Title: Tales of Traveling and Working Abroad
Author: Chris Chesney
Publisher: Westwood Books Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-64361-467-0
Pages: 204
Genre: Non-Fiction
Reviewed by: Christa Hill
Pacific Book Review
Author Chris Chesney delivers wit and charm when writing about the many misadventures that come with traveling. He is not afraid to talk about the ugly parts of riding planes constantly, or the grind of daily work. It is always wonderful to hear a fresh perspective on the travel lifestyle and Chesney does just that. It combines the casual feel of a blog post to the genre of British classic stories.
Tales of Traveling and Working Abroad is an analysis of different cultures; American, French, English, and whatever else he whips out of his well-traveled hat. He examines the time difference between England and France. He paints a picture of the stress of the daily commute all while not giving any perspective about what is right or which is better. He chronicles his life involved in suspicious businesses, unexpected arrests, and peculiar conversations which have landed him in the world of writing.
Even though this title is a work of non-fiction the style and quality of writing reads like a novel, Chesney holds the readers attention from start to finish. He uses dialogue and descriptions as immersive weapons. He also hits the nail on the head is his desire to look beneath the stereotypes about traveling as leading a glamorous life. Some key issues he points out about his work with Americans is their constant desire to work with English speakers while maintaining foreign businesses. It is an interesting point to bring up, one that sparks thought about the importance of international business for Americans and the lack of language enthusiasm in the USA.
While enjoyable, one important factor about this work is that many young people enjoy the adventure of traveling to strange lands with even stranger languages in an affordable seat. However, Chesney personally hates being in a plane and therefore struggles to find enjoyment in these trips. This book packs many events which sound more fictional than real but with a unique sense of the realism which keeps you turning the pages.
Personally, I enjoyed Chris Chesney’s storytelling style and engagement with the places he traveled. At certain moments it was difficult not to laugh out loud reading the beautiful things he dreamed would happen as opposed to the reality of what actually occurred. Anyone who has traveled a lot could find an amusing read in this book. For others who may be embarking on a travel journey, these tales are not for the faint of heart. Chris Chesney’s career movement is a story for the annals of travel experiences, I certainly hope he writes more!
