Official Review: QUONDAM: travels in a once World

LinaMueller · Post by **LinaMueller** » 08 Jan 2021, 12:42

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "QUONDAM: travels in a once World" by John Devoy.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Who has never dreamed of leaving everything and traveling the world? For many, however, this is just a distant dream that will never come true in real life. Many idealize travels in remote and wild places, but the truth is that few people stop by for years to get to know the world. John Devoy is not one of those individuals. In 1985, he decided to leave Cork University Hospital and go on a great cycling adventure. He first explored Arctic Circle in Norway and then went to Africa. Quondam: Travels in a Once World tells his travel story mainly in African countries.

This book is different from a standard travel book because it incorporates some exciting elements. In various parts of the book, the reader realizes how much John suffered to make his journey. We must keep in mind that this trip took place in the '80s: it was done alone in a time before the internet. In many situations, it is possible to imagine the author's despair at facing illnesses and being seen as a stranger on a distant continent.

What is unique about this book is that the author doesn't idealize adventures on the African continent. He tells how he was in trouble in several situations, suffering from illness, hunger, thirst, and difficult communication with others. Furthermore, the author makes interesting comments about the political and social reality of the African continent. The account of the perceptions of ordinary men in Africa has incredible historical value. That's what I especially liked.

There are not many negative aspects to comment on. I didn't particularly like the excessive number of profane words in the book. There are repeated cases where the terms "f**k," "bastard," and "sh*t" appear. I lost count of the book's total swear words, but I estimate that there are more than 30. Many readers are not bothered by this, but I found it excessive. The book is professionally edited, and I found only three errors in a book of almost 300 pages.

I rate Quondam: Travels in a Once World four out of four stars for all of its excellent information and quality. The book is informative, adventurous, easy-to-read, and fascinating. There is no compelling reason that would compel me to deduct a star. I recommend this book to anyone who likes adventure and wants to know more about Africa's politics in the 1980s.

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QUONDAM: travels in a once World
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Olgamiell · Post by **Olgamiell** » 15 Jan 2021, 07:23

It appears to be an intriguing and informative book. What I found to be especially impressive is the fact that the author decided to travel back in the 80s, when the possibilities were much more limited. I'd like to find out more about his travel. Thanks for the great review!

cbear5 · Post by **cbear5** » 16 Jan 2021, 22:08

This sounds like a very interesting book. Thank you for the warning about the profanity. I agree with you that sometimes authors make it a bit too excessive. Great review!

Hazel Arnaiz · Post by **Hazel Arnaiz** » 19 Jan 2021, 06:52

Wow! Traveling in the '80s could be challenging. I have grown dependent on the apps that we have right now to find my way. I could learn some wayfinding tips without using the internet. Thanks for the recommendation.