|
Armchair TravelAugust 2015
|
"I had known long before I rode a covered wagon to Oregon that naïveté was the mother of adventure. I just didn’t understand how much of that I really had." ~ from Rinker Buck's The Oregon Trail
|
|
| The Oregon Trail: An American Journey by Rinker BuckRoad trip, old-school style! Though the Oregon Trail fell out of favor with travelers after the transcontinental railroad was finished in 1869, it's still possible to travel the trail from Missouri to Oregon (though some parts are now paved roads). Over 100 years after the last known crossing, journalist Rinker Buck, his brother, and his brother's Jack Russell terrier set out in a covered wagon pulled by mules. Along with riveting details about their four-month, 2,000-mile trip (Terrible thunderstorms! Broken wagon wheels! Helpful strangers!), Buck describes the rich history of the trail and the pioneers who made the journey before him. Reviewers love this book -- Kirkus Reviews calls it "frankly hilarious, historically elucidating, emotionally touching, and deeply informative." |
|
| Under the Same Sky: From Starvation in North Korea to Salvation in America by Joseph Kim with Stephan TaltyIt's no secret that living in North Korea isn't as awesome as its Supreme Leader would have us believe. Providing a searing, matter-of-fact look at life there, Under the Same Sky tells how Joseph Kim's family, like many others, was devastated by the 1990s famine: his father died, his mother sold his sister, and he became a starving street child. Trying to survive, he fought, gambled, stole, and was eventually placed in a brutal detention center. Later, his escape to China by walking over a frozen river and subsequent aid by missionaries eventually led him to the United States. There have been several fascinating books about North Korea in the last few years; some to check out are Barbara Demick's Nothing to Envy, Suki Kim's Without You, There Is No Us, and Blaine Harden's Escape from Camp 14. |
|
| Pirate Hunters: The Search for the Golden Fleece by Robert KursonAhoy, there! Looking for adventure and swashbuckling tales of derring-do? Interested in pirates and the modern mateys who seek long-lost ships and loot buried under ocean waves? If the answer's yes, then take the gripping Pirate Hunters prisoner (for a week or so, anyway) and learn about dedicated treasure hunters John Mattera and John Chatterton as well as legendary, technology-eschewing hunter Tracy Bowden. Robert Kurson (author of Shadow Divers, which also features Chatterton) compellingly traces the men's high-stakes quest to find the Golden Fleece, "the greatest pirate ship that had ever sailed," which belonged to notorious English sea captain-turned-pirate Joseph Bannister. For another thrilling read about Caribbean pirates, try Stephan Talty's Empire of Blue Water. |
|
| Driving Hungry: A Memoir by Layne MoslerTaxi Gourmet blogger Layne Mosler takes the idea of catching a cab to dinner to a charming new level. After a disappointing evening in Buenos Aires, she hailed a cab and asked the driver to take her to his favorite restaurant ...where she had one of the best steaks of her life. Building on this idea, she began asking cabbies everywhere she went where they liked to eat. Moving to New York City (where her quest did not go well at first), she attended taxi school and began driving a cab herself. Heading to Berlin, she continued to drive and eat -- and eventually met the cabdriver of her dreams. Not just for foodies, this honest and lively literary ride around three vibrant cities will appeal to readers who've wondered what the taxi-driving life is like. |
|
Known for his eclectic interests, depth of research, evocative descriptions of landscapes and ideas, and sometimes outrageous humor, Bill Bryson is a hugely popular author, whether his focus is on people and places, history, language, or the nature of the universe. Though Bryson has written other types of books in recent years, he earned his early reputation as a travel writer with his irresistible enthusiasm and ability to be both participant and observer. Those who've never read Bryson but are intrigued by the upcoming movie A Walk in the Woods (based on his book of the same name) can start with any of his travel books (for one that really showcases his talents, try In a Sunburned Country). But if you're eagerly anticipating his first travel book in 15 years, The Road to Little Dribbling: More Notes from a Small Island, which is due in early 2016, try one of the humorous books below while you wait.
|
|
| My Family and Other Animals by Gerald DurrellIn this classic memoir (originally published in the 1950s), Gerald Durrell shares his experiences as an English boy and budding naturalist living on the Greek island of Corfu in the 1930s. Durrell recounts his adventures discovering -- and often bringing home -- all kinds of creatures (snakes, magpies, butterflies, scorpions, spiders). He also paints a picture of what life on Corfu was like at that time, shares tales of the locals, and describes living with his humorously eccentric family (including his brother, novelist Lawrence Durrell, who also wrote a memoir about life on the island, Prospero's Cell). If you enjoy Bill Bryson's humorous memoirs about ex-pats abroad, you should pick up this timeless book. |
|
| In Search of King Solomon's Mines: A Modern Adventurer's Quest for... by Tahir ShahAfter having bought, as a souvenir, a map supposedly showing the route to the hidden treasures of King Solomon, Tahir Shah decided to go to Ethiopia to try and find the legendary mines. A Christian taxi driver becomes Shah's guide, translator, and companion as the search for King Solomon's long-lost loot takes them to legal and illegal gold mines throughout rural Ethiopia. They sleep in brothels, join camel caravans, and meet extraordinary people, such as the man who feeds hyenas so that they won't carry off village children. Bill Bryson fans, especially those also interested in African culture or biblical history, won't want to miss this "suspenseful, hilarious, and rollicking" (Library Journal) book. |
|
| The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by J. Maarten TroostWhen 26-year-old J. Maarten Troost's girlfriend accepted a temporary position in the tiny island nation of Kiribati, he decided to tag along, fully expecting to spend the next two years in a tropical paradise. Upon arrival, however, Troost quickly discovered the reality of life on the atoll: suffocating heat, polluted waters, exotic diseases, and a distinct lack of modern conveniences. As Troost entertainingly (some would say hilariously) recounts the difficulties of adjusting to life in Kiribati, he also reveals a growing appreciation for his new home and its people. Publishers Weekly calls The Sex Lives of Cannibals a "comic masterwork of travel writing." Readers of Bill Bryson or those who avidly watch TV's Globe Trekker will certainly want to check this out. |
|
| Following the Equator by Mark TwainThough he passed away over 100 years ago, Mark Twain hit the bestseller lists in 2010 when his unexpurgated autobiography was released. But travelogue fans will be more interested in Twain's travel books, such as Following the Equator (also known as More Tramps Abroad), an account first published in 1897 of Twain's globetrotting adventure around the world at age 60 as part of a speaking tour (he needed the money). Readers who appreciate Bill Bryson's wit might want to read what another of America's great humorists wrote about travel. Additionally, Bryson fans who share his appreciation of history will enjoy this time-capsule look at life in the 19th century. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
|
|
|