World Literature Week: NYPL LIVE & PEN Festival

by Kelly Amabile on

The New York Public Library seems to have declared April as International Travel Writing Month. The list of events and offerings related to the world of travel literature continues to grow. Following on the heels of the recent Jan Morris event, the NYPL LIVE lecture series will go truly global this week. Here’s a quick rundown:

Today, at 7 PM, Julia Alvarez, author of Saving the World, will appear at the South Court Auditorium of the Humanities and Social Sciences Library. Julia is a poet, essayist and fiction writer who spent part of her childhood in the Dominican Republic and now runs a sustainable farming project and literacy center in the mountains of her native country.

Then on Sunday, April 29, in conjunction with the PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature, there will be a full day of travel-inspired talk hosted by the library, beginning with Voyage & Voyeur: Travel and Travel Writing at noon. Scheduled to appear are Alain de Botton, Ma Jiam and Illija Trojanow, discussing language and travel writing. Finally, at 2 PM, a special tribute to Ryszard Kapuscinski, the talented Polish journalist and travel writer who died earlier this year.

The PEN Festival brings to town a whole host of other writers (like Pico Iyer and Susan Orlean) who will appear at lectures and workshops throughout the week, focusing thoughts around the festival’s theme of Home & Away. Feel free to send a postcard and share your own views too.

One for the Road (04/22/07)

by Kelly Amabile on

I turned to the eco-tourism folks at Planeta for inspiration on today’s book suggestion. Although not specifically a travel book, this collection of ecologically-minded maps reinforces an important point we travelers must be mindful of as we move through the world — this great vessel that feeds all our passion for global exploration is seriously threatened — often by our very own desire for adventure and the means we use to fuel our travels.

The Atlas of Climate Change: Mapping the World’s Greatest Challenge examines the signs of climate change (rising sea levels, erratic weather patterns), looks at the serious implications of global warming, and provides insights into the politics and global debate shaping these issues. While it may not provide detailed solutions on what can and needs to be done to reverse our earth’s decline, the atlas does provide a comprehensive overview of the issues at play and the damage that is already being done.

Using over fifty full-color maps and graphics, this environmentally-conscious collection of maps is a good one for travelers to thumb through. It’s an educational and essential resource that provides a valuable visual overview of this pressing concern. Besides the basic food/water/health implications of climate-change, the atlas also looks at vulnerable cities and cultural landmarks around the world–especially in countries lacking the resources to adapt. As we travel through these lands, a book like this serves as an important reminder: Every movement we make has some impact on the life-span of our planet.

One for the Road (04/21/07)

by Kelly Amabile on

Today’s book suggestion is a special one for the ladies. Greece, A Love Story is the latest in a series edited by Camille Cusumano and published by Seal Press. (Previous love story books include Mexico, France and Italy.) This brand new collection features travel essays by nineteen women united in their deep passion for Greece. The unique and personal stories will resonate with anyone who has been there, or will surely capture the hearts of those yearning to make a visit. These female perspectives on the Greek experience may teach you a thing or two about mythology and ancient history, and will surely captivate you with the charm and beauty of this magical land.

An impressive group of globe-trotting goddesses have contributed to this creative anthology — and just think how many others may exist who’ve had a love affair with (or in!) this enchanting place. There are a few events happening this spring where you’ll have a chance to meet some of the contributors. The first one is coming up this week, and is the only event scheduled (thus far) on the East Coast. Several authors will be at the Community Bookstore in Brooklyn this Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 pm. Other readings are scheduled for California and Washington in May and June. What about a reading somewhere in Athens or Santorini? Sign me up for one of those, okay?

One for the Road (04/20/07)

by Kelly Amabile on

If you’re a classical music or public television fan, you may be familiar with the PBS series Classical Destinations, which takes viewers all over Europe, visiting the cities, towns and villages touched and influenced by the likes of Verdi, Beethoven, Bach, Strauss and Schubert. In February 2007, a hardcover book based on the series was released in the US. Classical Destinations: An Armchair Guide to Classical Music features over 200 glossy photos and detailed descriptions of the historical locations where the great composers lived, worked and practiced their artistic talents.

Of course, a book can’t capture the essence of the musical genius of these performers like a TV show can, so the smart marketing team at Classical Destinations created a double CD and double DVD of the entire series as well — for your listening enjoyment. You can journey along with British host Simon Callow (not to be confused with that other UK musical idol, Simon Cowell) to places like Salzberg, Bonn, St. Petersburg and Prague, on a melodious guided tour through the history and geography of the world’s great classical composers. In addition to the classical music capitals of Europe featured in the book, there are also chapters (based on episodes) devoted to the music of Norway and Finland.

The Smart Traveler’s Passport: 399 Tips from Seasoned Travelers

by Willy Volk on

In The Smart Traveler’s Passport, you’ll learn, oh, about 399 tips from Budget Travel’s readers, including:

  • 13 different uses for Ziploc bags.
  • How dental floss can double as a tape measure.
  • Where to find the best street food in a city.
  • How a digital camera can help you find your rental car.
  • How to avoid long lines at popular attractions.

Designed to look and feel like an actual passport, the 400th tip is that if someone demands you hand over your passport, just give them your copy of this book and run like hell. Hopefully, you’ll be far enough away before they realize what’s what.

For more tips, check out Budget Travel’s announcement of the project. Erik Torkells, if you’re reading, Gadling would love a copy to review…