City Travel Guides > Books > Essays and Travelogues

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.Ghost Train to the Eastern Star: On the Tracks of the Great Railway Bazaar
City Travel Guides > Books > Essays and Travelogues
by: Paul Theroux

August 18, 2008
I will spare few minutes of my precious time to write those lines.
I was born and raised in France, then moved to Singapore in 1992 where my daughters and I became proud Singaporean in 2006.
Yesterday I was a Borders and my eyes got caught by Mr Theroux's book "Ghost Train to the Eastern Star: On the track of the Great Railway Bazar" latest edition. I was in the intention of purchasing this book until I read what he said regarding his stopover in Singapore.
I was shocked by such critics, clichés and totally wrong analyses. Mr Theroux understood absolutely nothing of our country, our people, our values etc.... and think he is in position of despising us and our beautiful island.
After reading those pages with sadness ... Read More:
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.A Voyage Long and Strange: Rediscovering the New World
City Travel Guides > Books > Essays and Travelogues
by: Tony Horwitz

April 29, 2008
This at least shows the fact that the origins of the USA's civilization is in the South. Spanish-speaking St. Augustine in Florida was the first European settlement, in 1565. The first-ever democratic elections in America were held in the Jamestown colony in 1607, etc. Because the North won the Civil War, they have written the history text books, which make it sound like Plymouth Rock was the cradle of the American nation. When in fact, the beginings of African-America were already one year in the past when the Pilgrims landed in New England, as African indentured servants landed on the Virginia coast in 1619. I am please to find Horwitz revealing the truth about this. I have not gotten there yet, but I am assuming he also credits the existence of ... Read More:
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.A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
City Travel Guides > Books > Essays and Travelogues
by: Bill Bryson

December 26, 2006
Loved the book. And it reads really fast and funny!! Being a resident and hiker in western NC, I was disappointed that they skipped all of my area, which I think is the best and most beautiful part of the AT that I have seen. But having hiked many pieces of the AT, I surely can relate to his experiences.
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.Into the Wild
City Travel Guides > Books > Essays and Travelogues
by: Jon Krakauer

January 20, 1997
and for me - Jon Krakauer's writing is the kind of stuff that makes for late nights and tired workdays. I can't pay him a higher compliment. This one was a bit different than his other efforts in that Krakuer plays more the role of detective/sociologist rather than an an insightful expedition biographer. However, the story was as rivetting and perhaps even more powerful. I'm anxiously awaiting his next one! I'd also recommend reading Georgiou's masterpiece-- THE FATES, Fates (classic) if you haven't yet. I stumbled upon it at a book store and can't stop talking about it. His writing style is very similar to Jon Krakauer
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.We Are Soldiers Still: A Journey Back to the Battlefields of Vietnam
City Travel Guides > Books > Essays and Travelogues
by: Harold G. Moore, Joseph L. Galloway

August 19, 2008
This is a great read for every age. Young and old need to better understand the Vietnam War.

I served in NAM as an infantry platoon leader with the First Infantry Division in 1969-1970. The book brought back many memories.

Of particular interest was the last chapter on War. the authors make it clear that the pre-emptive invasion of Iraq by "W" is not on their list of acolades for the President. Who would better understand this than a Vietnam Veteran.

Read this book and share it with your children and grandchildren.

Author of Mr. NewHeart (New Heart): Heart Attack to Transplant and Beyond

Preview my next book "The Face of War" when you Google "David Hollar's Storefront." It is my memoir of my year ... Read More:
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.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
City Travel Guides > Books > Essays and Travelogues
by: J. Maarten Troost

July 08, 2008
Have you ever been in a group of people when one of them inadvertently makes a crack that has everyone splitting their sides with laughter, but whose next intentional attempts at humor fall flat? Unfortunately, Mr. Troost has too, for his own literary offerings have followed that particular trajectory much to my surprise and dismay.
This is the third of his 'travelogues.' His first one, about his time spent on the island paradise of Kiribati, was a charming little gem of a book. His second, which was more or less a continuation of his first, had its moments but seemed a bit world weary and lacked the vitality of the first. This book is, I hate to say, little more than a dog and pony show. For Mr. Troost having found his trope, or schtick more aptly, proceeds ... Read More:
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.China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power
City Travel Guides > Books > Essays and Travelogues
by: Rob Gifford

June 03, 2008
The author has painted a sympathetic picture of China, more realistic of the existent problems facing billions of Chinese people, instead of sticking to the useless ideological issues like social system, etc. The book tells readers the best things that the government has done regarding human rights is to make sure billions of people are free from cold and starvation. People do not need empty talks about freedom and democracy when their stomaches are empty and they do not have enough clothes against cold weather.

Great book!
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.The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey
City Travel Guides > Books > Essays and Travelogues
by: Candice Millard

October 10, 2006
This fascinating account of Theodore Roosevelt's disastrous trip on the River of Doubt is well-written and meticulously researched. It has many "micro histories" on the flora and fauna of Brazil (hint: don't read this outside around a lot of bugs) as well as the native peoples of the region. My only frustration had to do with all the diversions when, on a few occasions, I just wanted to find out what happened next. The epilogue tells the reader the sometimes tragic personal stories once the journey ended and was one of the portions of the book that I shall remember the most. I read this as a book club assignment and we had a lengthy and lively discussion on Roosevelt, his son, and the men who played such a critical part of their journey. If you like a lot of detail in harrowing ... Read More:
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.The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific
City Travel Guides > Books > Essays and Travelogues
by: J. Maarten Troost

June 08, 2004
I laughed out loud more than I am really willing to admit. This book is for anyone who has taken a trip to the third world or ever graduated from college with the dream of working for an NGO. His writing is easy to read and hard to put down. I loved it.
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.The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World
City Travel Guides > Books > Essays and Travelogues
by: Eric Weiner

January 03, 2008
I got this book on CD from the library and listened to it on my commute back and forth to work. It was perfect for that. The commute time just flew by.

Weiner is a good story teller. The book was engaging and smart while not being too challenging to follow while trying to drive.

I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter (except maybe the first - which was needed to set the stage but a little boring).

I'd highly recommend this to anyone interested in learning about different cultures and/or exploring what it means to be happy.


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