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The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and a Life-Changing Journey Around the World
What Would You Do with a Yellow Envelope?
After Kim and her husband decide to quit their jobs to travel around the world, they're given a yellow envelope containing a check and instructions to give the money away. The only three rules for the envelope: Don't overthink it; share your experiences; don't feel pressured to give it all away.
Through Ecuador, Peru, Nepal, and beyond, Kim and Brian face obstacles, including major challenges to their relationship. As she distributes the gift to people she encounters along the way she learns that money does not have a thing to do with the capacity to give, but that giving—of ourselves—is transformational.
341 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2017
261 people are currently reading
6510 people want to read
About the author
Kim Dinan
6 books97 followersKim Dinan is the author of The Yellow Envelope and Life on Fire. Endlessly curious about the world, she has backpacked to over twenty-five countries on five continents and has called India, Mexico and numerous campgrounds around the USA home. Her love of the outdoors landed her a coveted job on Backpacker Magazine’s Get Out More Tour and has compelled her to climb mountains in the Himalayas, raft frigid rivers in Patagonia, and walk five hundred and fifty miles across Spain on her own. Her writing has appeared in Parks and Recreation Magazine, Northwest Travel Magazine, Trailer Life Magazine, Go Explore Magazine and OnTrak Magazine, among others. Her popular blog, So Many Places, was named one of the best outdoor blogs by USA Today and has been featured online by such sites as Huffington Post and BuzzFeed. She is a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and lives in Ohio with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 517 reviews
June 2, 2017
Kim is unhappy with her job and life so decides to pack up with her husband and travel, following her life long dream of writing at the same time. When they're about to leave one of their other couple friends give them a yellow envelope with $1000 to give away on their travels at their discretion with the purpose of helping them learn to be more spontaneous and help those they meet along the way. While I can empathize with the ideas behind this book, I just personally didn't connect with it. A lot of us feel restless in our lives but doesn't make it such a big deal that you have to get up and take off and I just felt like Kim was being a little unreasonable. Also the whole yellow envelope theme was messy and didn't really run clearly through out the memoir to give it some sort of theme or meaning which was what I was lead to believe was the whole point of it. I think it's just hard for me to empathize with someone who has so much opportunity in life who can at whim go off to travel trying to get off on giving some poor person a few tens or trying to use that poor person's ability to hope for more to feel better about themselves. I don't think these people have bad intentions but if you really want to help people there are better ways that would actually give you a feeling of having a meaningful fulfilling life. Again I just don't think this book is meant for me.
March 29, 2017
Kim Dinan decided that she needed a change. She persuaded her husband that they should both quit their jobs in Oregon, sell all their possessions, and travel around the world without any specific plan. Before leaving, close friends gave them a yellow envelope containing $1000 to be given away as they saw fit on their journey. The Yellow Envelope is Dinan’s memoir of that journey. This is another book that leaves me with a mix of likes and dislikes. I liked the premise, and found the places Dinan traveled to interesting, but I would have liked a travelogue that was more outward looking – focused on what Dinan and her husband saw and did, and the people they met during their travels. There was definitely some of that – each section has a country as its title and Dinan does talk about some of what they did. But The Yellow Envelope is very much focused on Dinan’s personal inner journey – what led her to make the decision to go on the trip, the intense struggles she had during the trip over her relationship with her husband, the inner challenges she faced in deciding who to give money to from the yellow envelope, and her surprise and delight at discovering how nice and generous people around the world are. To me, her memoir is peppered with too many inner emotional struggles and epiphanies. I’ve read a few memoirs recently, and I’ve been impressed with those that take me to a time or place that is unfamiliar to me, and that minimize the moments of reckoning in a way that allows them to feel meaningful. The Yellow Envelope felt more like a diary – Dinan’s very personal inner step by step rationalizations and attempts to understand her decisions and reactions throughout her period of travel. Unfortunately, this inner gaze didn’t always give me a good view of what she saw and did during her travels or a sense that she saw the people she met during her travels in all their dimensions. I suspect my reaction is a question of taste. Many people will be interested in Dinan’s decision to “give it all up” to travel and its attendant personal consequences. For me, it didn’t quite hit the mark. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
April 23, 2017
2.5 stars
Dinan is unhappy with her successful life. She plays by the rules, went to school, got the job the marriage the way society expects success to look. She decides to leave it all, with her husband and go on an adventure with no end goal. She wants to travel, see different places and experience the world. her friends give her an envelope with some money in it to spend making the world better as she saw fit.
So they go, and travel, but the book has little of the travel experience and focuses on the emotional turmoil Dinan is dealing with. The book became an emotional inner dialog of Dinan, and her complaints. it felt like she was so focused on herself she missed everything going on around here. It was not what I was expecting from the blurb, I was looking for the travel experience. This is more of a emotional development read than a travel adventure.
Dinan is unhappy with her successful life. She plays by the rules, went to school, got the job the marriage the way society expects success to look. She decides to leave it all, with her husband and go on an adventure with no end goal. She wants to travel, see different places and experience the world. her friends give her an envelope with some money in it to spend making the world better as she saw fit.
So they go, and travel, but the book has little of the travel experience and focuses on the emotional turmoil Dinan is dealing with. The book became an emotional inner dialog of Dinan, and her complaints. it felt like she was so focused on herself she missed everything going on around here. It was not what I was expecting from the blurb, I was looking for the travel experience. This is more of a emotional development read than a travel adventure.
March 15, 2017
Ugh. I expected so much more from this book. Dinan tells how she and her husband quit their jobs and left to travel the world. Some friends of theirs give them money to share with whomever they want while on their journey. Sounds intriguing, right?
Unfortunately, there is so much wrong with this book.
The author came across to me as a self-centered, entitled, prideful brat. She was constantly talking about the failures of others and viewed herself as a more enlightened person than others in general, but especially when compared to other travelers.
While I expected this to be more of a travel memoir, she focuses so much on her contemplation of her own emotional issues that the reader never gets to experience much of the countries she visited.
The writing is clichéd and repetitive. She used the word "windy" to describe every single road she mentioned in the book.
To add to all of that, there was a decent amount of language included without good reason and a few sexual acts were referenced. While Dinan thankfully didn't go into detail, I didn't see how these things were really necessary to include at all – they certainly didn't add to the story.
This book was like the worst parts of Wild combined with the worst parts of The Kindness Diaries – and I gave each of those books only one star, also.
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
Unfortunately, there is so much wrong with this book.
The author came across to me as a self-centered, entitled, prideful brat. She was constantly talking about the failures of others and viewed herself as a more enlightened person than others in general, but especially when compared to other travelers.
While I expected this to be more of a travel memoir, she focuses so much on her contemplation of her own emotional issues that the reader never gets to experience much of the countries she visited.
The writing is clichéd and repetitive. She used the word "windy" to describe every single road she mentioned in the book.
To add to all of that, there was a decent amount of language included without good reason and a few sexual acts were referenced. While Dinan thankfully didn't go into detail, I didn't see how these things were really necessary to include at all – they certainly didn't add to the story.
This book was like the worst parts of Wild combined with the worst parts of The Kindness Diaries – and I gave each of those books only one star, also.
I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
March 18, 2017
Kim and her husband decide ti quit their jobs and travel around the world. They are given a yellow envelope with instructions to give the money away.
What a fantastic thing to be able to do. To give up everything you have and travel the world. Kim & Brian's relationship is often challenged during their adventure. This is a lovely written book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Source. books (Non-Fiction) and the author Kim Dinan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a fantastic thing to be able to do. To give up everything you have and travel the world. Kim & Brian's relationship is often challenged during their adventure. This is a lovely written book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Source. books (Non-Fiction) and the author Kim Dinan for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2017
2.5 stars
When Kim and her husband decide to quit their jobs and travel the world, they are given a yellow envelope with $1000 to distribute to those they want to help in some way. They begin in South America and eventually make their way to India and other countries in Asia. Kim and Brian argue A LOT and that sadly was the focus far too often in the book. I think I was hoping for a book like I Will Always Write Back or even No Summit Out of Sight where the reader gains a lot of information and insight about the foreign locations in the book. While there is some of that here, the focus is really on Kim and how unhappy she frequently seems to be. Having the opportunity to take the time to travel the world is not something everyone experiences, and at times it was almost painful to read the complaining instead of witnessing her taking advantage of this wonderful trip. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When Kim and her husband decide to quit their jobs and travel the world, they are given a yellow envelope with $1000 to distribute to those they want to help in some way. They begin in South America and eventually make their way to India and other countries in Asia. Kim and Brian argue A LOT and that sadly was the focus far too often in the book. I think I was hoping for a book like I Will Always Write Back or even No Summit Out of Sight where the reader gains a lot of information and insight about the foreign locations in the book. While there is some of that here, the focus is really on Kim and how unhappy she frequently seems to be. Having the opportunity to take the time to travel the world is not something everyone experiences, and at times it was almost painful to read the complaining instead of witnessing her taking advantage of this wonderful trip. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2024
The Yellow Envelope by new to me author Kim Dinan isn’t just a story about one woman’s adventures traveling around the world and checking off bucket list items. It’s about experiencing all the world has to offer, meeting people from different cultures and lives who aren’t all that different from the rest of us. People that experience the same types of hardships and challenges, successes and joy. It’s also about seeking opportunities to give of oneself, not just monetarily, but also the giving of your time and energy, skills and talent, love and compassion.
When Kim and her husband Brian decide to sell their house and all their worldly possessions, quit their jobs and embark on a trip all over the world, they are presented with a yellow envelope from friends containing money. The task is to give the money away, to whomever and whenever they feel called to do so. Initially, I found it interesting that Kim struggles with who, how and when to do that. Some of her concerns were not wanting to insult someone, with cultural differences and language barriers possibly preventing Kim from understanding the needs of the people she meets. Ultimately, like Kim, I realized that it isn’t meant to be a planned exercise but more a spontaneous gift given from the heart.
I enjoyed tagging along with Kim and Brian on their adventures and experiencing the beauty and excitement vicariously through them. I also admired the courage they had to take this on and the hardships traveling in countries where you don’t speak the language can bring.
My Final Verdict: The concept of paying it forward is not a new one, but I enjoyed this story that highlights one couple’s journey of discovery of the world, of each other and of themselves. The joy that can be found in small ways by connecting with others is immeasurable. I recommend this story to readers who enjoy stories about travel, sacrifice, hardship and humanity.
When Kim and her husband Brian decide to sell their house and all their worldly possessions, quit their jobs and embark on a trip all over the world, they are presented with a yellow envelope from friends containing money. The task is to give the money away, to whomever and whenever they feel called to do so. Initially, I found it interesting that Kim struggles with who, how and when to do that. Some of her concerns were not wanting to insult someone, with cultural differences and language barriers possibly preventing Kim from understanding the needs of the people she meets. Ultimately, like Kim, I realized that it isn’t meant to be a planned exercise but more a spontaneous gift given from the heart.
I enjoyed tagging along with Kim and Brian on their adventures and experiencing the beauty and excitement vicariously through them. I also admired the courage they had to take this on and the hardships traveling in countries where you don’t speak the language can bring.
My Final Verdict: The concept of paying it forward is not a new one, but I enjoyed this story that highlights one couple’s journey of discovery of the world, of each other and of themselves. The joy that can be found in small ways by connecting with others is immeasurable. I recommend this story to readers who enjoy stories about travel, sacrifice, hardship and humanity.
January 7, 2018
Ревю => http://justonebooklover.blogspot.bg/2...
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"Жълтият плик" е книгата, с която стартирам 2018-та и съм безкрайно доволна от избора си! Разказвайки за пътешествията из света на една на пръв поглед обикновена двойка, "Жълтият плик" успя да ме пренесе на едни изключителни дестинации, запозна ме с разнообразни култури и ме срещна с вдъхновяващи хора. И определено ме накара да бленувам за живот като този на Ким и Браян, вечните пътешественици...
~ ~ ~
"Жълтият плик" е книгата, с която стартирам 2018-та и съм безкрайно доволна от избора си! Разказвайки за пътешествията из света на една на пръв поглед обикновена двойка, "Жълтият плик" успя да ме пренесе на едни изключителни дестинации, запозна ме с разнообразни култури и ме срещна с вдъхновяващи хора. И определено ме накара да бленувам за живот като този на Ким и Браян, вечните пътешественици...
May 13, 2017
Sorry Kim. Maybe this book would have been better in print vs audio. The writing sounds like a high school exercise in creative writing. The content is self congratulatory.
I can't believe I listened to the whole thing! The synopsis said there was a twist in the end. There was no twist.
The only redeeming part of this book is the challenge to do good in the world.
I can't believe I listened to the whole thing! The synopsis said there was a twist in the end. There was no twist.
The only redeeming part of this book is the challenge to do good in the world.
February 1, 2017
You read books you may like them. But there are very few books with which you can actually connect. The Yellow Envelope by Kim Dinan is one such book. Thanks to the publishers and NetGallery for providing me the ARC of this lovely book which I could relate with.
It was my first time reading a travelogue and second time in a long time reading a memoir. When I had requested this book on NetGallery I actually thought that the book would be boring but because the synopsis appealed to me, I went ahead and requested the book. I am glad I did and read the book as well.
It takes real guts to just give up your daily mundane life and travel. One needs to deal with a lot of things such as societal pressures, risks of not having a stable job, risk of risking your life for something that is just unknown and unpredictable. Kim took that risk and was supported by her husband who also left everything and the couple decided to travel.
They say “All those who wander are not lost”. This quote fits aptly with the experiences that Kim has shared in the book. Probably this is the most honest book I have ever read till date. Kim has not been shy in stating what was going in her life, how (while they were travelling) she just wanted to leave her husband Brian despite being aware of the fact how much he had supported her in all walks of life. She discovered her truer self even more when she started travelling and how travelling made her mindful of her personal state. She didn’t lose herself but instead found what she really wanted from her life.
Words have a tendency to spoil the feelings and thoughts but Kim chose just the perfect words to spill out her feelings. It is her first book and i am amazed at her style of writing. Kim is a natural writer. She not only has the gift of expressing her feelings in simplest of words, but also the description that she has given of some of the mundane things make you visualize and value those mundane things. Some of my favourite quotes –
- “The emptiness inside of me had spread like spilled oil, leaving a stain of darkness in its wake”
- “When I closed the door behind me, it clicked into place and the tiny sound was magnified by utter silence of my surroundings”
- “Ending your relationship carries the loss of possibility of your future together, pain of past and perhaps the fear of being alone”
- “It is the small kindness, so ripe and available yet so rarely exchanged that turn ordinary interactions into miracles”
- Describing India “An incredible, beautiful, hideous cauldron of humanity as stripped and exposed as a skinned deer. If we tried to control our experiences in India, if we tried to make sense of the chaos, we’d hate it. In order to love it, we’d have to accept it just as it is”
- “Enthusiasm is faith set on fire”
- “That was the irony of travel. The bigger the distance between you and the familiar grew, the smaller and safer and friendlier the world felt”
- “The magic of everything was that we would not have become who we became without each other”
The writing is fast, simple and very personal. A reader may actually relate with what the author has written in one way or the other. Her honesty is infectious and will make you ponder about are you really happy in what you are doing or may even force you to ask the important question “are you really satisfied with your life”. If you read this book as her memoir and if you are able to relate it with you life you may love this book. However, if you pick this book learn about her experiences in different countries, you may be slightly disappointed there. She has described the locations very superficially i felt.
One noteworthy thing was that when she began her travel, I felt there was a slight negativity in her writing about the places she visited (probably because a lot was going in her life at that time with herself and with her husband). And as she herself claims that visit to India would change her completely and you can see that change through her writing. The places she visits such as Nepal, Bali, Vietnam, after visiting India, she has described the good things about the places too and not just the negative ones.
I am in love with this book. Not just because the book is about learning to give selflessly but also because of how Kim has described what was going in her life during the travel and how step-by-step she overcame the problems and found the best solution possible.
Will recommend it to all those whose life is probably complicated at the moment and would want some answers. Even if it is not complicated, just buy this book when it is released on 1 April 2017 and enjoy. I am now also an avid follower of her blog.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
It was my first time reading a travelogue and second time in a long time reading a memoir. When I had requested this book on NetGallery I actually thought that the book would be boring but because the synopsis appealed to me, I went ahead and requested the book. I am glad I did and read the book as well.
It takes real guts to just give up your daily mundane life and travel. One needs to deal with a lot of things such as societal pressures, risks of not having a stable job, risk of risking your life for something that is just unknown and unpredictable. Kim took that risk and was supported by her husband who also left everything and the couple decided to travel.
They say “All those who wander are not lost”. This quote fits aptly with the experiences that Kim has shared in the book. Probably this is the most honest book I have ever read till date. Kim has not been shy in stating what was going in her life, how (while they were travelling) she just wanted to leave her husband Brian despite being aware of the fact how much he had supported her in all walks of life. She discovered her truer self even more when she started travelling and how travelling made her mindful of her personal state. She didn’t lose herself but instead found what she really wanted from her life.
Words have a tendency to spoil the feelings and thoughts but Kim chose just the perfect words to spill out her feelings. It is her first book and i am amazed at her style of writing. Kim is a natural writer. She not only has the gift of expressing her feelings in simplest of words, but also the description that she has given of some of the mundane things make you visualize and value those mundane things. Some of my favourite quotes –
- “The emptiness inside of me had spread like spilled oil, leaving a stain of darkness in its wake”
- “When I closed the door behind me, it clicked into place and the tiny sound was magnified by utter silence of my surroundings”
- “Ending your relationship carries the loss of possibility of your future together, pain of past and perhaps the fear of being alone”
- “It is the small kindness, so ripe and available yet so rarely exchanged that turn ordinary interactions into miracles”
- Describing India “An incredible, beautiful, hideous cauldron of humanity as stripped and exposed as a skinned deer. If we tried to control our experiences in India, if we tried to make sense of the chaos, we’d hate it. In order to love it, we’d have to accept it just as it is”
- “Enthusiasm is faith set on fire”
- “That was the irony of travel. The bigger the distance between you and the familiar grew, the smaller and safer and friendlier the world felt”
- “The magic of everything was that we would not have become who we became without each other”
The writing is fast, simple and very personal. A reader may actually relate with what the author has written in one way or the other. Her honesty is infectious and will make you ponder about are you really happy in what you are doing or may even force you to ask the important question “are you really satisfied with your life”. If you read this book as her memoir and if you are able to relate it with you life you may love this book. However, if you pick this book learn about her experiences in different countries, you may be slightly disappointed there. She has described the locations very superficially i felt.
One noteworthy thing was that when she began her travel, I felt there was a slight negativity in her writing about the places she visited (probably because a lot was going in her life at that time with herself and with her husband). And as she herself claims that visit to India would change her completely and you can see that change through her writing. The places she visits such as Nepal, Bali, Vietnam, after visiting India, she has described the good things about the places too and not just the negative ones.
I am in love with this book. Not just because the book is about learning to give selflessly but also because of how Kim has described what was going in her life during the travel and how step-by-step she overcame the problems and found the best solution possible.
Will recommend it to all those whose life is probably complicated at the moment and would want some answers. Even if it is not complicated, just buy this book when it is released on 1 April 2017 and enjoy. I am now also an avid follower of her blog.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
March 4, 2017
The Yellow Envelope by Kim Dinan
On May 11, 2012 Kim left a job that she was earning 50% more than her former job. Her husband Brian had one week of work remaining. They sold their home and new car and most of all their possessions except a few boxes filled with sentimental things that they were going to drop off for family to store for them. Kim was a runner and it was out during one of her morning runs that it dawned on her that her life had veered off track. On the surface she had married her college sweetheart, they both had good jobs and they owned a home. Somewhere along the way she felt she had lost the feeling of her potential and excitement of her life.
For years she had been feeling like she wanted to see the world. Kim had majored in English and she always wanted to write. The biggest hurdle of all was to persuade Brian into leaving his job because she wanted to travel as long as they could. She didn't want to set any limits of their time, so they could travel internationally for as long as possible. Lucky for Kim, Brian thought it over and agreed. Brian confided in Kim that his dream to be a naturalist, but he let that dream slide through his fingers because he couldn't overcome his own fear.
Michelle and Glenn, who were good friends met Kim and Brian for a final dinner at a local Pizza shop. As the two couple's talked about where Kim and Brian planned on travelling the evening was coming to an end. Michelle hands Kim a yellow envelope saying it is a gift from her and Glenn. The yellow envelope had a check for $1000.00 and a letter that Michelle wrote to them regarding the gift. The letter read how inspiring and proud of them for having the courage to follow through with their dream. Michelle tells them that during their travels, both her and Glenn wants them to give all of the money away in whatever way they want.
Michelle and Glenn have three stipulations about how they give the money away. Rule number one is "Don't overthink it." They want Kim and Brian to give the money away in any way that makes them come alive. They want them to listen to their soul. Rule Number two is to share their experiences with friend's and family. They are not accountable to Glenn and Michelle or anybody else for how they choose to give the money away. Rule number three is Don't feel pressured to give all of the money away.
This is the first travel memoir I have ever read. The writing was lovely and descriptive and I felt like I was there. It is an interesting concept and it takes a lot of courage to do what Kim and Brian did. I really enjoyed reading this travel memoir. I didn't know it was going to be a memoir until I started the book. Money is only money. It was the spirit in which it is shared or doing something nice for those around them that is inspiring.
Thank you to Net Galley, Kim Dinan and Sourcebooks for providing me with my digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
On May 11, 2012 Kim left a job that she was earning 50% more than her former job. Her husband Brian had one week of work remaining. They sold their home and new car and most of all their possessions except a few boxes filled with sentimental things that they were going to drop off for family to store for them. Kim was a runner and it was out during one of her morning runs that it dawned on her that her life had veered off track. On the surface she had married her college sweetheart, they both had good jobs and they owned a home. Somewhere along the way she felt she had lost the feeling of her potential and excitement of her life.
For years she had been feeling like she wanted to see the world. Kim had majored in English and she always wanted to write. The biggest hurdle of all was to persuade Brian into leaving his job because she wanted to travel as long as they could. She didn't want to set any limits of their time, so they could travel internationally for as long as possible. Lucky for Kim, Brian thought it over and agreed. Brian confided in Kim that his dream to be a naturalist, but he let that dream slide through his fingers because he couldn't overcome his own fear.
Michelle and Glenn, who were good friends met Kim and Brian for a final dinner at a local Pizza shop. As the two couple's talked about where Kim and Brian planned on travelling the evening was coming to an end. Michelle hands Kim a yellow envelope saying it is a gift from her and Glenn. The yellow envelope had a check for $1000.00 and a letter that Michelle wrote to them regarding the gift. The letter read how inspiring and proud of them for having the courage to follow through with their dream. Michelle tells them that during their travels, both her and Glenn wants them to give all of the money away in whatever way they want.
Michelle and Glenn have three stipulations about how they give the money away. Rule number one is "Don't overthink it." They want Kim and Brian to give the money away in any way that makes them come alive. They want them to listen to their soul. Rule Number two is to share their experiences with friend's and family. They are not accountable to Glenn and Michelle or anybody else for how they choose to give the money away. Rule number three is Don't feel pressured to give all of the money away.
This is the first travel memoir I have ever read. The writing was lovely and descriptive and I felt like I was there. It is an interesting concept and it takes a lot of courage to do what Kim and Brian did. I really enjoyed reading this travel memoir. I didn't know it was going to be a memoir until I started the book. Money is only money. It was the spirit in which it is shared or doing something nice for those around them that is inspiring.
Thank you to Net Galley, Kim Dinan and Sourcebooks for providing me with my digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
March 30, 2017
Kim Dinan tells the story of her own true adventure. She and her husband Brian decided to leave the rat race and set out on a journey around the world. They had to sell everything, and sacrifice their lifestyles in order to do so. It's a pipe dream for many of us, so since these guys were prepared to make such a hardcore decision for real, I was happy to grab the book and live vicariously through their experiences.
The yellow envelope was given to them by their friends Michele and Glenn, who wanted to make a tangible gesture toward the trip. They presented the envelope, full of cash, to be distributed along the way to worthy recipients as Kim and Brian felt led.
Whew, the first part wasn't at all like I expected, and I found myself getting irritated by Kim's impossible-to-please attitude toward Brian. The travelogue took the back-burner to whether or not their marriage could be salvaged. She convinced him to quit a job he liked to jump on board with her idea, then decided that maybe what she really wanted was just to be alone, because being regarded as one half of a whole cramped her style! The theme of that chunk of pages was, 'I want to figure out who I am without being defined by you. Just sit in this corner and give me space until I figure it out.'
At that stage, she gave me the picture of a totally self-focused person. Kim does whatever Kim wants to do, and Brian learns that even when he gives up everything and lets her call all the shots, she's still not happy. Whenever she expressed puzzlement over not having as much fun and joy as she expected, I remembered the old saying, 'Wherever you go, there you are.' I think her spiritual crisis was the type we westerners have. From what I've observed, Easterners just seem to get on with their lives, knowing deep in their hearts that there's no point in buying into all the angst about finding ourselves, since we're all part of something larger anyway.
Yeah, her attitude drove me nuts at that point, and all that kept me reading was the fact that she wrote Brian's point of view with sensitivity and understanding too. It gave me hope that she'd discover a new way of looking at things, which is what did happen. She experienced a revelation about the misguided focus of her attitude which revolutionised her way of seeing things and saved their marriage. The second part, when they set out as best friends on the same page, is far nicer to read.
The descriptions of the places they visited were great, although there wasn't enough of them compared to the emotional angst. I love their initial plan, which was to have no plan. The book introduces snippets of the lifestyles of people who are living lives poles apart from most of us, with several interesting culture shock moments. Even day to day greetings show the different mindsets. While Americans and Aussies may ask, 'What do you do?' people in India naturally ask, 'What's your concept of God?'
When they bump into other first world tourists along the way, Kim and Brian figure out the difference between tourists and true travellers. Tourists never actually leave home in their hearts, and demand their usual comforts wherever they are, whereas travellers are driven by a true desire to enter other worlds to the extent that this is possible. It's what Kim and Brian felt they achieved after the experiences of this book take them through Ecuador, Peru, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam and Mexico.
I do like how she says she found what she was looking for, even though it didn't look like she expected it to. That's something that tends to happen even to those of us who don't travel the globe.
Thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebooks for my review copy.
For more reviews and book talk, visit my blog, http://vincereview.blogspot.com.au/
The yellow envelope was given to them by their friends Michele and Glenn, who wanted to make a tangible gesture toward the trip. They presented the envelope, full of cash, to be distributed along the way to worthy recipients as Kim and Brian felt led.
Whew, the first part wasn't at all like I expected, and I found myself getting irritated by Kim's impossible-to-please attitude toward Brian. The travelogue took the back-burner to whether or not their marriage could be salvaged. She convinced him to quit a job he liked to jump on board with her idea, then decided that maybe what she really wanted was just to be alone, because being regarded as one half of a whole cramped her style! The theme of that chunk of pages was, 'I want to figure out who I am without being defined by you. Just sit in this corner and give me space until I figure it out.'
At that stage, she gave me the picture of a totally self-focused person. Kim does whatever Kim wants to do, and Brian learns that even when he gives up everything and lets her call all the shots, she's still not happy. Whenever she expressed puzzlement over not having as much fun and joy as she expected, I remembered the old saying, 'Wherever you go, there you are.' I think her spiritual crisis was the type we westerners have. From what I've observed, Easterners just seem to get on with their lives, knowing deep in their hearts that there's no point in buying into all the angst about finding ourselves, since we're all part of something larger anyway.
Yeah, her attitude drove me nuts at that point, and all that kept me reading was the fact that she wrote Brian's point of view with sensitivity and understanding too. It gave me hope that she'd discover a new way of looking at things, which is what did happen. She experienced a revelation about the misguided focus of her attitude which revolutionised her way of seeing things and saved their marriage. The second part, when they set out as best friends on the same page, is far nicer to read.
The descriptions of the places they visited were great, although there wasn't enough of them compared to the emotional angst. I love their initial plan, which was to have no plan. The book introduces snippets of the lifestyles of people who are living lives poles apart from most of us, with several interesting culture shock moments. Even day to day greetings show the different mindsets. While Americans and Aussies may ask, 'What do you do?' people in India naturally ask, 'What's your concept of God?'
When they bump into other first world tourists along the way, Kim and Brian figure out the difference between tourists and true travellers. Tourists never actually leave home in their hearts, and demand their usual comforts wherever they are, whereas travellers are driven by a true desire to enter other worlds to the extent that this is possible. It's what Kim and Brian felt they achieved after the experiences of this book take them through Ecuador, Peru, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam and Mexico.
I do like how she says she found what she was looking for, even though it didn't look like she expected it to. That's something that tends to happen even to those of us who don't travel the globe.
Thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebooks for my review copy.
For more reviews and book talk, visit my blog, http://vincereview.blogspot.com.au/
June 30, 2017
Finished reading: March 28th 2017
“At the end of the day, the money itself is just paper. What gives the whole experience meaning are the thoughts, emotions, and feelings that come with giving the money away in ways that make you smile and make your heart sing.”
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
June 30, 2017
Three stars for the countries visited and all the people who had to come to the aid of the helpless and hapless for her preferred brand of tourism.
This voice, Kim's- it is honest. Actually that's one of the best aspects of Kim. Most of the rest, not so much.
Her husband Brian is a saint and knows what a vow means. Kim doesn't connote any such definition or most (maybe all?) aspects of life that doesn't reveal or entrap her own "plan" or destiny as she changes or perceives change. Most else, if not all else including group/family objectives or others feelings in general, that comes secondary.
It reads like a strange reveal of her own thought processes, much more than a travelogue. And she changed her life and broke the rules, including the Yellow Envelope rules listed- before she even left Oregon.
Thank God my sons never married a woman like Kim.
It was worth the read, if only for the natives met. 2.5 stars rounded up for the honesty. This is, for me and probably not the general demographic reader, the most observable example of self-involved and over-thinking to the concept of happiness within a selfish path, karma, destiny or whatever you would label it- that I've read since the turn of the century. She doesn't seem "other" minded enough to even realize the depth of her blindness. She holds uncountable amounts of guilt for being choice laden and "rich"- so I very much doubt the state she seeks is one she will ever find as she attempts to define it. Only partially maybe, for some moments of her best days "insight".
But I give her credit to exposing so much of her definition for love. It is certainly not the more common one.
And if she writes another book, I hope she can learn some new words instead of using the same adjectives and adverbs consistently.
This voice, Kim's- it is honest. Actually that's one of the best aspects of Kim. Most of the rest, not so much.
Her husband Brian is a saint and knows what a vow means. Kim doesn't connote any such definition or most (maybe all?) aspects of life that doesn't reveal or entrap her own "plan" or destiny as she changes or perceives change. Most else, if not all else including group/family objectives or others feelings in general, that comes secondary.
It reads like a strange reveal of her own thought processes, much more than a travelogue. And she changed her life and broke the rules, including the Yellow Envelope rules listed- before she even left Oregon.
Thank God my sons never married a woman like Kim.
It was worth the read, if only for the natives met. 2.5 stars rounded up for the honesty. This is, for me and probably not the general demographic reader, the most observable example of self-involved and over-thinking to the concept of happiness within a selfish path, karma, destiny or whatever you would label it- that I've read since the turn of the century. She doesn't seem "other" minded enough to even realize the depth of her blindness. She holds uncountable amounts of guilt for being choice laden and "rich"- so I very much doubt the state she seeks is one she will ever find as she attempts to define it. Only partially maybe, for some moments of her best days "insight".
But I give her credit to exposing so much of her definition for love. It is certainly not the more common one.
And if she writes another book, I hope she can learn some new words instead of using the same adjectives and adverbs consistently.
June 20, 2022
Книгата е пълна хубави приключения, обиколка на света и желанието да ни покаже, че не трябва да се страхуваме да сбъднем мечтите си.
September 21, 2017
I really, really, really wanted to like this book, and there were definitely aspects of it that I did enjoy. The stories of Kim's adventures in various countries and the people she met on her journey were entertaining and often inspirational. The concept of the yellow envelope is intriguing, and the growth Kim and her husband show as they get used to using the yellow envelope is beautiful.
BUT...
Throughout the book, Kim comes across as a truly spoiled and self-absorbed young woman who is not traveling around the world in order to find herself, but simply doesn't want to have to do a day-to-day job. She asks her husband to pack up and leave everything so she can have this adventure, and a few chapters in, she's ready to leave him. She is body-obsessed through some of the book; rather than describe the unique and delicious foods she is eating in these exotic countries, she becomes overly concerned with how her body is changing on her journey. She is obsessed with running and can't seem to enjoy her life unless she partakes in her fitness activities. I wanted to shout, "How bout you get off the hammock and go explore your surroundings? That will bring your fitness back!"
There were even some odd discrepancies that made me question 1) Did Kim really go on this trip and 2) Did anyone edit her book? One that stands out to me is when she is in the state of Kerala, India, she says she is about to head south to meet her husband in Goa. Well, look at a map, Kim. Goa is north. South of Kerala, you're in the water. There were other little things like this that just kind of set me off.
Finally, toward the end of the book, as I was starting to feel like maybe Kim really was growing and maybe she's not as bad as I've been thinking throughout the book, she becomes incredibly self-righteous about the way she travels. She judges people she meets whose goals for traveling are different than hers. She claims something about the difference between being a traveler and being a "journeyer" or some kind of BS like that. For me, that was the final straw!
So, again, I wanted to like the book, and there are some really great stories about the places she went and the people she met. But I had a hard time getting past her personality and attitude enough to really enjoy what I was reading.
BUT...
Throughout the book, Kim comes across as a truly spoiled and self-absorbed young woman who is not traveling around the world in order to find herself, but simply doesn't want to have to do a day-to-day job. She asks her husband to pack up and leave everything so she can have this adventure, and a few chapters in, she's ready to leave him. She is body-obsessed through some of the book; rather than describe the unique and delicious foods she is eating in these exotic countries, she becomes overly concerned with how her body is changing on her journey. She is obsessed with running and can't seem to enjoy her life unless she partakes in her fitness activities. I wanted to shout, "How bout you get off the hammock and go explore your surroundings? That will bring your fitness back!"
There were even some odd discrepancies that made me question 1) Did Kim really go on this trip and 2) Did anyone edit her book? One that stands out to me is when she is in the state of Kerala, India, she says she is about to head south to meet her husband in Goa. Well, look at a map, Kim. Goa is north. South of Kerala, you're in the water. There were other little things like this that just kind of set me off.
Finally, toward the end of the book, as I was starting to feel like maybe Kim really was growing and maybe she's not as bad as I've been thinking throughout the book, she becomes incredibly self-righteous about the way she travels. She judges people she meets whose goals for traveling are different than hers. She claims something about the difference between being a traveler and being a "journeyer" or some kind of BS like that. For me, that was the final straw!
So, again, I wanted to like the book, and there are some really great stories about the places she went and the people she met. But I had a hard time getting past her personality and attitude enough to really enjoy what I was reading.
April 16, 2017
3.5 stars
I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Kim Dinan is unhappy and wants to explore the world. So she and her husband sell their house, and all their worldly belongings, so they can travel around the world for an entire year. The journey ends up being one of person self-discovery and comes close to destroying their relationship for good. Keeping them going is The Yellow Envelope - an envelope of money that is to be used to help make the world a better place, in little or big ways.
I quite enjoyed this book. For a non-fiction book, it had a really great flow to it and was very story-like. It didn’t come off too preachy and I really enjoyed finding out about Kim’s journey and all the different people she meets on her journey. Her relationship with her husband Brian did irk me at times, more so because there was a point she did seem to be unnecessarily selfish though I liked that she was eventually able to recognise this and apologise for it. The relationship problems came close to overpowering the story of the travelling and different countries at times. Near the end of the book, Kim did appear a bit pretentious at times with her opinions on other travellers and she seemed to place herself within a higher power of travellers and seemed to think she was better than others at time because she had seen and done more at that point.
I did love all the different, unique stories that Kim was able tot ell and all the wonderful people she met and who helped her and Brian on their journey. It does give a sense of relief that there are still good people in the world. Overall, this was a great look at different countries and their culture and the inclusion of the yellow envelope money gave the story a nice twist to make it stand out to others.
I received a free digital copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Kim Dinan is unhappy and wants to explore the world. So she and her husband sell their house, and all their worldly belongings, so they can travel around the world for an entire year. The journey ends up being one of person self-discovery and comes close to destroying their relationship for good. Keeping them going is The Yellow Envelope - an envelope of money that is to be used to help make the world a better place, in little or big ways.
I quite enjoyed this book. For a non-fiction book, it had a really great flow to it and was very story-like. It didn’t come off too preachy and I really enjoyed finding out about Kim’s journey and all the different people she meets on her journey. Her relationship with her husband Brian did irk me at times, more so because there was a point she did seem to be unnecessarily selfish though I liked that she was eventually able to recognise this and apologise for it. The relationship problems came close to overpowering the story of the travelling and different countries at times. Near the end of the book, Kim did appear a bit pretentious at times with her opinions on other travellers and she seemed to place herself within a higher power of travellers and seemed to think she was better than others at time because she had seen and done more at that point.
I did love all the different, unique stories that Kim was able tot ell and all the wonderful people she met and who helped her and Brian on their journey. It does give a sense of relief that there are still good people in the world. Overall, this was a great look at different countries and their culture and the inclusion of the yellow envelope money gave the story a nice twist to make it stand out to others.
April 4, 2017
Full Disclosure: I know Kim and until today I thought this was just an amazing book written by a good friend. It's about her journey, her love and her life. Set on the back drop of amazing countries filled with good times and hard times. Today, I too tried to randomly commit an act of kindness and now I understand. Kim's ability to be vulnerable, bare her soul and lay down her dark thoughts, fears and hopes is what makes this book worth the read. You will think she is insecure, selfish and filled with fear as she begins, but she blossoms and grows. Giving makes her listen to her soul. With each act she opens up a little more of her heart. As Kim's journey progresses she comes into her own and finds the grace to let her husband do the same. This book is meant for those who want to travel, who feel a large transformation upon them, and those that want to step outside the confines of what society tells them and move into the world as a messenger of love. After reading the book, you'll have to give a little love yourself and it feels so good.
July 11, 2018
2.5 stars. If you love traveling to exotic locations or dream of quitting your job to travel full time, you’ll love this book. Kim Dinan is 31 and works at a job she hates and wants to write and travel. She convinces her husband to quit their jobs, sell everything, including their home in Portland, and travel for a year so she can write. Before leaving Portland, friends give them a yellow envelope with $1000 to give away as they wish. They visit Ecuador, Peru, Germany, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. All of the countries have their own set of challenges, with India having the most. If I’m being honest, I just didn’t like Kim very much as the book went on, especially how she treated her husband and some things she did were quite selfish. I did enjoy reading about the Rickshaw Run she entered in India.
September 3, 2018
This book made me long for the ability to pick up and go and travel the world. I did find myself to be annoyed with the author in the first third of the book. Her husband gave up his job, home, friends and family to join her on this adventure, but in the beginning she seemed to be very selfish and more concerned about her experience than his. In the end things were better. I do like the idea of taking a yellow envelope and sharing with others during your travels.
June 7, 2022
I'm primarily a non-fiction reader. This is a non-fiction book. However, as I began reading, it felt like fiction. I double checked multiple times to make sure it wasn't fiction. I almost stopped reading. I'm glad I didn't. I found myself engaged and wanting to know more. Perhaps it's because I can relate to the author's struggles and have considered this type of sabbatical myself. Each country visited had me intrigued with the description of various cultures. I tend to think anyone who may give a low rating is in a different mindset and to truly appreciate, one needs to be in the realm of life awareness.
April 8, 2017
I'm a big believer that not every book is meant for every reader BUT that every book, if read with an open heart (or should that be: clear eyes, full hearts?), holds something worthwhile for every reader. That said, there is no pleasure quite so sweet as discovering a book that is so perfectly meant for you that you cherish every word of it and immediately feel a kinship with its author and start daydreaming about how you would be best friends in the real world.
Such was the case with THE YELLOW ENVELOPE. Except for the part about daydreaming about how I would be friends with the author in real life because—full disclosure—I have actually had the pleasure of meeting Kim in real life and am so pleased to call her a friend. Funnily enough, after years of following each others' blogs online, our meetup took place in Vietnam when Kim was on the round-the-world journey that is the catalyst for this book while my husband & I were also partway through our own "sold all of our belongings to travel the world for an indefinite amount of time" trip! How's that for synchronicity? So, while I admit to being a biased reader, when I say that Kim's book spoke deeply to me—not just as a reader but as a traveler and as woman who was not content to live an unquestioned life—I hope this gives you some context as to why that was. The story Kim relays in THE YELLOW ENVELOPE is so incredibly personal that it could be no one's but her own, and yet she writes so candidly about the human condition and the fundamental desires so many of us keep secret, that you can't help but feel a connection with her; even if you don't have a passport or have never made a drastic decision to change the direction of your life, I am willing to bet you will find something in the pages of Kim's memoir that makes your heart beat just a little bit faster as it recognizes the plight of a kindred spirit.
I trust y'all are capable of reading the synopsis of the book for yourselves, but for those who have chosen to read my summary of it instead: Kim & Brian have a good life—a comfortable life—in Portland, Oregon. They have a house and a retirement fund and are both successful in their careers, all while surrounded by friends while living in a city that they love. And yet. Kim finds herself dissatisfied with the life they have built, not because it is a bad life, but because it has meant ignoring some fundamental truths about herself: She wants to travel and see the world. And she wants to write. So, she convinces her husband to sell all their belongings (and the home that once contained them all) so that they can travel the world for a year or two. Before they leave on their trip, their friends Michele and Glenn gift them with the titular yellow envelope filled with $1000 for them to give away on their romp around the globe. The only rules for Kim & Brian are that they aren't to overthink the money, they should share their experiences (if they feel like it), and they shouldn't feel compelled to give all the money away. This incredibly generous gift adds another dimension to their travels and, in its own way, provokes Kim & Brian even further outside their comfort zones. Kim quickly realizes that giving money to strangers in foreign countries isn't easy and the yellow envelope challenges her to reflect deeply on what it truly means to be generous and kind, the different ways in which we can honor these qualities (not solely monetary), and also heightens their awareness to opportunities in everyday life to offer generosity and kindness to their fellow human beings, each other and themselves.
THE YELLOW ENVELOPE is a beautifully candid and raw memoir of Kim's journey, not just geographically, but (more importantly) internally. I think some readers may have been done a disservice by how the book has been marketed: Those simply looking for a travel guide with a bit of narrative thrown in about cool things to see and do in South America and Asia will probably be disappointed. Similarly, those looking to vicariously volunteer abroad or for life-changing charitable opportunities that they themselves could recreate will likely feel somewhat underwhelmed and perhaps frustrated that it takes Kim so long to really get into the "spirit" of giving. I did not expect that the first half of the book would focus so much on the tension in Kim & Brian's relationship, and I realize this has been a stumbling block for some other readers who just want Kim to act as a tour guide to the places she visited. However, for me, this part of the book really sets the scene for Kim's subsequent transformation and gave this memoir its heft.
People who have not taken a trip on this kind of scale or uprooted their lives may feel that Kim is ungrateful or show a lack of compassion for the very real turmoil that she relays, but I commend her bravery in presenting the realities of what long-term travel as a couple can entail. Kim is not afraid to tell the truth, even when it's not pretty or what her readers might wish to hear: The truth is that traveling full time can be hard, and being married is sometimes hard, and you can be objectively successful to the world and still feel deeply unsatisfied and unhappy when you are not living an authentic life. To pretend otherwise is to dismiss the importance of these great things and do them a disservice. It's so easy to feel, from the comfort of our armchairs, that we would face the same adventures with grace, good humor, and unflagging gratitude and never lose our tempers or behave badly, but we always seem to forget that being pushed outside our comfort zones necessarily means being uncomfortable and that this tends to cause us to behave badly. This is true even when we willingly decided to do something (like quitting a good job, selling a home, and traveling in places where nothing is familiar) with the express goal of stepping outside our comfort zones and expanding our horizons. Kim brings readers right into this space with her, into the heart of her frustrations and doubts and sadness and neuroses; it's not a comfortable place to be, but this is what allows for Kim's inner growth, adds tension to the narrative, and ultimately gives her trip lasting meaning.
As a recovering Type-A perfectionist who has firsthand experience of how stressful traveling with one's partner and traveling full-time can be, I admired how forthright Kim was, even if it meant painting herself in a less-than-positive light. There were several passages that I read aloud to my own husband, asking him if they reminded him of someone only for him to nod knowingly in recognition of our own misadventures (ok, let's be honest: fights) on the road. Marriage is complicated. People are complicated. Though it may not be to some people's tastes, I for one thought it was so refreshing that Kim shared her story and journey truthfully and as it happened, not as we may have wished it had our how we feel it "should" have gone.
I don't want to make THE YELLOW ENVELOPE sound like a downer, because ultimately, I believe it is a story of hope and goodness and the value of trusting in ourselves enough to do the things that scare us the most (not just big obvious things, either, but things like allowing ourselves to be vulnerable... which ultimately is what allows us to be kind!). It just takes a while for Kim (and consequently, the story) to get there. She works for her victories and her happy ending, which I personally think gives the lessons she learns all the more impact and meaning. While I found myself relating to some of Kim's darker moments, I also fully agree with the premise she puts forward that ultimately people are good and that kindness is a gift that is so simple and yet one that benefits both the giver and the recipient. Throughout my own travels, I have experienced so many moments of incredible kindness that I know unequivocally that this is true. I also know that sometimes your heart has to be battered and bruised and cracked wide open before this is a lesson you are able to understand the true weight and importance of. Some of us will learn this lesson by traveling or undertaking our own life-changing journeys, but for others, you can learn it just as well by reading THE YELLOW ENVELOPE. Brave & emotional, even knowing from real life how things would turn out for Kim, I still found myself riveted by THE YELLOW ENVELOPE, and I liked it so much I read it twice!
Disclaimer: I received a free review copy from Sourcebooks via NetGalley of this book in exchange for my review. That said, I also ponied up my own money to buy a copy of THE YELLOW ENVELOPE because this one deserves a permanent spot on my bookshelf (or backpack, when I'm back out on the road).
Such was the case with THE YELLOW ENVELOPE. Except for the part about daydreaming about how I would be friends with the author in real life because—full disclosure—I have actually had the pleasure of meeting Kim in real life and am so pleased to call her a friend. Funnily enough, after years of following each others' blogs online, our meetup took place in Vietnam when Kim was on the round-the-world journey that is the catalyst for this book while my husband & I were also partway through our own "sold all of our belongings to travel the world for an indefinite amount of time" trip! How's that for synchronicity? So, while I admit to being a biased reader, when I say that Kim's book spoke deeply to me—not just as a reader but as a traveler and as woman who was not content to live an unquestioned life—I hope this gives you some context as to why that was. The story Kim relays in THE YELLOW ENVELOPE is so incredibly personal that it could be no one's but her own, and yet she writes so candidly about the human condition and the fundamental desires so many of us keep secret, that you can't help but feel a connection with her; even if you don't have a passport or have never made a drastic decision to change the direction of your life, I am willing to bet you will find something in the pages of Kim's memoir that makes your heart beat just a little bit faster as it recognizes the plight of a kindred spirit.
I trust y'all are capable of reading the synopsis of the book for yourselves, but for those who have chosen to read my summary of it instead: Kim & Brian have a good life—a comfortable life—in Portland, Oregon. They have a house and a retirement fund and are both successful in their careers, all while surrounded by friends while living in a city that they love. And yet. Kim finds herself dissatisfied with the life they have built, not because it is a bad life, but because it has meant ignoring some fundamental truths about herself: She wants to travel and see the world. And she wants to write. So, she convinces her husband to sell all their belongings (and the home that once contained them all) so that they can travel the world for a year or two. Before they leave on their trip, their friends Michele and Glenn gift them with the titular yellow envelope filled with $1000 for them to give away on their romp around the globe. The only rules for Kim & Brian are that they aren't to overthink the money, they should share their experiences (if they feel like it), and they shouldn't feel compelled to give all the money away. This incredibly generous gift adds another dimension to their travels and, in its own way, provokes Kim & Brian even further outside their comfort zones. Kim quickly realizes that giving money to strangers in foreign countries isn't easy and the yellow envelope challenges her to reflect deeply on what it truly means to be generous and kind, the different ways in which we can honor these qualities (not solely monetary), and also heightens their awareness to opportunities in everyday life to offer generosity and kindness to their fellow human beings, each other and themselves.
THE YELLOW ENVELOPE is a beautifully candid and raw memoir of Kim's journey, not just geographically, but (more importantly) internally. I think some readers may have been done a disservice by how the book has been marketed: Those simply looking for a travel guide with a bit of narrative thrown in about cool things to see and do in South America and Asia will probably be disappointed. Similarly, those looking to vicariously volunteer abroad or for life-changing charitable opportunities that they themselves could recreate will likely feel somewhat underwhelmed and perhaps frustrated that it takes Kim so long to really get into the "spirit" of giving. I did not expect that the first half of the book would focus so much on the tension in Kim & Brian's relationship, and I realize this has been a stumbling block for some other readers who just want Kim to act as a tour guide to the places she visited. However, for me, this part of the book really sets the scene for Kim's subsequent transformation and gave this memoir its heft.
People who have not taken a trip on this kind of scale or uprooted their lives may feel that Kim is ungrateful or show a lack of compassion for the very real turmoil that she relays, but I commend her bravery in presenting the realities of what long-term travel as a couple can entail. Kim is not afraid to tell the truth, even when it's not pretty or what her readers might wish to hear: The truth is that traveling full time can be hard, and being married is sometimes hard, and you can be objectively successful to the world and still feel deeply unsatisfied and unhappy when you are not living an authentic life. To pretend otherwise is to dismiss the importance of these great things and do them a disservice. It's so easy to feel, from the comfort of our armchairs, that we would face the same adventures with grace, good humor, and unflagging gratitude and never lose our tempers or behave badly, but we always seem to forget that being pushed outside our comfort zones necessarily means being uncomfortable and that this tends to cause us to behave badly. This is true even when we willingly decided to do something (like quitting a good job, selling a home, and traveling in places where nothing is familiar) with the express goal of stepping outside our comfort zones and expanding our horizons. Kim brings readers right into this space with her, into the heart of her frustrations and doubts and sadness and neuroses; it's not a comfortable place to be, but this is what allows for Kim's inner growth, adds tension to the narrative, and ultimately gives her trip lasting meaning.
As a recovering Type-A perfectionist who has firsthand experience of how stressful traveling with one's partner and traveling full-time can be, I admired how forthright Kim was, even if it meant painting herself in a less-than-positive light. There were several passages that I read aloud to my own husband, asking him if they reminded him of someone only for him to nod knowingly in recognition of our own misadventures (ok, let's be honest: fights) on the road. Marriage is complicated. People are complicated. Though it may not be to some people's tastes, I for one thought it was so refreshing that Kim shared her story and journey truthfully and as it happened, not as we may have wished it had our how we feel it "should" have gone.
I don't want to make THE YELLOW ENVELOPE sound like a downer, because ultimately, I believe it is a story of hope and goodness and the value of trusting in ourselves enough to do the things that scare us the most (not just big obvious things, either, but things like allowing ourselves to be vulnerable... which ultimately is what allows us to be kind!). It just takes a while for Kim (and consequently, the story) to get there. She works for her victories and her happy ending, which I personally think gives the lessons she learns all the more impact and meaning. While I found myself relating to some of Kim's darker moments, I also fully agree with the premise she puts forward that ultimately people are good and that kindness is a gift that is so simple and yet one that benefits both the giver and the recipient. Throughout my own travels, I have experienced so many moments of incredible kindness that I know unequivocally that this is true. I also know that sometimes your heart has to be battered and bruised and cracked wide open before this is a lesson you are able to understand the true weight and importance of. Some of us will learn this lesson by traveling or undertaking our own life-changing journeys, but for others, you can learn it just as well by reading THE YELLOW ENVELOPE. Brave & emotional, even knowing from real life how things would turn out for Kim, I still found myself riveted by THE YELLOW ENVELOPE, and I liked it so much I read it twice!
Disclaimer: I received a free review copy from Sourcebooks via NetGalley of this book in exchange for my review. That said, I also ponied up my own money to buy a copy of THE YELLOW ENVELOPE because this one deserves a permanent spot on my bookshelf (or backpack, when I'm back out on the road).
January 7, 2017
The Yellow Envelope is a memoir of Kim and her husband Brian's travel experiences when they decide to quit their jobs, sell everything, and go abroad with no particular plans. Friends gift them with a yellow envelope of money before they leave to be gifted as they go along, and from their first encounters struggling and failing to give yellow envelope money to it becoming second nature, they learn more about who they are as individuals, as a couple, as people in the world.
This was a fairly large departure from my normal fiction or famous-historical-figure memoir taste, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it delightful. While the writing at some points seem a little wordy or rambling with offshoots that weren't necessarily interesting, the overall experiences of living both frugally and generously over a period of greater than a year were conveyed well and descriptively. It is inspirational in the way many books involving travel are, lighting a small flame of jealousy and desire to similarly see the world, but it also was able to capture a very different feel. The author manages to capture well the unique dilemma of traveling - of the fear that sets in at first, of the homesickness that never goes completely away, of the exhaustion of always sleeping in different beds in different houses. And while the author was lucky enough to have had momentous and eye opening experiences, she also conveys the disenchantment and disillusion that can accompany adventuring when it doesn't live up to all your expectations.
While the memoir is filled with some rather gross scenes, it comes off as honest and well-written. I would recommend this for anyone who loves travel memoirs, particularly the gritty kind that showers infrequently and never sees the inside of a five-star establishment of any kind. The concept of the yellow envelope is also fascinating and inspiring in its own right, and should be an interesting read for anyone who spends any time thinking about altruism and how altruism is conveyed and gifted.
Thanks to the publisher for an advance digital copy!
This was a fairly large departure from my normal fiction or famous-historical-figure memoir taste, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it delightful. While the writing at some points seem a little wordy or rambling with offshoots that weren't necessarily interesting, the overall experiences of living both frugally and generously over a period of greater than a year were conveyed well and descriptively. It is inspirational in the way many books involving travel are, lighting a small flame of jealousy and desire to similarly see the world, but it also was able to capture a very different feel. The author manages to capture well the unique dilemma of traveling - of the fear that sets in at first, of the homesickness that never goes completely away, of the exhaustion of always sleeping in different beds in different houses. And while the author was lucky enough to have had momentous and eye opening experiences, she also conveys the disenchantment and disillusion that can accompany adventuring when it doesn't live up to all your expectations.
While the memoir is filled with some rather gross scenes, it comes off as honest and well-written. I would recommend this for anyone who loves travel memoirs, particularly the gritty kind that showers infrequently and never sees the inside of a five-star establishment of any kind. The concept of the yellow envelope is also fascinating and inspiring in its own right, and should be an interesting read for anyone who spends any time thinking about altruism and how altruism is conveyed and gifted.
Thanks to the publisher for an advance digital copy!
June 14, 2020
( 2 1/2 stars)
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Kim is unhappy with her 'picture perfect' life. She yearns for more. She convinces her husband to sell everything they own and backpack around the world with her. Friends give Kim the gift of the yellow envelope. An envelope with money to give to those they meet along the love.
I loved the idea of this book. The idea of a travel story with a pay it forward angle to it. I really imagined this book to be about the people Kim and her husband met and how the money turned someone's day around. That was not this book at all. About 75% percent of this book was inside Kim's head. About how unhappy she was. About how spiritual she felt. About how she couldn't find herself/did find herself. About how she did/didn't like her husband. This made the 'Yellow Envelope' an 'Eat, Pray, Love' type of book.
The yellow envelope it's self seemed more of an angle in the story. Almost off of the money was given as charitable gifts to organizations or large tips to people who had given them services. There really wasn't much out of the blue gestures (the one at the end seemed to be the exception to this).
Also, Kim kept saying what a big risk backpacking around the world was to them but hey could easily have gone home at any time and stayed with family and find jobs.I just didn't buy that part at all.
Despite being similar to Kim ( college educated, suburban, white woman) I didn't connect as all with her at all. She can across as extremely unlikable and self centered and acted very self righteous most of the time toward the other westerners on their trip.
I did like learning about some of the people they met and loved hearing about the places the traveled (especially the location with the turtle in Bali) but other then that this book was a big miss for me.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Kim is unhappy with her 'picture perfect' life. She yearns for more. She convinces her husband to sell everything they own and backpack around the world with her. Friends give Kim the gift of the yellow envelope. An envelope with money to give to those they meet along the love.
I loved the idea of this book. The idea of a travel story with a pay it forward angle to it. I really imagined this book to be about the people Kim and her husband met and how the money turned someone's day around. That was not this book at all. About 75% percent of this book was inside Kim's head. About how unhappy she was. About how spiritual she felt. About how she couldn't find herself/did find herself. About how she did/didn't like her husband. This made the 'Yellow Envelope' an 'Eat, Pray, Love' type of book.
The yellow envelope it's self seemed more of an angle in the story. Almost off of the money was given as charitable gifts to organizations or large tips to people who had given them services. There really wasn't much out of the blue gestures (the one at the end seemed to be the exception to this).
Also, Kim kept saying what a big risk backpacking around the world was to them but hey could easily have gone home at any time and stayed with family and find jobs.I just didn't buy that part at all.
Despite being similar to Kim ( college educated, suburban, white woman) I didn't connect as all with her at all. She can across as extremely unlikable and self centered and acted very self righteous most of the time toward the other westerners on their trip.
I did like learning about some of the people they met and loved hearing about the places the traveled (especially the location with the turtle in Bali) but other then that this book was a big miss for me.
March 26, 2017
"The yellow envelope taught me how to give, not just money, but to give of myself." I've never been fond of memoirs, can't give any good excuse why not, it's just not my reading-thing. But this travel memoir by Kim Dinan might just change my future views on memoirs.
Kim turns into a wonderful storyteller through her travels across the globe. Ecuador, Peru, Nepal, India, Vietnam - all these places reel by in your mind and yes, they are all so infinitely google-able. Every time Kim and Brian touched shore at a different location - it was googled.
Even more than enjoying all the great "sight-seeings", I thoroughly enjoyed the way Kim shared her thoughts through all the different places, people, animals and transport devices she experienced. - "As a traveler, I'd only ever be passing through, but I wanted to slow down and stay still long enough for the country to make an imprint in my bones. As we cycled on, I knew I missed something that could only be learned by stopping".
For more quotes from this highly Enjoyable travel memoir, follow my blog: http://marelithalkink.blogspot.co.za/...
Kim turns into a wonderful storyteller through her travels across the globe. Ecuador, Peru, Nepal, India, Vietnam - all these places reel by in your mind and yes, they are all so infinitely google-able. Every time Kim and Brian touched shore at a different location - it was googled.
Even more than enjoying all the great "sight-seeings", I thoroughly enjoyed the way Kim shared her thoughts through all the different places, people, animals and transport devices she experienced. - "As a traveler, I'd only ever be passing through, but I wanted to slow down and stay still long enough for the country to make an imprint in my bones. As we cycled on, I knew I missed something that could only be learned by stopping".
For more quotes from this highly Enjoyable travel memoir, follow my blog: http://marelithalkink.blogspot.co.za/...
February 1, 2021
The title of this book felt misleading. It was less about the act of giving than it was the author’s journey to find contentment. While I respect the author’s honesty, I felt there was a lack of depth to the endeavor. Should I recommend a book on altruism or traveling, or even self-discovery, this book would be low on my list.
May 19, 2021
Eat, Pray, Love meets Melinda Gates only with less money and more platitudes.
July 26, 2017
5 stars
Very good book. I really enjoyed this one. It was nice to see Kim and Brian's journey. Their travel sounded really fun. Would recommend to anyone who is a fan of biographies.
Very good book. I really enjoyed this one. It was nice to see Kim and Brian's journey. Their travel sounded really fun. Would recommend to anyone who is a fan of biographies.
January 13, 2018
Пътят към истинското Аз понякога минава през целия свят...
June 1, 2018
I really enjoyed the parts about how they gave away the yellow envelope money but wished that there was more about that. This is a nice, feel-good book.
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