M. T. Kingsley

Disclosure: I got a free review copy from an Author Giveaway in LibraryThing's Hobnob with Authors group.

A summer in Europe sounds great to M, but the rest of her family isn't so sure. M, the long-suffering mother and tourist, shuttles her brood and own mother from place to place, often at great protest. She somehow hopes to exercise and change herself in the process. Teenage J pretends to be uninterested in anything but food, sleep, her iPod, and her friends back home. Younger A is adorably enthusiastic; it's amazing what difference three years can make. Their triple perspective alternates between repetitious and insightful (different attitudes towards the same events or different details entirely).

It's fairly low-key for a travelogue; they meander throughout Europe, visit touristy places, eat tasty-sounding food, shop, watch tv, go to the beach... I can only imagine her kids' reaction if they had gone on a whirlwind European bus tour to major tourist sites and museums.

I like the little funny bits scattered here and there: "squelched the whining"; "I mean, they didn't even have electronics!", "about 400 less steps". In short, a good book about families and Europe, but not a strong sense of place.… (más)