Machu My Picchu: Searching For Sex, Sanity, And A Soul Mate In South America

by Iris Bahr

Amy Sedaris meets Woody Allen in an uproarious memoir of self discovery. In her critically acclaimed memoir Dork Whore, Iris Bahr finally lost her virginity in the summer between high school and Brown University. In this book, she's ready for love a year later―but not much wiser. Through all of her uproarious capers, she tries to reconcile her craving for mindblowing sex with her desire for a meaningful relationship―all in an attempt to become an adult. Sort of.

Genres: Travel

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Iris Bahr is a critically acclaimed writer, actor, director and producer. Having starred on numerous television shows, she is best known for her recurring role as Svetlana (which she wrote and directed for Mark Cuban's Hdnet) and the Orthodox Jewish Girl that gets stuck on a ski-lift with Larry David on CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM. Her critically acclaimed solo show, "DAI (enough)", in which she plays 11 different characters in a Tel Aviv cafe moments before a suicide bomber enters, had an extended hit run Off-Broadway and won the prestigious Lucille Lortel Award for Best Solo Performance, (as well as 2 Drama Desk and UK Stage Award nominations for Best Performance and Sound Design.) She has performed DAI around the world, including at the United Nations for over 100 ambassadors and delegates. Her first solo show, "Planet America", received an LA Weekly nomination for Outstanding Solo Show and is currently in development as a feature film. Ms. Bahr has written two humorous memoirs, DORK WHORE (Bloomsbury) and its sequel MACCHU MY PICCHU (Skirt). Her books have been translated into German, Portuguese and Italian. Dork Whore is currently in development as a feature film as well.

Born and raised in the Bronx, Iris moved to Israel at the age of 13 and stayed there until completing her military service. She then embarked on an extensive solo journey through Asia. Upon her return, Iris began her studies at Brown University, where in addition to theatre, Iris studied Neuropsychology, conducting fMRI research at Stanford University and Cancer Research at the Psychobiology Center at Tel Aviv University.

Upon graduating magna cum laude, Iris moved to NYC where she decided to focus on acting full time. She completed the NYSF Shakespeare Lab at the Public Theatre and enrolled in the the Actors Center Conservatory, studying with master teachers Earle Gister (Yale), Ron Van Lieu (NYU Tisch), Chris Bayes (Juilliard), Bill Irwin and others, as well as the world renowned Theatre De Complicite in London.
After getting hit by a truck on her bicycle one night after clown class (no joke), Iris decided to relocate to Los Angeles where she began creating her own work, dabbling in stand-up (performing as a NEW FACE at the prestigious Montreal Comedy Festival), and directing several shorts, including THE UNCHOSEN ONES, entirely improvised on the streets of Israel, which ran the festival circuit, including the Cannes Short Film Corner.

In addition to her projects in the US, Iris is currently developing an original comedy series with an Israeli network and a feature film based on DAI.

Reviews

[Ava Cato-Werhane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. I was caught by the humorous yet genuine honesty of the author. The adventures are hilarious, though more tamed than her first book Dork Whore. Her descriptions are unique and entertaining. It was a quick read since I couldn't put it down.

[Fhina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really made me laugh out so much.

[Ricarda Küper · Rating 2 out of 5]

Habe es vor Jahren mal in einer „Zu Verschenken-Kiste“ gefunden und irgendwie nie gelesen.
Muss auch ehrlicherweise sagen, dass ich nicht groß was verpasst habe. Ich denke, dass es vielleicht bei jüngeren Leser*innen besser ankommt.
Fand es schon sehr primitiv, stellenweise auch sexistisch und rassistisch.
Nichtsdestotrotz war die Storyline zumindest nicht langweilig.

[Morven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, raunchy, introspective, and impressively performed.

[Sivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

solid and comforting, also funny but not as funny as her first. 👍💋

[Tim Owens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Machu My Picchu is about a single graduate student from Israel who wants to have an adventure in South America during summer break. Feeling alienated from her family and the students at Brown University she partners up with an old Israeli friend to backpack through Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. Her adventures don't help her escape her sense of not belonging and insecurity. When she finally hooks up with a guy who is supportive she feels better about herself, but eventually shuns him. Most of the humor in the story originates from the author making fun of herself and putting herself down.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iris Bahr is incredibly funny and intelligent (she graduated magna cum laude from Brown). This is a follow-up travel memoir to her first travel memoir entitled Dork Whore. If you are interested in reading this book, make sure you read that first as it gives important background for this book. I really can't say anything more than this I just a really freakin' funny book for adults. Read Bahr if you want to be entertained. Seriously. I hope she writes another book.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Machu my Picchu is a fast fluffy read, no confusing or complex plotline. Just a young woman traveling and dealing with her neuroses. Iris is humorous though and she makes really funny observations throughout the book. I liked how open she is about all her issues. At the end of the story, she seems to realize that she needs to work on them before she can ever really be happy.

[Sheri Radford · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't understand why this memoir was published. Other than a great title and eye-catching cover, it has pretty much nothing going for it. The author's experiences aren't very interesting or unusual, and her view of the world is nothing special. Plus, her attempts at humour are forced and usually fall flat.

[Katy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was hilarious at first and slowly got old after awhile. I liked the journey and was entertained but the content was weak and the humor got old after awhile. I don't think I would recommend this book.

[hija de bruja · Rating 5 out of 5]

funniest book I've read in such a long time. Iris is a great story teller. I haven't read Dork Whore yet but I cannot wait to pick it up.

[Melissa Katelyn]

hilarious

[Jill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow, this was self-indulgent. A few good turns of phrase, but mostly a long anecdote I wanted to end. It did.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

simply hilarious.