MEDIA REVIEWS

 

August 9, 2008 - The Ottawa Citizen's  by Katie Daubs 

October 9, 2008 - Ottawa Xpress  by Cormac Rea

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 19, 2009 - METRO NEWS - Article by Tracey Tong

 

Reviews from Chapters Website

Funny and different

I have just now finished reading Through Travel and Error and this has to be one of those books that you are not sure how to review or even classify. When I first ordered this book, I thought it would be a fairly straightforward travel memoir. Through Travel and Error is a travel memoir, but its not exactly your standard run of the mill type.

First off, its pretty explicit - which came as a bit of a pleasant surprise to me. Secondly, its really funny - the author has a great sense of humour and its obvious that he does not take himself, travelling or life in general all that seriously. This actually makes this a perfect type of book to read in this difficult economy where it seems as though everything is soooooo serious.

Thirdly, I kept asking myself 'is this guy really this means of a spaz???". I mean some of the stuff he does and some of the stunts he gets into are pretty silly, which, of course, just makes this book even funnier. Matt seems to spend most of his travelling days either drinking, drunk or hungover and you would think he would somehow learn his lesson, but he doesn't - he just keeps going on his merry way.

The writing is direct, down to earth and like I said, raunchy at times (the barfing stories where quite disgusting).....

I actually really, really liked this book and it is a very quick read. I had it read in a few hours (it helps that I was on a train and was not distracted or disturbed!). This was a fun, perfect read.

 

Great read

A great read with a refreshing perspective on travel and its ability to rejuvenate one's sense of self. Matt retells his travel experiences in funny and often self-deprecating ways that convey a real sense of adventure and learning. Through Travel and Error, Matt talks about the beauty of experiencing foreign cultures and seeing the world from a less "westernized perspective". The resulting journey helps Matt to learn about himself and his place in the world. Something we could all benefit from doing.

 

Awe Inspiring!!

In 'Through Travel and Error - Confessions of an Asylum-Seeking Canadian' Matt relates how he has managed to accomplish something that many of us wish we could do, but have never had the courage to do. His tale is hilarious, philosophical, educational and inspiring. Through his detailed, yet extremely funny narration of the first two years of his travels abroad, the reader is able to live vicariously through Matt and come as close as possible to understanding the appreciation he experienced for the various locations he visited.

Another aspect that many readers will be able to relate to are the portions related to 'being stuck in the velvet rut'. I often think that there must be more to existence than getting up, going to work, going home, sleeping, getting up, going to work, going home, etc., and potentially having to listen to some jerk(or worse, some jerks) tell you what to do all day while you're at work. Matt successfully conveys his extreme dissatisfaction with this type of existence which prompted him to take off and find something more. Because the reader can relate to this frustration, he is rooting for Matt the whole way in the hope that he can find answers to some of his own questions. The rage that Matt felt in the 'rut' is picked up by the reader and fuels him to keep turning pages towards the moment that he will suddenly be able to say, 'See, I told you this life is screwed!' You'll have to read the book to see whether you are able to get there.

If you enjoy reading books that you think about constantly and can't wait to get back to, then 'Through Travel and Error' is for you. If you want to get into the mind of a pretty amazing and hilarious individual, then have a read. Some of you might just end up saying, 'Screw it' and bust loose from the rut yourselves. Peace and love.

Jamie Pete

 

Bridgette Johns 

I was completely engrossed by Through Travel and Error. I am an over-avid reader and would consider myself an aspiring literary critic in my own little world. I LOVED the book. Matt Hamilton really has a talent like no other...

 Anyway, I wanted to thank him for his insights, as he managed to express concepts that I have always felt, but have never been able to put into words. Month by month, I feel like I am slipping into that life of existence, where my spirit is suffocating in the pollution of ignorance and egos. It is so easy to lose yourself when you have no one to share or understand the essence of true living. Just reading his book reawakened my internal truths about how life should be and the reason that I started travelling seven years ago…

I believe that one writes to inspire, educate or entertain. Well, I just wanted to let you know that Through Travel and Error does all three.

 

Korey McKinnon

Hello,

I just finished your book and I fell the need to say thanks.  Overall, I found the book very entertaining.  I enjoyed the humour and honesty with which your told your story.  From the various missions you undertook to score bud, to the frequent realisations you made while breaking away from the confinements of western civilization.  However, I found you book to be more inspirational than anything else.  From the moment I picked up the book, it was somewhat unnerving because it hit really close to home.  What I mean by that is, I am currently in a similar situation which you were in, more or less, at the beginning of your story.  As somebody who feels disfranchised with their university experience and even more disheartened with life in a cubicle prison, it was nice to hear from someone who can not only relate but who, more importantly, managed to emancipate himself. 

I've recently decided to quit my mundane government job come fall and take off to the South Pacific.  Its something I've been meaning to do for a while but I have been, up until now, quite successful at finding reasons to avoid taking off.  I hope you don't find this message too weird, this is not something I would normally do but as I said before the book hit pretty close to home and severed as a bit of a catalyst for my upcoming adventure. 

Once again,

Thanks

 

Laurie Micocci

 Hi Matt, I just wanted to let you know I finished your book and I loved it. It was so nice to read something so refreshing, honest, witty, sensitive and entertaining. I hope another one is coming out. :)
You kept me company during some really quiet nights at our restaurant, on one flight to LA and last Sunday night when I could not sleep.

 

Tara Cartland Cousineau 

I wanted to let you know that I literally couldn't put your book down! I read it in a couple of days which is unheard for me lately. And I'm not just saying that to be nice - I actually missed sleep reading it. You've had so many exciting encounters and adventures, it all made for a fun and exciting read. You even had me Googling South Africa....I suddenly felt the urge to visit, and I don't have the travel bug! Anyways, I am eagerly awaiting book #2 - so you better get traveling again.

 

Jane Bradbury

I had the pleasure of reading this book when visiting Canada this summer. It was a fantastic read...I couldn't put it down. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find it in book stores here in Florida, I was going to buy several and give them as Christmas gifts. It was extremely well written, funny and certain parts made me cry. This young man has figured out, at an early age, what life is about or should be about. I really enjoyed his adventures, both good and bad, but he obviously survived to tell the tale. I can hardly wait for his second book which picks up after he leaves Ottawa and returns to the "dark continent" and places beyond. I am sure that if his parents knew what was happening they would have tracked him down and brought him home to Ottawa but fortunately for the readers that didn't happen.
Well done Mr. Hamilton!

 

Hannah Dixie

Hey Matt,   You don't know me, but I just wanted to say that I read your book recently and absolutely loved it! I stayed in Chintsa for a month during November and December (Volunteering with VA32) and I really enjoyed seeing your take on it. I kind of felt like I was back there, and I could really relate to how you felt about the place, I feel exactly the same, it's just paradise!

So thanks firstly for a brilliant read, but also for helping me out in a strange way! I'm looking for work at the moment and it's pretty stressful when money is running out, but whenever I feel like it's getting to me I just think about when you said you were sitting on the beach in Spain watching the sunset (or rise, maybe?), and you realised what you were doing, and that you weren't in Canada.......well that makes me realise I shouldn't take my situation for granted, how lucky I am to be doing what I'm doing, even if it's tough sometimes, and makes me optimistic that something will turn up! So I wanted to say thanks for that!

I'll keep an eye on your site, I hope everything is going well for the next book, I look forward to reading it! Good luck with everything in the future.

 

I've truly been overwhelmed with the amazing letters that I have received from those of you who have read my book.  I'm always blown-away when complete strangers take the time to write me and share their thoughts about my book.  Incredibly, the large majority have been extremely positive (touch wood).   They serve as excellent motivation for me to keep writing about my ridiculous experiences.  Words can't begin to describe how much they mean to me.

Even the media has had some pretty good things to say about Through Travel and Error. 

Here is a glance at the feedback from both the media and the public.