All Over the Map

August 23, 2010
Readers familiar with Fraser's work in Gourmet, O the Oprah Magazine, More, and other publications may recognize the author's efforts at self-improvement, attempts at finding love, or meals she's had in places like Lima, Peru: "We try ceviche of wild sea bass with lime and red onions… we have spicy chifa food in a downtown Chinese restaurant... we stuff ourselves with stuffed peppers…" In following up An Italian Affair, Fraser takes a closer look at her own wanderlust and examines the positive and negative effects it has had on her life, particularly over the past 10 years. For example, the author finds a glorious waterfall in Samoa. "The water is so clear light blue it's possible to see all the way to the bottom, and the bottom is a long way down. I dive in for a swim… this is why I love to travel." But she questions the notion of having it all, or having it all at once, and worries that her desire to explore and her professional success have come at the expense of stability and family. She challenges the ideals of happiness and home she had previously held, adding a layer of depth to a memoir that will excite travelers of the world and the armchair alike.