Reviews

Fifteen years ago, the middle-aged Gelman (author of over 70 children's books, including More Spaghetti, I Say!) left behind an upscale California lifestyle and fading marriage to begin an odyssey that continues to this day. Using a well-paced and fluid writing style, Gelman describes how she observed orangutans in the rain forests of Borneo, canoed in Indonesia, ate psychedelic mushrooms in Mexico, and skirted landmines in Nicaragua. Wherever she travels, it is the people and their customs that intrigue her most, from the restrictive but culturally rich celebrations of a Hasidic family in Israel to the more relaxed but equally ritualized daily life of her new friends in Bali. Her enthusiasm for the people she meets and her ability to overcome the challenges faced by a woman traveling alone make for an engrossing and inspirational read. For all travel collections. Linda M. Kaufmann, Massachusetts Coll. of Liberal Arts Lib., North Adams Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

"Whenever I open an atlas . . . part of me wants to pack up and hit the road for a year or two. But I doubt I'll ever do it, because I'm too practical. Rita Golden Gelman . . . didn't let practicalities stop her." --"Los Angeles Times
"Tales of a Female Nomad follows Gelman from fragility to self-confidence as she traverses the globe." --"Chicago Tribune
"An exuberant homage to wanderlust." --"Kirkus Reviews
"Gelman doesn't just observe the cultures she visits, she participates in them, becoming emotionally involved in the people's lives. This is an amazing travelogue." --"Booklist