Under the Tuscan Sun Frances Mayes 1996 |
The title of this book encompasses the essence of the book. Frances Mayes retires to Italy and obtains a rural farm house and olive trees. It is not a story but more of a biography of the struggles and joys of restoring the farmhouse in Tuscany.
Also the trials and tribulations of working with the Government and several diverse cultures from the workmen tot the subcontractors. It is the details that make the book so interesting. If everyone had the wherewithal and the finances to accomplish this then there would be no need for the book. This book gives us dreams, hopes, and recipes. Also enjoyed the audio version. Be aware that reading this book will make you want to eat Italian. Reviewed by Bernie “xyzzy” |
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search For Everything Elizabeth Gilbert 2006 |
This is a wonderful story of self-discovery. Gilbert gives a frank, humorous and self-deprecating account of her year's travel through Italy, India, and Bali. Its upbeat pace and conversational tone make it a wonderfully absorbing read.
Enjoyable for anyone who has questioned where they are in life and whether starting anew ever really works. Reviewed by Mark Lowrie |
Stalking the Wild Dik Dik: One Woman's Solo Misadventure Across Africa Marie Javins 2006 |
Imagine the pleasure of opening your mailbox to find a whole stack of sequential letters from a friend traveling abroad: it would be impossible not to sit down and read them all at once. Marie Javins' writing is exactly like that. Possessing both talent and wit in abundance, Marie is the traveler most of us would like to be: fearless, easygoing, observant, and culturally wide-awake. Her writing is filled with easy, knowing humor, without the pretense of cleverness for cleverness' sake. Marie is at her best in this book portraying the boredom, fatigue, and frustration of travel in hot, dusty, crowded, and cramped trains, buses, and trucks as she makes her way across the African continent from Namibia to Egypt. Marie invites us to an Africa that is far from our popular imagination, yet even more intriguing - it should be mandatory reading for anyone considering travel there. Immersed, you feel like a familiar friend and travel companion as Marie shares her intimate thoughts and observations, and asks all the right questions about the people, diverse cultures, and animals she encounters. Her adventures and near-death experiences make for a thrilling read, and put to rest any fears that the great continent has been tamed.
Reviewed by John Noack |
The Lost Girls: 3 Friends, 4 Continents, an Unconventional Detour Around the World Corbett, Bagget, Pressner 20120 |
nnifer Scott
This memoir is wonderful: Funny, smart, honest and perfectly captures that odd time in life when you're no longer an adolescent, but still wobbling into adulthood. The point where choices seem endless, where responsibilities are minimal, and where you're fully aware that one step can suddenly take you on a journey you never thought you were capable of achieving. Holly, Amanda, and Jen were twentysomething, single women in New York City, trying to juggle romance, careers, friendships, and keeping up with paying rent when they decide to go on a trip of a lifetime: An around-the-world adventure together. The three plan profusely, cobble up funds, quit their jobs (or, in one case, are fired from a job) and take off. Along the way, they discover things about themselves, the world, and that who they want to be when they "grow up" just may be who they are right Reviewed by Jennifer Scott |
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail Cheryl Strayed 2012 |
Cheryl Strayed lost her mother to cancer, and then she 'destroyed' her marriage to a man she loved. She was all alone in the world. So she decided to do something big...all alone. She spent 100 days hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)from the Mohave Desert to Washington State. She wasn't as prepared as she should have been, and the trail is very arduous even for the experienced hiker. But in spite of that, she made it.This book tells the story of her incredible and challenging adventure on the trail. She also incorporates the story of her life and her loss, and the history of the trail. Reviewed by Angela Wolf |
Eighty Days: Nellie Bly and Elisabeth Bisland's Race Around the World Matthew Goodman 2013 |
This is a great book about Nellie Bly's trip around the world and her lesser known rival Elizabeth Bisland. Goodman has cleary done his research presenting details not only of Bly's trip but also of her world ranging from a vignette of Park Row and the problems facing female journalists to the unique difficulties faced by travelers of the time. Goodman's narrative is entertaining and well-structured but with so many side notes for historical details the text can become very dense. At times it is also jarring as Goodman tries to create a narrative feel as he postures how Bisland and Bly must have felt at various points in their journeys. An excellent book for anyone interested in travel, journalism, or this time period.
Reviewed by Miss Print |
Grandma Gatewood's Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail 2014 Ben Montgomery |
Grandma Gatewood was a 67 year old woman, whose 11 children had grown up and left home when she decided that she was going to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail from Mt. Oglethorpe, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine. The key, however, is that she didn't tell a soul about her intended trip…she just took off. In addition to being the first female through hiker to complete the trail, she did it with a bare minimum of gear and equipment and she did it in the summer if 1955, when women just didn't do those things. She started in canvas top sneakers and ended up going through 7 pairs of shoes.
The book alternates between the story of Gatewood's life from the time she was married to an abusive husband until the time she started her "walk" with the story of her time on the trail. In addition, the author adds historical information, such as details about the damage done by Hurricanes Carol and Dianne. Grandma Gatewood did more to "advertise" the Appalachian Trail than anyone before or since, and became famous for her walks in various places. She not only hiked the AT three times (twice as a through hiker and once in segments), but she also hiked the Oregon Trail and helped to create a trail system in her native Ohio. It's wouldn't be out of place to call her one of the most influential women of her time. The book is a fascinating look at her abusive married life, as well as her interest in hiking. It is easy to read and provides a glimpse into life in the mid 1950's. I recommend this book highly to anyone as a great read. Reviewed by Frederick S. Goethel |
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This is a book where descriptive travel writing and food writing appear to be on collision course. Writer/blogger Layne Mosler has cooked up a varied buffet table that takes her reader from Buenos Aries to Queens and to Berlin while taking dining advice from taxi drivers that basically comes down to where the locals go. Actually the reasoning and partial premise for this book is sound. Often travelers hit up locals for dining advice. This book is probably offers an inconsistent mix of things to salivate over such as a buffet in Germany that offered something called Dead Grandmothers. Mosler's description was borderline barf worthy. However a steak in Argentina was in another category all together. It is the appealing mix of people and food that makes this travelogue/food guide roll along and keep things interesting. I liked this book but I am not certain that had I not committed myself to reading it I would have stuck with it long enough to review it. Ultimately, this book is best read and appreciated by lovers of travel books. It is highly detailed, witty, and well written. Reviewed by G.I Gudrieff |
Driving Hungry
Layne Mosler
2015
Layne Mosler
2015
Kilimanjaro Diaries
Eva Thieme 2014 |
I'm a bit of a fan of adventure treks and mountain climb memoirs to put it very mildly, so this book appealed on many levels. The author decides, almost on the spur of the moment to climb Mount Kilamanjaro along with her teenage son plus a few friends and is happy to leave most of the trip pre-planning to them, but does prepare sensibly by buying a good pair of walking boots and wears them in prior to the climb. The feminine issue of using the toilet up a mountain and the contemplated purchase of various gadgets made me laugh out loud at times, but the problem was solved by the porter with a toilet tent who accompanied them on the trek. The book is very well written in a humerous and honest way with little snippets of historical information about the mountain, it's routes and famous climbers. The climb itself by the author, her son and the rest of the party is told in such a way that I felt as if I was there with them and kept me reading until the end. I hope to read more from this author.
Reviewed by Mrs. Briggs |
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A Pearl in the Storm is a fantastic read. With the prerequisite white knuckle moments of a good adventure book, it draws you in and keeps you there. Tori Murden McClure sweeps the reader along as she attempts to become the first woman to solo row the Atlantic Ocean. I found myself gripped with apprehension as the communication systems went out, bracing for the next big wave, and pondering, as the author does, about when she would need to call for help and abandon her quest.
However, to categorize this book strictly as an adventure book would be a mistake. It is first and foremost a book about human nature and the internal battles we all fight in the course of our lives. Whether you are a scholar, an athlete, both (like Tori) or neither, this is a universal experience. Through the seemingly impossible goals the author sets for herself --- whether it is through her academic endeavors, career choice, or the row across the Atlantic --- she attempts to defeat these demons. She isn't always successful, in fact, her first attempt to row across the Atlantic ends in failure, and this defeat almost ends her battle. But that defeat ultimately leads Tori to understand that her demons are what, in fact, make her human. The human battle described within these pages is the facet of the book that I found so compelling. Tori's adventure appeals broadly--not just to super-athletes--but to all of us who have taken up, abandoned, revived, achieved and learned from our personal journeys. Read this book for an inspiring story about one woman's quest to understand herself. You'll recognize yourself in Tori's human voice and take heart. She takes us on her adventure to be the first woman to successfully row across the Atlantic, and ultimately, on her quest for happiness. Reviewed by Keiyam1 |
A Pearl in the Storm
Tori McClure
2009
Tori McClure
2009
Almost Anywhere Krista Schlyer 2016 |
Started reading Krista Schlyer's book and could not put it down. She lets us travel with her, and her two wonderful (and sometimes, smelly) travel companions on her venture through some of our national parks. Her journey starts after the death of her dear friend and partner. We are with Krista for the hard days and the better days. It is an inspirational telling of surviving, coping, and healing after the loss of a loved one--and of having the courage to go on. But don't think that this is a sad, morbid tale of death and mourning. Krista let us in on the many funny moments that occurred while on her journey. And her footnotes are hilarious. reviewed by Verky1227 |
Row for Freedom Julia Immonen 2014 |
Julia Immonen lets us get to know who she is by a very open description of her family history. That helps us stay close to her as she describes how she started to understand the horror of human trafficking and got the idea to row the Atlantic to raise awareness about this great evil. The description of her preparation and the row itself makes us realize what an incredibly demanding and painful journey this was. Yet inspired by the passion for the cause she and her team of of five brave young women endured it all and made the crossing. The book is easy to read with nice short chapters but presents a life changing challenge to us all. Reviewed by Graham Turneron |
The Yellow Envelope Kim Dinan 2017 |
Kim's story of her world travels, journey with her husband, and donations from the yellow envelope was an inspiration. As someone who loves to travel, I enjoyed the stories of people she met around the world and the impact that they had on her life. Kim's writing made me tear up at times and become emotionally involved in her story. I couldn't stop reading and finished the book in one sitting! Bravo Kim for living your dream and sharing it with the world! I'm already looking forward to your next book! Reviewed by Lana Sotherland |