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Travel To the G-Spot -- The Guide Book
Danny Gladstone is a travel writer with a problem; he’s dying.
Determined to make sense out of what just happened to his life, he looks back through some of his stories from around the world to figure out how he reached this disturbing closing chapter. Along the way, he recounts a childhood of coddled captivity in the suburbs and not being allowed to cross the big streets alone, to exotic tales of intrigue, indulgence and debauchery in places from Thailand to Tonga to Times Square. He confesses that he considers travel writing an addiction that he must overcome, and admits that he’s only done it to confront his self-loathing and fear of everything.
He also manages to blow the lid off a secretive world of free trips and professional perks that exposes the dirty underbelly of a filthy business that is obviously not a problem to anyone but himself.
It’s the humorous, dark and oddly hopeful story of a character who was raised to always do his best, learns that’s often not required, and, instead of just getting on with his life like everyone else, continually sabotages his own best efforts by actually questioning why that's okay? It's a line of inquiry he deeply believes more people should be exploring, and though time’s running out for Danny, he can still remember Nana Belle, his grandmother, who made his childhood bed and cooked his soft-boiled eggs, saying, "It's never too late."
How much of the book is realistic?
According to the author, "All of it, I hope. It's a fictional memoir of a guy in our world. He's a writer. He has a family and friends. He travels to some pretty exotic places and writes about it, but he's not a werewolf or a hobbit. It has to seem real, I think. The thing is, I've been a travel writer for a long time. It's a great life, and worth sharing. Although I always strive for the truth, there's a deeper level of truth that isn't wanted in stories that are published. This book is an effort to get closer to those deeper truths by telling a story about what really happens to a writer on one fantastic trip after another that most people can only dream about. There's a dark side to it, sure, but overall it's just supposed to be funny. I hope it resonates for readers who grew up in the 50s, 60s and 70s, and for those who wonder why all those folks are the way they are."
“...combines gritty realism, sharp social satire, hilarious comedy and a smooth, confident writing style.”
-Goodreads
" …kinda like a little Paul Theroux, mixed with some Hunter S. Thompson. Stir in a tad of Philip Roth and shake vigorously.”
-Taos Cowboy
“…a very, very funny book.”
-The Oklahoman
It’s a must read for anyone who travels, wants to, or ever dreamed of being a travel writer.
Determined to make sense out of what just happened to his life, he looks back through some of his stories from around the world to figure out how he reached this disturbing closing chapter. Along the way, he recounts a childhood of coddled captivity in the suburbs and not being allowed to cross the big streets alone, to exotic tales of intrigue, indulgence and debauchery in places from Thailand to Tonga to Times Square. He confesses that he considers travel writing an addiction that he must overcome, and admits that he’s only done it to confront his self-loathing and fear of everything.
He also manages to blow the lid off a secretive world of free trips and professional perks that exposes the dirty underbelly of a filthy business that is obviously not a problem to anyone but himself.
It’s the humorous, dark and oddly hopeful story of a character who was raised to always do his best, learns that’s often not required, and, instead of just getting on with his life like everyone else, continually sabotages his own best efforts by actually questioning why that's okay? It's a line of inquiry he deeply believes more people should be exploring, and though time’s running out for Danny, he can still remember Nana Belle, his grandmother, who made his childhood bed and cooked his soft-boiled eggs, saying, "It's never too late."
How much of the book is realistic?
According to the author, "All of it, I hope. It's a fictional memoir of a guy in our world. He's a writer. He has a family and friends. He travels to some pretty exotic places and writes about it, but he's not a werewolf or a hobbit. It has to seem real, I think. The thing is, I've been a travel writer for a long time. It's a great life, and worth sharing. Although I always strive for the truth, there's a deeper level of truth that isn't wanted in stories that are published. This book is an effort to get closer to those deeper truths by telling a story about what really happens to a writer on one fantastic trip after another that most people can only dream about. There's a dark side to it, sure, but overall it's just supposed to be funny. I hope it resonates for readers who grew up in the 50s, 60s and 70s, and for those who wonder why all those folks are the way they are."
“...combines gritty realism, sharp social satire, hilarious comedy and a smooth, confident writing style.”
-Goodreads
" …kinda like a little Paul Theroux, mixed with some Hunter S. Thompson. Stir in a tad of Philip Roth and shake vigorously.”
-Taos Cowboy
“…a very, very funny book.”
-The Oklahoman
It’s a must read for anyone who travels, wants to, or ever dreamed of being a travel writer.
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 11, 2012
1 person is currently reading
181 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 3, 2016
Travel to the G-Spot--The Guide Book is a novel by Steve Cohen, an award-winning travel writer and photographer. He combines gritty realism, sharp social satire, awkward comedy and a smooth, confident writing style.
Danny Gladstone is a boy like those found in many a Jewish Bildungsroman. Within his family, he is spoiled by a loving but domineering matriarch, Nana Belle. Outside of his family, he is more or less a loser and must do what he can to make his way in the world. And so he does. So far, so good.
He ends up as a canny, if rather jaded, travel writer, one who knows the ropes and can manipulate the system to get all kinds of perks and freebies. Although from the suggestive cover [note: this applies to the first edition] you might expect a recital of sexual conquests by a traveling lothario who finds a willing lover in every port, there is surprisingly little sex in this novel.
The main perk in Danny's world (besides the all-expenses-paid trips, that is) is not sex, but drugs. There are so many instances of him smoking or ingesting various mind-blowing substances, referred to semi-euphemistically as "herb," that it's a wonder he isn't bundled off to a padded room in the Betty Ford Center. But he manages to tell his story with wry coherence.
Danny's family sometimes gets to accompany him on his trips. He is married to a woman whom he refers to as "God"--in fact we never find out her actual name. The implication being, of course, that she issues arbitrary commands which must be obeyed and metes out wrath and punishment when Danny transgresses. (I must confess that the comedic blurring of the distinction between his wife and the Almighty, managed slyly with phrases such as "with God's help," was for my taste pushing the sarcasm too far.)
He also has a son, Yang, whom he loves very much. His attempts at father-son bonding are sometimes successful but often turn out horribly badly. So it is a relief to Danny as well as to the reader when Yang turns out to be normal (more or less), in spite of exposure to his father's foibles, and the traumatic experiences accidentally unleashed on him during some of the trips.
Where Cohen shines is the chapters where he exposes the artificiality of travel writing. The chapters in the middle of the book come in pairs. First we get a nearly ideal trip, where the writer, guided by friendly, obliging and incredibly informative natives, enjoys fascinating adventures. These usually involve breathtaking panoramic views of landscape, an invigorating few days roughing it in the bush or tasting delightfully exotic cuisine, and perhaps also a golden opportunity to experience heartwarming "quality time" with his son.
But we find out that most of these stories, written in a glib, journalistic fashion, peppered with charm, carefully documented geographical features, travel tips and contact information, are fundamentally false. Well, maybe they're not so much false as lacking a firm basis in Danny's own experiences. The contrast between the stories Danny submits (related in the first chapters of the pairs) and what really happened (narrated in the second chapters of the pairs) is what provides the greatest comedy in the novel.
Despite all the bizarre situations, there's also a deeper, more serious side to this story, as Danny worries about Yang and ponders the dreams he couldn't pursue. The burning question for him is why he has embarked on this seemingly endless search for the elusive moment of elation which he calls the the G-spot.
RECENT DEVELOPMENT: A revised and updated edition of this novel is now available on Amazon.
Danny Gladstone is a boy like those found in many a Jewish Bildungsroman. Within his family, he is spoiled by a loving but domineering matriarch, Nana Belle. Outside of his family, he is more or less a loser and must do what he can to make his way in the world. And so he does. So far, so good.
He ends up as a canny, if rather jaded, travel writer, one who knows the ropes and can manipulate the system to get all kinds of perks and freebies. Although from the suggestive cover [note: this applies to the first edition] you might expect a recital of sexual conquests by a traveling lothario who finds a willing lover in every port, there is surprisingly little sex in this novel.
The main perk in Danny's world (besides the all-expenses-paid trips, that is) is not sex, but drugs. There are so many instances of him smoking or ingesting various mind-blowing substances, referred to semi-euphemistically as "herb," that it's a wonder he isn't bundled off to a padded room in the Betty Ford Center. But he manages to tell his story with wry coherence.
Danny's family sometimes gets to accompany him on his trips. He is married to a woman whom he refers to as "God"--in fact we never find out her actual name. The implication being, of course, that she issues arbitrary commands which must be obeyed and metes out wrath and punishment when Danny transgresses. (I must confess that the comedic blurring of the distinction between his wife and the Almighty, managed slyly with phrases such as "with God's help," was for my taste pushing the sarcasm too far.)
He also has a son, Yang, whom he loves very much. His attempts at father-son bonding are sometimes successful but often turn out horribly badly. So it is a relief to Danny as well as to the reader when Yang turns out to be normal (more or less), in spite of exposure to his father's foibles, and the traumatic experiences accidentally unleashed on him during some of the trips.
Where Cohen shines is the chapters where he exposes the artificiality of travel writing. The chapters in the middle of the book come in pairs. First we get a nearly ideal trip, where the writer, guided by friendly, obliging and incredibly informative natives, enjoys fascinating adventures. These usually involve breathtaking panoramic views of landscape, an invigorating few days roughing it in the bush or tasting delightfully exotic cuisine, and perhaps also a golden opportunity to experience heartwarming "quality time" with his son.
But we find out that most of these stories, written in a glib, journalistic fashion, peppered with charm, carefully documented geographical features, travel tips and contact information, are fundamentally false. Well, maybe they're not so much false as lacking a firm basis in Danny's own experiences. The contrast between the stories Danny submits (related in the first chapters of the pairs) and what really happened (narrated in the second chapters of the pairs) is what provides the greatest comedy in the novel.
Despite all the bizarre situations, there's also a deeper, more serious side to this story, as Danny worries about Yang and ponders the dreams he couldn't pursue. The burning question for him is why he has embarked on this seemingly endless search for the elusive moment of elation which he calls the the G-spot.
RECENT DEVELOPMENT: A revised and updated edition of this novel is now available on Amazon.
November 12, 2012
I've got to admit when I started reading this I wasn't overly convinced I was going to enjoy it but as the book went on I found myself getting thoroughly engrossed and strangely attached to Danny Gladstone, our narrator and disillusioned travel writer. The style of the book is to give the 'official version' of Danny's travel writing experiences then to give the real version of what happened, warts and all. This is a very humourous read that gives a sneaky insight into the world of travel writing with its you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours mode of operating. Cohen has captured the essence of this superbly in the guise of Danny Gladstone and all of the characters we meet on the way and while all is not quite as it seems, you are left feeling strangely uplifted, in an odd roundabout fashion.
October 30, 2012
I was intrigued by this book as I wanted to know what it was that drove the inner travel writer to express themselves. What I got was a funny, alternative and very valuable insight into, what can only be described as a very murky world indeed. The real stories which link the whole thing together are what makes it work; for that alone I’d recommend anyone hoping to enter this world read it, before it’s too late and you’re in too deep.
November 10, 2012
What’s interesting about this book isn't what it is but rather what it could have been. The format, especially, opens all sorts of possibilities: a travel writer who has rescinded his profession and offers up a selection of his travel writing, each article shadowed by a followup chapter that gives the real story behind the official, clean one.
The narrator throws a few clues to where the narrative could go: an estranged son who grows distant as he grows into adulthood, a bitter wife whose reproachful presence keeps him firmly away on travels while their marriage basically disintegrates. Unfortunately, these clues are all we have to go by because the narrative is simply undeveloped, the characters are fleshed out but don’t evolve or transform, and the anecdotes thrown in to give life to the back stories feel random and rambling, not purposeful nor meaningful.
There is some insider information on the way travel writers eke out their living and a few funny scenes. As the book concludes, though, the narrative sputters, chokes and leaves one wondering about the story-behind-the-story-behind-the-story.
The narrator throws a few clues to where the narrative could go: an estranged son who grows distant as he grows into adulthood, a bitter wife whose reproachful presence keeps him firmly away on travels while their marriage basically disintegrates. Unfortunately, these clues are all we have to go by because the narrative is simply undeveloped, the characters are fleshed out but don’t evolve or transform, and the anecdotes thrown in to give life to the back stories feel random and rambling, not purposeful nor meaningful.
There is some insider information on the way travel writers eke out their living and a few funny scenes. As the book concludes, though, the narrative sputters, chokes and leaves one wondering about the story-behind-the-story-behind-the-story.
October 21, 2012
This book is a hilarious riot of a rant by Danny Gladstone, the supposedly travel writer protagonist. Danny talks about the various exploits he had to go through as a travel writer. Apart from the opening and closing chapters, the book takes a back-and-forth format of a chapter professionally written for travel magazines and newspapers… after which followed by the next chapter detailing the 'actual' account that had happened during the travel assignment. These 'actual' accounts contain the funniest in-your-face rants which mostly are understandably censored from the readers of commercial travel literature. The multiple pairs of professional written chapters with their respective 'actual' account chapters make for an eye-opening peek into the travel writing industry albeit a hilarious one.
If you'd ever wondered what is it like to be a travel writer, this funny book is a good one to read. Highly recommended!
If you'd ever wondered what is it like to be a travel writer, this funny book is a good one to read. Highly recommended!
December 5, 2014
I was entertained by the author's travel stories to unusual places around the globe, his angst about masculine ideals from athletics to household provider, and the metaphoric names by which he called family members and friends. The initial narrative about his doing unrestrained drugs took up lesser focus in his adult years, and the ending was ingratiating with persuasions to read this book by a man who loved his family, which in the memoir had split-up. Indications of unreliable narrator in a memoir are present. Recommend it for an armchair traveler, for its laughs, for its transitions from heady youth to wiser adult who knows more about himself through his experiences mingling travel writing with family. He can stand apart from the subtle pressures of both of those, having justification in his own being.
July 20, 2012
I have to admit, when I read the first few chapters I was wondering what the heck I had gotten myself into. This is definately not the kind of book I like to read but I was determined to give it a chance. Danny Gladstone is a travel writer who is dying. He reminisces about his travels to different countries and the people he encounters on these trips. Had Mr. Gladstone been a "real" person and not a fictitious character I would have loved to have met him! He is hilarious! I found myself laughing out loud (like his nickname for his wife and the dreaded ketchup and rice), but also felt the sadness at times. Wanted to read something different. Found it and enjoyed it
January 10, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. The ramblings of Danny Gladstone on his many adventures could easily be a sub-title. I felt like I was at each destination. Very funny and often dry. A very enjoyable read!
October 16, 2012
Ah, the glories of eBooks, where you can slap together any and all kinds of experimental work, empty your filing cabinets of old stuff you wrote years ago, and maybe make a few bucks off of Kindle downloads. I'm not complaining; I applaud Steve Cohen for figuring out a way to dust off his old travel stories from newspapers and magazines and re-purpose them, as they say. I too have made a living as a travel writer, which he absolutely eviscerates here by indulging a whim that many of us in this profession have entertained at one time or another: What if we published, side by side, the "real" story of what happened on that trip to Jamaica next to the breezy, swaying-palm-trees-and-colorful-locals version that we sell to make a few bucks to justify the free trip we received from the local tourist board? Because of this choice, half of Cohen's book consists of old, fairly deadly boring articles about visiting exotic locales -- the kind of generic "travel writing" that doesn't win any awards -- but then he follows up each trip with a chapter on how he spent the entire week in Jamaica stoned out of his mind, or in bed with the p.r. lady, or feeling like a miserable turd for accepting another sponsored trip. And I could relate to every word of it; I've experienced the exact same feelings, sometimes in the exact same places (like the Arctic Circle). This also being an eBook means that it wasn't edited or polished much: Cohen makes some breathtakingly bad choices, beginning with calling the book a "novel" by inserting a hasty frame ("I'm dying, and this is my story") that is never developed; utterly icing us readers by calling his wife "God" (we never get a real name) and his son "Yang" (ditto) so we can't possibly relate to them, and even suggesting in the title that his travel writing was inspired and sought out hidden truths about the destinations. They didn't. But for an inside look at the psyches and inner demons of a whole class of people who have made careers out of pursuing free trips, and for some funny stories of what really happened at that 4-star resort, this book is worth the five bucks to slap it onto a Kindle.
May 26, 2014
I was advised by a close friend to read this book, and I'm happy to say it was well worth it. It's funny. No, it's more than that. It's hilarious. In fact, I found myself laughing so hard that I had to put it down and rest at times.
It's been a while since a book has had that effect upon me.
I myself found the book's central theme, the truth behind travel stories, quite fascinating. Cohen has done a marvelous job showing how the bizarre life of travel writers can become utterly screwed-up as work takes them from one luxury five star resort to the next. Oh-- the pain! Reading the original travel stories was nothing more than a windup for all the humor that's unleashed in Cohen's personal (unplugged) retelling that follows. There's at least one belly-laugh mixed in with a full gamut of human emotions. And though somewhat dramatized, I'm quite certain Cohen's life (on display in vivid 32 bit color) was full of real pain and suffering. Not the kind that you lament, but the kind that you laugh about years later. You know what I mean?
Now some people may have issues with the format of this book. I've seen comments were readers expected a more plot driven narrative. This is strange to me because the book is a memoir of sorts. And as such, the story just goes where it wants. That's kind of how life works.
In my final assessment, I think Cohen's book is well worth any reader's time. I advise you bring it along on vacation and read it while sipping umbrella drinks at the beach. However, if you laugh so hard and spill your drink all over your crotch, don't blame the author. Just order another damn drink, and keep reading!
It's been a while since a book has had that effect upon me.
I myself found the book's central theme, the truth behind travel stories, quite fascinating. Cohen has done a marvelous job showing how the bizarre life of travel writers can become utterly screwed-up as work takes them from one luxury five star resort to the next. Oh-- the pain! Reading the original travel stories was nothing more than a windup for all the humor that's unleashed in Cohen's personal (unplugged) retelling that follows. There's at least one belly-laugh mixed in with a full gamut of human emotions. And though somewhat dramatized, I'm quite certain Cohen's life (on display in vivid 32 bit color) was full of real pain and suffering. Not the kind that you lament, but the kind that you laugh about years later. You know what I mean?
Now some people may have issues with the format of this book. I've seen comments were readers expected a more plot driven narrative. This is strange to me because the book is a memoir of sorts. And as such, the story just goes where it wants. That's kind of how life works.
In my final assessment, I think Cohen's book is well worth any reader's time. I advise you bring it along on vacation and read it while sipping umbrella drinks at the beach. However, if you laugh so hard and spill your drink all over your crotch, don't blame the author. Just order another damn drink, and keep reading!
November 18, 2013
I couldn't get through it. He thinks he's super edgy and interesting and he's just not. "This is the way I write about things to get published!" "This is the shit that really happened!" This juxtaposition can be interesting, but not for a whole book. When he isn't doing this he's talking about how much of a lazy asshole he is.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews