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A dog named Beautiful : a Marine, a dog, and a long road trip home
by Rob Kugler
What it's about: A medically retired Marine describes the indelible role of his beloved chocolate lab in his recovery from war injuries and the loss of his brother, recounting the poignant road journey they shared in the final months of his dog's life.
Who it's for: Anyone interested in inspirational journeys of personal healing, road trips, or loving relationships between man and his four-legged best friend.
Book Buzz: Kirkus said this book was "engaging and sometimes heart-rending, and it will be a certain tear-jerker for dog lovers. Love, devotion, and slobbery kisses abound in this heartwarming story of a man and his treasured chocolate Lab."
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The pioneers : the heroic story of the settlers who brought the American ideal west
by David G McCullough
What it's about: Early New England settlers set out to explore the Northwest Territory under the leadership of Revolutionary War veteran General Rufus Putnam.
Where they explored: These early settlers traveled from Massachusetts, through the Northwest Territory, which is comprised of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Why you should read it: Drawn in great part from a rare and all-but-unknown collection of diaries and letters by the key figures, The Pioneers is a uniquely American story of people whose ambition and courage led them to remarkable accomplishments.
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| Rough Magic: Riding the World's Loneliest Horse Race by Lara Prior-PalmerWhat happened: On a whim, Lara Prior-Palmer, an English teen at loose ends, registered for the Mongol Derby, a 1,000-kilometer horse race.
And then? Seven weeks later, Prior-Palmer was riding a series of 25 wild ponies across Mongolian grasslands...and became the youngest (and first-ever female) winner of the endurance competition.
Book buzz: This compelling, poetic, and honest book is already appearing on many must-read lists, including ones by Publishers Weekly, Esquire, and Entertainment Weekly. |
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| The Sun Is a Compass: A 4,000-Mile Journey into the Alaskan Wilds by Caroline Van HemertFeaturing: wildlife biologist Caroline Van Hemert, who'd spent years working on a Ph.D., and her builder husband, both of whom needed a break after toiling away without taking time to enjoy the outdoors.
What it's about: The couple traveled 4,000 miles through vast wilderness from Washington state's Pacific rainforest to a remote part of the Alaskan Arctic via skis, rowboats, canoes, rafts, and foot.
Why you should read it: With vivid prose, Van Hemert documents the physical perils of the trip (like being stalked a bear) and contemplates her father's health troubles, her relationship with nature, and more. |
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| The City of Falling Angels by John BerendtWhat happened: The famed Fenice Opera House in Venice dramatically burned just days before author John Berendt's arrival in 1996. Wondering if it could have been arson, Berendt talked to a variety of Venetians.
Who it's for: those who love Venice or enjoy atmospheric travelogues with fascinating people, politics, and city lore.
About the author: John Berendt is the bestselling author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which examined a shocking murder in Savannah, Georgia. |
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| Notes From a Small Island by Bill BrysonWhat it is: a laugh-out-loud tour of the sceptred isle, led by witty American travel writer extraordinaire Bill Bryson.
What happened: In 1995, Bryson, who was planning on returning home to the United States, traveled by foot and public transport, over hill and dale, throughout his beloved adopted home of the last 20 years.
Read this next: For another American's amusing trip around England, check out Paul Theroux's The Kingdom by the Sea. |
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Among the islands [electronic resource] : adventures in the Pacific
by Tim F. Flannery
What it's about: Flannery recounts a series of expeditions he made at the dawn of his career to the strange tropical islands of the South Pacific, a great arc stretching nearly 4,000 miles from the postcard perfection of Polynesia to some of the largest, highest, most ancient, and most rugged islands on Earth.
Why you should read it: Armchair travelers get to experience fascinating creatures - monkey-faced bats, giant fats, gazelle-faced black wallabies, and more - and the adventure of discovery.
Book Buzz: Audubon Magazine said that, "Among the Islands is a rollicking good adventure-science read—something like what you’d get if Charles Darwin starred in an Indiana Jones flick.”
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| An Embarrassment Of Mangoes: A Caribbean Interlude by Ann VanderhoofWhat happened: Ann Vanderhoof and her husband, two 40-something Toronto professionals, saved, planned, and eventually left their everyday lives to set sail for two years, visiting 16 countries and 47 islands.
Why you should read it: Armchair travelers get to experience life aboard a 42-foot sailboat in the Caribbean in this beautifully crafted book featuring vividly described landscapes, characters, events, and food (recipes included). |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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