Title: Graduates in Wonderland: The International Misadventures of Two (Almost) Adults
Author: Jessica Pan
First published May 6, 2014
304 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9781592408603 (ISBN10: 1592408605)
Rating: 3.93
Overview
Get ready to embark on a wild ride with two best friends in Graduates in Wonderland: The International Misadventures of Two (Almost) Adults. Jessica Pan and Rachel Kapelke-Dale met in their freshman year at Brown University and became inseparable.
After graduation, they vowed to stay in touch through honest weekly emails. Jess moves to Beijing on a whim, while Rachel heads to New York to work for an art gallery and to figure out her love life.
From there, they travel to France, China, and Australia, tumbling through adulthood and reinventing themselves. Their emails are filled with hilarious and heartwarming anecdotes of teaching classes of military men, running a magazine, and flirting in foreign languages.
But they also share the hard stuff, from harrowing accidents to breakups and breakdowns. This intimate and no-holds-barred memoir is reminiscent of the essays of Sloan Crosley and the works of Lena Dunham.
Jennifer Weiner names Graduates in Wonderland one of her top ten beach reads, and you won’t want to miss out on this unforgettable journey.
About the Author
I am a London-based individual with a mixed Chinese-American background and a degree from Brown University. In my free time, I enjoy indulging in coconut smoothies, traveling, and spending time with dogs.
Recently, my second book, SORRY I’M LATE, I DIDN’T WANT TO COME, was published in May 2019. It has since sold over 100,000 copies.
The book chronicles my experiences over the course of a year, during which I stepped out of my comfort zone by conversing with strangers, performing stand-up comedy, traveling solo, attempting improv, going on friend dates, and engaging in other extroverted activities. Throughout the book, I seek guidance from various brilliant individuals to navigate these new experiences.
For those interested in purchasing the book, it is available in both the USA and the UK.
Additionally, I co-authored a memoir titled GRADUATES IN WONDERLAND, which recounts our experiences living in Beijing, Paris, Melbourne, and New York. The book is available now.
Editoral Review
Graduates in Wonderland: The International Misadventures of Two (Almost) Adults, written by Jessica Pan and published on May 6, 2014, is a memoir that takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and adventure. The book follows the lives of two best friends, Rachel and Jessica, who have just graduated from college and are unsure about their future.
In this memoir, Pan explores the universal theme of finding oneself in a foreign place. She narrates the story of her and her best friend Rachel as they embark on an international adventure, traveling to China and Europe in search of their purpose in life.
With a writing style that is humorous and relatable, Pan takes readers on a journey filled with cultural differences, misadventures, and self-discovery.
The book is well-structured and narrated in a conversational tone, making it easy for readers to connect with the characters. The author’s attention to detail is remarkable, and it is evident that she has done her research on the different cultures and countries where the story takes place.
The characters are well-developed, and readers can see them grow and mature with each new experience.
One of the strengths of the book is the author’s ability to balance humor and seriousness. She tackles serious issues such as cultural differences, identity, and mental health, while still maintaining a light-hearted tone.
The book also offers a unique perspective on living abroad, which is especially relevant in today’s globalized world.
However, one of the weaknesses of the book is that it may not appeal to all readers. Some may find the memoir too focused on the experiences of the two friends and not enough on broader social or cultural issues.
Additionally, the pacing of the book can be slow at times, which may deter some readers.
Overall, Graduates in Wonderland is an entertaining and insightful memoir that offers a unique perspective on living abroad. It is well-written, humorous, and thought-provoking.
The book will appeal to readers who enjoy memoirs and are interested in issues of identity, culture, and self-discovery.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in exploring different cultures or who is going through a period of self-discovery. It is a book that will leave readers feeling inspired and motivated to embark on their own adventure.
I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.
