G438 Round the Bend: From Luton to Peru, to Ningallo, a Search for Life after Redudancy
Author: Alistair McGuinness
Publisher: Matador Books
Publishing Date: 2014
ISBN: 978-1-78088-390-8
Summary:
From the Amazon to the Andes and Kilimanjaro to Cape Town South America , Africa , Fiji Australia
Three things happened simultaneously. The lioness charged, Alistair fled across the parched savannah and his wife screamed for him to run faster. Stuffed deep inside his tattered rucksack was a guidebook containing advice on what to do in wildlife emergencies, which he planned to read if he survived the next thirty seconds. Future plans to climb Kilimanjaro, teach English in the Amazon and live in Australia Australia
For More Information
- Round the Bend: From Luton to Peru to
Ningaloo, a Search for Life After Redundancy is available at Amazon.
- Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
- Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
(from the kit)
Alistair McGuiness grew up in the UK in a town called Luton, which lies
30 miles north of London. Family holidays were spent in County Donegal,
Ireland, staying with his Grandmother in their large family home where she had
once raised fifteen children.
It was these annual trips that made Alistair realise his Great Uncles
were Seanachaís (Irish story tellers). After a few pints of Guinness in the
family bar, brothers Barney and Francis would entertain the evening crowds with
their recitations of life in rural Ireland. As their rustic voices carried
across the crowded room, Alistair would watch and listen as the animated tales
mesmorised the overseas visitors.
44 countries and four decades later, Alistair now calls Australia home
and in the tradition of Great Uncles Barney and Francis, loves to recite
stories. He lives between the beach and the forest with his wife, two young
boys and a fun puppy called Peppi. After decades of adventurous escapades
Alistair is calming down and has decided to write more and bungee jump less!
He works as a Business Improvement Specialist and has just spent three
years as a fly in fly out employee at a remote iron ore mine site in Western
Australia. As a trainer and facilitator, he has worked in Europe and Australia
and is passionate about helping people and organisations to become successful.
A fun family day for Alistair would be fishing from the local jetty with
his boys, taking the puppy for a walk along the beach at sunset and cooking a
scrumptious curry in the evening with his wife.
An ideal adventurous day for Alistair would be a days walking and
scrambling in the Lake District with friends, followed by a visit to a village
pub nestled deep in the English countryside.
His latest book is the adventure travel, Round
the Bend: From Luton to Peru to Ningaloo, A Search for Life After Redundancy.
For More Information
The particular subject that the book deals with is travel to remote parts of the world and trying to adapt and survive when you can't speak a foreign tongue and where modern conveniences are non-existent.
2.How thorough is the treatment?
The book was descriptive but I didn't really feel as if I got into the story or into their characters. The style was very British and is I felt as I should have known the author and his wife instead of getting to know them throughout the story.
3.What were the sources used?
The sources were personal anecdotes
4.Is the account given in broad outline or in detail?
The account is given in broad outline instead of detail. I think I personally would have appreciated a bit more history in the traveled places and perhaps if more personality could be shown.
5.Is the style that of reportorial writing, or is there an effort at interpretive writing?
I think its more of reportorial writing instead of interpretive writing. Even if fictionalized, I might have appreciated getting to know the author's feelings towards what he saw and experienced as well as hints of history or details about some references for those that aren't familiar with them.
6.What is the point of view or thesis of the author?
Its told in first person narrative from Alistair's point of view.
7.Is the treatment superficial or profound?
Personally for me the treatment is a bit superficial. Currently I'm reading another travel memoir and I find it a memorable and an exciting read because the author talks about the places and people that inhabit the places she visited as well as the history behind the places which I like and which makes me feel as if I'm with the author, experiencing what she experiences. Unfortunately, I haven't really found that style in Round the Bend, although I know its an exciting book.
8.For what group is the book intended (textbook, popular, scholarly, etc.)?
Probably for popular and close friends and family members
9.What part does biographical writing play in the book?
Its from his personal experiences and memoirs which is as biographical as it gets
10.Is social history or political history emphasized?
I think neither of the history is emphasized.
11.Are dates used extensively, and if so, are they used intelligently?
Dates aren't really used extensively, although it does take place in 2002 I believe
12.Is the book a revision? How does it compare with earlier editions?
Its not a revision
13.Are maps, illustrations, charts, etc. used and how are these to be evaluated?
There are maps in the book and I liked that they were there for those who aren't familiar where places are at and they are easy to read.
This is for Pump Up Your Book Tours
2 out of 5 stars
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep itand never let it go.)
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