A simple review of a downright lovely read

I've just returned from a long weekend visiting the fam in Carmel. It was nice to be able to catch up with everyone and spend some time with the people who are most like me in this world. I even got to catch up with a close friend I haven't seen in years. Getting to see someone you have such good chemistry with is like putting on your favorite sweater, you've worn it in enough that it just fits perfectly in all the right places, it's comfortable, maybe a little worn from all the love, and you pick up right where you left off. With the two of us girls that was laughing; I'm sure of it.

While I was home enjoying the gorgeous weather I finished my book, Honeymoon with my Brother by Franz Wisner. A true story about Franz being left at the alter and how he copes with the abrupt ending of the ten year relationship by going on his honeymoon with his brother. The honeymoon carries on into a 2 year trip around the world to 53 countries and follows the two brothers on their adventures while rekindling their previously distant relationship.

While its not a deep read, its a very interesting story following this man through a personal tragedy that I can imagine would be difficult to recover from for anybody. The book leaves one inspired to travel, discover oneself and cautious to settle down without going on a few challenging soul searching trips first. I found myself easily becoming jealous of these 2 men for their sense of adventure and willingness to drop everything they had worked for and just leave. I don't consider myself too attached to material things but I think too much to be able to just go, leaving everything behind and not think about the consequences of it all.

I've spent my life planning all the things I needed to accomplish with my education that I've left little time to be able to explore the world and all the beautiful things in it. I suppose I could look at is as I'm just taking a side journey first before allowing myself the freedom to travel but I know that once I'm out of school the responsibilities will just keep mounting. Someday...

I think that's precisely why I find books like this so intriguing. It's no secret that being able to afford to travel the world (both financially and merely having the time to spare) is a pretty incredible feat; something not many people are able to do in their lifetime. So when one finds a person who has been able to conquer thinking in the now, and has so little to tie them down therefore leaving them with the opportunity to discover the small corners of the world; well, its a story worth telling, and one worth reliving over and over in the pages of this book.

Mr. Wisner wrote a sequel to his story called How the World Makes Love, it's the next in line for me. I'm hoping to find it to be the male equivalent to Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert that I read last month. I'm hoping to find a male perspective in these pages that debate the same issues Ms. Gilbert was with her very female point of view. Sometimes the boys just need a chance to speak for themselves, hopefully he brings up some interesting questions for me. Let's see what he has to say, shall we?

Anyone else read these books? Or similar ones they would like to recommend?