This guidebook combines history, maps, detailed directions for the trail, places to stay and eat, and things to see. An invaluable compInspirational!
This guidebook combines history, maps, detailed directions for the trail, places to stay and eat, and things to see. An invaluable companion for those wishing to hike England’s Coast-to-Coast Trail. ...more
The author is a good writer – what could have sounded preachy, rarely did – but it did get a bit exhausting to read all of her anger.
She’s the first pThe author is a good writer – what could have sounded preachy, rarely did – but it did get a bit exhausting to read all of her anger.
She’s the first person to bicycle the entire route of the monarch butterfly migration (with 70 pounds of gear in her panniers!) and she gives us a lot of information about monarchs. Despite that, the book isn’t dry and academic. Instead, she points out the environmental changes that are killing monarchs, such as more moisture and cold, and that it takes 3-5 generations of Monarchs to complete the round-trip migration. ...more
Alternately inspiring and annoying, this book poses the question: where should I live? It presumes that your job is do-able anywhere (school teacher, Alternately inspiring and annoying, this book poses the question: where should I live? It presumes that your job is do-able anywhere (school teacher, for instance, or remote worker) and seems to be geared towards millennials. It gives us a location strategy for figuring out where to move and asks many of the questions I asked when I was looking to locate my forever home.
There are a number of case studies of less expensive places to live, but a lot of it is about how you can save money if you move from New York City or California to North Carolina or Kansas. But what if you live in the latter locations in the first place…?
It did make me do some research about nomad visas. ...more
A somewhat forgettable read, I did enjoy learning about the concept of the "news of the world", whereby traveling readers would bring newspapers to toA somewhat forgettable read, I did enjoy learning about the concept of the "news of the world", whereby traveling readers would bring newspapers to towns along the frontier and read them out loud in large venues to those unable to read. The problem I had with the book was there was an almost constant sense of impending violence and I'm not a fan of that sense that something bad is going to happen....more
Lyrical, beautiful, and inspirational, this is not only about journeys of thousands of miles, all of them rowed, but also about the journey of her relLyrical, beautiful, and inspirational, this is not only about journeys of thousands of miles, all of them rowed, but also about the journey of her relationship with her husband. “As extra words between us fall away like autumn leaves, we find ourselves more and more free to hear.”...more
This is a mash-up of drawings by Falconer and photos of Venice and results in the usual Olivia havoc. In the meantime, much gelato is consumed…*too* mThis is a mash-up of drawings by Falconer and photos of Venice and results in the usual Olivia havoc. In the meantime, much gelato is consumed…*too* much, according to the gondolier…....more
One of my all-time favorite books, this - along with Julie of the Wolves - kindled my fascination with the North. It's high adventure mixed with a howOne of my all-time favorite books, this - along with Julie of the Wolves - kindled my fascination with the North. It's high adventure mixed with a how-to for making an igloo, tanning a deer hide, etc. Maps allow you to follow the boys along their travels....more
An interesting look at Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter, two botanists who ran the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in 1938. It was disheartening An interesting look at Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter, two botanists who ran the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in 1938. It was disheartening to hear how they were viewed, both by the men who ran the river with them and the general public, and I bristled every time they had to cook (daily, for everybody). The book wasn't quite as interesting as I'd hoped - it was a little too gossipy at times - but the photographs of the herbarium specimens that they'd prepared from the expedition were very cool. ...more
A Big Year is when birders vie for the highest number of sightings of birds in one calendar year. In 1998, three very differeSuch a fun and fast read!
A Big Year is when birders vie for the highest number of sightings of birds in one calendar year. In 1998, three very different men attempted to win the title. This is the tale of that year and their stories.
Made into a movie in 2011, which is also fun to watch....more
Much like A History of the World in 6 glasses, this book wends its way through different historical periods, in this case by looking at different orchMuch like A History of the World in 6 glasses, this book wends its way through different historical periods, in this case by looking at different orchids and orchid enthusiasts. It is lush with paintings, really beautiful botanical illustrations, and photographs, and includes tips on how to grow orchids and a glossary of orchid terms....more
Short stories about places – both real and metaphorical – written by a writer for The New Yorker. I liked the ones taking place in other countries besShort stories about places – both real and metaphorical – written by a writer for The New Yorker. I liked the ones taking place in other countries best – little league baseball playing in Cuba, climbing Mt. Fuji. The title captures the feel of the stories – she does excel at creating a sense of place....more
Gerald Durrell was one of my favorite authors as a child obsessed with nature and animals. I reread this swashbuckling account of his attempts to captGerald Durrell was one of my favorite authors as a child obsessed with nature and animals. I reread this swashbuckling account of his attempts to capture rare animals on trips to Africa and South America recently and it did not disappoint. The wit is dry, the voyages are adventurous....more
Buford, a former magazine writer, decided he wanted to explore French cooking by doing a stage (internship) in a French kitchen, in Lyon, considered tBuford, a former magazine writer, decided he wanted to explore French cooking by doing a stage (internship) in a French kitchen, in Lyon, considered the birthplace of that cuisine. This isn’t as outlandish as it seems, since he’d already cooked in Italian restaurants and subsequently wrote a book about it (Heat). It also leads to his slight obsession with the idea that French cooking has its roots in Italian food, which runs as a thread throughout the book (at times, a somewhat tedious thread).
This is a complex and reflective book that touches on the bureaucracy of moving to and living in France; contains an intimate look at the Lyon area, its food, and the Lyonnais themselves; as well as philosophical musings about bullies in the kitchen and the importance of French cooking to the French identity.
The author learns from the best: from Bob – who owns the best bakery in Lyon, to a cheese maker in a cabin high in the French Alps, to visiting the childhood haunts of and with his mentor, Michel Richard. He has in his wife Jessica the perfect complement – an expert in wine and the French language, who keeps him organized.
Buford explains it best: “I had gone to France to learn basics. The basics of its kitchen. The basics of place, and what grows here and what doesn’t grow there. I wanted to get as close to my sources as possible, where the words come from, how we arrive at flavor. I wanted to re-examine my assumptions about the kitchen, to restart my education. To get as elemental and as primary as possible. Heat. Water. Labor. Place. And its dirt.”...more
Lovely photographs of the castle complement the brief history (written in the 1920s) of the Chateau de Chillon. This includes the beautiful poem by LoLovely photographs of the castle complement the brief history (written in the 1920s) of the Chateau de Chillon. This includes the beautiful poem by Lord Byron: "The prisoner of Chillon". ...more
Languorous like the river itself, this tale of the Seine wends its way from topic to topic: from Monet to Julia Child to Camille Claudel (Rodin’s loveLanguorous like the river itself, this tale of the Seine wends its way from topic to topic: from Monet to Julia Child to Camille Claudel (Rodin’s lover and an impressive sculptor in her own right) to L’Inconnue de la Seine, who committed suicide and was fished out of the Seine. Her face was so lovely that masks were made of it and were used to craft the first-aid mannequin used to teach CPR. There are in-depth looks at the cities and towns along the way, as well as the source of the Seine and its estuary into the ocean. The detours and meanders inspired me to look up many of the things she mentions (such as the song about Le Havre).
This beautifully written book is a love letter to the Seine and to France. It makes me want to explore every part of the river and to read it again, before visiting Paris....more
After his fiancée leaves him, Knighton decided to end his lease, write/pitch for TV spots, and visit every national park, starting with sunrise on CadAfter his fiancée leaves him, Knighton decided to end his lease, write/pitch for TV spots, and visit every national park, starting with sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, Maine, which is the first part of the contiguous US to see the sunrise on January 1st.
The parks are arranged thematically, instead of chronologically, which added to my understanding of each park and to the narrative of the story. I loved the links he created, such as that between the Ancestral Puebloans leaving Mesa Verde with a heavy heart, to those in the 1940s in the Great Smokey Mountains who were told it was their patriotic duty to leave their homes when the Tennessee Valley Authority created a dam where their houses were.
There were all sorts of interesting tidbits about the animals in the parks; the fact that Great Sand Dunes National Park is the quietest place in the country; and the relationship between the US and Mexico in Big Bend National Park and how it’s changed over the years. And there’s quite a bit of humor: “Everyone is so afraid of getting mauled that nobody wants to deviate even slightly from the protocol shown in the video. As a result, Katmai ends up resembling a summer camp for crazy people, its trails full of nervous adults clapping their hands while periodically talking to themselves. Hey bear. Hey bear.”
The author also takes a philosophical bent when he looks at what to do about too many people in the national parks or the mission of the Park Service (to give people the chance to be inspired by a national park). He applies that same lens to his own life – the ‘me’ before the parks, the ‘me’ after.
In the end, this book rekindled my desire to see even more national parks. ...more
What a beautiful book, with loads of gorgeous photos! The author’s intent is to introduce us to the other beautiful places on the plateau, not the oneWhat a beautiful book, with loads of gorgeous photos! The author’s intent is to introduce us to the other beautiful places on the plateau, not the ones that everybody knows about. He gives the background and history of the area, then various excursions for each site: biking, rafting, hiking, etc. Included are helpful details about fees, when it was established, and any special considerations. It’s an inclusive book – when he’s talking about rainbows, he refers to the Bible, Norse mythology, and gay pride.
Beautiful paintings and hilarious one-star reviews (Yellowstone - "Save yourself some money; boil some water at home") are paired with information aboBeautiful paintings and hilarious one-star reviews (Yellowstone - "Save yourself some money; boil some water at home") are paired with information about the park and its history. While sometimes it feels as though Share is trying too hard to be funny, the book definitely inspired me to visit more of our national parks....more
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