Kregg P. J. Jorgenson, local writer and frequent
contributor to European Weekly, recently
published a travel guide of sorts. Don’t Mind Me,
I’m Just Passing Through is a collection of
wacky stories about traveling in
Europe. Mr. Jorgenson’s witty observations serve as more of a
commentary on being an American tourist in
Europe rather than as a “how-to” travel guide, as he
calls them.
Mr. Jorgenson starts the book with a
disclaimer, stating that his purpose is not to tell
people where to go and where to eat, but, instead,
to condense the overall experience of his travels
into numerous short stories with a sprinkling of
ridiculous poems. The stories themselves, though a
little over-the-top at times, are all-in-all
entertaining, and some even educational.
For Whom the Bull Tolls, for
example, describes the author’s perception of Paris
to that of Ernest Hemingway. The discussion goes off
on a tangent in order for Mr. Jorgenson to describe
how he first came upon Hemingway--while a soldier in
Vietnam. This lighthearted story flows very well.
Mr. Jorgenson's portrayal of Paris is also very
funny and accurate. He says that it is like going
home again: “You can always find someone there who
will yell, sneer and swear at you or question your
taste [...] It’s possible they may criticize what
you’re wearing, what you’re not wearing or give you
their spirited opinions on religion, politics, and
the latest happenings on CSI Las Vegas!” Ah, Paris.
One of the book’s more absurd stories,
Copenhagen’s Erotica Museum, is based on
people’s reactions to the famous landmark. It is
particularly enjoyable to read about old ladies
comparing a decorated phallus to a tea set and
saying, “It’s enough to make me want to knit another
tea cozy...”
All silliness aside, Mr. Jorgenson
succeeds in inserting, here and there, interesting
historical facts, like how Caesar got his name, who
the real Shakespeare may or may not have been, and
words we acquired from the Vikings. (The serious
historical parts are, in fact, a good break from the
copious amounts of puns Mr. Jorgenson seems to be so
enamored with.)
All in all, Don’t Mind Me, I’m Just
Passing Through is a quick and enjoyable read,
although you will probably find yourself rolling
your eyes at some of the characters in the stories.
Mr. Jorgenson delivers a narrative that makes fun of
tourists, guidebooks, and Europeans all at the same
time, and yet when you finish reading it, you really
want to go everywhere he has just described.
The book is
available on-line at Amazon, Barnes & Noble,
Borders, and other dealers .
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