"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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| 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 but by a native Englishman who's lived in New Zealand for years, try Joe Bennett's Mustn't Grumble. |
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| Life and Death in the Andes: On the Trail of Bandits, Heroes, and Revolutionaries by Kim MacQuarrieThe Andes are the longest mountain range on earth, and author and award-winning filmmaker Kim MacQuarrie had long wanted to travel its 4,000+ mile length and gather "stories the way others might fill a basket with ripe, exotic fruits." Visiting Colombia, Ecuador (including the Galapagos Islands), Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina, he did just that, learning about Andean history as well as about some famous people who left their marks, including drug lord Pablo Escobar, revolutionary leader Che Guevara, bandits Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, explorer Charles Darwin, and a 500-year-old, well-preserved Inca "Ice Maiden." Richly detailed and well-researched, anyone interested in South America or its history should read this fascinating book. |
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| The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World's Most Creative Places... 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" (New York Times) is a good fit for curious fans of Bill Bryson looking for other amusing authors to read. |
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| Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes by Elizabeth BardWhen Elizabeth, an American working in London, meets Gwendal, a Frenchman in England for a conference, they instantly connect. Before long, they are having lunch together in Paris, falling in love, and getting married. Using food as a frame, Elizabeth documents their courtship, describing mouth-watering dishes (such as molten chocolate cake and summer ratatouille) as well as shopping in a foreign language (her Parisian butcher looks like Matt Dillon) and choosing a wedding cake (one that's not gaudy). If you'd like a charming tale of an ex-pat in love with food, France, and her Frenchman, try Lunch in Paris. Recipes are included -- bon appétit! |
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| The Most Beautiful Walk in the World: A Pedestrian in Paris by John BaxterIn this delightful memoir, author John Baxter discusses his ex-pat life in the City of Light. Between musings on Parisians' penchant for walking and recollections of his own strolls, he shares amusing anecdotes about family life (he's married to a French woman, but no one in her family can cook) and everyday life as well as offering fascinating historical insight into the city by discussing literary lights like Hemingway and covering a serial killer and World War II. Baxter's stories provide an evocative, multi-faceted view of one of the greatest cities in the world. For another walking tour of Paris, try Edmund White's The Flaneur. |
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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" (Publishers Weekly) travelogue that takes you to Paris and beyond. |
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| Paris to the Moon by Adam GopnikAh, Paris: the city of light, love, sinfully delicious pastries...and expatriate Americans searching for that certain je ne sais quoi. Adam Gopnik, a writer for The New Yorker, had loved Paris since he was eight years old, so he was quite happy to move to the French capital with wife and son in tow and write a "Paris Journal" for the magazine. This book, consisting of previously published essays and excerpts from his diary over a five year period, describes family life Parisian-style as Gopnik finds an apartment, joins a gym, welcomes a new baby, and thoughtfully reflects on the city's mystique and allure. |
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