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Ishtar
monday-again!
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 | | Purred: Mon Jun 30, '08 9:33am PST | |  | |  | | as mentioned we've read a number of motorcycle travel books during the past months - perhaps not all would be funny for those who don't ride.
an exception - i guess - are the ted simon travels. we've read the follow-up to "jupiter's travels" which is named "dreaming of jupiter". the author ted simon travelled the whole world in the 1970s (when only few dared such a project) and then decided to travel the tour again in the beginning of this decade. it is much more than a bike travel - he's meeting both old friends and disappointments. and of course world politics and its effects. this makes it a quite good reading or all. |  |  | |  |
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Luna
No Nonsense
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 | | Purred: Sun Nov 30, '08 7:51pm PST | | | | | | We just finished reading Ciao, America by Beppe Severgnini. He is an Italian who lived in Georgetown near Washington D.C. for a year and wrote about Americans and American life.
The book is not new (90-something, six, maybe), but we picked it up at the used book store anyway, because some of the reviews compared him to an Italian Bill Bryson.
In our opinion, not. Not nearly as funny or penetrating as Bill Bryson, but fairly diverting nevertheless. One thing that struck us--he says Americans are such a RATIONAL bunch of people, in that we try to explain EVERYTHING according to science and technology--hence The Weather Channel, for example. We've been thinking a lot about that comment. Very interesting.
Your friend,
Luna | | | | |
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Kingsley
Troublemeister- in Training
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| | Purred: Sun Jan 11, '09 1:50pm PST | | | | | | I got a new book yesterday!
It is called Queen of the Road by Doreen Orion. The subtitle is The True Tale of 47 states, 200 shoes, 2 cats, 1 poodle, a husband and a bus with a will of its own.
It was on the recommended display at Border's. I HAD to use my 20% off coupon on something, and the book I wanted was sold out!
The author and her husband are both psychiatrists. She is a Long Island princess, a couch potato and a shoe addict. He convinces her to take a cross-country trip in a converted bus, something she swore she would never ever do.
I have only read a little bit because I am not finished with Take the Cannoli, but it looks VERY promising! I LOVE travel essay books, and this appears to be a FUN one! Will let you know more when I have read it all!
Your friend,
Kingsley | | | | |
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Ishtar
monday-again!
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| | Purred: Wed Sep 16, '09 11:41pm PST | | | | | | i am not sure if this is the best thread for what i found recently...
it's:
the clumsiest people in europe. mrs. mortimer's bad-tempered guide to the victorian world
it's a compilation of
- Near Home, or, The Countries of Europe Described
- Far Off: Asia and Australia Described
- Far Off Part II, Africa and America Described
all by Favell Lee Mortimer and edited by Todd Pruzan who wrote a short introduction to it.
we die laughing!
which in fact is not fair for mrs. mortimer was seriously trying to warn her fellow people of the dangers the world is hiding. and that is both - tragic and funny. tragic because she never left england and writes about foreign countries*. and funny - well, ...
different to the xenophobe's guides series (which we LOVE!) this is not ridiculous on purpose (but it is!) and it tells a lot about victorian times, ignorance and silly superiority fantasies.
*not really mentionable as so many people talk about what they have no idea of... but they share comicality with this author.  ooops. sorry. | | | | |
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Luna
No Nonsense
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| | Purred: Thu Sep 17, '09 10:00am PST | | | | | | This book sounds hilarious, Ishtar! We LOVE hilarious. Just ordered it on Amazon for 95 cents!
Can't wait to get it!
Your friends,
Luna & Kingsley | | | | |
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SMUSHY
the quester |
| | Purred: Thu Oct 29, '09 5:14pm PST | | | | | | We LOVE travel writing, and we love ARMCHAIRS. We have recently finished Paul Theroux' book Ghost Train to the EASTERN STAR, in which he recreates the train trip he took 30years ago- The Great Railway Bazaar- through Asia to observe the changes. We give it 4 paws up, as we do all his travel books, particularly The Happy Isles of Oceania (hilarious) and Dark Star Safari. Gita is addicted to travel writing, because she has been to all the continents, including antarctica. We also like Redmond O'Hanlon's books about Borneo and Congo, 2 venues we are likely to visit only by armchair, under the quilt. | | | | |
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SMUSHY
the quester |
| | Purred: Thu Oct 29, '09 5:16pm PST | | | | | | Plus, we love reading stories about the Peace Corps. any recommendations? We find books about other people's tribulations relaxing, for some reason. George Packer is a favorite. | | | | |
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Kingsley
Troublemeister- in Training
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| | Purred: Thu Oct 29, '09 7:35pm PST | | | | | | Hi Smushy!
We have read most of Paul Theroux' travels too, except for the most recent ones. Loved Oceania too! Also Pillars of Hercules and Kingdom by the Sea!
Also liked Blue Highways and River-Horse by William Least Heat-Moon. I do not think we read PrairyErth.
And have you read Michael Palin's travel books? We really like those too!
And Driving Over Lemons by Chris Stewart?
Your friend,
Kingsley | | | | |
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Luna
No Nonsense
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| | Purred: Thu Oct 29, '09 7:38pm PST | | | | | | Also, Smushy, you probably know about these and they are not exactly Peace Corps, but have you read:
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracey Kidder? or
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson?
Mountains Beyond Mountains is one of our favorite books of all time, hands down. Life-changing. Amazing.
Your friend,
Luna | | | | |
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