All the Right Places

by Brad Newsham

"I am in exactly the right place, thinking, doing and feeling exactly the right things." This was the affirmation that Brad Newsham repeated daily as he cycled alone across the Japanese Alps to Mount Fuji in 1984, free to wander wherever he chose. But back home in San Francisco, life hadn't been so his wife of ten years had met someone else and wanted a divorce. He tried everything to change her mind, eventually leaving his job and buying a one-way ticket to Asia in the hope that she would miss him. It worked - and then he met someone else on a bus in Hong Kong. One of the first wave of Western backpackers to blaze a trail through China and Russia, Brad Newsham travelled from the neon-lit streets of Tokyo to the epic prairies of Mongolia in a journey that took him across Asia by bicycle, boat, bus and the Trans-Siberian railway.

Genres: Travel, China, Nonfiction, Russia, Japan

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

In Brad's words:

I was a miserable student, and for my last year of high school, in hopes of a turnaround, I was sent to Principia Upper School in St. Louis, Missouri, a school for the sons and daughters of Christian Scientists. At graduation (1968) the only college that accepted me was Principia College, in Elsah, Illinois. I decided to go there instead of to the Vietnam War, and in 1972 I was sent out into the world with a degree in history and sociology and without a clue about what to do with the rest of my life.

For several months I worked as an asphalt paver, for several more I drove a touring concert harpist around the United States, and then in 1973 I went off for what I thought would be a quick peek at Europe. Instead I wandered for seven months (Morocco, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan), an experience that forever changed my life.

Between 1974 and 1982 I bounced between Colorado, Idaho, and Arizona, and between jobs as a dishwasher, school bus driver, construction worker, waiter, underground molybdenum miner, and small town newspaper reporter. In 1977, in Idaho, two friends and I built a log house on 60 of the most beautiful acres of land I've ever seen. (I sold my share long ago, but the house is still in great shape, and one of my friends has lived there ever since).

My first wife, Beverly, and I married in 1980, and in 1982 took a six-month trip around the world (Hong Kong, Thailand, India, USSR, Greece). Afterwards we moved to San Francisco, where I found work as a secretary at Wells Fargo Bank. When the marriage fell apart in 1984, I took a consolation lap around the world (Japan, China, the Trans-Siberian Railroad), and then spent nine months holed up in a tiny apartment in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, writing a manuscript about my trip. In 1985 I started driving a taxicab and quickly grew to love it - I've been at it for seventeen years and counting. In 1989, Random House published my manuscript - All the Right Places.

In 1988-89, I took another trip around the world and then - in San Francisco and during eight months in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico - wrote my second book, Take Me With You. In 1995 I married Rhonda Gillenwaters, and in 1996 we welcomed little Sarah Newsham into our lives. I've been an at-home dad and weekend cabdriver ever since.

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected to like this more than I did. I have travelled a lot (but not all) of the route the author travels, and the blurb on the back sounded interesting.

The book was broken into five parts, for the four locations travelled, plus 'home' and they were quite individual.

We start after a divorce - papers to sign in 6 months to make it final - time for the author to hit the road to get his thoughts clear. Japan - this was the most enjoyable section of the book for me - it was probably 3.5-4 stars. The travel was varied, the writing engaging, and the whining about his wife was kept to an almost acceptable level.

Next stop - Hong Kong. The Hong Kong section was overshadowed by Amy. Amy was a girl the author met on a bus on arrival. He couldn't decide if he was in lust with her or not, and struggled with whether to sleep with her or not. Amy had her own problems - not lest being her junkie boyfriend, who she gave her passport to sell on the black market - and he has disappeared. The Hong Kong section of the book was focussed on Amy - and the authors hard decisions. Only 2 stars.

So into China (with Amy), and some actual travel. This section was better - some interaction with Chinese people, some cultural effort. This section was 3 stars.

And into Mongolia and Russia - although the author took a non-stop trip on what he calls the Trans-Siberian - but is actually the Trans-Mongolian (the Trans-Siberian runs from Moscow to Vladivostock, the Trans-Mongolian turns off after Lake Baikal and heads South to Beijing via Mongolia). Why the hell anyone would take such an excellent trip and do it without stopping I don't know. I did the same trip (starting in Moscow though - so in reverse) and took just over 4 weeks to complete, stopping frequently along the route. Why anyone thinks they have seen Russia when they have sat on the train I don't know. (Although Russian train culture is a big part of the trip too.)
Once the author reaches Moscow he actually does something - spends 3 days there and interacts and looks around - this salvaged him 2 stars.

So overall - I struggled to like this more than two stars, perhaps 2.5 stars. Too much whining about his divorce, too much adolescent behaviour over Amy. Disappointing.

[frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this book! brad, the author, was my taxi driver one day last year, and after we chatted about traveling the whole ride, he pulled out a copy of his book from his trunk and gave it to me. the story's a really easy read, and brad seems to be the kind of person i would want to travel with. the story is sad, funny, and i connected with the characters.

[Gita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting travelogue to Japan, China and the Trans-Siberian to Moscow in 1984. But I did find the attempt to write the words as they sounded a little strange, to current ears, almost racist. At first, this was very jarring as he travels through Japan, almost sounds like he is making fun in a way not done now, though clearly more so in 1980s. But then he also turns his transliterations to Australian English, so spreads that around a bit. But I found it detracted from his writing.

Worth reading for those who were roaming the world with a backpack back then, or even now, but not great literature.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm… a mixed bag.

I didn’t find him very likeable for the first half or so. His habit of phonetically spelling out the accents of those speaking English as a foreign language really grated on me, and dates the book. Who on earth does that?!

Towards the end, there’s more introspection and I liked the discussions about what makes a traveler rather than a tourist, why travel, what does it do for you etc

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, especially as I picked it up randomly and started reading it as I backpacked around Northern Vietnam. Very strangely we landed in Guangzho airport for our stop over as flew from the UK and the small part of this book where it talks about him being Guangzho I started to read while i was there!

[Andreas Tzionis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read mainly on the train while commuting. This book was thoroughly enjoyable, full of mental imagery and descriptions of real-life situations in an epic journey! Strongly suggested to those who love travelling and meeting new people and cultures.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this too long ago to say anything in particular but it inspired me to read another of Brad's books. These have led to an interest in reading the works of people who travel and show me a world I can only experience through their writing.

[Harinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good travel book, but a little negative in describing places and people. The travelling experience of Japan is surely justified in my opinion as compared to other places. Definitely a one time read.

[Denise Spicer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This 291 page 1989 book is the author's memoir of his trip through China, Japan and Russia. Has some interesting info, esp. Japan (Hiroshima, Fuji, baseball) Great Wall, Trans-Siberian Railway, etc. But mostly tiring 80s stuff such as promiscuous relationships.

[Dieuwke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was given to me back in 2003 when I was on the Transsiberian train. I was heading from Moscow towards the East, and the book had traveled up and down between the Far East and Moscow & St Petersburg a couple of times. The book was meant to be passed on between backpackers.
I still have it.
It's officially the first work of non-fiction I read, and loved.

Brad's mantra has become mine. And a chapter Epigraph has featured on the birth announcement of our eldest child.

[Phil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Travel essay on Japan/China/Russia from the mid 80's. Interesting background, but if you're looking for something to prepare for a trip (at least to China) read Peter Hessler.

Newsham spends too much time whining about his separation/divorce, which really adds nothing to the reader's desire for insight on the people. Also, very oriented to the "dollar-a-day" backpacker

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as "Take Me with You", but I still like this guys ideas as a traveler.

[Rosemary Kinyanjui · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still reading - seems quite good so far. I haven't packed my bags for Russia and Japan as yet but may be ready to do so by the time I finish this travel book.

[Daniel Spink · Rating 2 out of 5]

A poorly written travelogue focusing on the author's insecurities rather than the myriad possibilities of travel. A few interesting characters and situations save it from mediocrity.

[TOTO from Kansas · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was an OK READ. HARD TO KEEP READING FOR any length of time. However, I did find it interesting the way he introduced the backpackers part in opening up areas of China to tourism

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCELLENT travel chronicle prior to the conveniences of travel blogs, websites, and the internet.