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| Autumn Light: Season of Fire and Farewells by Pico IyerWhat it is: a poignant, personal meditation on family, self, and dying as viewed within the context of Japanese culture.
What happened: After his Japanese father-in-law died, British-born, Indian American writer Pico Iyer went to Japan where his thoughts turned to aging and death as his wife carried out traditional mourning rituals.
How he coped: Iyer helped his mother-in-law (who couldn't remember her husband had died), wondered about his brother-in-law's refusal to see the family, and played ping pong with elderly friends. |
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| Horizon by Barry LopezWhat it is: an eloquent essay collection combining nature writing, travelogue, and memoir that covers some of the award-winning author's travels (mostly while he was in his 40s and 50s) as well as his encounters with people, animals, and landscapes.
Places visited include: the Galápagos Islands, Antarctica, Australia, Kenya, and the Canadian Arctic.
Reviewers say: "Exemplary writing about the world and a welcome gift to readers" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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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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Love With a Chance of Drowning: A Memoir
by Torre DeRoche
What it's about: Recounts how the author fell in love with a man she met at a bar and how she decided to set aside her fear of deep water and sail with him across the world.
What actually happened: They sailed to the Marquesas, Society, and Cook islands where they also encountered bewitching tropical landscapes and storms.
About the author: Torre DeRoche is from Australia, writes, paints, and keeps a travel blog tackling her travel fears.
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In a Sunburned Country
by Bill Bryson
What it's about: The author takes readers on an outrageous tour of the land Down Under that goes far beyond packaged-tour routes, leaving no Vegemite sandwich unsavored.
About the author: From Des Moines, Iowa, Bill Bryson lived in England for almost two decades, was the chancellor of Durham University, and is now a travel writer. He is also the author of A Walk in the Woods.
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A Thousand Days in Venice: An Unexpected Romance
by Marlena De Blasi
What it's about: A transplanted American chronicles her life as a chef and food writer from the beginning of her relationship with Fernando, a native Venetian, through her move from St. Louis to Venice to marry him, and recounts her efforts to adjust to her marriage and to her new country.
Reviewer's Say: "A handful of elegant, inspiring recipes for foods that have figured in the text round out the book. Venice-lovers will connect with the passions depicted in this memoir" (Booklist).
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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