Armchair Travel
June 2022
Recent Releases
The Far Land: 200 Years of Murder, Mania, and Mutiny in the South Pacific
by Brandon Presser

What it is: a mix of history and travelogue focused on remote Pitcairn Island in the Pacific Ocean, where the HMS Bounty mutineers hid from British authorities in 1789, starting new lives with their Tahitian wives, and where today 48 people live, most of whom are descended from the original mutineers.

What happened: Arriving via container ship, author Brandon Presser tried to get to know the islanders, some of whom were reticent to talk. While waiting three months for the next ship, he delved deep into the island's history, explored, and endured bugs and nightly power cuts.
The Catch Me If You Can : One Woman's Journey to Every Country in the World
by Jessica Nabongo

What it is: Celebrated traveler and photographer Jessica Nabongo--the first documented Black woman to visit all 195 countries in the world--shares her journey around the globe with fascinating stories of adventure, culture, travel musts, and human connections.

Why you might like it: Nabongo's stories are love letters to diversity, beauty, and culture--and most of all, to the people she meets along the way. Throughout, she offers bucket-list experiences for other travel-lovers looking to follow in her footsteps.
The High Sierra: A Love Story
by Kim Stanley Robinson

What it is: an eclectic, richly detailed look at California's Sierra Nevada mountains that combines memoir, travelogue, geology, and natural history, by award-winning science fiction novelist Kim Stanley Robinson, who's hiked the area over 100 times since 1973.

Don't miss: the evocative writing, the color photos and illustrations (many by the author himself), and the eye-opening chapter about hiking the Swiss Alps.

For fans of: Terry Tempest Williams, Barry Lopez.
Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau
by Ben Shattuck

The first steps: Without much of a plan and little more than some bread, cheese, and a notebook (but no sunscreen), Ben Shattuck set out to retrace Henry David Thoreau's walk along Cape Cod's outer beaches.

What happened: Taking five more of Thoreau's walks, Shattuck observed animals and landscapes, met intriguing people, pondered life and anxiety, and saw the restorative effect of walking in nature.

Why you might like it: Six Walks showcases lyrical prose, lovely illustrations, and fascinating details about Thoreau.
On the Menu: Culinary Treats
Mi Cocina / : Recipes and Rapture from My Kitchen in Mexico: a Cookbook
by Rick Martínez

What it is: In his first cookbook, a beloved food writer introduces the diverse culinary treasures of Mexico, taking readers on a journey through each of the seven regions to explore 100 unique dishes, which are accompanied by essays on various topics, such as migration and culinary influence from other countries.

Reviewers say: "This intimate look at a country's cuisine has as much spice as it does soul" (Publishers Weekly).
La Buvette : Recipes and Wine Notes from Paris
by Camille Fourmont

What it is: The owner of a beloved Paris wine shop, bar and café, while introducing some of Paris’s best wine and food makers in intimate portraits, presents 50 recipes for simple, grazing-style food along with her wine notes.

Reviewers say: "Fourmont transports readers to Paris in this pleasant volume of simple recipes" (Publishers Weekly).
Pasta, Pane, Vino: Deep Travels Through Italy's Food Culture
by Matt Goulding

What it is: a fun and informative foodie tour of Italy that covers culture and history and highlights the chefs, shepherds, fisherman, farmers, and others who bring the pizzas, pastas, and other regional delicacies to life.

Read this next: Frances Mayes' See You in the Piazza; Anthony Bourdain's writings; other books by the author, such as Rice, Noodle, Fish or Grape, Olive, Pig.
Cheese, Wine, and Bread: Discovering the Magic of Fermentation in England, Italy...
by Katie Quinn

What it is: a charming travelogue with recipes, by a personable YouTube star who worked and traveled in three countries to educate herself about French breads, English cheeses, and Italian wines.

Why you might like it: Cheese, Wine, and Bread has engaging stories, clearly explained science, color photos, and charming illustrations.

Reviewers say: "Quinn's ability to transport readers into new adventures matches the best of travel writing" (Booklist).
Contact your librarian for more great books!
Indian Prairie Public Library
401 Plainfield Rd.
Darien, Illinois 60561
(630) 887-0637

ippl.info