Queen of the Road — Travel Memoir

I’ve been seeing alot about this memoir throughout the blogging world.  I think I saw it first at Booking Mama (where I find lots of good recommendations for reading).  Then, my friend Stephanie offered to lend me one of the copies she received from the author.  I snapped it right up.

Doreen Orion, a self-proclaimed “Princess of the Island Long,” embarks on a year-long journey with her husband Tim in a converted Provost bus.  Doreen, a psychiatrist who doesn’t like to have to leave her house (except maybe to shop), was not looking forward to spending a year in such small quarters, on the road with her psychiatrist husband. But, she agreed and off they went.  It was a year of change, for everyone.

I really enjoyed this book.  Doreen is funny throughout the book and doesn’t take herself too seriously.  She did change, as did her husband, but still remained, at the core, herself.  Throughout the book, Doreen makes fun of herself, her husband, and the people she meets.  But, she does not do it maliciously.  I found myself laughing with her many times. 

The manner of the book is conversational.  It was more like listening to a story being told than actually reading it.  Sometimes, I did have trouble following some trains of thought, but not for very long.  Doreen included lots of information about the places they visited and even provided some history facts that I was not aware of.  I was never interested in visiting some places until I read her descriptions of some things she saw.  I want to convince my husband to read this because I think he would like the travel points of interest.

Of course, Doreen does provide some original recipes for cocktails that she uses to self-medicate her “bus phobia” throughout the trip.  I think I may have to try a few.  Another plus, is a list of books she and her husband read during their year-long trip that they would recommend.  I’ve read some, but have now added a few to the TBR list. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this book.  It has a lot to offer.  Sometimes, I find memoirs boring, but not this one.  It is told in a fun, easy-to-read manner and it is not depressing at all.  The author recognizes how lucky she was before the trip and also sees the need for some positive changes in her life.

I haven’t checked them out, yet, but I am planning on it.  The author has a couple of websites that offer more information about her trip and what she’s been up to since.  The book website is http://www.thequeenoftheroadthebook.com and the author website (which may include her blog during the trip) is www.doreenorion.com .