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Big Red: How I Learned Simplicity from a Suitcase Kindle Interactive Edition

by Ellie Dias (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 67 ratings
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Seeking to experience simplicity and contentment in the "Happiest Place on Earth," Dias struggles to jettison her Western ways while lugging a 95-pound suitcase of bare necessities.

Common sense should have told her how inappropriate her “must-haves” were for spending three and a half weeks in the villages, farms and jungles of Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet.
Ellie found herself wondering whether the Universe—via her Big Red Suitcase—was trying to teach her something, and was she ready to learn . . .

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  1. Language
    English
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  3. Publication date
    April 25, 2017
  4. File size
    105142 KB
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  • This Print Replica book features interactive content which is only supported on Fire Tablets (3rd Generation and above) and Kindle apps for Android phones and tablets. Customers who download this book to other devices will receive a standard Print Replica book.
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ellie Dias is a devotee of Buddhist philosophy, meditation and yoga. Her debut book, Big Red, is a tale of perseverance and humor as she struggles to jettison her Western ways while lugging a 95-pound suitcase jam-packed with her bare necessities.A watercolor and pastel artist, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband Ron, and their dog, Roxie.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B071DPSB6C
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Buddhapuss Ink LLC (April 25, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 25, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 105142 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Not enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 67 ratings

About the author

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Ellie Dias

Ellie Dias

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Ellie Dias's careers focused on health and wellness as a pediatric nurse, clinician working with families whose babies were at risk for SIDS, a division Vice President for a women's health care company, and a professor of Anatomy and Physiology.

As an avid reader, she loved words and stories. But it wasn't until she took a solo trip to Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet that her Trip of a Lifetime highlighted her journey culminating in her debut book, Big Red: How I Learned Simplicity from a Suitcase.

The genesis for Ellie's current novel, Where Evil Lives, unfolded because of her long-time fascination of past centuries of horrific examples of evil. With an in-depth knowledge of Genetics, she wondered if it was possible that an evil gene exits.

Besides writing, she is an artist, married with two grown children, three grandchildren, and her dog Cody.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
67 global ratings
Big Red Is An Apt Metaphor
5 Stars
Big Red Is An Apt Metaphor
This is an entertaining and thought-provoking book that inspired me to reexamine my own psychological baggage. Loved the self-depricating humor. Vividly written. Highly recommended.
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Top reviews from the United States

Matthew Condon
5.0 out of 5 stars A Journey of a Lifetime and a Lesson Learned
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2021
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Big Red by Ellie Dias is a book about the author's search for her spiritual self in a brave journey that takes her to remote parts of the world in Nepal, Bangkok, and Tibet. She beautifully and vividly describes these far away places and makes us feel as if we are there with her, experiencing the people, primitive ways and cultures, and ancient beauty of these areas. Her writing is sprinkled with humor, especially when she describes the struggles and mishaps she encountered along the way. At times I found myself laughing out loud! Big Red, her suitcase, is a main character in the story of her journey and she uses it as a life lesson: that the simple things in life are what matter, not the "stuff" with which we burden ourselves! I thoroughly enjoyed this well written, insightful, funny book, and am recommending it to my friends as a must read. Keep writing, Ellie Dias, I look forward to your next book!
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Lori Kellner
5.0 out of 5 stars I ordered "Big Red" knowing that I'm not much of ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2017
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I ordered "Big Red" knowing that I'm not much of a reader. I'm on the go a lot and don't usually indulge in the sitting around reading a book. I received my book after getting out of work and my hour long travel home. I decided, I'll just read a page or two. Before I knew it, I was on a journey. I completed her book the next day. I found myself lol-ing out loud, by myself a lot. Her writing was captivating, bringing the reader right along on her journey. Her suitcase, "Big Red", was almost a character in itself. The suitcase contained all that was thought to be important but actually only contained 95 lbs of just "baggage". Something I think many carry around and don't let go of. Her soul searching was heartwarming and made you dig into your own soul. Her "emergency facility" needs left me cracking up and thinking I would have just died in those situations. By the end of my read, I felt a little renewed. I was thinking, we all sort of have a "Big Red". As a nurse, the end made me crack up thinking, maybe you should have left that migraine medicine in "Big Red", it contains a diuretic 😂 Many lessons learned in a well written journey Ellie. Thanks for taking me along.
4 people found this helpful
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K. Stumpf
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent travel memoir
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2018
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First, let me say I love travel memoirs. They can take me to places I don't have the courage to go. They take me to places I could never dream of going. They take me to places I have never even thought of going. This book did all of that. I started out reading a travel memoir and ended feeling like a good friend had written me a long letter about her trip of a lifetime. It read like that. Ellie writes honestly about everything - her thoughts, feelings and didn't sugar coat anything. I loved that. Sometimes I felt like I was there. Sometimes I felt bad for her and wondered how she was going to get through the day. I laughed (read elephant wash here). I was educated about Buddhism and about the monks. And the whole time I was in awe that she still dragged Big Red around when the thing weighed almost as much as she did. Mostly I was thoroughly engrossed and delighted throughout this book. Ellie, you are one brave woman to tackle this trip AND to do it alone. I'm in total awe. Thanks for sharing this with the world. AND PS: Thank you also for including those pictures and video clips. They truly added to the reading experience. xo
One person found this helpful
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Judith F.
5.0 out of 5 stars A heartfelt "Big Red" adventure and the journey to fulfill a lifetime dream with unanticipated trials and tribulations
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2017
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I recently finished reading the book “Big Red” and thoroughly enjoyed it. From the author’s self descriptions of her own petite body size, to that of her extra large 95 pound suitcase "Big Red"; and from her childhood Catholic religious training to her yearning to plan and complete her spiritual dream to see the Dalai Lama palace. Throughout this spiritual journey she was prepared, or so she thought, to experience a more simple way of life, even though she had packed every imaginable Western “necessity” that she thought might be needed on her 22 day “trip of a lifetime” to the three kingdoms of the Himalayas: Bhutan, Nepal and Tibet. Ellie, took this journey to the other side of the world with only “Big Red” as her companion, leaving her husband, Ron at home, who had warned her multiple times that bringing this huge, heavy suitcase was a very bad idea.
In her writing, Ellie has a talent for describing details so vividly that the reader feels as if they are there beside her, whether it be on a guided jungle tour on the back of an elephant or just trying to find a toilet.
I would highly recommend “Big Red”. I feel it is a fun and enlightening book.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Marian Quick
5.0 out of 5 stars Big Red Suitcase
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2020
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This was a very interesting book indeed. An American woman travelling by herself to the Himalayan kingdoms and other regions. She tells of her adventures both internal and external. Do read it.
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LT
5.0 out of 5 stars ED
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 24, 2018
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A perfectionist and over achiever, Ellie takes is with her to the three kingdoms of the Himalayas where she meets people with a much simpler,and often gob-smackingly shocking way of life. An hilarious account of facing home truths. Great read
One person found this helpful
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Brigid P. Gallagher
4.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Illustration on the Healing Power of Letting Go
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 14, 2020
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"Big Red", is a 95 pound red suitcase, which the author packs for a 22 day trip of a lifetime. Despite warnings from her husband Ron, she is determined to pack for ALL eventualities!
However, as her journey unfolds "the penny" finally drops...
Although this is essentially a travel memoir, full of interesting facts about the countries she visits, it is also a unique illustration of the healing power of letting go.
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