Reading this book felt like flipping through a time capsule of 2020-2021. The essays aren't your typical wanderlust-filled travelogues - they're raw, pandemic-colored reflections that made me laugh, cringe, and sometimes clutch my blanket in suspense.

That cruise ship quarantine story? I read it with my morning coffee and nearly spilled it during the tense moments. The piece about Black travelers in America's tourist spots left me staring at my bookshelf for a good ten minutes afterward - it's that kind of thought-provoking.

What surprised me most was how much I enjoyed the 'non-travel' travel essays. The one about discovering New York during lockdown made me see my own neighborhood differently. Though fair warning - if you're looking for pure escapism, some essays might feel like reopening pandemic wounds.

The France bread essay and deep ocean diving adventure were perfect palate cleansers between heavier pieces. I found myself reading those aloud to my roommate over breakfast.

This isn't a book to breeze through at the beach. It demands your attention, makes you uncomfortable sometimes, but rewards you with writing so vivid I could smell the Harar street food and hear the Senegalese music between sentences.