Adonis Stevenson

Muy bien! Or perhaps muito bem?
i really enjoyed this book about the author's year long travels around the world. The writing style was hilarious, yet thorough and informative. Occasionally I got annoyed with Stevenson's not so wise decisions, but hey it's his life and he least he admitted when he made these not so wise choices. Overall, this book made me want to go on an adventure and travel on my own whims. A quick and entertaining read that truly gives you a sense of what it is like to show more drop everything and traipse the globe as you please. show less

Adonis Stevenson is like a younger, more English version of Dave Barry. In his book, Travelantics, he takes us on a round-world journey, starting in Latin America, and working his way through the Pacific, and eventually to the Antipodes.

All the while, he provides social commentary, both about the place he visits, as well as things back home.

How Stevenson managed to survive his trip is a miracle in and of itself, but I'm certainly glad that he did, as otherwise, we would not have this droll show more travel book. Reading his writing is like chatting with a friend, hearing about his trip, and knowing, at times, that he was overly exaggerating or even spouting BS, but you're glad he did, as it made his story all the more interesting.

There were things that did bug me in the book, such as the confusion of Mesoamerican people, but that did not affect my overall enjoyment of it.

I'd recommend this to anybody in need of a light travel book written by someone of a younger generation. show less

This entertaining travel journal/memoir is well-written and a truly enjoyable read. We follow the author after he has abandoned his ho-hum, deceptively stressful life designing video games, and sold all of his worldly possessions to fund almost a full year of travel. Beginning in South America, moving onto Central America, briefly in North America, Australia, the Philippines, and finally Japan, the author stays in hostels and participates in group travel opportnities. He humorously documents show more his reactions to the locals, their reactions to him, and the frustratingly hilarious obstacles one encounters when traveling with groups of strangers. show less

I appreciate the chance to review this book and I am glad I stuck with it. I very nearly stopped reading because at first it just seemed like a drunken romp across South America.

Initially, I found the tone a bit patronizing and colonial but it did amuse me at points, reminding me of friends and adventures from my time as a student. The fact that I was mildly amused was the sole reason I kept reading and in the end I was glad that I did. It was interesting to see the author's growth as a show more writer and changed attitude over the course of his travels and writing. Once I got past the first few chapters, I enjoyed the picture he painted of the places he visited and found his descriptions of both colour and landscape to be fantastic.

This book has a number of editing issues. I found a large number of typos throughout the book and places where words were omitted, plural when they should have been singular (or vice versa) and in improper tenses. I found these errors distracting and I felt that they interfered with the storytelling. Another editing issue I came across was the reference to the "Mayan" ruins on the Inca Trail (page 72). I don't believe the Mayans ventured that far south,or out of Central America. I think the ruins should have been referred to as Incan.

In the end I enjoyed the story but I think the book needs some polishing. show less