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Armchair Travel December 2018
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The white darkness
by David Grann
What its about: Tracing the South Pole expedition of a decorated British special forces officer, an admirer and descendant of Ernest Shackleton's expedition, who in 2015 risked his life to walk across Antarctica alone.
About the Author: By the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Killers of the Flower Moon.
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Erebus : one ship, two epic voyages, and the greatest naval mystery of all time
by Michael Palin
What it is: Presents the history of the naval ship Erebus, from its construction as a bomb vessel in 1826 to its fateful voyage under John Franklin, where the ship vanished for one hundred fifty years, to its discovery in Arctic waters in 2014.
About the author: Palin is a scriptwriter, comedian, novelist, television presenter, actor and playwright, and is a former president of the Royal Geographical Society.
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| When in French: Love in a Second Language by Lauren CollinsWhat happened: Lauren Collins, an American New Yorker writer living in London, fell in love and married a Frenchman, moving to Geneva, Switzerland to be with him.
What it is: a funny, full-bodied, and romantic chronicle of her amusing adventures in a new land and her attempts to communicate in a new tongue.
Reviewers say: This is "a thoughtful, beautifully written meditation on the art of language and intimacy" (The New York Times). |
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The reluctant Tuscan
by Phil Doran
What it is: A television producer and writer who worked with such shows as Sanford and Son and The Wonder Years recounts how after finding himself overturned by Hollywood newcomers, he helped his wife restore a three-hundred-year-old Italian farmhouse and found unexpected renewal from the project, the region, and his eccentric new neighbors.
Reviewers say: In funny, breezy, offhand prose, yet one more American discovers the pleasures and pains of restoring a superannuated, bucolic Tuscan dwelling.
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Julie and Julia : my year of cooking dangerously
by Julie Powell
What it is: The author recounts how she escaped the doldrums of an unpromising career by cooking every recipe in Julia Child's 1961 classic, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a year-long endeavor that transformed her life.
Reviewers say: Readers with a taste for the kind of sharp, clever culinary flavored writing found in Nigel Slater's Toast or Ruth Reichl's Tender at the Bone will find Julie and Julia to be a rare treat.
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Arctic homestead : the true story of one family's survival and courage in the Alaskan wilds
by Norma Cobb
What it is: A chronicle of a family's efforts to build a home near the Arctic Circle in Alaska depicts their moving discovery of love and courage in a land of modern-day outlaws, feuds, grizzly bears and unbelievably harsh winters.
About the Author: Charles W. Sasser is a retired military veteran who spent four years on active duty as a journalist in the U.S. Navy, followed by thirteen years in the U.S. Army Special Forces
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Almost French : love and a new life in Paris
by Sarah Turnbull
What it is: A Sydney journalist recounts her unexpected move to Paris, during which she fell in love and came to cherish the city's charm, fashion, food, paradoxes, and dinner parties.
Reviewers say: .An engaging story of a sometimes rocky but ultimately affectionate relationship with another culture.
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The horse boy : a father's quest to heal his son
by Rupert Isaacson
What it is: When his son, Rowan, was diagnosed with autism, Rupert Isaacson was devastated, afraid he might never be able to communicate with his child. But when Isaacson, a lifelong horseman, rode their neighbor's horse with Rowan, his son improved immeasurably. Isaacson was struck with a crazy idea: why not take Rowan to Mongolia, the one place in the world where horses and shamanic healing intersect? This is the dramatic and heartwarming story of that adventure.
Reviewers say: Breathtaking atmosphere, solid prose and stunning cultural observations can't obscure troubling parental desperation and skewed priorities.
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