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Armchair Travel December 2019
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| A Beginner's Guide to Japan: Observations and Provocations by Pico IyerWhat it is: lyrical, thought-provoking snippets and essays that ponder life in Japan, covering such varied topics as silence, signage, emotion, clothing, anime, baseball and more.
About the author: British-born bestselling travel writer Pico Iyer is married to a Japanese woman and the country is his adopted home.
Want a taste? "Being in Japan has taught me to say, 'I wonder,' more often than 'I think.'" |
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| On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey by Paul TherouxWhat happened: Erudite 70-something travel writer Paul Theroux drove the entire length of the U.S.-Mexico border alone, crossing over the border multiple times; he also visited Mexico City, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and other areas.
Why you should read it: Theroux saw the border situation up close, met locals, witnessed the monarch butterfly migration, visited historic locations, taught writing, and learned about drug cartels and corruption.
Read this next: Richard Grant's God's Middle Finger, about his trip through the Sierra Madres; or, for a penetrating look at both U.S. borders, try Stephanie Elizondo Griest's All the Agents and Saints. |
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| The Dog Went Over the Mountain: Travels with Albie: An American Journey by Peter ZheutlinWhat it's about: Sixty-four-year-old journalist Peter Zheutlin and his beloved aging rescue dog Albie took a 9,200-mile road trip across the U.S. in a BMW convertible.
Don't miss: the musical references and locations, including visits to Winslow, Arizona and Woody Guthrie's Oklahoma hometown.
Read this next: John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley (the book that inspired this one), Rob Kugler's A Dog Named Beautiful, or Philip Caputo's The Longest Road. |
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| The Emperor Far Away: Travels at the Edge of China by David EimerWhat it's about: British journalist David Eimer, who'd lived in China for years, traveled the country's edges, including the Islamic area of Xinjiang province and the forbidden zone of Tibet, speaking with the often overlooked ethnic groups who face social and political discrimination from the Han Chinese majority.
Did you know? China borders 14 countries and has 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities.
Why you might like it: Eimer provides a unique view of an unfamiliar China in this compelling, vibrant book. |
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| 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 Native Americans' roles) and draws on three years of exploration from Maine to Washington via car, canoe, foot, and freighter.
Did you know? "Before September 11, 2001, half of the 119 border crossings between the U.S. and Canada were unguarded at night."
Read this next: For more on the U.S.-Canadian border, pick up Brian Castner's Disappointment River. |
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| The Marches: A Borderland Journey Between England and Scotland by Rory StewartWhat it's about: Rory Stewart has written about Iraq (Prince of Marshes) and Afghanistan (The Places In Between), but this journey is more intimate: it's the landscape of his homeland, the border between England and Scotland, and he walked it with his 89-year-old Scottish father.
What's inside: family stories as well as thoughtful musings on the plants, animals, conflicts, people (from Romans to modern-day locals), and more that have shaped this stunning area.
Read this next: Max Adams' In the Land of Giants, another richly detailed book that engagingly mixes British history and travel. |
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Walking the Americas: 1,800 Miles, Eight Countries, and One Incredible Journey...
by Levison Wood
What happens: Intrepid British explorer, photographer, and author Levison Wood takes a 1,800 mile trek from Mexico to Columbia and encounters a variety of people, cultures, and obstacles
Try this next: The author's own Walking the Nile or Walking the Himalayas, or Ed Stafford's Walking the Amazon.
Did you know? Walking the Americas (and a TV documentary) were released in the U.K. last year; the book became a bestseller.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Michigan City Public Library 100 E. 4th Street Michigan City, Indiana 46360 219-873-3044mclib.org/ |
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