All Over the Place Book Summary

In 'All Over the Place', Geraldine DeRuiter takes readers on a whimsical journey through her life as she navigates travel, self-discovery, and the unexpected twists of fate. With humor and honesty, she shares poignant tales from her adventures, reminding us that life rarely goes according to plan. Each chapter reveals a new locale that not only sparks laughter but also introspection about belonging and identity. From epic misadventures to profound moments of clarity, DeRuiter's narrative invites us to embrace the chaos of our own journeys. Join her in exploring how every detour can lead to remarkable destinations.

By Geraldine DeRuiter

Published: 2017

""Life is an adventure, and sometimes the detours lead us to the most extraordinary experiences we never expected to find.""

Book Review of All Over the Place

Some people are meant to travel the globe, to unwrap its secrets and share them with the world. And some people have no sense of direction, are terrified of pigeons, and get motion sickness from tying their shoes. These people are meant to stay home and eat nachos. Geraldine DeRuiter is the latter. But she won't let that stop her. Hilarious, irreverent, and heartfelt, All Over the Place chronicles the years Geraldine spent traveling the world after getting laid off from a job she loved. Those years taught her a great number of things, though the ability to read a map was not one of them. She has only a vague idea of where Russia is, but she now understands her Russian father better than ever before. She learned that what she thought was her mother's functional insanity was actually an equally incurable condition called "being Italian." She learned what it's like to travel the world with someone you already know and love--how that person can help you make sense of things and make far-off places feel like home. She learned about unemployment and brain tumors, lost luggage and lost opportunities, and just getting lost in countless terminals and cabs and hotel lobbies across the globe. And she learned that sometimes you can find yourself exactly where you need to be--even if you aren't quite sure where you are.

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"Life is an adventure, and sometimes the detours lead us to the most extraordinary experiences we never expected to find."

All Over the Place

By Geraldine DeRuiter