Official Review: Out of the Rat Race into the Fire
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Official Review: Out of the Rat Race into the Fire
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Out of the Rat Race into the Fire" by Paul Delahunt-Rimmer.]
Out of the Rat Race Into the Fire is about a British couple, Paul and Henri Delahunt Rimmer, who decide to leave their affluent life in Britain to guide walks on their favorite Greek island. This nonfiction book provides vivid descriptions of both the stunning beauty of the island and the people who inhabit it. While many of us have dreamed of living on a remote and gorgeous island, this book illustrates some of the challenges that come along with the process of actually following through with that dream.
Out of the Rat Race is written with a great deal of humor, and indeed you would need a sense of humor, patience, and determination in many of the situations described. Just finding their new home on the island was an adventure. After three days of travel across Europe that included trains and ferries, they searched for their new home in complete darkness with the following instructions.
With instructions like that, what could go wrong? And that was only the beginning. They navigate cultural differences with police, mechanics, ferries, and of course the tourists who take their tours.
This book had a lot of very interesting anecdotes that gave a feeling for the type of people who live on Amorgos, friendly people known for their hospitality and happy to celebrate just about anything with raki, ouzo, or beer. I believe the book is about the island and the people who lived there as much as it is about Paul and Henri.
I am giving this book three stars because I enjoyed learning about a different culture and a different way of life. It was fascinating that people are still living in a place where they rely on donkeys and have to take an unreliable ferry to another island to see a doctor or get your computer fixed.
I think it would have been interesting to hear more about Paul and Henri’s progression of settling in on the island, and again when they bought their house which did not have electricity or piped water. I would also have liked the story to have more of a timeline. As it was, I sometimes got lost in the stories about island life. They didn’t always fit together to make the book into a cohesive story. That being said, many of the stories told were amusing or gave a special insight to life on the island.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Greek islands, especially if they’ve ever thought about going on a walking vacation there. I rate it 3 out of 4 stars.
***
Buy "Out of the Rat Race into the Fire" on Amazon
Out of the Rat Race Into the Fire is about a British couple, Paul and Henri Delahunt Rimmer, who decide to leave their affluent life in Britain to guide walks on their favorite Greek island. This nonfiction book provides vivid descriptions of both the stunning beauty of the island and the people who inhabit it. While many of us have dreamed of living on a remote and gorgeous island, this book illustrates some of the challenges that come along with the process of actually following through with that dream.
Out of the Rat Race is written with a great deal of humor, and indeed you would need a sense of humor, patience, and determination in many of the situations described. Just finding their new home on the island was an adventure. After three days of travel across Europe that included trains and ferries, they searched for their new home in complete darkness with the following instructions.
We then knew to take down a fence over a gap in the wall and drive across two fields. Climb over a wall, negotiate a dried riverbed and, hey presto, there would be the gate to our patio.
With instructions like that, what could go wrong? And that was only the beginning. They navigate cultural differences with police, mechanics, ferries, and of course the tourists who take their tours.
This book had a lot of very interesting anecdotes that gave a feeling for the type of people who live on Amorgos, friendly people known for their hospitality and happy to celebrate just about anything with raki, ouzo, or beer. I believe the book is about the island and the people who lived there as much as it is about Paul and Henri.
I am giving this book three stars because I enjoyed learning about a different culture and a different way of life. It was fascinating that people are still living in a place where they rely on donkeys and have to take an unreliable ferry to another island to see a doctor or get your computer fixed.
I think it would have been interesting to hear more about Paul and Henri’s progression of settling in on the island, and again when they bought their house which did not have electricity or piped water. I would also have liked the story to have more of a timeline. As it was, I sometimes got lost in the stories about island life. They didn’t always fit together to make the book into a cohesive story. That being said, many of the stories told were amusing or gave a special insight to life on the island.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Greek islands, especially if they’ve ever thought about going on a walking vacation there. I rate it 3 out of 4 stars.
***
Buy "Out of the Rat Race into the Fire" on Amazon
Latest Review: "Stronghold, by Backwoods" by Backwoods
