Status Updates From Travel To the G-Spot -- The...

Unusual novel called a (fictional) memoir. The voice is a journalist/travel writer on the intertwining subjects of his travel-writing assignments & of his family/friends. From the condensed, real-author bio, Cohen has by now moved into his hoped-for life in Cali with film writing. The chapters are a compilation of Cohen's former travel reviews (if you go...) followed by personal pieces of what 'actually' happened.

Book gets better after introductory material in which the author portrays his hedonistic youth. Meanwhile, he's moving closer to a career as a travel writer, something like book reviewer, which comes with the free product in airfare, hotel, meals with the sponsoring agency's hopes that the traveler will write and get published the experience. Cohen, who knows the exotic sells, writes well about the strangest places.

‘Patients were told, “we don’t have any chloroform available, but here, bite this bullet while we cut your leg off.” An oral surgeon has found traces of tooth enamel, embedded from biting down hard, on some of Harden’s bullets.’

“I doubt any of the Marleys feel sad or second-rate. Their voices are identical to Bob’s. They’re all international music stars in their own right, hugely successful all over the world and multimillionaires to boot, but it doesn’t quite cut it with me. I’m da judge. It’s not good enough. And these are my friends, I can do better, I think, which makes me fear that deep, deep down inside I’m truly an asshole [...]”

“For all her self-indulgent, selfish bullshit, for all her divorces, botox, boob lifts and butt bleach, Extravaganza is devoted to whatever family she’s in at the moment, and this includes all of us.”

I'm touched by the grudging respect we all owe those family members that hold a far-flung family together in spite of monumental differences that have done nothing but increase over time.

“I’ll need to re-use the same filthy gear and clothes from the rainforest, all of it infested with lemon ants and jaguar poop.”

“Just FYI, the full airfare or rack hotel rate you pay subsidizes my free flight in the next seat and my free room next door, you know, the one with the rutting wildebeests keeping you up all night with the squeaking bed and headboard smacking the wall.”

I hate this man.

The travel writer and his family go to Finland (Lapland actually) at Christmas time. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, but you'd best keep your distance; he drinks. Well, at least there's a nearby McDonald's.

A holiday on a ranch is a trial for someone, who, as a kid, couldn't even handle going to summer camp. Many Buddha'd Bangkok offers exotic delights.

A trip to exotic Galapagos is followed by another to the Blue Mountains in Jamaica, where we learn about coffee, drugs, and the sweet, sweet taste of revenge.

In the first chapter, the narrator gives us his story. An average Jewish kid tries sex, drugs and rock and rock but can't get no satisfaction.