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Armchair TravelFebruary 2016
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"I cannot tell you what an immense impression Paris made upon me. It is the most extraordinary place in the world!" ~ Charles Dickens (1812-1870), English author
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| No Baggage: A Minimalist Tale of Love and Wandering by Clara BensenWhile it's not uncommon for couples to meet on a dating website, it's a bit unusual when an early date lasts three weeks and covers eight countries. But after introverted 20-something Clara (who'd only recently recovered from a mental breakdown) and larger-than-life, unconventional professor Jeff met, that's what happened. With only the colorful clothing on their backs (a bottle-green dress for her and cherry-red chinos for him) and no hotel reservations or real plans, they traveled via plane, car, train, ferry, bus, and bike in Turkey, Greece, Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, England, and more, before finally heading home to Texas. This engaging, romantic travelogue questions what freedom is and what we really need in life, and it thoughtfully deals with mental illness. |
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The Almost Nearly Perfect People : Behind the Myth of the Scandinavian Utopia
by Michael Booth
Journalist Michael Booth has lived among the Scandinavians for more than ten years, growing increasingly frustrated with the rose-tinted view of this part of the world offered up by the Western media. In this timely book he leaves his adopted home of Denmark and embarks on a journey through all five of the Nordic countries to discover who these curious tribes are, the secrets of their success and, most intriguing of all, what they think of each other. In The Almost Nearly Perfect People Michael Booth explains who the Scandinavians are, how they differ and why, their quirks and foibles, and explores why these societies have become so successful and models for the world.
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| The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain by Bill BrysonGreat news, Bill Bryson fans: his first travelogue in many years is finally here! In this delightful sequel to Notes From a Small Island, Bryson once again travels across Great Britain. But both Britain and Bryson have changed in the 20 years between books; he's older and more well-traveled, but feels like he understands his adopted country about as much as he did when he first arrived, and Britain...well, you'll need to read the book and see! With wry musings and observations, Bryson once again proves to be a persnickety but charming guide. For a similar U.K. tour by a native Englishman who's lived in New Zealand for years, try Joe Bennett's Mustn't Grumble. |
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The Last Volcano : A man, A Romance, And The Quest to Understand Nature's Most Magnificent Fury
by John Dvorak
Volcanoes have fascinated and terrified people for ages. They have destroyed cities and ended civilizations. John Dvorak, the acclaimed author of Earthquake Storms, looks into the early years of volcanology and its "father," Thomas Jaggar. A colorful cast of scientists wind their way through The Last Volcano, including an escaped slave who became the leading volcanic guide in Hawaii. But the focus is on Jaggar, who was so fixated on volcanology that he moved to a small house overlooking the lava lake of Kilauea, much to the derision of the scientific community.Falling in love a widowed schoolteacher who shared his passion, Jaggar devoted his life to studying volcanic activity and the mysteries beneath the earth's surface. From their precarious perch, this dynamic husband and wife duo would discover a way to predict volcanic eruptions and tsunamis, promote geothermal energy, and theorize new ways to study the ocean bottom.
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Trace : Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape
by Lauret E. Savoy
In a mosaic of personal journeys and historical inquiry across a continent and time, the author explores how America's still unfolding history, and ideas of “race,” have marked her and the land—from twisted terrain within the San Andreas Fault zone to a South Carolina plantation, from national parks to burial grounds, from the U.S.-Mexico Border to the U.S. capital.
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| The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World's Most Creative Places from Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley by Eric WeinerHow do you define "genius"? In Eric Weiner's case, simply being super-smart isn't good enough; he thinks of "genius in the creative sense," meaning those people who think of amazing and useful new ideas. Because he's fascinated by the topic ("in much the way a naked man is fascinated by the subject of clothing," he says), he traveled the world to examine the connection between setting and innovation. Weiner talked to locals and scholars to better understand why places like ancient Athens, Renaissance Florence, 20th-century Vienna, and modern-day Silicon Valley have incubated an exorbitant number of geniuses. This "witty, entertaining romp" is a good fit for curious fans of Bill Bryson looking for other amusing authors to read. |
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| Paris to the Past: Traveling Through French History by Train by Ina CaroParis isn't just an amazing place to visit -- it's also a gateway to France's well-preserved and often colorful past. Thanks to the various train trips (metro, high-speed TGV) that can be completed in less than one day, American-in-Paris Ina Caro (who explored her adopted country's roots via car in an earlier book, The Road from the Past) describes 25 well-researched outings that span 700 years of French history. Arranged chronologically by historical connection, she visits everywhere from the Place de la Concorde and Saint-Denis to Chartres, Orléans, and Versailles, and shares illuminating historical tidbits in this "charming" travelogue that takes you to Paris and beyond. |
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French women don't get fat
by Mireille Guiliano
A gourmand's guide to the slim life shares the principles of French gastronomy, the art of enjoying all edibles in proportion, arguing that the secret of being thin and happy lies in the ability to appreciate and balance pleasures, not in deprivation, in a guide that includes inspirational true-life stories, simple advice, and dozens of delectable recipes.
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Paris in Love: A Memoir
by Eloisa James
Bestselling romance author Eloisa James (aka Mary Bly, Shakespearean scholar) does what so many dream of: she moves to Paris! But the big move comes after big changes: her beloved mother (award-winning author Carol Bly) dies of cancer and, less than a month later, James receives her own cancer diagnosis. After successful treatment, James' family of four spends an extraordinary year in the City of Light. James' familial anecdotes together with memories of her mother and worries about her aging father (poet Robert Bly) make this charming look at Paris also a loving look at family. Readers interested in a young male novelist's view of this famed city might want to check out Paris, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down by Rosecrans Baldwin (author of the critically acclaimed novel You Lost Me There).
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My Paris kitchen : recipes and stories
by David Lebovitz
"A collection of stories and 100 sweet and savory French-inspired recipes from Chez Panisse pastry chef turned popular food blogger David Lebovitz, reflecting the way modern Parisians eat today and featuring lush photography taken around Paris and in David's Parisian kitchen. French cooking has come a long way since the days of Escoffier. The culinary culture of France has changed and the current generation of French cooks, most notably in Paris, are incorporating ingredients and techniques from around the world. In My Paris Kitchen, David Lebovitz remasters the French classics, introduces lesser known French fare, and presents 100 recipes using ingredients foraged in the ethnic neighborhoods of Paris. Stories told in David's trademark style describe thequirks, trials, and joys of cooking, shopping, and eating in France, while food and location photographs reveal modern life in Paris"
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Travel Writing about Food
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No reservations : around the world on an empty stomach
by Anthony Bourdain
In an illustrated travel journal, the host of the popular Travel Channel series No Reservations provides a behind-the-scenes account of his global culinary adventures, from New Jersey to New Zealand, offering a host of full-color photographs, mementos, and often outrageous commentary on food in every corner of the globe.
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Near & far : recipes inspired by home and travel
by Heidi Swanson
The New York Times best-selling author of Super Natural Every Day combines a cookbook, a journal and a photo album as she chronicles her travels around the world and the delicious things she tasted.
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Egg : a culinary exploration of the world's most versatile ingredient
by Michael Ruhlman
An award-winning author dedicates his latest work to the common egg, taking a tour of all the wonders this ordinary but powerful ingredient can help create, from poached and scrambled breakfasts, to brioche, Italian meringue, mayonnaise, custards, quiches and cakes.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Prince George's County Memorial Library System 6532 Adelphi Rd. Hyattsville, Maryland 20782 301-699-3500http://www.pgcmls.info/ |
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