One for the Road (04/27/07)

by Kelly Amabile on
I’m dipping into the archives for this Friday afternoon book suggestion. Originally released in 2003, this fascinating look at the world of endangered languages introduces readers to just some of the over 6,000 languages that exist today. Unfortunately, author Mark Abley tells us, that number is dropping significantly — threatened tongues will continue to die off at a rate of about one every two weeks. Spoken Here: Travels Among Threatened Languages is an investigative look at why languages are disappearing.

Abley’s book introduces us to little-known tribes and their virtually unknown words, examining the forces at play that are driving these exotic languages into extinction. As Gadling’s own language diva Adrienne has shown us through her Word for the Travel Wise series, the beauty and cultural diversity of the spoken word keeps us all connected and communicating as we travel through this world. As languages like Murrinh-Patha (Australia), Mi’kmaq (eastern Canada and Maine) and Boro (India) disappear, will all we have left someday be English, and its butchered info-age dialects, email and texting? Take a trip through Abley’s world of troubled tongues and decide for yourself.

One for the Road (04/26/07)

by Kelly Amabile on

British author Giles Tremlett is the Madrid correspondent for The Guardian. His book, Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through Spain and its Secret Past is a historical journey that draws on his experience as a reporter and resident of Spain for over twenty years. Tremlett peels back a past that Spaniards have traditionally chosen to remain silent about until recently, prompted by the recent appearance of mass graves located 60 years after the end of the Spanish Civil War.

The result is a comprehensive and compelling look at post-Franco Spain, beginning with a focus on the war and its aftermath. Tremlett goes further, delving into the question of why Spaniards disagree so much about so many things. His examination of political corruption, Catalan tensions and the 2004 Madrid bombings leads him deeper into the painful history of this nation. But ultimately, his historical travelogue guides readers beyond the somber past, embarking on a tour of modern Spanish culture. Flamenco, architecture and sport are just some of the areas explored further in this well received social and political history.

One for the Road (04/25/07)

by Kelly Amabile on

Since I don’t have cable, I remain largely disconnected from much of the fantastic programming on stations like The Discovery, History and Travel Channels. I learned more about one of these shows I’ve been missing while reading Sunday’s New York Times profile of Josh Bernstein, adventure anthropologist and host of the History Channel’s soon to be retired Digging for the Truth.

Bernstein, a native New Yorker and Cornell grad, seems to live up to the Indiana Jones labeling he receives. And on top of all the daring explorations, he runs an outdoor survival school and is a professional photographer. Despite its’ populatiry, The History Channel series is ending after a three season run. But of course, another cable channel has already snatched Bernstein up. Discovery just started shooting episodes for a new and yet-to-be-named series, that will feature more of the same travel adventure, with a stronger emphasis on Bernstein’s passion for the environment.

So while you’re waiting for episodes of the new show to air, why not check out the companion book to the Digging for the Truthl series? It’s an autobiographical look at Bernstein’s path to what has to be one of the greatest travel gigs out there, as well as a behind-the-scenes look at his fantastic fact-finding global expeditions.

One for the Road (04/24/07)

by Kelly Amabile on

Ad man Chris Epting has written a series of location themed books that highlight pop culture landmarks across the US. His latest, Led Zeppelin Crashed Here, takes readers on a musical journey that visits almost 600 hotel rooms, concert venues, birthplaces and graves linked to rock ‘n’ roll history. Music junkies in need of a reason to plan a road trip will find plenty of material to choose from in this comprehensive guide to the musical landmarks of North America.

Do you know where Buddy Holly’s plane crashed? Or the club where the Sex Pistols played their first and last US concerts? Or the hotel where Keith Richards threw a TV out the window? This book tells all, and might be the perfect inspiration for planning some music-inspired vacations. The book comes out in May, but Epting has created a few crafty trailers to get all you music fans excited. You can learn more about Epting’s other pop culture books and advertising endeavors at his website.

One for the Road (04/23/07)

by Kelly Amabile on

Brooklyn-based Mary Morris has written before about the Midwest where she was raised. But in her latest book, she confronts her middle America roots head on. In The River Queen, Morris sets out to travel by houseboat down the Mississippi, a journey inspired in part by the stories her father used to tell her about his life growing up along the river’s banks.

Two months before embarking on this Twain-like trip, Morris’ father passed away and her daughter left for college. And then, two weeks before departure, Katrina hit. As she explains, the book she set out to write took on a life of it’s own long before departure. Her narrative is a mix of personal story, US history and insight on shared universal truths.

It sounds like this fourth travel memoir from Morris won’t disappoint. Her previous travel titles include: Nothing to Declare: Memoirs of a Woman Traveling Alone, Wall to Wall: from Beijing to Berlin by Rail , and Angels & Aliens: A Journey West. Listen to an interview with the author here.