Travellady MagazineTM

Women In The Wild

Travelers’ Tales Guide

True Stories of Adventure and Connection

Edited by Lucy McCauley

Reviewed by Dave Shultz

I have to admit, at the risk of receiving letters, the title Women In The Wild is what first caught my attention.  Frankly, I’m glad it did.  I might have been inclined to overlook this book if I hadn’t been intrigued by it’s title.  That would have been a shame.

This collection of 33 stories compiled by Lucy McCauley ranges from humor to tragedy with liberal doses of self-discovery thrown in.  These are stories written by women about much more than just an adventure in nature.  They share with us their adventures of heart and soul.

They travel the world in search of tangible adventures only to discover the treasures they sought were within them all along.  They share this eloquently with the reader.  We learn from their experience and are allowed to share the humor and pathos of the search.

Interspersed liberally throughout the book are blocked excerpts quoted because they contribute something to the story.  They are placed carefully and thoughtfully in a story like literary jewels left for us to uncover during our journey. 

The collection is separated into five sections:

  • Essence of the Wild
  • Some Things to Do
  • Going Your Own Way
  • In the Shadows
  • The Last Word

The destinations are as exotic as the authors themselves, Africa, Iceland, Ecuador, Israel, Borneo, Guatemala, Vietnam, Congo, Kenya and a host of others.  You will be drawn into these excursions of adventure only to discover the true destination lies in the heart of the author.  Their discoveries could have been made in their own back yards but it took a life-changing trek to the far reaches of this planet for them to face their fears, hopes and ambitions.  You are allowed the privilege of going along for the ride and you won’t soon forget the journey.

So, climb Everest with Margo Chisolm, dive the jungle rivers of the Yucatan with Denise M. Spranger, hang glide Big Sur with Carol Droge Clark, raft the Boh in Borneo with Tracy Johnston, and survive a shipwreck at sea with Deborah Scaling Kiley and Meg Noonan.  But mostly, travel the wilderness that resides in the hearts of the authors of Women In The Wild.

You can purchase this book online at Amazon.com.

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