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A review by vanessa_issa
Hotel by Joanna Walsh
2.0
Thanks to Bloomsbury Academic for providing an ARC.
Well, I honestly expected something different from this book. I like all the movie references and quotes, but I can't relate to the author's experience.
In several moments, we can see how tired she is. She can't find anything fun about hotels anymore. Maybe I'm too young to understand, but as a Hospitality Professional, it breaks my heart to read things like: "My hotels do not resemble the home I long for, as I do not long for home. They do not resemble anything that can be longed for. They may resemble a longing for home, but they do not satisfy it."
Anything? Really?
That sentence destroys the whole point of my work.
We miss our things. We miss our families. That can never be replaced. Places need love to "become a home". It's normal and totally human to miss the dear ones we left behind. Okay. But you can't blame places for not filling voids caused by people.
To those who feel that way, maybe traveling isn't the key to your happiness. You need to work on your feelings first. You won't feel well anywhere in this world until you feel good with yourself. When that moment finally comes, be thankful that hotels exist to provide you good places to stay, and staff members work like crazy, doing major efforts to give you a pleasant experience.
Maybe you feel like the ghosts, but that's not how we see you.
Well, I honestly expected something different from this book. I like all the movie references and quotes, but I can't relate to the author's experience.
In several moments, we can see how tired she is. She can't find anything fun about hotels anymore. Maybe I'm too young to understand, but as a Hospitality Professional, it breaks my heart to read things like: "My hotels do not resemble the home I long for, as I do not long for home. They do not resemble anything that can be longed for. They may resemble a longing for home, but they do not satisfy it."
Anything? Really?
That sentence destroys the whole point of my work.
We miss our things. We miss our families. That can never be replaced. Places need love to "become a home". It's normal and totally human to miss the dear ones we left behind. Okay. But you can't blame places for not filling voids caused by people.
To those who feel that way, maybe traveling isn't the key to your happiness. You need to work on your feelings first. You won't feel well anywhere in this world until you feel good with yourself. When that moment finally comes, be thankful that hotels exist to provide you good places to stay, and staff members work like crazy, doing major efforts to give you a pleasant experience.
Maybe you feel like the ghosts, but that's not how we see you.