Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.gadling.com/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[One for the Road Looks Ahead: Ten Travel Books on Tap for 2008]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/31/one-for-the-road-sneak-preview-ten-travel-books-on-tap-for-2008/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/31/one-for-the-road-sneak-preview-ten-travel-books-on-tap-for-2008/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/31/one-for-the-road-sneak-preview-ten-travel-books-on-tap-for-2008/#commentsFiled under: ,

As the year draws to a close, instead of compiling a list of favorite books from 2007, I've decided to focus this last post on what's to come. Looking forward, there are some interesting travel titles set for release during 2008. Maybe you'll find something among these to add to your "must-read" list for the new year:

For Louisiana lovers:
Poor Man's Provence: Finding Myself in Cajun Louisiana by Rheta Grimsley Johnson (John F. Blair Publishers, January)

For intrepid explorers:
Near Death on the High Seas: True Stories of Disaster and Survival, edited by Cecil Kuhne (Vintage, March)

For jet-set shoppers:
Suzy Gershman's Where to Buy the Best of Everything: The Outspoken Guide for World Travelers and Online Shoppers (Wiley, April)

For travelers who like to stay close to home:
Isolarion: A Different Oxford Journey by James Atlee (University of Chicago, Spring)

For gamers:
The Gaming Life: Travels in Three Cities (University of Michigan, May)


For a really good laugh:
Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation, or How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid by J. Maarten Troost (Random House, June)





For fans of fiction:
Mr. Fooster Traveling on a Whim by Tom Corwin (Flying Dolphin, June)

For travel-with-a-purpose types:
The Great American Attraction: Two Brits Discover the Rolliking World of American Festivals (Three Rivers Press, August)

For lit-minded travelers:
From a wonderful travel lit press in the U.K., three new titles in their Poetry of Place series: Rome, Dublin and England (Eland Books, November)

For inspiration:
Traversa: A Solo Walk Across Africa from the Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean by Fran Sandham (Overlook Press, Winter)

This is merely a quick preview of what's sure to be another year chock full of travel book choices. There's plenty more on the publishing horizon, including innovative "beyond the book" projects like the recently launched "networked novel" Flight Paths. The sky's the limit when it comes to reading journeys! Regardless of what you read in new year, I hope the experience takes you to great places.

One for the Road Looks Ahead: Ten Travel Books on Tap for 2008 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booksonefortheroadMon, 31 Dec 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Trading in Memories]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/31/one-for-the-road-trading-in-memories/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/31/one-for-the-road-trading-in-memories/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/31/one-for-the-road-trading-in-memories/#commentsFiled under:

At year's end, there are always special moments for remembering - for looking back at all that transpired over the past 365 days. And when it comes to travel, that means taking stock of the ground covered as we each moved about the earth. The easiest way for me to recall where I've been is to flip through my journals, bursting at the seams with ticket stubs, bookmarks, stickers and receipts. Although quite messy and not artistically crafted, they are a wonderful version of my travels that can be thumbed through at anytime.

But after reading Barbara Hodgson's latest book, Trading in Memories, I'm inspired to shoot for beauty a bit more in future travel journals. Subtitled "Travels Through a Scavenger's Favorite Places", Hodgson celebrates her unique souvenir gathering method in this gorgeous tribute to ephemera, to "bits of detritus" and to the "beauty in erosion." From Syria to France, China to Canada, Hodgson shares details of her expeditions to curio shops, flea markets and graveyards. What she discovers, and how she captures, and eventually uses "found art" for her creative projects, is beautifully illustrated and explained in this travel book treasure.

One for the Road: Trading in Memories originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booksonefortheroadMon, 31 Dec 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A New Orleans New Year's Eve]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/31/a-new-orleans-new-years-eve/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/31/a-new-orleans-new-years-eve/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/31/a-new-orleans-new-years-eve/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Since I mentioned yesterday that I spent last New Year's Eve down in NOLA, I thought I'd share details about some of the things we did that day. It might give you ideas for a future trip to New Orleans, at the holidays, or any time of year. You can do most of these things all year long:

We began our day watching football at Parasol's, a landmark Irish pub, where we feasted on roast beef po-boys and too many Zapps potato chips. (Warning: These Louisiana chips are highly addictive, especially the spicy creole tomato!) To work off our lunch, we walked along the river and eventually hopped on the free ferry to Algiers Point, where we spent a few hours strolling through this quiet residential neighborhood. It's a peaceful place, tucked perfectly into a bend of the Mississippi. (Be sure to stop and salute the statue of Louis Armstrong at the ferry landing.)

Hungry again, we wound up back at an old favorite for dinner, a wonderful place called La Peniche, that I've written about before. Since it was a mild evening, we then walked (again!) from Farbourg Marigny back towards the French Quarter, where we spent the final hours of 2007 taking in the party atmosphere -- without having to cram into crowded bars. We simply walked the streets, sipping Abita beer (Restoration Ales all around) and listening to live music from street performers, and then later, from the free New Year's Eve concert near Jackson Square that the city puts on each year. It was conveniently close to another mandatory stop, Cafe du Monde, where we polished off some beignets -- No better way to ring in the new year than with a mouth full of powdered sugar and fried dough!

A New Orleans New Year's Eve originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 31 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>new orleansnew years evenolaMon, 31 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Down in New Orleans]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/30/one-for-the-road-down-in-new-orleans/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/30/one-for-the-road-down-in-new-orleans/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/30/one-for-the-road-down-in-new-orleans/#commentsFiled under: ,

Last year during the holidays, I was down in New Orleans with some members of my family, participating in a week-long service trip. We gutted homes, discussed human rights issues, and listened to residents who were willing to share their stories -- of hope, anger and frustration. We ended our week by spending New Years Eve downtown, celebrating what is good about the city, and what is surviving, despite all the problems.

A variety of books on post-Katrina New Orleans continue to surface, and I chose this one to mention today, since NOLA has been on my mind. Down in New Orleans: Reflections from a Drowned City is Bill Southern's story of his own evacuation to Mississippi, and subsequent return to his damaged home. Southern is a lawyer-activist who moved to New Orleans four years before the storm. He "offers a powerful vision of what Katrina has meant to New Orleans and what it still means to the nation at large."

One thing I learned during my week in "The City that Care Forgot" is that the significance of Katrina should matter to all of us. I find it too hard to summarize my own thoughts on this topic in a short post. So I'll leave it at this: Just remember. Remember what happened. And keep remembering. Read a book about someone's perspective on post-Katrina New Orleans. Or go visit for yourself. It's a city with problems, that's for sure. But it is still a city, with plenty to do and see, and lots of opportunities for those who want to help.

One for the Road: Down in New Orleans originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 30 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booknew orleansnolaonefortheroadSun, 30 Dec 2007 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Well, Actually...Two]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/28/one-for-the-road-well-actually-two/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/28/one-for-the-road-well-actually-two/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/28/one-for-the-road-well-actually-two/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Since I skipped out on posting a book suggestion yesterday, I'll offer up two recommended reads for today. Consider it a Friday bonus, courtesy of NPR. A recent discussion about some of the year's most overlooked books included mention of two travel-related titles that sound fascinating:

First up is Autonauts of the Cosmoroute, released in Dec. 2007 from Archipelago Books. Translated from the Spanish, it is a "... love story, a travelogue, a collection of stories and snapshots, both visual and verbal, irreverent and brilliant." Author Julio Cortazar and his girlfriend spent an entire month living along the Paris-Marseilles freeway, a stretch of road that usually takes about ten hours to journey between the two cities. As this review notes, it is a strange book, but definitely one worth reading.

The second title mentioned is The Far Traveler, by Nancy Marie Brown, which chronicles the adventures of a Viking woman named Gudrid. This October 2007 release from Harcourt Press is a biography about an intrepid female traveler who crossed the Atlantic eight times and visited Greenland, Iceland, Rome and Newfoundland 500 years before Columbus set sail. Little is known about the courageous Gudrid, so the book delves into the history, archeology, economy and technology of the time. Brown is praised for her well-researched book and tribute to this mysterious Viking explorer.

One for the Road: Well, Actually...Two originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 28 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Smiling at the World]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/26/one-for-the-road-smiling-at-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/26/one-for-the-road-smiling-at-the-world/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/26/one-for-the-road-smiling-at-the-world/#commentsFiled under: ,

Here's a feel-good travel memoir for the day after Christmas. Keep the good-tidings alive by curling up with Joyce Major's memoir of her inspiring volunteer travels around the world. Maybe Smiling at the World will inspire you to plan some do-good travel in the coming year?

Major's memoir recounts her year-long voluntourism adventures in South Africa, Thailand, China, Greece, Ireland, Italy, England, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. She volunteered for over ten different organizations, dealing with issues of restoration, sustainability, education and conservation. Brian Mullis, director of Sustainable Travel International calls Joyce a "conscientious traveler" who shares insight and ideas on how "responsible travel" can change and transform lives.

Joyce will be appearing at Distant Lands bookstore in Pasadena, CA on Monday, January 7, sharing stories and a slideshow from her travels.

One for the Road: Smiling at the World originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booksonefortheroadvolunteerWed, 26 Dec 2007 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: First Class - Legendary Train Journeys Around the World]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/21/one-for-the-road-first-class-legendary-train-journeys-around/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/21/one-for-the-road-first-class-legendary-train-journeys-around/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/21/one-for-the-road-first-class-legendary-train-journeys-around/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Patrick Poivre d'Arvor, otherwise known as PPDA, is a well known French news anchor and author of France from the Air. In his latest travel-themed book, released earlier this year, the famous Frenchman finds himself back on land, celebrating the allure and romance of grand train journeys.

First Class: Legendary Train Journeys Around the World is packaged in an enticing luggage box designed to resemble a steamer trunk. Between the covers of this suitcase-style treat is a fitting tribute to train travel that calls us "All Aboard!". There are 11 suggested journeys, including route maps for famous lines like the Trans-Siberian, the Orient Express, the Californian Zephyr, South Africa's Blue Train and the Canadian. Descriptions of these famous expresses are decorated with photos and quotes from literary figures who have captured the joys of train travel in their own works. A fun gift to consider for those who love to ride the rails.

One for the Road: First Class - Legendary Train Journeys Around the World originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookonefortheroadtrainFri, 21 Dec 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Charm City - A Walk Through Baltimore]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/20/one-for-the-road-charm-city-a-walk-through-baltimore/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/20/one-for-the-road-charm-city-a-walk-through-baltimore/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/20/one-for-the-road-charm-city-a-walk-through-baltimore/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I'm super excited about today's book suggestion. The latest title in Crown's Journey Series is Charm City: A Walk Through Baltimore by Madison Smartt Bell. The cover itself, decorated with Hon hair and a photo of the famous Painted Ladies, is enough for me to know -- I want to read this book! When I first started writing for Gadling back in 2005, I was still a Baltimore resident, and I've mentioned the fantastic city here on more than one occasion. I debated waiting to tell ya all about this one until after I had a chance to read it, but why wait? I'm fairly confident it's an excellent read. I BELIEVE in all things Baltimore.

But you don't have to take my word for it -- This week, the New York Times praised Bell's book as a guide to the "soul" of a "real city." Bell, an award-winning author who has lived in Baltimore for over twenty years, is a professor at Goucher College, where he directs the creative writing program. His book explores the history of the city by traveling through its unique mix of neighborhoods and major arteries, focusing on four specific walks through Fells Point and Dickeysville and along Charles Street and Greemount Avenue. Some well-known locals, like Laura Lippman and David Simon, join him on the jaunts. The Baltimore Sun interviewed Bell about how this project came to be. It's a good read, and more proof that the book is sure to serve as a perfect companion for any trip to Charm City.

One for the Road: Charm City - A Walk Through Baltimore originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baltimorebookcharm citymarylandonefortheroadThu, 20 Dec 2007 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Evidence of My Existence]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/19/one-for-the-road-evidence-of-my-existence/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/19/one-for-the-road-evidence-of-my-existence/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/19/one-for-the-road-evidence-of-my-existence/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Jim Lo Scalzo has been a staff photographer for US News & World Report since 1994. His new memoir is a moving look at the life of a photojournalist who has traveled the world. Evidence of My Existence tells the story Lo Scalzo's 17 years on the job as an "obsessive wanderlust" -- He handled assignments in over 60 countries, capturing important news stories, while jeopardizing his relationships and his very own life, for the sake of his career.

Eventually, Lo Scalzo had to make a choice, as this recent book review explains: He had to make a decision about what was the most important to him: his profession or his family. It is a decision that many photojournalists have to make but rarely talk about in the direct way that Lo Scalzo does.

Be sure to watch the compelling trailer for the book, which begins with the question, "How to stop moving?" Whether we're taking photos or not, it's a question that all travelers are faced with. This book explores how one man answered the question for himself.

One for the Road: Evidence of My Existence originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 19 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookmemoironefortheroadphoto journalismphotographyphotosWed, 19 Dec 2007 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: The Neighborhoods of Queens]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/18/one-for-the-road-the-neighborhoods-of-queens/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/18/one-for-the-road-the-neighborhoods-of-queens/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/18/one-for-the-road-the-neighborhoods-of-queens/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last night I took three connecting subway lines and a bus to get from Manhattan to my brother's new apartment in Queens. This morning I commuted back into the city with his wife, taking another bus, as well as three different subway lines. Without revealing which neighborhood they live in, you can surmise that it's not the easiest one to reach. But the options for getting there are as diverse as the neighborhoods that comprise this bountiful borough, a characteristic that makes the inconvenient commute much easier to accept. The best part though, is that their location affords them plentiful opportunities to discover the colorful neighborhoods that make up this fantastic and often overlooked borough.

As a housewarming gift, I brought along copy of The Neighborhoods of Queens, a thoroughly researched and well documented tour through 99 neighborhoods of "the Gateway to America", as Queens has been dubbed. Home to two of New York's busiest international airports (La Guardia and JFK), Queens is also the most diverse county in the world. This wonderful book celebrates that diversity with an alphabetical arrangement stretching from Astoria to Woodside. Each section includes photographs, neighborhood profiles, facts, a map and a historical summary. There are also over 50 new maps that chart precise boundaries between the neighborhoods. Written by a South American immigrant who herself entered America via Queens, this well-done guide celebrates the enormity of all that the borough offers to both residents and visitors. The book, and the borough, are definitely worth checking out.

One for the Road: The Neighborhoods of Queens originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booknew yorkqueensTue, 18 Dec 2007 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Nomad's Hotel]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/17/one-for-the-road-nomads-hotel/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/17/one-for-the-road-nomads-hotel/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/17/one-for-the-road-nomads-hotel/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In the past week, I've come across two different thumbs up for a collection of travel essays by Dutch writer Cees Nooteboom. I've now added Nomad's Hotel: Travels in Time and Space to my 2008 "really-must-read" list and wanted to give all of you list-loving readers a chance to do the same. Here's what I've gathered:

First, in the latest issue of Geist, Michael Kozlowski describes the pieces in Nomad's Hotel as "meditations" and calls it "...less a book of travel stories than a collection of Nooteboom's musings on travel and impressions of places." My interest was piqued. Then I found it listed among Rory Maclean's 2007 recommended reads, where he praises it as, "...a jewel of a travel book, free of pretension, full of easy adventure, fresh with childlike wonder for the world." Rory wrote a much longer review of the book for the Guardian earlier this year. These two positive reviews were enough for me to take notice of Nooteboom, but if you need more, check out this in-depth look at the fascinating "traveling writer."

One for the Road: Nomad's Hotel originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booksdutchonefortheroadMon, 17 Dec 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Where Flavor Was Born]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/16/one-for-the-road-where-flavor-was-born/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/16/one-for-the-road-where-flavor-was-born/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/16/one-for-the-road-where-flavor-was-born/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The photo on the cover of this travelogue cookbook has my mouth watering! And from what I can tell, the pages in between offer up much more eye candy for hungry travelers who like to cook. Where Flavor Was Born: Recipes and Culinary Travels Along the Indian Ocean Spice Route is a delicious journey that explores the origins of spices from Bali to Zanzibar.

The colorful book is loaded with glossy photos and almost 100 recipes, like this one for Indian Pepper Chicken. Need more tempting? Here are three more freebies that use curry from India, tamarind sauce from Thailand and cloves from Zanzibar. Food writer and TV chef Andreas Viestad (known for his New Scandinavian Cooking show), is the tour guide for this adventure of taste. The book is organized by spice, and includes a glossary for easy reference, which should be helpful when you're up to your eyeballs in cardamom and coriander in the kitchen!

One for the Road: Where Flavor Was Born originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 16 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balicookbookcookingindian oceanspicezanzibarSun, 16 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Into Hot Air]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/15/one-for-the-road-into-hot-air/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/15/one-for-the-road-into-hot-air/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/15/one-for-the-road-into-hot-air/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Funny man Chris Elliott has taken his comedy to new heights in his third book, a comic spoof on a classic travel adventure that was released last month. Into Hot Air: Mounting Mount Everest is a novel that pokes fun at, well, just about everything, including the author himself. Elliott's narrator, also named Elliott, wonders if it really was Sir Edmund Hillary who was the first to scale Everest. The discovery of a diary written by a crazy great uncle begins the questioning, and readers are dragged along on a mysterious and laugh-out-loud journey that includes a cast of all-star celebrities.

Elliott depicts epic adventure at its funniest, and " ...also takes aim at disaster movies, celebrity activism, and reality TV shows like Survivor and The Amazing Race." As Chris explains in this recent Gothamist interview, CNN and the titles of other folks books did inspire some aspects of his own story: "It's more or less using Everest and the action-adventure genre as a backdrop for my goofiness."

One for the Road: Into Hot Air originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookeveresthumornovelonefortheroadSat, 15 Dec 2007 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Caribbean Journey from A to Y]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/14/one-for-the-road-caribbean-journey-from-a-to-y/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/14/one-for-the-road-caribbean-journey-from-a-to-y/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/14/one-for-the-road-caribbean-journey-from-a-to-y/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I'm always on the lookout for creative travel titles geared to kids. Here's one I came across that can serve as a niche geography lesson, with a review of the alphabet thrown in for good measure. All this and beautiful illustrations too: A Caribbean Journey from A to Y should peak young readers interest with this mysterious subtitle: Read and Discover What Happened to the Z.

Published by editorial Campana (publisher of literature by Latin Americans in both English and Spanish), this educational guide takes young folks on a journey that stretches from Aruba to Trinidad, introducing country names and fun facts about each place along the way. Read an excerpt from letters B and C to get an idea, and be sure to take note of Native American artist Earleen Griswold's colorful illustrations, drawn during her years s a resident of the Virgin Islands.

One for the Road: Caribbean Journey from A to Y originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookcaribbeanchildrenchildrens bookFri, 14 Dec 2007 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Planet Earth]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/13/one-for-the-road-planet-earth/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/13/one-for-the-road-planet-earth/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/13/one-for-the-road-planet-earth/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The BBC's much-praised Planet Earth series was shown in the US on the Discovery Channel earlier this year. It was accompanied by the publication of a companion book, Planet Earth: As You've Never Seen It Before, which jumped up some notches on the New York Times bestseller list this week, partially due to an encore presentation of the show.

As another year of traveling comes to a close, the book offers wanderers an opportunity to sit back and truly look at the bigger picture: this astounding planet that we all move upon, and all the amazing creatures we share it with! Over 400 color illustrations create a "visual odyssey" of landscapes, packaged beautifully in 300-pages! The spectacular collection of photos takes readers along to remote and far ranging locations - mountains, forests, deserts and rivers, showcasing natural wonders and wildlife from around the world. Nomads from all walks of life will appreciate this hardbound tribute to our shared home.

One for the Road: Planet Earth originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookearthonefortheroadphotosplanetThu, 13 Dec 2007 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Local Girl Makes History]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/12/one-for-the-road-local-girl-makes-history/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/12/one-for-the-road-local-girl-makes-history/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/12/one-for-the-road-local-girl-makes-history/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Like yesterday's selection, today's book pick comes via a San Francisco book store. Local Girl Makes History: Exploring Northern California's Kitsch Monuments is a unique title that grabbed my eye while browsing the City Lights website. The famous SF bookseller is also the publisher of this niche kitsch guide to Northern Cali's special structures. Author Dana Frank is a Bay area historian who takes a series of local daytrips to places she has visited since her youth, uncovering secrets and exploring urban myths of popular spots like the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk's Cave Train Ride and the Puglas Water Temple.

The result is a smart and funny memoir mixed with historical research and reflections on politics and culture too. From the publisher:

Full of surprises and plot twists along the way, her adventures are quirky, fun and informative. The tension between private memory and public history draws us deeper and deeper into each investigation, and small places in California come to symbolize larger political questions in the United States.

Frank's collection of essays is accompanied by photos, maps, and driving directions, producing a nice combo of memoir complete with practical guidebook details to boot! She'll be appearing at City Lights in early January to talk about the book.

One for the Road: Local Girl Makes History originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Street World]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/11/one-for-the-road-street-world/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/11/one-for-the-road-street-world/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/11/one-for-the-road-street-world/#commentsFiled under: , ,

From Get Lost Books list of suggested holiday gift-giving titles comes Street World: Urban Art from Five Continents, a collection of street scenes that stretches from Mumbai to Los Angeles. The colorful hardcover is divided into more than 50 topics and includes over 500 photographs of artistic public displays from around the world.

Street World celebrates subculture creativity in all its forms: graffiti, skateboarding and bike messengering, DJing, offbeat fashion, gang life, music, as well as design, photography, and other more traditional visual art. The 400-page book looks at the artistic expressions of fashionistas, biker gangs, guerrilla gardeners, urban knitters and more. It's the perfect gift for all your traveling culture vulture pals.

One for the Road: Street World originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artbooksculturegraffitionefortheroadstreet artTue, 11 Dec 2007 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Instant Gratification]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/10/one-for-the-road-instant-gratification/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/10/one-for-the-road-instant-gratification/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/10/one-for-the-road-instant-gratification/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gadling goddess Adrienne Wilson hasn't written here in awhile, because she's been super busy traveling the world and...making a book! As she explains in detail on her personal blog, Instant Gratification is a first volume of photographs from Adrienne's growing collection of global snapshots, many taken during her travels over the past seven years.

In her own words, Adrienne explains the project: In its simplest form, Instant Gratification: Photos for your Coffee Table in Exchange for Money in my Pocket, can be described as a travel catalog comprised of a spirited mixture of color, B&W, film, digital, and lomo shots from around the globe. Feel gratified at once for once!

But there's a hook! She then goes on to explain the super-cool generosity behind the creation of this book: Additionally, there won't be any money placed into my pocket from your purchase of this book. Since I don't bake cookies, I'm using this book as a fund raising tool. All the profit will be donated to a charitable organization that seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.

Actually, all profit from book sales will go towards a Global Village build Adrienne is planning to lead next year with Habitat for Humanity. To raise funds for the service experience, she used her smarts to create a fundraising tool that puts a beautiful book in the hands of those who give. A creative masterpiece that benefits more than the buyer -- instant gratification for all, and a wonderful idea. Kudos and congrats to Adrienne on her do-good self-publishing venture. (By the way, she used Blurb, and has lots of great things to say about them too.)

One for the Road: Instant Gratification originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>booksonefortheroadphotographyphotosMon, 10 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: Bad Trips]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/09/one-for-the-road-bad-trips/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/09/one-for-the-road-bad-trips/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/09/one-for-the-road-bad-trips/#commentsFiled under: ,

Feel free to complain about today's pick -- a title from the archives -- but I just felt like following up a Head Trip with a collection of Bad Trips. Fact is, this semi-ancient anthology received lukewarm reviews, but we're going to feature it today anyway -- some of you may still fancy a go at it: Bad Trips, originally published in 1991, is followed by this rather long and not-so-good subtitle: a sometimes terrifying, sometimes hilarious collection of writing on the perils of the road.

I learned about the book over at one of my favorite new blogs, where the map on the cover was the focus of discussion. Looking closer at the content, we learn that it's a quirky collection of stories about disaster, danger and discomfort on the road. Authors are out of their element in many of these tales: Umberto Eco in a tacky hotel in Southern California, Jonathan Raban on a brief trip through the squalor of Louisiana, and Anita Desai on a frigid, midwinter sojourn to a Norwegian island.

Although it might not be the best travel anthology out there, with contributors like these, as well as other familiar names like Jan Morris, Redmond O'Hanlon and John Updike, I'm sure the tales are engaging and well done. Besides that, they are supposed to be bad anyway!

One for the Road: Bad Trips originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 09 Dec 2007 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bad tripsbooksonefortheroadtripSun, 09 Dec 2007 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One for the Road: The Head Trip]]>http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/08/one-for-the-road-the-head-trip/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/08/one-for-the-road-the-head-trip/http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/08/one-for-the-road-the-head-trip/#commentsFiled under: ,

Here's a second creative travel-themed title from a Canadian writer featured here this week: Science journalist Jeff Warren takes readers on a tour of the mind in The Head Trip: Adventures on the Wheel of Consciousness. This "field-guide" to the mind explores lucid dreaming, Eastern meditative practices, hypnosis, neurofeedback and other brain awareness activities.

From the publisher: Part user's manual and part travel guide, The Head Trip is an instant classic, a brilliant summation of consciousness studies that is also a practical guide to enhancing creativity, mental health, and the experience of what it means to be human. Many books claim that they will change you. This one gives you the tools to change yourself.

Psychology and neuroscience are packaged with humor in this adventurous trip through our own heads. As mysterious as any journey embarked upon with no set route or agenda, this mind-mapping memoir travels through the twelve unique states of mind available to humans over a 24-hour day. Not your average travel book, of course, but quite a ride just the same. Warren provided his own witty illustrations for the book too. Oh, and not that it matters, but he has penned a more "traditional" guidebook as well.

One for the Road: The Head Trip originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 08 Dec 2007 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bookhead triponefortheroadtripSat, 08 Dec 2007 21:00:00 EST