~Tricia & Crystal
About the Book:
Finding Myself in Borneo is an honest and buoyant chronicle of a young Canadian man's adventures during 1968-70, while teaching secondary school as a CUSO volunteer in Sabah, Malaysia (North Borneo). Travel with Neill McKee on his unique journey through vibrant Asian cultures as he learns the craft of teaching, the Malay language and local customs, and gains many friends in his small community. He climbs the highest peak in Southeast Asia—Mount Kinabalu, has a love affair, and navigates Borneo's backwaters to make his first of many documentary films. McKee travels by freighter to Indonesia, where he discovers the scars of that country's recent genocide, a contrast to his hilarious motorcycle journeys in Sabah with his American Peace Corps buddy. They make a hallucinogenic discovery—North Borneo is, indeed, J. R. R. Tolkien's famed Middle-Earth of The Lord of the Rings! The enterprising duo establish the North Borneo Frodo Society, an organization Tolkien joins.
McKee's second Sabah sojourn and other return trips offer the reader the opportunity to match the early anecdotes to what in fact happened to the land and people who touched his life, and he theirs.
Paperback: 260 pages
Publisher: Nbfs Creations LLC (January 8, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1732945705
ISBN-13: 978-1732945708
Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah is now available to purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.
About the Author:
Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah is Neill's first Memoir.
Find Neill Online:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1839945.Neill_McKee
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MckeeNeill
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neill-mckee-b9971b65/
Website: https://www.neillmckeeauthor.com/
Review by Tricia Schott-Baldwin
I wasn't sure if this book was completely for me. Due to health concerns, I haven't been able to travel as much as I would like and had some hesitation about how I might feel reading and reviewing a travel memoir. I thoroughly enjoyed Finding Myself in Borneo and can say whether readers ravel or don't travel, they'll find something to love about this memoir!
As much as I certainly enjoyed reading about the places and experiences, what stuck out most for me was the entire premise of trying to teach in a completely foreign atmosphere. I have several educators in my family and hold the teaching profession in high regard. It would be easy for someone to look at Mr. McKee's task as a teacher as daunting and yet as he writes about his experiences it is obvious he loves the culture, the people, and his adventure. His enthusiasm and positive attitude really made this an enjoyable read for me.
I didn't read Finding Myself in Borneo very quickly (not because it wasn't enjoyable, but because we had some major changes going on in our household as well as some health episodes). I suppose this is how most people read though - a chapter here and a chapter there...and though I don't generally read this way, I felt it made this book even more special. I will forever think of this book as I would a delicious dessert - not something to be devoured quickly, but something to be enjoyed bite by bite with a smile on my face. Deliciously inspiring and engaging from beginning to end!
As much as I certainly enjoyed reading about the places and experiences, what stuck out most for me was the entire premise of trying to teach in a completely foreign atmosphere. I have several educators in my family and hold the teaching profession in high regard. It would be easy for someone to look at Mr. McKee's task as a teacher as daunting and yet as he writes about his experiences it is obvious he loves the culture, the people, and his adventure. His enthusiasm and positive attitude really made this an enjoyable read for me.
I didn't read Finding Myself in Borneo very quickly (not because it wasn't enjoyable, but because we had some major changes going on in our household as well as some health episodes). I suppose this is how most people read though - a chapter here and a chapter there...and though I don't generally read this way, I felt it made this book even more special. I will forever think of this book as I would a delicious dessert - not something to be devoured quickly, but something to be enjoyed bite by bite with a smile on my face. Deliciously inspiring and engaging from beginning to end!
How Many Stars?
*****
5!!!!
5!!!!
About today's reviewer:
Tricia describes herself as an avid reader, constant dreamer, and occasional traveler. She resides in the Midwest with her husband and their fur-babies.
----------Blog Tour Dates
Monday, January 28th (Today) @ The Muffin
Neill McKee launches his tour of Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah with an interview and giveaway at the Muffin!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/
Tuesday, January 29th @ Selling Books
Learn more about Neill McKee as he is interviewed by Cathy Stucker at Selling Books. You won't want to miss this insightful interview about McKee and his memoir Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah.
https://www.sellingbooks.com/
Wednesday, January 30th @ Bring on Lemons with Crystal Otto
Crystal Otto couldn't wait to get her hands on Neill McKee's memoir about his travels and finding himself! This busy farmer seldom leaves the farm and enjoyed every moment she experienced reading Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah. Find out more in her book review at Bring on Lemons today!
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
Thursday, January 31st @ Breakeven Books
Don't miss a very honest book review about Neill McKee's Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah.
https://breakevenbooks.com/
Friday, February 1st @ Fiona Ingram
Fellow author Fiona Ingram reviews the adventures story of Neill McKee's journey in Sabah and his experiences h in Finding Myself in Borneo. Readers won't be disappointed in Ingram's review or McKee's memoir!
http://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/
Monday, February 4th @ Author Anthony Avina
Author Anthony Avina reads and reviews Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah - by Neill McKee. Readers won't want to miss this adventurous and soul searching memoir! https://authoranthonyavinablog.com/
Wednesday, February 6th @ The World of My Imagination
Nicole hosts a special feature with author Neill McKee about his memoir Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah.
https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/
Friday, February 8th @ Choices with Madeline Sharples
Fellow memoirist Madeline Sharples hosts Neill McKee today as he pens today's guest post titled: Living in and learning about a very different culture”. Find out more about McKee and his memoir Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah.
http://madelinesharples.com/
Monday, February 12th (today) @ Bring on Lemons with Elizabeth Hansen
Young reader and reviewer Elizabeth Hansen shares her thoughts after reading about Neill McKee's memoir Finding Myself in Borneo; Sojourns in Sabah.
Wednesday, February 13th @ To Write or Not to Write with Sreevarsha
Shreevarsha reviews the insightful memoir Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah by Neill McKee. Don't miss the opportunity to learn more about McKee's journey. http://sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.co.at/
Friday, February 15th @ Bring on Lemons with Tricia Schott Baldwin
Avid reader, constant dreamer, and occasional traveler Tricia Schott Baldwin reviews Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah by Neill McKee. Tricia shares her thoughts with readers at Bring on Lemons - will this be a lemon or sweet sweet lemonade?
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
Saturday, February 16th @ World of My Imagination
Nicole discusses "3 Things on a Saturday" with Neill McKee. Learn more about McKee and his memoir Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah.
https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, February 19th @ Jarry Waxler’s Memoir Revolution
Memoir expert and educator Jerry Waxler pens his review of Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah by Neill McKee. Readers and memoirists alike won't want to miss this insightful post and review by Waxler.
https://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/
Thursday, March 7th @ Kathleen Pooler
Neill McKee finds himself penning today’s guest post “Becoming a memoir writer after retiring from another career.” at Kathleen Pooler's Memoir Writer's Journey - don't miss the opportunity to learn more about McKee and his exciting tale Finding Myself in Borneo: Sojourns in Sabah.
https://krpooler.com/
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