The Handsomest Man in Cuba was originally published in the US in 2003. This month it has been re-released by Globe-Pequot USA. Chinese-Australian author Lynette Chiang (a.k.a. The Gal from Down Under) wrote a memoir about her adventures as a solo biking nomad. Heralded as a Rugged Individualist by Forbes in 2005, Chiang continues to make her way through the world via two wheels, speaking to bike clubs and serving as Customer Evangelist for Bike Friday, the folks who make the folding bike that she used while traveling. (Get the latest goss on where she’s cycling these days at her blog.) Just glancing at her website and photos, it’s apparent that Lynette is one ACTIVE woman and full of creative ideas too — check out her handlebar movie ventures and YouTube videos, which include biking the world’s highest paved road, as well as activities that don’t require wheels, like pole dancing and guitar lessons. Hmmmm…I’m sure the book is full of similarly unique and varied undertakings. You can read a few chapters for free on her website.
One for the Road (04/11/07)
Since it looks like U.N. inspectors are one step closer to getting inside North Korea, how about a book that will help you get a better look at what goes on within the borders of this mysterious and powerful nation. Photographer Mark Edward Harris had rare access to the country, capturing images from the interior and border that portray the culture of control which exists Inside North Korea. Along with stunning photography, the book includes short essays, extended captions, and a foreword by North Korea expert Bruce Cumings.
Scroll from left to right on this page to see some photos from the book, which was released by Chronicle in February. Aisit Harris’ website to see more photos from North Korea and his other projects, including one called Wanderlust, an impressive collection of black & white photos places like China, Lebanon and the South Pacific.
One for the Road (04/09/07)
Misadventure in the Middle East: Travels as Tramp, Artist & Spy is a title that grabs your attention, no? Henry Hemming’s book has been out in the UK for awhile, but is just beginning to appear on bookshelves here in the US. It tells the tale of Hemming’s travels as an artist through uneasy places during unpredictable times. With only his paintbrush and trusty pick-up truck Yasmine, Henry travels to Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Jordan and other countries in the region, trading stories with young artists and others he meets along the way.
This is the kind of memoir I’m usually drawn to – a fresh voice and unique perspective on travels through a region I wish I knew more about. Reading something slightly outside the box like this may bring new meaning to the realities of life in this part of the world.
Check out Hemming’s website for news and reviews about the book, as well as links to his other writing and art accomplishments. And be sure to click on the Misadventure Images link to see an extensive series of photos that document his travels.
One for the Road (04/08/07)
The remote island of Rapa Nui is known as Easter Island thanks to Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen, who christened the name when he came upon the secluded spot in the South Pacific on Easter Sunday in 1722.
Many travel guides simply include a section on the island (and its famous mysterious moai statues) in their books that cover Chile. One of the more recently updated guides containing information on Easter Island is the Moon Guide to Chile. The second edition of this book was released in January 2007 and is written by Wayne Bernhardson, who has been traveling to Chile since 1979.
Whatever resources you use to research a visit, be sure to thumb through several Chile guides to compare their Easter Island sections. A good starting point right on the web is the Easter Island Foundation, a handy and well-organized online guide to the history, culture and people of Easter Island. Their Ideal Easter Island Bookshelf is an excellent place to look for additional book resources.
One for the Road (04/07/07)
Here’s one for the kids — recently released Lightship is a colorful history of floating lighthouses, a special fleet that used to warn other ships about storms and hazards at sea.
Artist Brian Floca uses vibrant watercolor drawings to illustrate what life was like on one of these essential safety ships. The anchored boats, which operated in U.S. waters until 1983, used foghorns and lights to signal moving vessels through rough waters. Children in awe of big boats and brave sailors should enjoy this nautical narrative.
And if so, they may also like Floca’s other transportation and travel-themed books for kids: The Racecar Alphabet , Up in the Air, Five Trucks and Dinosaurs at the End of the Earth, based on the true story of an explorer’s expeditions into Mongolia’s Gobi Desert.