In her celebrated memoir "Dork Whore," Iris Bahr chronicled her stint in the Israeli military and her precollege backpacking trip through Asia, where she spent most of her time eating sketchy foods and trying to lose her virginity. In "Machu My Picchu," she finds herself in even more foreign territory: Brown University, where she desperately attempts to fit in among frat boys, Jordanian royalty, vegan hippies, coke heads, and an Ecuadorian guy with a penchant for disturbingly tight jeans. Feeling more alienated than ever, Iris decides to embark on another backpacking adventure, this time through Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Between love affairs with locals, clashes with travel companions, and near-death experiences, Iris discovers her ability to feel lost no matter where she goes. But through her struggle to find that elusive combination of healthy love, great sex, and peace of mind, she finally learns to embrace the joys of the search. The zany humor of Amy Sedaris meets the neurotic self-awareness of Woody Allen in this invigorating mix of hair-raising adventure, poignant reflection, and bawdy humor--it's one hell of a wild ride.
