Passport Diaries: A Novel

By Tamara Gregory

Book Overview

Kia Carson thinks she knows exactly what she wants in a relationship. As a child, she saw it every time she watched her father smell her mother's hair as her mother tenderly affixed his cuff links in the mornings before work, or when her father in loving return lightly tapped her mother's bottom as she walked away. But, despite her old-fashioned romantic notions, the best Kia can manage these days are booty calls with delectable but vacuous L.A. men. At least she has her career. Her energy and idealism as an assistant D.A. have won her respect and admiration -- and, in the case of Drew, a handsome, funny, and considerate white coworker, something much more. But before Drew can express his true feelings, a run-in with her boss gets Kia suspended from her job. Her best friend, Maya, suggests a European vacation to help get her head and heart together. Hesitant at first, Kia soon sees that nothing -- or, more to the point, no one -- is really keeping her in L.A., so she opts for the adventure of a lifetime. Kia packs up her things, inhales, then exhales, and finally takes flight -- alone. Passport Diaries is a wonderfully assured debut. Smart, original, and laugh-out-loud funny, it's an irresistible, lighthearted read. Gregory is a refreshing new voice and offers up a brightly told story with surprising reservoirs of depth.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060789271
• ISBN13: 9780060789275
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Amistad
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.3" x 0.9" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

A Literary Getaway

"Wanna get away?" That's what comes to mind after reading Passport Diaries by writer and movie producer, Tamara T. Gregory. This debut is truly a literary vacation- a quick getaway nestled between 256 pages. So get your passport ready and join Kia Carson as she travels internationally and takes bold steps toward self-discovery. She's destined to find herself and much more. Kia is an excellent prosecuting attorney who works for the DA's office. She's turning thirty-five in just a few short days and her love life is nothing more than a sex-only relationship with a photographer named Flash. After refusing to go for the jugular in court, her boss promptly suspends her. Needless to say, she's in desperate need of a vacation. Lucky for her, she and her sister will soon be on their way to Europe. That is, until her sister calls with the bad news that she can't go. Against Kia's better judgment and with the coaxing of her friend and coworker, Drew, she decides to go through with her vacation plans and take the trip solo. Drew's travel agent arranges a great package with three exciting destinations- Paris, London and Greece. Her trip starts off with a few bumps because she almost misses her plane and once she finally boards, she's an emotional train wreck when she realizes her seat is the one next to a mother with a crying baby and an extremely overweight man. A flight attendant takes pity on her and locates a much more comfortable seat and this begins an undoubtedly, unforgettable trip. With certain fears and trepidation left behind in Los Angeles, Kia embarks on experiences she normally would not consider. Without giving too much away, let's just say there's a kiss but not with a man, there's a topless beach and as they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. Oh, and Kia's not the only one with a passport, so she's in for a birthday surprise. Passport Diaries is a one-of-a-kind read. The witty humor and the first-person conversational style are definite crowd pleasers. The descriptions throughout are so vivid that you feel like you're not just reading about Kia and her adventures but you're right alongside her, visiting amazing museums, shopping at exquisite boutiques and eating veal and truffles. In addition, the author tosses in historical facts without over burdening the story and touches on various race relations issues and stereotypes; again, done in such away that it enhanced the storyline without hitting readers over the head. Lastly, this reviewer is not big on romances, but the romance element in the story was done very well. It was sensual without being sappy. Passport Diaries is everything you want a getaway to be. It's fun, relaxing, exciting and memorable. So what are you waiting for? Don't you wanna get away? Jazzypen rating: 4.5

More Like 4.5 stars: Romance, Intrigue, Discovery

Set against the legal backdrop of Los Angeles and the cosmopolitan setting of Europe, Passport Diaries by Tamara Gregory is an entertaining and intriguing read. After being suspended from work, and dissed by her vacation partners, Kia Carson sets off solo to Europe for a much-deserved vacation. Scared and slightly trepid regarding traveling alone, yet anticipating the chance to visit France, England and Greece, Kia is about to experience the vacation of a lifetime. After all, there are some advantages to traveling alone: she gets to set her own agenda, view sights that she enjoys, she does not have to pretend to be happy when she is not, she does not have to be personable or talkative with anyone else and she will get a chance to spend time meditating, reflecting and journaling without intrusion. Taking the advice of a stranger, she also plans to try something new in every country-some antics will be so scandalous that what is done in Europe should stay in Europe. When she gets to her last destination (Greece), she is pleasantly surprised and a romance ensues. She might just have found a man who is as loving, supportive, encouraging and stable as her father. Do not be fooled by the cover and do not allow the scantily clad model to be the impetus for not reading this book. As there is so much more between the covers than what is thinly portrayed via the cover image. Filled with wit, history and inspiration, Passport Diaries by Tamara Gregory is a favorite 2005 read for me. Gregory's voice is fresh and original and she does a good job of quickly capturing a reader's attention and drawing one into her storyline. If one is low on funds, curl up with Passport's Diaries as Gregory's details and descriptions of places visited are so panoramic, vibrant and realistic that you will feel as though you are experiencing the sights firsthand. Vivid imagery, sassy dialogue and an empowered female protagonist really brought this story to life for me. Passport Diaries has universal appeal and is a storyline that has good crossover potential. It was a sensational reading experience for me and after I finished reading I was ready to grab my passport, make hotel arrangements and flight plans and fly off to make my own memories. I highly recommend this book for those who like storylines that are different, well written and showcase empowered women. APOOO rating: 4.5 stars. Reviewed by Yasmin APOOO BookClub

Passport to Intimacy

I'm a guy. . .I'm white. . .and I teach Gender Communication at a university. I'm always on the lookout for writings--fiction and non--that will afford my students insight into the wonderful and wackadoo world of relationships. A gal pal recommended PASSPORT DIARIES to me. I picked it up expecting a quick read filled with beach-read cliches. . .ah, what's that saying about never judging a book by its cover? Yes, this is a "beach read", but what a delightful read! The writer has a smart, sassy, insightful style that does make this a hard-to-put-down read. But more than that, the story is insightful and poignant. There are sentences that I reread for their simple power and sensibility. Kia is a woman who goes on a jounrey of self-discovery that I wish for all my students--female and male. I'm making PASSPORT DIARIES requried reading this semester. . .but you don't have to take a college class to enjoy this wonderful debut novel. . .

Witty and engaging...

PASSPORT DIARIES is the debut title of author Tamara T. Gregory, a movie producer known for her work on the films Brown Sugar, The Rock, and Celtic Pride. PASSPORT DIARIES chronicles the travels of Kia Carson during one of the most vulnerable times of her life. Kia is an extreme shoe lover and also the prosecuting attorney with the District Attorney's office, known for not going for the jugular in cases in which it isn't warranted. However, her boss disagrees and suspends her after her latest case. For Kia, it isn't too bad since her suspension parallels the time she has planned to take a vacation. Not able to convince any of her family or friends to join her, Kia, after being cajoled by Drew, a white coworker, decides to take her European trip solo. Her itinerary includes London, Paris, and Greece. Before she even leaves Los Angeles, she becomes overwhelmed with her emotions and her seating assignment. She locates her seat, the one towards the back of the plane, cramped between an obese man and a woman with a screaming baby. This sends tears flying and Kia tries to abandon her vacation, however a helpful flight attendant directs her to first class, comforts her, and later in the story challenges her to totally enjoy her trip abroad, doing at least one thing in each new place that she wouldn't normally do. Kia takes her up on the offer, getting involved with an experimenting couple, going on a date with an irresistible Frenchman, and then on the last leg of her trip, she decides to bare it all on the beach. With each stop on her trip, she learns more about herself, life, her coworkers, and about her relationships with her booty-call-stand-in. She becomes in tune with her body and the realization that she wants love and to be loved. As love stares her in the face, she has to balance preconceived notions against her feelings, and decide once and for all what she wants. Please don't be fooled by the book's title, as I was when I selected it to read. The book is so much more than what the term diary implicates. PASSPORT DIARIES is an in-depth look towards discovering self. Gregory's writing is witty, fast-paced, and emotional. From character to character, and scene to scene, I loved the comebacks, the remembrances, the romance, the adventures and practically everything about PASSPORT DIARIES. It left me feeling full and satiated. For those who love a bit of romance, like to travel, or have an addiction to shoes, you should check this book out. For those on a path towards understanding yourself, you must. Reviewed by Tee C. Royal of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

FUN, SMART, INSIGHTFUL READ

Finally a story about a woman I would be friends with!!! I have suffered through dozens of books about desperate single women who are either ghetto fabulous, filthy rich or grossly bourgeois with one purpose - wanting a husband. Kia Carson in PASSPORT DIARIES is a smart, sexy, successful flawed woman who wants love but is not in search of it. After being suspended from her job, Kia doesn't wallow in self pity, she bravely books a vacation to Europe. Just like any woman, she initially has reservations about traveling alone then embraces all the possibilities. It was both entertaining and thought provoking to watch Kia learn the history of her people all while being open to new experiences. Tamara Gregory is my new favorite author - this is a must summer read.