Here’s an interesting book and accompanying TV show out of the United Kingdom that I haven’t heard about until now.
Around the World in 80 Treasures first came out in early 2005,
followed by a ten episode series which aired in the spring on BBC2. Author and TV personality
Dan Cruickshank visited
about 40 countries over 5 months in search of the
best landmarks of human achievement. From Machu Picchu to Petra to the Alhambra, he visits eighty world gems, sharing
history and personal perspective about each place and the ancient civilization responsible for its existence. The
paperback version of the book was released in October, although only in the UK as far as I can tell.
Killer Whale to Get Endangered Listing
This news kind of struck me from out of the blue. Having lived in Seattle for many years, I will tell you that the
Orca or killer whale is a legendary figure. Pods of whales still ply the bay and sea kayakers make special pilgrimages
up to places like the San Juan Islands just to see them. I hade always thought they were, well, if not plentiful, then
at least numerous enough. But it seems that one species of Puget Sound Killer Whale, is not. The Department of the
Interior has said it will list the southern resident
killer whale (which is, as I say, a distinct variant of orca whale…distinct from the Northern resident whales) on the
Endangered Species List. This is the highest level of protection that a species can get, and while no guarantee of the
species ultimate survival, at least means that the full strength of the law extends to help the animal survive.
Interestingly, on a quite similar note, it seems Interior will also REMOVE the grizzly bear from the list, a species
that had been protected by the Endangered Species Act for 30 years. So, see, there are happy endings to listing.
Jonathan Raban in the Seattle Weekly
I saw this over at Worldhum and had to post about it. Not only am I a major
fan of Raban’s writing, but I worked for a bit at the Seattle Weekly myself,
and so love to see them featuring local literary heroes.
The article looks at Raban’s life as a
transplanted Brit to the soggy, caffeine-saturated greenopolis of Seattle. He has become an institution there, heralded
as one of the Northwest’s greatest writers, even with the funny accent. (and for the record, it appears he hates being
known as a regional writer…which I agree with, since one of my favorite books is Hunting Mr. Heartbreak: A Discovery of
America.) And I’ve still not read, but plan to, his book Passage to Juneau. Well the interview and article here capture
Raban’s wit and orneriness. He has a new book out called Holy War, in which he examines the American political
experience from 9/11 through August 2005. No fan of GWB, you can be sure there are some sharp words for the Pres. But
knowing Raban’s writing, my guess is much of the analysis and commentary is probably spot on.
Bookish in Britain
Chances are, if you’ve spent time in London, at some point you’ve read 84 Charing Cross Road.
And if you’ve visited it, you’ve discovered that the famous bookstore in the story is no longer there. Sad, that. But
London remains a bookish city, as in evidence in Slate’s sedate, but entertaining
feature on book hunting in Britain.
Writer Jacob Weisberg heads to London to meet up with writer/novelist Julian Barnes, who calls himself an “ex-collector”, that is book collector, a comment meant, it
seems, to distance himself from the fanatics who run around snapping up and then hoarding first editions of old novels.
I’m no hard core collector, but I do have to confess I have the first editions of several of my favorite books. Among
one of my favorites is Alduous Huxley’s Brave New World.
But I know several people who are avid collectors and their passion for keeping old books has always seemed a bit
odd to me. It is also, as Weisberg says, “nerdy and pedantic”. But like Weisberg, there is still that impulse to hold
onto something you love that is original, not repackaged, remarketed. A nice little piece for bookworms.
One for the Road: Life at the Top
Historic hotels are always so fun to stay at or visit when traveling. New York is an
especially great place for this — I’ve walked through the
(currently closed) Plaza lobby many a
time to peek at the Palm Court, and once met friends for a celebratory drink at The Algonquin.
It’s fun to feel like you’re stepping back in time when you walk through the doors of these titans of luxury. Now
there’s a new book that chronicles the glorious history of these old Manhattan hotels.
Life at the Top: Inside New York’s Grand Hotels, by
journalist Ward Morehouse III, shares the glamour, drama and celebrity stories that helped make these hotels the
landmarks they are today.