One for the Road: Don Quixote vs. Donkey Xote

by Kelly Amabile on

Even though this book about Don Quixote was released last year, I thought now was an appropriate time to mention it, since the first animated version of the famous novel will debut in Spain this week. Fighting Windmills – Encounters with Don Quixote takes a closer look at the making of this masterpiece of world literature, tracing its impact on writers and thinkers across the centuries. Authors Manuel Duran and Fay Rodd explore the central themes of Cervantes great work, and follow it up with examples of how the novel influenced generations of other writers.

One thing the book might not touch on is the fact that, although th 17th century story has touched many, few have actually read both volumes cover to cover. Will this week’s release of a first-ever animated rendition inspire more folks to take a stab at actually reading the lengthy tale? Probably not, but beginning this Wednesday, Spaniards will be able to view a condensed 80-minute cartoon version of the classic journey. Donkey Xote, a $20 million film production, took five years to make, and comes complete with a Shrek-like donkey. You can view the English trailer here.

One for the Road: More Words of Worldly Wisdom

by Kelly Amabile on

‘Tis the season of giving, and since I still have a plethora of interesting links to share, here’s another round of travel-related reading possibilities. These lit-minded travel topics have been gathered from the usual suspects, as well as some less traditional and slightly obscure sources. Have at it if any of these tickle your fancy:

A sleuth-fiction travel guide to a world of crime from the folks at New York magazine. This collection of tales stretches from Havana to the Gaza Strip.

Duke University Press plugs its 2005 book about tourism in Bulgaria, in response to today’s NYT article about the country’s ski resorts. A more recent travel title from this press is Femininity in Flight, about sexism that early “stewardesses” faced.

The Island Studies Journal offers up loads of academic content related to land surrounded by water. Bookforum links to a piece on Second Home Tourism in Small Island Communities, and reviews of various island literature, like Empire Islands: Castaways, Cannibals and Fantasies of Conquest.

The Center for Faulkner Studies announces the acquisition of records relating to the foreign travels of the renowned writer. The collection includes letters and photographs from his 1950’s trips to Japan, Greece, Italy, France and Venezuela.

World Hum recently suggested 12 books to read before traveling to China, and three picks about Antarctica.

And finally, Rick Steves has recently shared insider info about his company. If you follow news from the travel publishing industry closely, you may be interested to read his take on running a travel business and the future of the guidebook.

One for the Road: Journey Overload

by Kelly Amabile on

My December 1st gift to you, dear readers, is a plethora of journey-related reading to welcome the new month. Instead of suggesting just one book today, I’ll start off the month with a whole bunch. So many of the links I come across on a daily basis simply disappear into the web’s oblivion…but not these special gems. In an attempt to connect wanderers with words, here is a collection of links that can take you places:

First up, a variety of travel-minded Lit Lists: a collection of books that celebrate the the spirit of Scotland, and five best books about journeys of discovery, and exploration.

A pseudo Seuss book, There’s a Map on My Lap, is mentioned at a wonderful new blog I discovered called Cartophila. (I can’t quite recall how I arrived at the URL, but no maps were used :)

And also for the kiddies: Wind the World Over, a unique book about two siblings who travel the world learning about how different cultures use wind as a resource.

The Written Nerd reviews Gentleman of the Road, and shares this favorite snippit from the book, which I love as well: “All adventure happens in that damned and magical space, wherever it may be found or chanced upon, which least resembles one’s home.”

And a bonus for future travels: from Bozeman to Milan, more bookstores to get lost in. Happy reading…wherever you are!

One for the Road: London – A Life in Maps

by Kelly Amabile on

Let’s close out the month with one final map book selection. London: A Life in Maps, similar to yesterday’s book, is the result of a collaboration between an independent scholar and a major research library. In this case, Peter Whitfield teamed up with the British Library to produce this history of the city through the plans and maps that have represented and shaped it — over 200 maps spanning the last 500 years. The book was released earlier this year, in conjunction with an exhibit at the British Library.

A recent New York Times article highlighted this book, as well as additional cartographic titles that have been published lately. As the author notes in his piece: “Unlike calendars and telephone books, maps combine form, function and fantasy, a potent blend that might explain a recent surge in books on cartography and the continuing effort to humanize the contours of the earth.” We’ve mentioned several of these map books already — a plethora of grids and lines that have directed (or misdirected) explorers, city dwellers and nomads through the years.

One for the Road: Cartographia – Mapping Civilizations

by Kelly Amabile on

Here’s another smart looking map book: The Library of Congress and Vincent Virga teamed up to produce a special salute to mapmaking called Cartographia; Mapping Civilizations. It’s a collection of over 200 maps that show how the world has been charted over time. The selections for this volume (some of which are quite rare), were pulled directly from the Library of Congress, which houses the largest cartographic collection in the world.

This interview with Virga tells more about how he became involved with the project, and why the Waldseemuller Map of the world on the cover of the book is his favorite. This unique collection seeks to illustrate the storytelling attributes of maps, whether they are drawn to scale, abstract, or even fictional (like in the case of Faulkner’s Yoknapatawpha County.) Regardless of form or style, each of the maps included in this book shares a story, which the authors invite readers to review in a similar way to which travelogues are read. Seems like an invitation that many travelers, map enthusiasts and book lovers will surely want to embark on.