working out is a most interesting and sometimes challenging story. She longs to be challenged 'over there'. She wants not only to know but to experience the o 'other' and to become part of the 'other' as she does in back-pack travel in Mexico and various other places. She divests herself of possessions and experiences total freedom as she seeks and learns. Her sojourn in Bali is her longest in one place and she is invited to share in the life of a very wise teacher who happens to be of the royal family of the old Bali. She divelopes a deep attachment to the ladies of the family and learns their ways of cooking, daily customs in this lovely island.. Through it all she manages to keep her strong ties with her aged mother and grown children. I'm glad she has shared all this as it is fascinating reading to the very end.