What do you think?
Rate this book
Female Nomad and Friends: Tales of Breaking Free and Breaking Bread Around the World
In 1987, Rita, newly divorced, set out to live her dream. She sold all her possessions and became a nomad. She wrote a book about her ongoing journey and, in 2001, insisted on putting her personal e-mail address in the last chapter—against all advice. It turned out to be a fortuitous decision. She has met thousands of readers, stayed in their homes, and sat around kitchen tables sharing stories and food and laughter.
In this essay collection, Gelman includes her own further adventures, as well as those of writers and readers telling tales of the shared humanity they experienced in their travels. The stories are funny and sad, poignant and tender, familiar and bizarre. They will make you laugh and cry and maybe even send you off on your own adventure. Also included are fabulous international recipes such as vegetarian dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), chiles en nogada (stuffed poblano chiles topped with a white cream sauce with walnuts and a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds), and ho mok (an extraordinary fish-coconut custard from Thailand). Happy reading—and bon appétit, selamat makan, buen provecho!
In this essay collection, Gelman includes her own further adventures, as well as those of writers and readers telling tales of the shared humanity they experienced in their travels. The stories are funny and sad, poignant and tender, familiar and bizarre. They will make you laugh and cry and maybe even send you off on your own adventure. Also included are fabulous international recipes such as vegetarian dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), chiles en nogada (stuffed poblano chiles topped with a white cream sauce with walnuts and a sprinkle of pomegranate seeds), and ho mok (an extraordinary fish-coconut custard from Thailand). Happy reading—and bon appétit, selamat makan, buen provecho!
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
53 people are currently reading
999 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
March 17, 2011
Look, I give up- this was awful. Yes, the profits from this book go to a good cause; yes, travel is exciting; yes, this was still an absolutely horrible book. Some of the stories don't even have anything to do with the themes of travel- how is getting a free ice cream from Trader Joe's anything but a free advertisement for Trader Joe's? How is tutoring a kid in Harlem a story of travel? The stories were occasionally interesting, but more often than not boring or borderline offensive to natives.
I just know I hate stories about different cultures where there's a "lesson" to be learned, and it usually is something like: "And then I realized, we're really not so different," or "These people have so little, yet they are so happy," or "I feel so lucky for my bourgeois or affluent lifestyle that allows me to visit these impoverished countries and feel guilt." It's offensive to me.
I just know I hate stories about different cultures where there's a "lesson" to be learned, and it usually is something like: "And then I realized, we're really not so different," or "These people have so little, yet they are so happy," or "I feel so lucky for my bourgeois or affluent lifestyle that allows me to visit these impoverished countries and feel guilt." It's offensive to me.
August 11, 2013
My friend, Asa, told me that she contributed a story to this novel about her first Thanksgiving experience, Texas-style, as a Swedish Exchange student. It's always very interesting to read someone's first reactions to a country's customs.
The book is full of Vignettes so you can read the book at your own pace. The stories range the full gambit, some made me laugh and some were very sad. There was so sugar coating, just real-life experiences.
The book is full of Vignettes so you can read the book at your own pace. The stories range the full gambit, some made me laugh and some were very sad. There was so sugar coating, just real-life experiences.
July 25, 2016
Not exactly a sequel to “The Female Nomad,” this book is a compilation of ultra-short stories by Rita Gelman and 40 other women with unusual travel stories to tell. Ms. Gelman spends most of her time traveling alone, with no permanent address. She requested that other women travelers send her stories for this volume, using a food theme to unify the stories. Some of the stories are well written, and many are interesting. Some are not that great, but since they’re ultra-short, each one is over in just a few pages.
There are recipes scattered throughout the book with some of the stories. Some of them look rather complicated and others don’t exactly relate to the stories that they accompany. A few recipes, like Vietnamese soft spring rolls, mousse au chocolat truffée, and butternut squash salad from Seychelles, sound good and easy enough to prepare at home.
I debated between 3 and 4 stars for this one, because the writing is somewhat uneven. I decided that I really like the unusual format. It’s easy to read a story or two just about any time regardless of how busy the schedule is. I like the variety in travel locations and women’s voices as well. These adventurous tales about not-so-frequently visited places will appeal to just about any female traveler.
There are recipes scattered throughout the book with some of the stories. Some of them look rather complicated and others don’t exactly relate to the stories that they accompany. A few recipes, like Vietnamese soft spring rolls, mousse au chocolat truffée, and butternut squash salad from Seychelles, sound good and easy enough to prepare at home.
I debated between 3 and 4 stars for this one, because the writing is somewhat uneven. I decided that I really like the unusual format. It’s easy to read a story or two just about any time regardless of how busy the schedule is. I like the variety in travel locations and women’s voices as well. These adventurous tales about not-so-frequently visited places will appeal to just about any female traveler.
March 30, 2022
Good theme, light read. Few stories are heart touching, others not so much. I appreciate the spirit behind collating the stories and getting this book published. However, on the literary ground the book drags a little. Story telling is an art, and for that just having a story does not suffice. Overall I am not disappointed, I was going through a 'reader's block' if that is a thing and this book helped me get back on track as it was an easy commitment to make.
October 6, 2019
2.5 stars. This was such a disappointment and yet I'm still feeling SO guilty for rating it at 2.5. RGG's original Female Nomad book is among my favorite books of all time, so naturally when I saw this I was excited to read it. A huge part of my disappointment comes from the fact that while this book bears Rita's name, it is a compilation of short stories written by people who wrote to her after reading Tales of a Female Nomad (because she gives her contact information at the end of that book). At least 3 of her own contributions to this book were regurgitated stories that either were included in the first book or I read on her website maybe. The other large disappointment was that most of the stories included were barely stories at all. Many lacked plot other than the person writing was in a foreign country at the time. Some of the stories ended so abruptly I wondered if I'd skipped a page or two somewhere (nope...). All in all I am just confused how many of these entries made it into the book and how the whole thing got published. Sorry Rita!
November 11, 2023
I really enjoyed Rita Golden Gelman’s first book. It told of how she sold all her things and traveled around the world basically relying on the kindness of strangers.
Here, Ms. Golden Gelman published the stories of women who had written in response to her book with their own experiences. The theme was to be travel with some recipes thrown in. Each vignettes lasted about three or four pages a piece.
Unfortunately, despite all their differences, a lot of the stories are repetitive. They mostly seemed to be about encounters with good natured locals or surprise love affairs with fascinating men.
You won’t find brilliant literature here. One of the entries was downright awful, but some were quite good.
I can’t speak for the recipes, as I haven’t tried any of them. Some related to the stories, others did not. Many looked impossible to duplicate.
Proceeds go to charity. I recommend you skip the book and make a private donation.
If you still want to read about food and travel, try “Food: True Stories About Life On the Road.” It’s way better
Here, Ms. Golden Gelman published the stories of women who had written in response to her book with their own experiences. The theme was to be travel with some recipes thrown in. Each vignettes lasted about three or four pages a piece.
Unfortunately, despite all their differences, a lot of the stories are repetitive. They mostly seemed to be about encounters with good natured locals or surprise love affairs with fascinating men.
You won’t find brilliant literature here. One of the entries was downright awful, but some were quite good.
I can’t speak for the recipes, as I haven’t tried any of them. Some related to the stories, others did not. Many looked impossible to duplicate.
Proceeds go to charity. I recommend you skip the book and make a private donation.
If you still want to read about food and travel, try “Food: True Stories About Life On the Road.” It’s way better
November 13, 2019
I suppose it's on me for not reading the first Female Nomad book and knowing what I was getting in to.
This is a compilation of short stories - most aren't more than a couple pages long. A lot of them are meandering or have trite morals like 'oh look poor people are happy too' that was exhausting and surprising to see in print. This book felt very dated. I'm honestly not sure what I was supposed to take from some of these stories. Some were genuinely tragic, some were vague, and some felt like part of a conversation where I missed the beginning and ending.
The recipes are a nice touch, but not every story had a recipe and sometimes the recipe had nothing to do with the story, which I found confusing.
This is a compilation of short stories - most aren't more than a couple pages long. A lot of them are meandering or have trite morals like 'oh look poor people are happy too' that was exhausting and surprising to see in print. This book felt very dated. I'm honestly not sure what I was supposed to take from some of these stories. Some were genuinely tragic, some were vague, and some felt like part of a conversation where I missed the beginning and ending.
The recipes are a nice touch, but not every story had a recipe and sometimes the recipe had nothing to do with the story, which I found confusing.
June 18, 2020
This book took me a while to read for a few different reasons, but I still liked it a lot. Reading stories of travel and connection during a pandemic when we are forced to stay home and isolate was hard for my soul. Also having a collection of short short stories paired with recipes made it the perfect book to read a couple stories from before falling asleep at night. I liked reading all the different stories and definitely had a few favorites. I am planning to try some of the recipes and give this book to my friend who is moving back to Spain.
August 10, 2023
I love the idea of 40 women coming together to co-create this book, with their stories of real-life adventures. Stories revolve around culture and cuisine, bringing stories and recipes from around the world into one book. The book-club navigating questions at the end of the book is a wonderful addition to the book.
October 14, 2018
some of the stories are too good to be true that you ask yourself while reading is this really real? are these stories fiction? can they be that real?! it's a book that shows you how great, amazing and incredible traveling can be and can bring to your life!!
May 28, 2021
One of the best female travel books Not only does it tell incredible stories about even more incredible women but there are recipes from around the world. If you want to feel inspired and empowered read this book.
October 10, 2017
Lovely Travel book/journal i love wandering with them - and impressed by their bravery and intent as they went. I have traveled so much when i was younger and love to read this genre of book,so i can go as well.
October 25, 2020
This book is not well done. I understand the stories were written by different people, but almost none of then were well written. They were boring and some didn't even apply to travel.
May 29, 2022
This was a dnf for me. The stories were interesting but nowhere near as compelling as the author's book, Female Nomad.
January 15, 2024
A compilation of stories from women who have traveled the globe, sharing the compassion, comradery, and community they found. Love it!
September 18, 2024
This book was okay. Some of the stories I liked more than others. I didn't try any recipes. Some of the stories made me miss all of my past travels a lot.
September 28, 2025
Not for me, but a nice touch with the recipes though.
July 8, 2024
Fun travel jouney and recipes.
June 25, 2018
Follow up to Tales of the Female Nomad which is my favourite book! Love her stories and recipes. I love the way she travels.
February 10, 2017
At first I appreciated the super-short stories as a break from the (enjoyable but still a) slog of Hamilton. But the writing is very uneven, and the pieces are SO short that you don't get any depth or sense of any given writer's personal journey - just kinda repetitive vignettes that too often circle back to the theme of a Western author's passing encounter with The Other. I would have appreciated hearing more from the other side of that equation. It may have also just been the wrong time for me to read this.
December 26, 2016
In her original Tales of a Female Nomad, Rita Golden Gelman started with a powerful premise: how would it be to travel the world in a spirit of complete trust and openness, connecting deeply with people one meets along the way and allowing experiences to develop freely and randomly along the way? As the logical sequel to this, Female Nomad and Friends is a compilation of stories contributed by a variety of other travelers who read Gelman's original book and applied the same principle to their own experiences around the world. In these individual tales of connection and self-discovery, the writing skills may vary, and the story chain may not be quite as cohesive as in the original Female Nomad's own personal story, but the underlying thread remains: a spirit of trusting adventure that yields opportunities for true connection and a vastness of experience perhaps not found in today's more usual, pre-planned ways of traveling.
July 11, 2011
LOVED this author's first book. I was hoping this was a sequel. It's not. So you don't get an update on what the author has been up to since her first book. This is instead a bunch of short stories that were submitted to her website detailing women who have challenged themselbes to step outside theur comfort zones and made an attempt to connect with the outside world. They are nice stories, they're interesting to read. But they are short. You will not read anything very deep here. Nothing that you will immerse yourself in. Get carried away by..... It's like being a bird and lightly dropping in for a little of this and that.... If your looking for something that'll deeply touch you, well, this didn't do it for me.... but if you want something to just carry around for a bit with some short, interesting stories, this is a good book for you.
August 27, 2011
I loved Female Nomad. I dreamed about chucking it all and traveling around the world to learn different languages, eat local food and live with the natives. When I saw Gelman had written another book, I expected to hear more about her travels and be able to live vicariously. Unfortunately, that's not what I got.
This is a collection of essays paired with recipes. The problem is that Gelman solicited essays from other travelers, which wouldn't have been a bad thing... Except not all of the contributors can write. Some of these essays are so poorly written that even a good editor couldn't have saved them. Some of the recipes look interesting, if a little complicated. I give her good marks for attempting this, but next time I'll check to see if Gelman has written the whole thing before I buy the book.
This is a collection of essays paired with recipes. The problem is that Gelman solicited essays from other travelers, which wouldn't have been a bad thing... Except not all of the contributors can write. Some of these essays are so poorly written that even a good editor couldn't have saved them. Some of the recipes look interesting, if a little complicated. I give her good marks for attempting this, but next time I'll check to see if Gelman has written the whole thing before I buy the book.
February 10, 2017
Quick read, a few truly heartwarming tales. Good recipes. Fun little book to spark some wanderlust
September 26, 2015
2.5 stars, almost gave it 2 stars.
I was disappointed from beginning to end. I was expecting stories from women around the world about their cultures, and instead the book contains stories of American, European, etc. women stumbling around other cultures. Some of the stories were cute, but few had any real substance. And at the end of each story, there was a description of the story's author, their blog, book(s) written, etc. A short description would have been fine, but it felt more like a commercial than a way to learn more about the author. And given how short some of the stories were, the descriptions at the end were sometimes as long as the story. It was like watching TV with a thirty second commercial every 1-3 minutes.
I was disappointed from beginning to end. I was expecting stories from women around the world about their cultures, and instead the book contains stories of American, European, etc. women stumbling around other cultures. Some of the stories were cute, but few had any real substance. And at the end of each story, there was a description of the story's author, their blog, book(s) written, etc. A short description would have been fine, but it felt more like a commercial than a way to learn more about the author. And given how short some of the stories were, the descriptions at the end were sometimes as long as the story. It was like watching TV with a thirty second commercial every 1-3 minutes.
October 6, 2010
I previously read Rita Golden Gelman's "Tales of a Female Nomad". I found that to be an outstanding read. Her new book "Female Nomad and Friends" is a book of short travel stories "Tales of Breaking Free and Breaking Bread Around the World". Many of the short stories were accompanied by a recipe. The book served me well as I read it while on two seven hour flights - to and from Portugal. I could read and sleep between stories. I am holding on to this book....at least until I have tried some of the recipes. I was pleased to read that the profits from this book go to a program to educate poor children in Delhi, India..... definitely a good cause.
March 25, 2011
A series of vignettes combining travel and food - what's not to like? I loved RGG's first book, Tales of A Female Nomad (much more sincere and touching that Eat Pray Love). This second book presents stories from fellow travelers (99.9% westerners and 98% women) from around the world wherein the act of cooking or eating play a central role. Recipes are included, many of which sound great and I will put to the test. Only 3 stars because some of the stories fell flat. A nice counter balance to westerners experiencing the world would be to somehow incorporate stories from people living in the visited cultures / countries.
June 23, 2011
If it weren't for the fact that our book club is going to discuss this tonight, I would never have read past the first couple of stories. As it was, I felt I had to sample throughout the book so as to be able to adequately discuss this book.
When I entered fourth grade, the teacher had the class write individual essays about what they each did the past summer. I was tasked to read several of the stories (smart me, sort of teacher's pet) and found several of them entertaining. In fact, I think we fourth graders wrote better than the authors in this book.
Quite frankly, this is a waste of money. I found it for a penny on-line with $3.99 shipping. Wayyyy too much!
When I entered fourth grade, the teacher had the class write individual essays about what they each did the past summer. I was tasked to read several of the stories (smart me, sort of teacher's pet) and found several of them entertaining. In fact, I think we fourth graders wrote better than the authors in this book.
Quite frankly, this is a waste of money. I found it for a penny on-line with $3.99 shipping. Wayyyy too much!
September 2, 2010
I like the idea of this book, better than the actual stories contained within. I think the fact that it is a book is where it fails. If it were an inspirational blog and I read a new post once a week about somebody, I would have liked it a lot more.
That being said, I'm reminded that there are alternative paths to living. I can travel to new places. I can learn a new language. I can connect with others. It's good reinforcement for those of us who don't want to live in a safe little bubble.
July 21, 2010
This is an incredible book ... and even more surprisingly, it has recipes in this! Great stories and much better than Ms. Gelman's memoir!
If you are a foodie and have a wanderlust for a soul, this book is PERFECT for you. The short stories are well-written and even more importantly, take you places that you may have or have not heard of and one cannot help but feel the wanderlust stirring in one's soul.
If you are a foodie and have a wanderlust for a soul, this book is PERFECT for you. The short stories are well-written and even more importantly, take you places that you may have or have not heard of and one cannot help but feel the wanderlust stirring in one's soul.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews