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Armchair Travel August 2020
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Autumn Light: Season of Fire and Farewells
by
Pico Iyer
What it is: a poignant, personal meditation on family, self, and dying as viewed within the context of Japanese culture.
What happened: After his Japanese father-in-law died, British-born, Indian American writer Pico Iyer went to Japan where his thoughts turned to aging and death as his wife carried out traditional mourning rituals.
How he coped: Iyer helped his mother-in-law (who couldn't remember her husband had died), wondered about his brother-in-law's refusal to see the family, and played ping pong with elderly friends.
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What critics say: " ... excellent descriptive passages, good background material, and a few sweeping insights as to why national parks are so essential." (Kirkus)
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The Seine: The River That Made Paris
by
Elaine Sciolino
What it is: an entertaining, smart, and detail-rich look at the Seine River, from its modest Burgundy source to its end at the English Channel.
Don't miss: fascinating details about Paris and the Seine; stories about the ancient goddess Sequana; talks with locals, including a grape grower in Champagne, Paris booksellers, and River Brigade members.
About the author: Elaine Sciolino, a former New York Times Paris bureau chief and the bestselling author of The Only Street in Paris, has been based in France since 2002.
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Circa 1903 : North Carolina's Outer Banks at the Dawn of Flight by Larry E Tise What it's about: this rich photographic history illuminates this forgotten barrier island world as it existed when the Wright brothers arrived in 1900 to begin their famous experiments, leading to the world's first powered flight three years later. Larry E. Tise shows that while the banks seemed remote, its maritime communities huddled near lighthouses and lifesaving stations and busy fisheries were linked to the mainland and offered precisely the resources needed by the Wrights as they invented flight. Tise presents dozens of newly discovered images never before published and others rarely seen or understood. His book offers fresh light on the life, culture, and environment of the Carolina coast at the opening of the twentieth century, an era marked by transportation revolutions and naked racial divisions. Want more about North Carolina? Try A Delicious Country: Rediscovering the Carolinas Along the Route of John Lawson's 1700 Expedition by Scott Huler.
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Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard What happened: Elizabeth, an American working in London, instantly connected with Gwendal, a Frenchman in England for a conference. Before long, they were having lunch together in Paris, falling in love, and getting married.
Why you might like it: Using food as a frame, Elizabeth charmingly documents their courtship, describing mouth-watering dishes (such as molten chocolate cake and summer ratatouille) as well as food shopping in a foreign language and choosing a wedding cake.
Want more? Pick up Picnic in Provence, which continues the story. | | Grape, Olive, Pig: Deep Travels through Spain's Food Culture by Matt Goulding What it is: an evocative celebration of the culture and cuisine of every region of Spain by an American foodie who lives there.
What inside: personal stories, including the author meeting and dating his Spanish wife; short bios of fascinating Spanish people; tips on what to eat and drink (hint: forget Sangria); mouth-watering descriptions of tapas, acorn-fed pig, paella, and more.
Still hungry? Goulding, a co-founder of Roads & Kingdoms, gives a similar though less intimate treatment to Japan in Rice, Noodle, Fish. | | On the Noodle Road: From Beijing to Rome, with Love and Pasta by Jen Lin-Liu What it's about: Curious about the origins of noodles, Jen Lin-Liu, a recently married Chinese American cooking instructor based in Beijing, traveled the famed Silk Road in search of answers, sampling regional dishes in the homes of generous local women in China, Tibet, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Italy, and other locations.
Don't miss: her thoughts on love and what being a wife means to her and to her hosts; the tempting recipes.
Reviewers say: a "footloose, spontaneous, and appetite-whetting journal of culinary adventure" (Kirkus Reviews). | | From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home by Tembi Locke What it is: A poignant, heartfelt memoir by actress Tembi Locke, who fell in love with Saro, an Italian professional chef. Saro's Sicilian family wasn't sure about him marrying a Black American, but as he battled and then succumbed to cancer, Tembi grew closer to them and spent summers in Sicily with the couple's adopted daughter.
Media buzz: a Netflix series produced by Reese Witherspoon and Zoe Saldana, who'll also star, is planned. Also working on the production are Tembi and her sister, bestselling writer Attica Locke. | | The Comfort Food Diaries: My Quest for the Perfect Dish to Mend a Broken Heart by Emily Nunn What it's about: Grappling with the aftermath of her brother's suicide and the end of her engagement, grief-stricken food writer Emily Nunn embarked on a cross-country road trip visiting friends and family and indulging in favorite comfort foods.
Why you might like it: It's a compelling, unflinching story beautifully told with insight and humor.
Recipes include: Country Ham Biscuits; Lemon Sponge Cups; Cream Cheese and Olive Sandwiches; Collard Soup. | |
Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Forsyth County Public Library 660 W 5th Street Winston Salem, North Carolina 27101 336-703-3030www.forsythlibrary.org |
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