Once Around the Fountain

by Alan Behr

Release Date: November, 2001

Edition: Hardcover

Price:

More Info

Travelers tale with Spice

Travelers tales are amongst my favourite reading, so I was delighted to find Alan Behr's dry humored account of his travels in the "chocolate belt" in Europe. As a recent bachelor, and still very cautious of involvement, Behr revisits his old travel haunts, casually giving us the pleasure of some wonderfully crafted writing and the benefit of his extensive research of local history.

Despite his family having to flee war torn Europe in the late 30's, Behr feels strongly connected to his German roots and writes affectionately and knowledgeably about the country. I found this particularly interesting as I was born in Germany, but had previously only heard disparaging stories about the country as my family suffered under the Nazi reign. Feeling Behr's connection, added another dimension and opened some doors on my rather narrow view.

Some of Behr's sexual dalliances made me wonder in which direction the story was heading, but the tale gains great warmth and depth when Alan meets Julie, the real love interest.Together they go traveling back to Europe and into exploring their emotions. It all makes for compulsive reading!

Perfect bonding

We are a couple of post peak yuppies who work too much and spend the best moments of our lives travelling.

Alan Behr's very insighful observations are well wrought , highly entertaining and even profound. The book also provides legitimate historical information thaat goes far beyond most tourist guides. But for us, the best aspect of his book is his depiction of the conquest of love and discovery of self through travel in the European settings that we both know so well.

The only minor note is that the book could use an index, to navigate more easily from city to city.

For anyone who loves Europe, travelling, or just loving his/her partner and trying to figure out the meaning of our voyage in life, this book is a delightful companion.