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Armchair Travel February 2021
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"The Borders of Our Minds" Presentation by historian, journalist and travel writer David H. Mould Tuesday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m. Online presentation on Zoom
In his latest book on travel, history and culture, "Postcards from the Borderlands," David Mould explores the meaning of borders. Are they simply political and geographical, marked by posts, walls and fences, or should we think of them more broadly? Some borders, set by surveys and treaties, take no account of geography, language, and culture. There are borders within countries—physical, economic, or social. And finally there are the borders of our minds—the way we may think of unfamiliar places. Join us on March 2 at 6:30. Register for this Zoom program at forsyth.cc/library or call 336-703-3020.
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Monsoon Postcards : Indian Ocean Journeys by David H. Mould What it is: Journalist and historian David H. Mould, with notebook in hand, traverses the Indian Ocean, from Madagascar through India and Bangladesh to Indonesia. It's an unpredictable journey on battered buses, bush taxis, auto-rickshaws, and crowded ferries. What happens: Along the way, in markets, shops, rice paddies, roadside cafes, and classrooms, he meets journalists, professors, students, aid workers, cab drivers, and other everyday residents to learn how they view their past and future. Why you might like it: Mould offers witty and insightful glimpses into countries linked by history, trade, migration, religion, and a colonial legacy. He explores how they confront the challenges of climate change, urban growth, economic development, land, water and natural resources, and national and ethnic identity.
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Postcards from Stanland : Journeys in Central Asia by David H. MouldWhat it's about: Central Asia has long stood at the crossroads of history. It was the staging ground for the armies of the Mongol Empire, for the nineteenth-century struggle between the Russian and British empires, and for the NATO campaign in Afghanistan. Today, multinationals and nations compete for the oil and gas reserves of the Caspian Sea and for control of the pipelines. Yet 'Stanland' is still, to many, a terra incognita, a geographical blank. Beginning in the mid-1990s, academic and journalist David Mould's career took him to the region on Fulbright Fellowships and contracts as a media trainer and consultant for UNESCO and USAID, among others. What happens: Mould takes readers along with him on his encounters with the people, landscapes, and customs of the diverse countries--Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan--he came to love. He talks with teachers and students, politicians and environmental activists, bloggers, merchants, Peace Corps volunteers, and more. Why you might like it: Until now, few books for a non-specialist readership have been written on the region, and while Mould brings his own considerable expertise to bear on his account--for example, he is one of the few scholars to have conducted research on post-Soviet media in the region--the book is above all a tapestry of place and a valuable contribution to our understanding of the post-Soviet world.
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| The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty, and War by John "Chick" Donohue and J.T. MolloyThe challenge: In a New York City neighborhood bar in 1967, U.S. Marine Corps veteran-turned-merchant mariner John "Chick" Donohue agreed to sneak into Vietnam, track down local friends at war, and share beers from home.
What happened: He did it! But witnessing shocking events like the Tet offensive changed him, and his thoughts about the war.
Reviewers say: "fascinating, vividly narrated" (Publishers Weekly); "an irreverent yet thoughtful macho adventure" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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The Deepest South of All: True Stories from Natchez, Mississippi
by Richard Grant
What it is: a mix of history and travelogue that presents a fascinating portrait of Natchez, Mississippi, tracing the city's past and present and its remarkable contradictions.
Read it for: intriguing stories about locals, including a 19th-century enslaved West African prince and modern-day feuding garden club members.
Why you might like it: vibrant writing; eye-opening history; the examination of racism through the lens of one town.
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Clanlands : Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other by Sam HeughanWhat it's about: from their faithful camper van to boats, kayaks, bicycles, and motorbikes, join Sam and Graham, the stars of the TV series Outlander, on a road trip with a difference. The two Scotsmen explore a land of raw beauty, poetry, feuding, music, history, and warfare. These unlikely friends begin their journey in the heart of Scotland at Glencoe and travel from there all the way to Inverness and Culloden battlefield, where along the way they experience adventure and a cast of highland characters. In this story of friendship, finding themselves, and whisky, they discover the complexity, rich history and culture of their native country. If you like this: you might want to try the Outlander series of books by Diana Gabaldon.
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Old World Italian : Recipes & Secrets From Our Travels in Italy by Mimi ThorissonWhat it is: Filled with local color, history and culture, as well as stunning photographs, this celebration of Italy captures the author’s passion for the magic of Italian cooking through 100 recipes for classic, authentic dishes. Includes stories of the author's life in Italy with her family, and photography by the author's husband. What critics say: "an attractive Italian cookbook with an inspirational lifestyle message." (LJ Express); "an impeccably styled record from a keen-eyed outsider looking in." (Publishers Weekly)
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A World Beneath the Sands : The Golden Age of Egyptology by Toby A. H. WilkinsonWhat it's about: the Egyptologist author of The Rise and Fall of Ancient Egypt documents the history of the West's scramble to claim the discoveries of Egypt and how the past 200 years of archaeology have informed our understandings of the ancient world. What critics say: "... the narrative is so engaging that readers will find it hard to put down. This comprehensive study is highly recommended." (LJ Express)
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| How to Be a Family: The Year I Dragged My Kids Around the World to Find a New Way to be Together by Dan KoisWhat it's about: A dad humorously details the year his stressed Northern Virginia family gave up regular life for three months each in New Zealand, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, and small-town Kansas.
The family: journalist and podcast host Dan, lawyer Alia, and their daughters, 11-year-old Lyra and nine-year-old Harper.
Read this next: For a more nature-inspired family travel memoir, try Michael Lanza's Before They're Gone. |
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| A Year in Provence by Peter MayleWhat it is: a classic travelogue first published in 1989 by English writer Peter Mayle, who vividly describes his and his wife's experiences after they moved into a 200-year-old French farmhouse with a vineyard
What's inside: In chapters named after the months of the year, Mayle offers humorous and keen observations on expatriate life, locals, and the culture of Provence as well as mouthwatering descriptions of food.
Read this next: other books by Mayle; Duck Season by David McAninch; Dirt by Bill Buford; Carol Drinkwater's The Olive Farm; John Baxter's A Year in Paris; L'Appart by David Lebovitz; Epitaph for a Peach: Four Seasons on my Family Farm by David Mas Masumoto. |
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| My Penguin Year: Life Among the Emperors by Lyndsay McCraeWhat happened: Along with the two other members of his team, award-winning photographer Lyndsay McCrae spent 337 days in Antarctica documenting a colony of emperor penguins, all while dealing with his own isolation and missing his pregnant wife back home.
Don't miss: the pages and pages of awe-inspiring color photos.
Did you know? McCrae's immersive time with the penguins came as part of his work with BBC's Dynasties nature series, which is narrated by Sir David Attenborough. |
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| The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country by Helen RussellWhat it's about: Moving to Denmark for her husband's new job with Lego, English journalist Helen Russell chronicles their first year in the country that's statistically the happiest on Earth, pondering what makes the Danish so content.
Who it's for: those who want a chatty look at life in Denmark or those who'd enjoy a lighthearted look at a British expat abroad.
Read this next: Michael Booth's The Almost Nearly Perfect People, an enjoyable travelogue covering all the Scandinavian countries. |
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