|
Armchair Travel October 2018
|
|
|
|
| The Immeasurable World: Journeys in Desert Places by William AtkinsWhat it is: a lyrical travelogue anchored by history and literature, which describes the British author's travels to eight deserts, where he lived in a straw hut, visited a shrine, and experienced Burning Man.
Deserts include: the United States' Sonoran, China's Gobi, Australia's Great Victoria, and the man-made(!) Aralkum in Kazakhstan.
Want a taste? "Waking in the night to the buzzing of cicadas or the yapping of coyotes, I experience a weight of tranquility that has the quality of a quilt." |
|
| Northland: A 4,000-Mile Journey Along America's Forgotten Border by Porter FoxWhat it is: a beautifully written, reflective look at the border region between the United States and Canada, which traces the area's rich history (including the role of Native Americans) and draws on three years of exploration from Maine to Washington State via car, foot, freighter, and canoe.
Did you know? "Before September 11, 2001, half of the 119 border crossings between the US and Canada were unguarded at night."
For fans of: Brian Castner's Disappointment River. |
|
| Lands of Lost Borders: A Journey on the Silk Road by Kate HarrisWhat it's about: In her first book, an Oxford-trained scientist who always wanted to be an explorer combines history, science, and adventure in a poetic, thought-provoking memoir of her bicycle journey along the legendary Silk Road, accompanied by her childhood friend.
Reviewers say: "Exemplary travel writing: inspiring, moving, heartfelt, and often breathtaking" (Kirkus Reviews). |
|
|
The Last Wild Men of Borneo: A True Story of Death and Treasure
by Carl Hoffman
What it's about: Carl Hoffman eloquently describes his travels in Borneo following the paths of two enigmatic outsiders: American Michael Palmieri, a tribal-art dealer who traveled deep into the rainforest, built relationships, and became rich acquiring art for museums and collectors, and Swiss environmentalist Bruno Manser, who lived with the Penan tribe for years, fought logging, and mysteriously disappeared in 2000.
Who it's for: those who relish compelling adventure tales, are fascinated by rainforests, or enjoyed the author's Savage Harvest.
|
|
| From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death by Caitlin DoughtyWhat it is: an enlightening, clever, and respectful memoir of Caitlin Doughty's travels to observe death culture and rituals in various places, including Spain, North Carolina, Japan, Bolivia, and Indonesia.
About the author: A mortician and owner of a non-profit funeral home, Doughty is part of the death positive movement; she's also written about her work in a crematory in the bestselling Smoke Gets in Your Eyes. |
|
|
Ice ghosts : the epic hunt for the lost Franklin Expedition
by Paul Watson
What it is: A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author of Where War Lives and expedition member describes how an unlikely combination of marine science and Inuit knowledge helped solve the mystery of the lost Franklin expedition of 1845.
Reviewers say: Watson is an excellent writer with a dry wit and concise style that makes this a must-read for Franklin aficionados as well as for researchers and readers of Polar history and exploration.
|
|
| Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie EicharWhat it's about: Using personal journals and government documents, Donnie Eichar retraced the steps of nine college-age Russian hikers in the Ural Mountains in an attempt to explain their mysterious 1959 deaths.
Clues: a tent was cut open, there were high levels of radiation, some hikers were found shoeless in the snow, and one was missing her tongue.
Is it for you? Yes, if you like compelling adventure stories and books that alternate chapters between the past and the present. |
|
| The Lost City of the Monkey God: A True Story by Douglas PrestonWhat it is: a real-life adventure tale and high-octane account of Douglas Preston's travels in the Honduran jungle as part of a team looking for evidence of the fabled Ciudad Blanca (aka The Lost City of the Monkey God).
For fans of: David Grann's Lost City of Z or William Carlsen's Jungle of Stone.
About the author: Preston is the co-author of the bestselling Agent Pendergast suspense novels; the 1st, Relic, was made into a movie. |
|
|
|
|
|