Excess Baggage: One Family's Around-the-World Search for Balance

by Tracey Carisch

Tracey Carisch thought she had it all. As a wife, mother, and successful executive, she seemed to be living the modern American dream. But one night, a panic attack sent her tumbling into an existential crisis and questioning everything about her life. That’s when she and her husband made a decision that shocked their family and they sold everything they owned, pulled their three young daughters out of school, and became a family of wandering globetrotters.



Loaded with hilarious mishaps as well as deeply meaningful revelations, Excess Baggage chronicles the Carisch family’s extraordinary, eighteen-month adventure across six continents. As they navigate the trials and tribulations of international travel, the family encounters unique people and bizarre situations that teach them about the world—and themselves. Carisch’s candid and insightful account of her family’s journey will have you laughing out loud, shedding a few tears, and bringing the lessons of family travel into your own life . . . without ever having to leave home.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Biography

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 14, 2018

Reviews

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In most people's eyes, Tracey was living the dream: 3 healthy children, a nice home, well-paying job, but along with the status and benefits came lots of stress. So after much deliberation, the family made the decision to sell most everything they owned and travel the world for at least a year (turned out to be 18 months). I have been envious of those who chuck it all to travel the world but never had the courage to try, and Tracey and her family did just that with the idea that visiting other countries would be as beneficial for the kids as being in school--maybe even more. What follows is an entertaining and insightful tale of their journeys, interspersed with flashes of soul-searching and introspection. Tracey is an entertaining writer and her flashes of humor had me laughing out loud a number of times.

Be sure to add this to your list of armchair travel books. It reminded me of one of my favorite "family world travel" tales, One Year Off: Leaving It All Behind for a Round-the-World Journey with Our Children

[Note: The digital advance reading copy didn't have photos and I'm unsure if they are included in the print format, so if not, go to the author's website for excellent photos - https://www.traceycarisch.com/excess-... ]

Thanks to the publisher for access to the advance digital reading copy.

[Sara Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know why I picked this book, don't you? If there is anyone who has been on the edge of saying "screw the man", chucking deuces, and going off the grid, it's me. But I have the same hangups you have, a mortgage, bills, jobs, kids, schooling, a life and obligations. The Carisch family had all of that too but once a few years had gone by since the plan they had was thwarted by their first child, Tracey and Brian have a come to Jesus moment where they realize that this isn't the life they wanted. The never wanted to be bogged down by stuff, chained to jobs and bills, keeping up with the neighbors or trying to outdo the next person. It's a lot of stress and it became too much.

So they sold their home and everything they had, got some passports, and traveled the world.

Over the course of 18 months, these parents traveled to 24 countries with their three daughters. Places they visited (Norway, Andorra, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ireland, Ethiopia, Thailand, Cambodia, Fiji, New Zealand, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Nicaragua.. and I think that was it. I might be missing a few.

This entire book hits every single fear I have ever had of international travel. The language barriers, getting lost, driving in new places, meeting strangers, not knowing if I was in an OK neighborhood, the food, hospital visits, getting flagged at the airport, ebola, terrorist attacks, and more. I'm not even kidding. The thought of traveling internationally terrifies me but I really want to see other places before I die. I know the world is so much bigger and more than what we experience in the US and I want to experience it. I just am totally terrified and I don't know if I could bring my kids. My luck I'd lose someone, someone would be kidnapped or fall off a cliff. If any freak thing will happen, it will happen to me. I have proof of that.

I absolutely loved this book. Each chapter is a country (mostly) so if you can only read one chapter at a time, you're getting an adventure and a complete experience in that chapter which makes the book read much faster. It's funny, they absolutely had an adventure of a lifetime. They gave their children an experience so few of us can and what lessons those kids learned. They got to see a multitude of cultures and they will always remember those encounters. Even cooler is that this family made friends in every single country they went to. They stayed in each place for several weeks, volunteered everywhere they went and took advantage of what each country offered.

If you're a mom, stuck in the rut, going through the motions, and life is passing you by- check out this book. While I'm not getting on a plane to fly to Ethiopia anytime soon, I have very much adopted the "you only live once" mantra and doing things because I can. Sure, I might be broke, bills are piling up, but we only a little bit of time with our kids. Go on the trip. Do the fun stuff. Learn about the world and experience new things.

I'm giving this one five stars. Truly, you guys. I know it's compared to the book Eat, Pray, Love and I really thought that book (and movie!) were totally stupid and eye roll worthy, but this book? This book is so much better than that. Because it's real. She's every mom just trying to do the right thing and to not raise her kids into little robots who are too afraid to take a chance. I think we can all learn something from this book.

[Leslie Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

One American family. 18 Months. 24 Countries. 6 Continents and a complete life-altering adventure in this debut memoir.

Tracey Carisch thought she had it all. She was living the American Dream with her husband and three young daughters. They had good jobs, a 4,000+ square foot home, and everyone was happy. Or, were they?

At 37, Tracey has a panicked moment, sending her into a midlife crisis of sorts and questioning everything. What would happen if they gave up their jobs, sold their home, their belongings and traveled the world? They found out. And it became the adventure of a lifetime. But, there were some naysayers and judgmental folks--especially on the American side of the pond. And yet, and yet...they did it and they were all changed for the better because of it.

I found Tracey and her family completely relatable, the story awe-inspiring, and I honestly didn't want to put the book down. EXCESS BAGGAGE (She Writes Press, August 14 2018), was one of those books I didn't know I needed to read until I did; it called to me, whispering in my ear, 'You need to read this.'

There are plenty of 'growth' moments for the family (and individual members of the family), but reading about their adventures will also make *you* grow; it will shift your thinking and have you aching to jump a plane to whatever country that most calls. I laughed (a lot), I got tearful, I felt excited and terrified...seriously, EXCESS BAGGAGE hit on every emotion.

I was absolutely amazed at the scope of this book--the travel plans--and the writing! Oh, the writing is fabulous and I was stunned to learn this is the author's first book.

In terms of comps, EXCESS BAGGAGE reminded me of Elizabeth Gilbert's EAT, PRAY, LOVE but with a family focus (and in my opinion, much more relatable), crossed with UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN (Frances Mayes) meets the style of Anne Lamont, meets National Lampoon's Vacation [movie] series, and perhaps the spirit of Rick Steves. If you love travel, or perhaps have wanted to travel, but somehow felt bogged down with the logistics, or didn't feel you could do this with kids on tow, I promise, EXCESS BAGGAGE will encourage you to re-think the concept.

For all my reviews, including author interviews, please see: www.leslielindsay.com
Special thanks to PRbytheBook for this review copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Amy Nakos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracey Carisch and Excess Baggage deserve 5 Stars. Not just for the quality of this book, but for being bold and brave enough to undertake the physical and spiritual adventure she describes so eloquently.

I think if you are a woman in your mid-years, you have had at least one existential crisis. Or maybe many – I know I have. Carisch had her own when experiencing a pinot noir panic attack akin to the, “is this all there is to life” feeling of being trapped in the American rat race. Instead of sweeping it under the rug, she did something about it. She did something really really big. She and her obviously understanding and adventurous husband decided to take their three children and travel the world for 18 months! Not a bath, not a massage, not a weekend away, not a nice bottle of wine, but selling everything they owned to travel for 18 months. We have probably all dreamed of leaving it all behind, but 99.9% of us would never do it. Well, the Carischs did – and they did it with purpose.

The book is amazing because it’s true. But this isn’t just a chronological account of their travels. It’s a journey through Tracey’s eyes re-examining all things about life. She weaves past experiences into her current travel experiences in an engaging story telling fashion. She beautifully describes her surroundings so that you can visually picture where she is. She is brutally honest about her feelings and her discoveries about herself. I loved the part of the book where she realizes she is a “blamer.” Most people would never admit this . . . no less write it in a book. I have a feeling that no topic is off limits with Tracey Carisch. And the best part, Carisch is hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud at times.

Beneath the brilliant writing and surprise encounters, is a beautiful soul. A woman who is willing to go to the ends of the earth, literally, to find meaning for herself, her husband and her children. And I’m pretty sure she did just that. By immersing in her experiences, I found that in my own daily first-world life I was more patient and grateful. She comes to a final understanding that we are all one, connected, exquisite energy sharing the universe. And this innate knowing is within all of us, if we are willing to find it, wherever we stay or go.

A final note, while reading this book, be sure to check out the online photo gallery. The link is in the book. It really bring the book to life – especially the innocent and fun energy of the Carisch girls. I highly recommend Excess Baggage!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book definitely makes me want to quit my job and travel around the globe with my family for 1 year or two (not that it takes much to make me want this...) I found Tracey Carisch to be a more relatable Tsh Oxenreider. Out August 12th, 2018, it'll get you thinking about your next summer (or longer!) vacation.

Thank you to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC.

[Billy Buttons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Excess Baggage: One Family's Around-the-World Search for Balance
Author: Tracey Carisch

Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 17
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 10/10
Of the 17 readers:
17 would read another book by this author.
17 thought the cover was good or excellent.
17 felt it was easy to follow.
17 would recommend this story to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘subject knowledge’.
Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
16 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
17 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.

Readers’ Comments
‘I so much enjoyed this travel book. I laughed a lot as I enjoyed the family’s travelling adventure. I thought they were very brave to go off and see the world. Many of us would love to do it too. Very inspirational!’ Male reader, aged 53
‘A good flow to the language, very accessible to all. Also, a fascinating look at different parts of the world from the POV of this family. This is a book of self-discovery; but it’s also amusing and informative.’ Female reader, aged 49
‘I read this and all I wanted to do was pack my bags and go off on an adventure. It’s so easy to get drawn into work as if there’s nothing more to life. But there is. I loved this book and I very much hope the author will offer us another book soon.’ Female reader, aged 38
‘I was thoroughly engaged from the first page.’ Male reader, aged 31

To Sum It Up:
‘The fascinating story of a family’s travels. A SILVER MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Adventure Can Change Your Life

Tracey and her husband, Brian, had an enviable life: two great jobs, three healthy daughters, and a beautiful house filled with stuff. It was the stuff and an anxiety attack that kicked off the crisis. For Tracey, life had become a treadmill. The whole family was running as fast as they could, but where were they going?

It took some soul searching, but Brian and Tracey decided to act to fulfill a dream they’d had for years. They sold their house and all the stuff, pulled the girls out of school, and headed off on a round the world adventure.

The descriptions of the places they visit are well done, but for me the most interesting part of the book was how the family found each other. Traveling with children can be a hair-raising experience for parents. Their first stop in Oslo, Norway illustrates the strains. The kids were fighting; the parents, arguing. It made the idea of an adventure sour a bit. However, they didn’t give up and their subsequent adventures brought them together as a family. They had personal growth experiences and got to know each other. It was a different group that arrived back in the US.

I recommend this book if you are feeling stressed and bored and want to see how another family solved the problem. It’s a solution that won’t work for everyone, but it’s fun to read and there are lessons for all of us. You don’t have to go around the world to make big changes.

I received this book from PR by the Book for this review.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the nonfiction account of a family who sold their home and everything they had and set out to travel the world, to escape the stresses of life and reconnect as a family. They were gone for almost two years. This was possible to do because the husband was able to do his work wherever an internet connection was possible.
I liked her honesty. At the beginning of their trip, they started out in Norway and she became annoyed with kids when they were cranky and didn’t appreciate the beautiful surroundings. I got this, but then the longer they were gone together, the better she could understand her kids and just let things go.
I liked the story related near the end of the book while they were in Nicaragua. They had family and friends visit them so they used the services of a tour guide, Mario. He shared his story of how grateful he was to get cancer, because it allowed him the opportunity to learn English, which enabled him to get a great job as tour guide. He said, “God will always give us what we need. We must have faith and see the goodness in everything...even in things we believe to be bad.” There were many great lessons she learned in her travels and in finding joy and letting things go.
I would give this book a pg13 rating because she used the Fword probably 15-20 times throughout the book. It always surprises me when educated people use poor language.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I expected that “Excess Baggage” would take me around the world. What I didn’t expect was the profound shift her experience would have in my own life. While I may not embark on an around-the-globe expedition myself, I truly felt I shared the adventure with her family. I grew spiritually, and am left with a deeper understanding and compassion for myself. I didn’t want the journey to end as I was enlivened—sometimes laughing in hysterics and other times touched deeply by her vulnerability, relating to the rat race and yearning for more. Excess Baggage is entertaining and educating, but also healing and inspiring.

[Donna Collier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book about a family leaving behind their "normal" life to travel the world. I loved all the descriptions of the countries they visited and the lessons they learned. The spiritual side of it didn't line up exactly with my beliefs, but I was still glad to see her exploring that part of herself while experiencing so many new things. But by far my favorite part of this book was the accompanying photos on the Internet. I couldn't wait to finish a chapter so I could see the pictures of all the things she had described. It added so much to the reading experience for me!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author and her husband had what most of us would consider an enviable life. Both had high end jobs, a lovely home, three darling little girls inundated with sports, music & dance lessons and a large bank account. So why did they decide to sell the house, the cars, start homeschooling their girls and travel around the world?

Tracey Carisch tells their story with engaging writing, humor, and brutal honesty, describing not only their travels and cultural experiences, but the transformation that took place inside of each of them during this time. It was a page turner for me!

[Sarah Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wound up with an advanced copy of this book and could NOT put it down. Such a fast and fun read. Read it in less than two days, which is unusual for me. I find myself thinking about the ideas brought by the author all the time. Almost daily. Definitely a thought-provoking and inspiring read. My husband loved it too, but I can't convince him to set up a Goodreads account to rate it.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written memoir of a young family's travels around the world. I followed the author's blog while they were on their big adventure a few years ago, and this book is not merely a rehash of her blog. Very honest account of their struggles (mostly hers as mom, to which I can relate!). I laughed. I cried. I was inspired!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It is as easy-reading and descriptive as fiction, but isn’t, and Tracey and her family are so relatable. If you loved Eat Pray Love, give this one a read. Even if you didn’t love that one, give this a go. It moves more quickly and is so well-paced and full of adventure and discovery of self and others. Highly recommend!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me in the best way possible. I went into it expecting a standard travel memoir...the story is much richer than that. The spiritual aspect of her travels and the soul searching she did while exploring the world made this book such a gem. Truly inspiring, this is definitely the best travel novel I've read!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful and beautifully written, definitely a fun read. I thought it was witty and descriptive. It's a good story about an average, every day person going on the adventure of a lifetime. The story is perceptive, thoughtful and colored by different cultures and people from around the world.

[Karen Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful ride on an extraordinary adventure. Tracey does a great job of revealing all the highs, lows and in between of her family’s journey. I appreciated the insights and life lessons we can all relate to. Journey around the world without leaving your couch.

[Dena Moes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a funny, upbeat travel memoir. I enjoyed reading it and recommend it for someone needing a light but engaging vacation read.

[Charissa Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really intriguing story full of insights about life, figuring out what you want, and the courage to start over again mid-life.

[Erin McMahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of laugh out loud moments. Fun and thoughtful read. Not exactly our story but I could relate to much of it. Highly recommend, but you may end up selling it all and packing your bags!

[Cheryl D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, solid book for escaping at the end of the day.

[Stefanie Rocheleau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! It was hard to put it down. Thank you Tracey for sharing this journey and for your vulnerability in sharing what you learned. Amazing and inspiring ❤

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up intrigued by the idea of a young family uprooting themselves to travel around the world. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much – just some interesting tales about international travel.

I was seriously surprised by how good this story was!

Tracey shares her family's travels, from mishaps and dysentery to one of a kind special moments where the family learns priceless lessons about what it means to be humble and grateful—the human experience no matter where you call home. There's laughter and depth, and it's charmingly introspective. I enjoyed Tracey's insight to learning about herself and the world, and most surprising, she's a good writer.

[Jamie Waldhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grab a bottle of wine and take a journey around the world!