I spent much of the past week lounging by the water at a cottage up north; a pretty Canadian thing to do over an extended long weekend. In preparation for the vacation, I was looking for an adventure book; something about traveling and getting off the beaten path. I found exactly that in Escape from the Ordinary; it’s a gem of a book that I wanted to share with you.

Synopsis

Glen and Julie are two Americans who make the decision to retire early and sail the world in their brand new sailboat. The book starts off by providing a bit of background on the events leading up to the couple’s departure, then immediately dives into the action.

Told from Julie’s perspective, the book focuses on the events and adventures the couple experiences throughout their travels; it’s not a how-to guide for sailing by any means. It tells the story of how the couple survived experiences such as a Force 10 storm at the start of their journey, voodoo hexes in the Bahamas, swimming an underwater cavern in the South Pacific and way, way more.

Reaction

I was relieved at how the book chose to focus on the storytelling aspect of the couple’s sailing journey, not so much the sailing itself. I was looking for adventure, after all, not a book on how to sail. It’s clear from the stories, though, that the couple learned a great deal about sailing from trial-and-error during their journey.

One of the things I loved about this book was how the couple deliberately inserted themselves into the local culture and everyday wherever they want. They drew a distinction between “tourists” and “travelers,” with the line in the sand being whether you choose to wander the beaten path or get off it and forge your own. It’s a distinction I plan to carry with me on my own travels.

Each story was described in vivid detail, such that I could picture myself there with Julie and Glen while I was reading. This had the effect of making time seem to fly by while I was reading the book; I was that drawn in by it.

Escape from the Ordinary isn’t just a book about adventure; it also causes you to reevaluate your own life. I found myself asking questions like “Could I handle an adventure like that?” and “What’s holding me back from getting off the beaten path myself?” In other words, reading this book will probably make you reflect on whether you’re truly living life the way you want to.

Rating

Overall, Escape from the Ordinary delivered exactly what I was looking for in such a book: it swept me away into a completely different world and gave me a glimpse into a very different way of living. The book was well-written throughout, and there were no points in the book that I felt to be weak or soft. The ending hints at a sequel, and it’s one I’ll be glad to pick up.

Overall, I’d give this book a 4.5 out of 5; there’s a reason it’s got a perfect 5-start rating from over 100 reviews on Amazon. I docked a half star because it’s got a bit of a cliff-hanger ending, and I hate cliff-hanger endings. It’s by no means a deal-breaker though, and if you’re looking for an adventure book, there’s probably no better choice than Escape from the Ordinary to help you do exactly as the title suggests. To grab the book on Amazon Canada, click here.