Untamed Spirit Ii: Living a Dream

by Doris Maron

FIFTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD DORIS MARON SOLD EVERYTHING SHE OWNED, EXCEPT HER MOTORCYCLE AND A FEW PERSONAL BELONGINGS, TO LIVE A DREAM.

On August 4, 2001, Maron left Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on her 750cc Honda Magna to begin her journey around the world.

During the next two years and eleven months, she traveled into forty four countries on six continents. Marons first book, Untamed Spirit, describes the first nineteen months of her journey. This second book chronicles the second half of her journey, beginning March 4, 2003, in Nepal. From there she traveled to China, India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Morocco, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Central America, finally completing her tour on June 30, 2004.

Traveling mostly solo, she faced fears, doubts, and loneliness, but she gained a wealth of education that cannot be obtained from a textbookmaking lasting friendships around the globe, experiencing other cultures, and satisfying her passion to see the world.

Untamed Spirit II continues the story of Marons experiences traveling as a lone woman into countries around the globe. Its a story of adventure and challengeand of living a dream.

328 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 21, 2010

Reviews

[Richard Carvalho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Done

Already reviewed. I don't like being forced to review a book in order to move to another one. Is this an Amazon thing or Kindle?

[Donna Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. I enjoyed the second book even more than the first one. I feel like I was travelling with her. It makes me wanna travel more.

[Derrick Good · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book and applauded Doris for a huge undertaking.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Untamed Spirit II is the continuation of Doris Maron's motorcycle journey around the world. It was mostly an enjoyable read, just as her first book, but for two things. One was the very one-sided view of her troubles with her riding companion. It appears that she made little effort to explore the problems, to reflect on them, or to try to understand the issues, nor did she seem to make any effort to resolve them with her friend. A journal (which is essentially what her book was) is the perfect place to ponder upon such things, preparatory to trying to work them out for real.

Second, most of her ride through South America was simply a very quick and very simplistic chronology of where she went and how long it took, with little or no insight into the people, places, cultures, etc. I have lived and worked in SA, and know it to have a vibrant and rich culture, and I was disappointed that she didn't seem to see any of that. She is not an anthropologist, but anyone can observe, question, consider, and report, and she did very little of that. Perhaps it was the same in the rest of her books, but I noticed it much more in this final section. Too bad...she missed a real opportunity to take her writing up a notch. I enjoyed reading it once, but I probably won't go back to it as I have some others.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought Untamed Spirit 11 was a little better written than 1 and quite enjoyed the first part, as more than a chronology of events but some real insights into the countries she was travelling in and connections with some wonderful people. However, I was most disappointed with the book once she reached South America. The book became rushed and pointless, with no real purpose except to chalk up the miles and get home. And her account of her disputes with her riding partner were mean-spirited and one- sided and seemingly unnecessary. Would love to hear Norma's version of events; am sure they would be quite different. This ruined the book for me and left me with a bad taste. Before that, the author seemed like someone I might enjoy getting to know but her nasty snipping at another woman left me feeling differently. I admire her bravery and spirit but am not so sure I would like her as a friend