Review

Rating:

I picked a (er, one of the many counterfeited) copies of this book during a 3-week vacation in Vietnam. I was still reading the book months after I left, despite being an avid reader and known for staying up all night to read books in one sitting.

The problem is the book is fairly dull, and very much contrived. Mrs. Coffey mentions in a number of places in the book that the entire reason for going to Vietnam and taking the “path less traveled” is to write a book about it. One can’t help but roll his eyes, then, when the same story line is repeated over and over:

1. The author and her husband try to travel via non-tourist boat to some destination.
2. The locals and guides they approach are reluctant to, citing police concerns, despite the author and her husband waving lots of cash at them like ugly Americans.
3. Mrs. Coffey and her husband insist, and off they go.
4. They often have to hide, because (as they were warned) the police come. (roll eyes)
5. They get sick, or lost, or face lots of discomfort, because after all, they are hiding on some small boat where they should not be. (roll eyes)

Then Mrs. Coffey complains a lot, completely relies on her husband to do all the asking for directions/getting on a boat etc., even though the whole trip was her idea.

Despite Mrs. Coffey being a professional writer, her writing became tiresore and, frankly, a chore to read. This is coming from someone who was particularly interested in how she perceived various locales in Vietnam, especially the ones I had just visited. A disappointing read. The only good thing is that I had not wasted $ on a “legit” copy of the book!