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Memory Road Trip: A Retrospective Travel Journey
A collection of travel stories ranging from the sublime to the surreal as recounted by a former travel agent who saw the world on the cheap. The journey down memory road is a heartfelt excursion into the past that takes armchair explorers on an odyssey of life, love, and loneliness. The circuitous path is full of philosophical nooks and crannies, and many stories get told from the bottom of a psychological well. Readers will join this intrepid Gen X-er as she gets herself locked inside a cathedral, lost on the Oregon Trail, and held up at machete point by Zapatista rebels. People have always told this adventurer that she needed to write her travel stories down. She always thought that she’d have forever to write them, but now she knows that forever is not as long as she thought it was.
134 pages, ebook
Published October 5, 2021
10 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Krista Marson
3 books11 followersKrista Marson has a unique voice and infectious curiosity. Her travel stories are highly imaginative and represent a new approach to the art of memoir writing. Her tales are refreshingly uncommon, for she visits tucked-away places that few people ever travel. Her series of travel memoirs don't require reading in any particular order.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 13, 2021
My expectation with this book was to be a series of adventures, more or less outstanding, that the author experienced in her travels. I have recently read Steinbeck's Travels with Charlie and was thinking about a parallel. Both authors start from the roughly same geographic area, and both of them use travels as an opportunity to look inside and think about things. But that is about it. Memory Road Trip is a mixture of travels and thinking that very much appealed to me. Mosly because I am a contemporary of the author and I can relate to most of her points of view. It is a sensible insight into the author's views on things that interest her most.
This is a book that makes you want to reach out to google or a map to look up images and locations, because of the author's "knack for painting pretty pictures inside people's heads". It is a book from which you can learn stuff (I admit that I am ignorant in many aspects). Or at least makes you want to find out more on certain things. I particularly liked the fact that the author admits her ignorance in some areas, and she does not flog herself for that. It is human not to know everything in this big big world. And it is good not to know everything, because that gives one the impulse to travel and learn.
The author is not trying to convince us of anything, except to love the planet we live on and to live our short lives so that we won't regret.
I'm glad that I had the chance to read this book and to start my second reading journal with it.
This is a book that makes you want to reach out to google or a map to look up images and locations, because of the author's "knack for painting pretty pictures inside people's heads". It is a book from which you can learn stuff (I admit that I am ignorant in many aspects). Or at least makes you want to find out more on certain things. I particularly liked the fact that the author admits her ignorance in some areas, and she does not flog herself for that. It is human not to know everything in this big big world. And it is good not to know everything, because that gives one the impulse to travel and learn.
The author is not trying to convince us of anything, except to love the planet we live on and to live our short lives so that we won't regret.
I'm glad that I had the chance to read this book and to start my second reading journal with it.
September 9, 2021
I enjoyed this book. There are a lot of memoirs out there written by travel agents or well-seasoned travelers. However, Marson brings three things to the table that makes this read unique and entertaining:
1) a youthful spirit that brings life to her past travels and makes them current,
2) real-life experiences outside traveling. Her musings about her past relationship are funny, sad and relatable, and
3) Unique perspective on world happenings/politics. This is not a political book by any means, but it is refreshing to see her viewpoints based on her actual experiences in different countries.
Marson also has an easy-going, flowing writing style, which makes you as the reader a partner on her journey.
1) a youthful spirit that brings life to her past travels and makes them current,
2) real-life experiences outside traveling. Her musings about her past relationship are funny, sad and relatable, and
3) Unique perspective on world happenings/politics. This is not a political book by any means, but it is refreshing to see her viewpoints based on her actual experiences in different countries.
Marson also has an easy-going, flowing writing style, which makes you as the reader a partner on her journey.
October 28, 2021
There is something so refreshingly real about Krista Marson's stories in "Memory Road Trip." I appreciated her honesty when writing about being young and vulnerable and sometimes making less than healthy decisions. She writes about the struggles of being in an unhealthy, co-dependent relationship; continuing to live and travel with her partner Kat off and on for far too long, despite their both being miserable. We get to experience America through Ms. Marson's escapades near and far. Her adventurous spirit is inspiring; she shares finding herself and connecting with greater/Universal truths in her exploration of America and beyond. Ms. Marson lets us share in both the highs and lows of her adventures, one such low as when she gets lost and comes close to dying of thirst in a desert landscape. Ms. Marson does an excellent job of showing us her reality and its a fun and at times poignant ride. This book exceeded my expectations and a must read!
October 6, 2021
This was not exactly what I expected but I enjoyed reading it.
Content: I am expecting this to be the first in a series of books as this volume only covers the author’s travels from when she began exploring the American South-West (where she was based) in the early 1990s up to her solo travels just after 9/11.
The areas she travels to/describes in the book are based exclusively in North America (United States, Mexico) and Western Europe (United Kingdom, France, Germany). I would not describe the travels entirely off the beaten path, but the author visited a few destinations I had never heard of before and she usually travels on a budget.
The book was not entirely what I expected based on the description and first impression. The narrative is made up of three components:
1) The actual descriptions of the sites Marson went to see, artifacts she observed in museums etc.
2) Some anecdotes of events that happened while travelling. However, I found that interaction mostly seems to have take place with whoever she was travelling with – and therefore we get an insight into her relationships with people, including a toxic relationship with a partner that she was in throughout the 90s. There is, however, very little interaction with the locals and this might just be reflective of her travel style and that is OK, but it was not quite what I expected.
3) Philosophical and semi-political musings that are inspired by the travel experiences but far succeed them. I was OK with them, but they might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Due to the latter two points, I feel the book should come with some trigger warning, specifically: loss, grief, contemplation of death and dying, emotionally toxic relationships. These are not something I would have expected in the book, so I feel these must be mentioned when discussing this book with potential readers.
Personal opinion: Overall, I liked it. It was an easy and quick read and I never got bored. However, I’m also quite aware that I’m easy to please when it comes to travel books. I am an avid traveller myself and I can relate to many of the things that Marson loves about travel myself. This was certainly an interesting read to me as I was born the year that Marson began travelling and I did not experience travel prior to 9/11 – which is what this book focuses on – and therefore this showcased quite a different travel experience to me that I enjoyed learning about. At the same time, this sort of change feels very relevant as I sit here 20 years later in a world that is very slowly and very cautiously opening to the idea of post-pandemic travels and is grappling with the effects of climate change at the same time. I am, of course, wondering if we are again at the cusp of entering a new period of travel. I certainly think so (and so does the author of the book).
A large chunk of the book is dedicated to Marson’s visits of ancient North American ruins - and this was something I thoroughly enjoyed. With a few exceptions, these are not destinations that are particularly well known in Western Europe, where I grew up. Marson takes an interest in art and archaeological artefacts and as a result there are lengthy descriptions of her visits to museums. You do need to be the type for these to enjoy those parts of the book. Another good chunk of her time is spent in France, her favourite destination.
I enjoyed these accounts very much and the book also stirred a desire in me to visit more ancient North American sites myself once that is a possibility again. What took me by surprise, though, are the lengthy contemplations of death and mortality in this book. There is a reason for this, and the author is clearly working through trauma of her own (this is explained very early on in the book), but it certainly came unexpected given the sort of book I thought I was picking up. Personally, I was OK with it for the most part, but I think readers should know that this is what they are letting themselves in for. My only criticism of the book is connected to this circumstance: It often seems unclear what exactly the author is trying to achieve with this book. She explains that the book is for her niece who has asked for travel stories. However, when the narrative starts that niece is still a child and some of the heavier topics centred around grief, considerations of our mortality and details of the somewhat toxic relationship the author had with her ex are not age appropriate. Moreover, many of the details are very personal, sometimes philosophical, or political, making this a much more intimate and personal memoir than one might expect from a travel memoir. At times, I would have preferred more focus on the destinations, the vibes and perhaps also the locals.
Nonetheless, I look forward to reading the next instalment in this series, which will hopefully include more travels with the author’s husband, with whom she (hopefully) has a more agreeable relationship.
Content: I am expecting this to be the first in a series of books as this volume only covers the author’s travels from when she began exploring the American South-West (where she was based) in the early 1990s up to her solo travels just after 9/11.
The areas she travels to/describes in the book are based exclusively in North America (United States, Mexico) and Western Europe (United Kingdom, France, Germany). I would not describe the travels entirely off the beaten path, but the author visited a few destinations I had never heard of before and she usually travels on a budget.
The book was not entirely what I expected based on the description and first impression. The narrative is made up of three components:
1) The actual descriptions of the sites Marson went to see, artifacts she observed in museums etc.
2) Some anecdotes of events that happened while travelling. However, I found that interaction mostly seems to have take place with whoever she was travelling with – and therefore we get an insight into her relationships with people, including a toxic relationship with a partner that she was in throughout the 90s. There is, however, very little interaction with the locals and this might just be reflective of her travel style and that is OK, but it was not quite what I expected.
3) Philosophical and semi-political musings that are inspired by the travel experiences but far succeed them. I was OK with them, but they might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Due to the latter two points, I feel the book should come with some trigger warning, specifically: loss, grief, contemplation of death and dying, emotionally toxic relationships. These are not something I would have expected in the book, so I feel these must be mentioned when discussing this book with potential readers.
Personal opinion: Overall, I liked it. It was an easy and quick read and I never got bored. However, I’m also quite aware that I’m easy to please when it comes to travel books. I am an avid traveller myself and I can relate to many of the things that Marson loves about travel myself. This was certainly an interesting read to me as I was born the year that Marson began travelling and I did not experience travel prior to 9/11 – which is what this book focuses on – and therefore this showcased quite a different travel experience to me that I enjoyed learning about. At the same time, this sort of change feels very relevant as I sit here 20 years later in a world that is very slowly and very cautiously opening to the idea of post-pandemic travels and is grappling with the effects of climate change at the same time. I am, of course, wondering if we are again at the cusp of entering a new period of travel. I certainly think so (and so does the author of the book).
A large chunk of the book is dedicated to Marson’s visits of ancient North American ruins - and this was something I thoroughly enjoyed. With a few exceptions, these are not destinations that are particularly well known in Western Europe, where I grew up. Marson takes an interest in art and archaeological artefacts and as a result there are lengthy descriptions of her visits to museums. You do need to be the type for these to enjoy those parts of the book. Another good chunk of her time is spent in France, her favourite destination.
I enjoyed these accounts very much and the book also stirred a desire in me to visit more ancient North American sites myself once that is a possibility again. What took me by surprise, though, are the lengthy contemplations of death and mortality in this book. There is a reason for this, and the author is clearly working through trauma of her own (this is explained very early on in the book), but it certainly came unexpected given the sort of book I thought I was picking up. Personally, I was OK with it for the most part, but I think readers should know that this is what they are letting themselves in for. My only criticism of the book is connected to this circumstance: It often seems unclear what exactly the author is trying to achieve with this book. She explains that the book is for her niece who has asked for travel stories. However, when the narrative starts that niece is still a child and some of the heavier topics centred around grief, considerations of our mortality and details of the somewhat toxic relationship the author had with her ex are not age appropriate. Moreover, many of the details are very personal, sometimes philosophical, or political, making this a much more intimate and personal memoir than one might expect from a travel memoir. At times, I would have preferred more focus on the destinations, the vibes and perhaps also the locals.
Nonetheless, I look forward to reading the next instalment in this series, which will hopefully include more travels with the author’s husband, with whom she (hopefully) has a more agreeable relationship.
January 22, 2022
A Road Trip of Memory
This is a charming journey of memory and what it means to be human and alive especially during this uncertain time in our country.
The author believes in the importance of history, of a time, and a certain place. Her travels are an extension of what she believes in learning something pivotal in travel. In doing so, she leaves a lesson for us. We can learn something in this exercise that she leaves us. We need only to open our eyes and be part of the human experience.
This is a charming journey of memory and what it means to be human and alive especially during this uncertain time in our country.
The author believes in the importance of history, of a time, and a certain place. Her travels are an extension of what she believes in learning something pivotal in travel. In doing so, she leaves a lesson for us. We can learn something in this exercise that she leaves us. We need only to open our eyes and be part of the human experience.
October 26, 2021
The description of the book drew me in because I’m obsessed with travel memoirs. BUT… I don’t feel like this book lived up to its promise. It felt very scattered. It was almost like reading the diary of the author, rather than a fully formed memoir. I feel like when you read a memoir, you should of course get to read the author’s thoughts and experiences, but also the lessons they learned and how that affected their life going forward. But in this book, it felt just like a diary entry about her on again off again relationship with her ex and then random tidbits of travel diary weaved in between. I didn’t connect with the story or the author that much and it just wasn’t my cup of tea.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
January 15, 2023
Krista Marson's unique way of writing, curiosity, imagination, and humor makes her travel stories extraordinarily outstanding. What makes her book very enjoyable for me is that it doesn't look like a travel guide, but it is a combination of her personal experience, real-life events, ups and downs, as well as travel tips and places to visit. The author has an aptitude for capturing our feelings even when we don’t or can’t feel them fully.
April 1, 2023
I truly enjoyed this book had me on the edge of my seat and read it in 3 days. Had me laughing and crying all at once . I highly recommend this book!
November 9, 2021
I have the wanderlust disease and have traveled to many of the places the author mentions in her book. I found her tales interesting to read and I liked to compare my observations with hers. Traveling is such a gift and I enjoy reading people’s travelogues. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early read.
October 26, 2021
I didn’t make it to half-way and admittedly started skimming pretty early on. The first half of the book seems to be a compilation of long descriptions of scenarios in which the author has had poor judgement or crippling indecision. These occur in the context of both her (initially bad) relationship or while travelling, the latter of which results in various (non-amusing) mishaps, such as missing a last train or getting lost. These errors in judgement made it difficult to empathize with the author and I did not find the content interesting. Perhaps the second half of the book focuses more on the places that she travels to.
Thanks to the author for a free Advanced Reader's Copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to the author for a free Advanced Reader's Copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
October 7, 2021
Very insightful book on traveling independently on the cheap. However, I wish there had been more details on the actual traveling and less on the opinions of the author on politics, climate change, etc. I don't mind a few mentions of these things but pages and pages of it made me skim through much of it. There was too much information on her relationships. I just feel the description of the book was misleading.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews