News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

New books on Travel: ‘Mr and Mrs Dog’, ‘Laneways of Melbourne’ and ‘Amazing places cost nothing’ are three of this great mix of Travel books.

Overbooked : the exploding business of travel and tourism / Elizabeth Becker.
“Everyone needs a vacation, a time for carefree fun on a cruise, at a theme park, in a cultured city, or in nature. … What many do not realize is that with over a billion people now visiting foreign countries, travel and tourism have become an international force that seriously affects cultures, economies, and the environment. …Having spent more than 30 years as a correspondent for the Washington Post, New York Times, and other publications, Becker has seen tremendous change in foreign travel. In this timely and entertainingly personal report for serious travelers and policymakers, she features how tourism fares in France, Italy, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, Dubai, Africa, China, and the U.S.–Roche, Rick Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Amazing places cost nothing : the new golden age of authentic travel / Herbert Ypma.
“In a world where package tours and international brands make the leading destinations begin to look alike, the thrill of discovery is in danger of disappearing from travel. Written by travel expert Herbert Ypma, who has traveled the globe, this book will change the way we envision the perfect vacation. Some 300 photographs capture thirty hidden gems from around the world. Ranging from a dusty working cattle ranch in Arizona to Brazil’s best deserted beach to a secluded island paradise off the coast of the French Riviera, these locations offer priceless adventure and beauty-especially because they are relatively inexpensive to visit. Often the best part of the trip is getting there, and Ypma tells engaging stories about how he stumbled upon each place.” (Syndetics summary)

France’s best trips : 39 amazing road trips / this edition written and researched by Oliver Berry … [et. al.].
“39 drives ranging from 1 to 10 days, and 140 maps- Extended coverage of the best unmissable routes- Road trip essentials on driving in France and useful phrases.” (Syndetics summary)

65 things to do when you retire / edited by Mark Evan Chimsky.
“…this new collection features 65 lively essays on a wide variety of fun and unusual travel opportunities for retirees, including eco-travel (to Brazil’s wetlands or the barrier reef off Belize), volunteering abroad (going on archaeological digs or helping to make a difference in developing countries), wine tourism (from Colorado to Croatia), international house-sitting, and taking a retirement “gap year.” In 65 Things to Do When You Retire: Travel, intrepid travel writers and notable retirement experts reveal their own personal adventures and offer practical advice about how to have the time of your life, whether traveling with a group, a spouse or partner, or on your own.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Mörön to Mörön : two men, two bikes, one Mongolian misadventure / Tom Doig.
“In July 2010, Tom Doig and his best mate Tama Pugsley cycled 1487 kilometres across Northern Mongolia from a small town called Moron to an even smaller town, also called Moron. Why? Because it was there.” (Syndetics summary)

Laneways of Melbourne / [Kornelia Freeman & Ulo Pukk].
“Melbourne’s unique laneways are a wonderful place of excitement and discovery and a mecca for people who love to explore, socialise, shop and eat & drink. Laneways of Melbourne is a visually stunning guide book to over 200 laneways, alleys and small streets of Melbourne’s CBD. A fold-out map on the inside cover will guide you to laneways from Ulster Lane off Spring Street to Captains Walk in the Docklands and the captions on each page will inform of each laneway’s fascinating history and name origins.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Paris to the Pyrenees : a skeptic pilgrim walks the way of Saint James / David Downie ; photographs by Alison Harris.
“An eclectic author of cookbooks, novels, and tourist guides, Downie embarks here on the genre of travel writing. His journey, which he completed on foot between the titular locations, in general followed the hallowed Christian pilgrimage route to Spain, le Chemin de Saint Jacques. France being France, history accompanied Downie as much as his walking companion, his wife, Alison. Their conversations were sparked by route-side sights, such as a centuries-old chateau that counted as young, and became enmeshed with Downie’s interior reflections about his reasons for undertaking the journey….Taylor, Gilbert Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)” (adapted fron Syndetics summary)

Mr. and Mrs. Dog : our travels, trials, adventures, and epiphanies / Donald McCaig.
“Sheepdog trainer and novelist, poet, and essayist McCaig (Eminent Dogs) takes more than a few detours en route to describing his experiences in the World Trial, the “only truly international” competition for sheepdogs, and he may well lose readers along the way…. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Argentina : a woman’s guide to traveling in Argentina / [authors, Erica Arvizu, Page Buono ; edtor-in-chief, Kelly Lewis].
“A travel guide designed for women traveling alone in Argentina. “The wine, the tango, the steak – there are a million reasons to fall in love with Argentina. Whether you’re here to see the turquoise glaciers, the penguins, the forests, or the majestic mountains, we’ll help guide you through all the corners of this meat-loving paradise safely. This is the essential guidebook for women traveling through Argentina. Find safe places to stay, get important information on women’s health, learn how to blend in like a local and navigate Argentine cuisine like a pro”–P. [4] of cover.” (Syndetics summary)

Quiet Paris / Siobhan Wall.
“Paris is a beautiful city with astounding architecture and world-famous museums and restaurants. Because of its many attractions, however, it often feels as if there is nowhere to escape from the crowds. Siobhan Wall, author of Quiet Amsterdam and Quiet London, has sought out hidden, tranquil places so that Parisians can find some respite from their busy lives.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Africa : eye to eye with the unknown / Michael Bright ; foreword by David Attenborough.
“…This lavish and unmissable companion to the BBC One series reveals the undiscovered side of Africa’s five unique regions. Inspiring photography captures unprecedented wildlife behaviour, mesmerising new creatures and magical landscapes that will astound and captivate, and will challenge what you think you know about Africa. This is a spectacular journey through a vast and diverse continent in all its beautiful and unexpected abundance.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

New travel books. From Hong Kong to Iceland: and two books about survival.

A month by the sea : encounters in Gaza / Dervla Murphy.
“Bombed and cut-off from normal contact with the rest of the world, life in Gaza is beset with structural, medical and mental health problems, yet it is also bursting with political engagement and underwritten by an intense enjoyment of family life. During her month by the sea, Dervla Murphy develops an acute eye for the way in which isolation has shaped this society. Time and again she meets men who have returned to the Strip as an act of presence. Yet the mosque is often their only daily activity, as difficulties obtaining supplies mean few opportunities for creative work.” (Syndetics summary)

Into the abyss / Carol Shaben.
“Six people lost their lives in the plane crash. Four men found theirs. On a wintry October night in 1984, a Piper Navajo commuter plane bound for remote communities in northern Canada set off into thick cloud and freezing rain. One hour later, the plane smashed headlong into a high ridge of rugged forest. Of the ten people on board, only four – strangers from wildly different backgrounds – survived the crash: Erik, the young pilot who had never wanted to fly in such bad weather in the first place. Larry, a respected politician and family man. Scott, a rookie cop who, against regulations, had unshackled the prisoner he was escorting to face charges. And Paul: a criminal, and the only one to escape the crash uninjured. The only one capable of keeping the other three alive – should he choose to.”…–www.booktopia.com.au” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The last place you’d look for a wallaby : my obsessive quest to seek out alien species / Glen Chilton.
“”Chilton visits Ireland to witness how rhododendrons, an ornamental plant that escaped a private garden, now threaten to choke out the last of the great oak forests of the United Kingdom. He escapes blood-thirsty midges and a murderous Hungarian architect while visiting a colony of forgotten Scottish wallabies; finds out how termites, brought in on packing crates after the Second World War, contributed to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans; dives with endangered sea turtles in North Queensland; and dodges crocodiles and machine guns in the eucalyptus forests of Ethiopia…..”–Publisher’s description.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Snowing in Bali / Kathryn Bonella.
“Snowing in Bali is the story of the drug trafficking and dealing scene that’s made Bali one of the world’s most important destinations in the global distribution of narcotics. With its central location to the Asia Pacific market, its thriving tourist industry to act as cover for importation, and a culture of corruption that can easily help law enforcement turn a blind eye, Bali has long been a paradise for traffickers as well as for holiday-makers…..” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Hidden cities : travels to the secret corners of the world’s great metropolises : a memoir of urban exploration / Moses Gates.
“”Urban exploration with Gates makes for wildly entertaining reading. Whereas most travel authors highlight the museums, fashionable streets, and restaurants of the great cities of the world, Gate’s passion lies elsewhere. He revels in surmounting contrived barriers, whether in New York, Paris, or Ukraine. “We live our whole lives as prisoners of artificial boundaries-boundaries put in place not by mountains, rivers, or walls but by people and institutions who tell us that they’re there.” Gates chronicles his exploits exploring subway tunnels in New York and Stockholm; climbing the Lateran Obelisk sewers in Rome; ringing a bell on the top of Norte Dame; and traipsing through abandoned buildings in Brazil.” …(Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Alone on the ice : the greatest survival story in the history of exploration / David Roberts.
“”Douglas Mawson is not as well known as Amundsen, Scott, or Shakleton, but as this intense and thrilling epic shows, he deserves a place on the pedestal next to these other great explorers of the Antarctic. Trained as a geologist, the Australian-born Mawson launched an expedition to a largely unexplored region of Antarctica in 1912. The effort soon turned into a grim struggle of endurance and survival against an unforgiving environment. ….–Freeman, Jay Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

An illustrated journey : inspiration from the private art journals of traveling artists, illustrators and designers / Danny Gregory.
“Travel + Sketching = Inspiration. When we travel, we don’t want to follow the same itinerary as everyone who’s come before us. We want to feel like explorers, adventurers in undiscovered territory. And that’s exactly what sketching can bring to the travel experience. An Illustrated Journey captures the world through the eyes of 40 talented artists, illustrators and designers. You’ll experience the wonder of seeing familiar sights through a fresh lens but, more important, you’ll be inspired to set pen to paper and capture your own vistas. ….” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Italy’s best trips : 38 amazing road trips / this edition written and researched by Paula Hardy, Duncan Garwood & Robert Landon.
“38 routes lasting from a few days to two weeks, and 128 maps- Covers classic routes like the Amalfi Coast and intriguing back-road itineraries- Essential tips, advice and useful phrases for driving in Italy.” (Syndetics summary)

The rough guide to Iceland / written and researched by David Leffman and James Proctor.
“The Rough Guide to Iceland is the ultimate travel guide to this fascinating island and its capital Reykjavik, with clear maps and detailed coverage of all the best attractions. Discover Iceland’s highlights with inspiring photography and information on everything from hiking, soaking in natural hot springs and whale watching, to indulging in Reykjavík’s lively nightlife and superb seafood.” (Syndetics summary)

Pocket Hong Kong : top sights, local life, made easy / Piera Chen.
“Best of Hong Kong. We’ve found the best walks, food, art, shopping, views, nightlife and more. Maps for every neighbourhood. Walking tours and day planners. Packed with expert travel tips.” (Syndetics summary)

New travel stories. Love with a chance of drowning.

Love with a chance of drowning : a memoir / Torre DeRoche.
“Love can make a person do crazy things… A city girl with a morbid fear of deep water, Torre DeRoche is not someone you would ordinarily find adrift in the middle of the stormy Pacific aboard a leaky sailboat – total crew of two – struggling to keep an old boat, a new relationship and her floundering sanity afloat. But when she meets Ivan, a handsome Argentinean man with a humble sailboat and a dream to set off exploring the world, Torre has to face a hard decision: watch the man she’s in love with sail away forever, or head off on the watery journey with him. Suddenly the choice seems simple. She gives up her sophisticated city life, faces her fear of water (and tendency towards seasickness) and joins her lover on a year-long voyage across the Pacific.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Jungleland : a mysterious lost city, a WWII spy, and a true story of deadly adventure / Christopher S. Stewart.
“”… Stewart’s chronicle relates his 2008 odyssey to Honduras. He sought a place of rumored existence called the White City, with which he became obsessed upon learning that, in 1940, colorful adventurer Theodore Morde announced its discovery, though he kept proprietarily circumspect about its exact location. Morde then became an OSS agent but never returned to Honduras. With the assistance of Morde’s journal, an experienced American archaeologist, and local Honduran guides, Stewart sallied forth for the tropical forest where lurked the White City. ….–Taylor, Gilbert Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist) (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Bearback : the world overland / Pat Garrod.
“‘Inspired’, ‘enthralling’ and ’stylish’ are just some of the words used to describe the first edition of Bearback. Now in paperback, Pat Garrod’s remarkable story is set to be discovered by even more travellers.. Imagine jacking it all in, packing your life into a 41-litre pannier and riding into the sunset. Bearback is the story of two GPs who did just that, downing stethoscopes to take off on their motorcycle, The Bear, to see the world. Across the deserts of Africa, over the mountains of the Andes, deep into the jungles of Indochina, and beyond the Arctic Circle; 100,000 miles through six continents and 64 countries. A circumnavigation of epic proportion and entirely unsupported, it was to become one of the longest journeys ever undertaken by a couple on one motorcycle, a journey destined to change their lives forever.” (Syndetics summary)

Farewell, Fred Voodoo : a letter from Haiti / Amy Wilentz.
“Describes the author’s long and painful relationship with Haiti before and after the 2010 earthquake, tracing the country’s turbulent history and its status as a symbol of human rights activism and social transformation.” (Syndetics summary)

The golden shore : California’s love affair with the sea / David Helvarg.
“”In this ambitious work, journalist and conservationist Helvarg (Saved by the Sea) successfully relates the myriad ways in which Californians engage with their beloved Pacific. …Unsurprisingly, Helvarg starts with surfing, specifically the Mavericks big-wave contest at Half Moon Bay. He covers California’s Native population from the earliest arrivals to a recent victory requiring the removal of dams on the Klamath River to return it and its fishing to a more natural state. Environmental issues appear throughout, though Helvarg also devotes entire chapters to shipping. …In two late chapters Helvarg describes a coastal drive from Mexico to Oregon, and then concludes with thoughts on how Californians will face ongoing environmental trials, such as a projected sea level rise of three feet or more. 12 b&w photos. Agent: Kevan Lyon, Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved” (Publisher Weekly)” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

New travel guides

Korea / this edition written and researched by Simon Richmond, Timothy N Hornyak, Shawn Low.Korea
“”The Korean Peninsula is a true travel gem: the South, a high-tech nation with a reverence for tradition and the ways of old Asia; the North, a challenging, geopolitical enigma.”Simon Richmond, Lonely Planet Writer .” (Amazon.co.uk.)

Back roads Ireland / contributors, Donna Daily … [et. al].
“Unearth the real soul of this magical region with all the practical information you could need, from road conditions and length of drive to parking information and opening hours. Twenty-five themed drives, each lasting one to seven days, reveal breathtaking views, hidden gems and authentic local experiences that can only be discovered by road. Each tour is bursting with insider knowledge and loaded with ideas for varied activities from walks to days on the beach and children’s attractions, to wine and cycling trips.” (Amazon.co.uk)

Top 10 Cancun and the Yucatan / Nick Rider.
“DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Top 10 Cancun & the Yucatan will lead you straight to the very best this region has to offer. Whether you’re looking for the things not to miss at the Top 10 sights, or want to find the best nightspots, this guide is the perfect pocket-sized companion. The guide is divided by area with restaurant reviews for each, as well as recommendations for hotels, bars, and places to shop. You’ll find the insider knowledge every visitor needs to explore every corner effortlessly with DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Top 10 Cancun & the Yucatan and its free pull-out map.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

36 hours USA & Canada : Midwest and Great Lakes / edited by Barbara Ireland.
“”The New York Times has been offering up dream weekends with practical itineraries in its popular weekly ‘36 Hours’ column since 2002. The many expert contributors, experienced travelers, and accomplished writers all have brought careful research, insider’s knowledge, and a sense of fun to hundreds of cities and destinations, always with an eye to getting the most out of a short trip.”–Amazon.com.” (Syndetics summary)

36 hours USA & Canada : West Coast / edited by Barbara Ireland.
“”The New York Times has been offering up dream weekends with practical itineraries in its popular weekly ‘36 Hours’ column since 2002. The many expert contributors, experienced travelers, and accomplished writers all have brought careful research, insider’s knowledge, and a sense of fun to hundreds of cities and destinations, always with an eye to getting the most out of a short trip.”–Amazon.com.” (Syndetics summary)

New travel books, taking you from Antarctica to Japan, Europe, China, Africa and ‘Around India in 80 Trains’.

Tokyo on foot : travels in the city’s most colorful neighborhoods / text and illustrations by Florent Chavouet.
“In this first English edition of a graphic memoir of a young French graphic artist of his stay in Tokyo in 2006, Chavouet presents his sketches evidently inspired by Japanese cartoon styles, hand-drawn maps, and impressions of the sights, sounds, and cultural quirks of the neighborhoods of what he notes has been called “the most beautiful of ugly cities.” The book was originally published in 2009 by Editions Philippe Picquier, and awarded a prize that year at the International Festival of Geography. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)” (Syndetics summary)

The Kombi trail : across three continents in a VW van / Robert Cox, Roger Sherwin, Tony Thompson.
“Cambridge, 1961. A group of students set off on the trip of a lifetime. Against the backdrop of the Cold War they travel through the Soviet Union to the Middle East, South Asia and on to Africa. Their mode of transport? The iconic VW Kombi.This book tells the story of that trip, not just the people they met and the places they saw, but the many experiences – sometimes nerve-wracking, sometimes bizarre – that they encountered along the way. It provides a fascinating insight into a world on the brink of change – seen through the eyes of nine young men fresh from university. ….” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Here, there, elsewhere : stories from the road / William Least Heat-Moon.
“”It’s collected-works time for the renowned author of such outstanding travel literature as Blue Highways (1983) and River-Horse (1999). Thirty magazine pieces comprise this assembly, with some articles ranging abroad, such as the author’s depictions of his ventures to New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, and Britain. Most, however, amble around America or radiate from the author’s home states of Missouri and Kansas. ….–Taylor, Gilbert Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist)” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Paris sketchbook / paintings by Fabrice Moireau ; text by Maria Kelly.
“Paris seen through the eyes of artist Fabrice Moireua, with sketches in watercolour and pencil perfectly matched by an introduction by Mary A. Kelly. These residents of the world’s most romantic capital city are the perfect guides to its street, monuments, gardens and delightfully hidden corners.” (Book jacket)

Leave the lipstick, take the iguana : funny travel stories and strange packing tips / edited by Marcy Gordon.
“The ninth book in the best-selling Travelers’ Tales humor series. This laugh-out-loud collection will resonate with experienced travelers and novices alike and includes hilarious misadventures with packing, travel fashion, border crossings, language faux pas, weird encounters with exotic cuisine, and romantic overtures abroad.” (Syndetics summary)

Gypset travel / Julia Chaplin.
“Gypsy+Jet Set = Gypset. In the follow-up to her best-selling Gypset Style, Julia Chaplin explores the little-known enclaves of gypsetters around the globe, from the Aeolian Islands in Italy to Lamu, Kenya; North Goa, India; and Jose Ignacio, Uruguay. Chaplin coined the term ‘gypset’ to describe a new lifestyle that fuses the carefree ethos of a gypsy nomad with the sophistication of the jet set. Gypset Travel delves into this glamorous bohemian world of artists, designers, and bons viivants through intimate photography and first-person anecdotes.” (Book jacket)

The robber of memories : a river journey through Colombia / Michael Jacobs.
“A gripping journey up the River Magdalena into the central regions of Colombia, and a moving, deeply personal meditation on memory and its loss in the footsteps of Gabriel Garcia Marquez.” (Syndetics summary)

Around India in 80 trains / Monisha Rajesh.
“To understand India you have to see it, hear it, breathe it and feel it. Living through the good, the bad and the ugly is the only way to know where you fit in and where India fits into you. In 1991 Monisha and her family uprooted from Sheffield to Madras in the hope of making India their home again. But fed up with soap-eating rats, severed human heads, paying bribes, and the creepy colonel across the road, they soon returned to England, determined never to go back again. But twenty years later, Monisha takes a page out of Jules Verne’s classic tale, turns to a map of the Indian railways and embarks on an adventure around India in 80 trains connecting 80 cities, covering 40,000km – the circumference of the Earth. …” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Empire Antarctica : ice, silence & emperor penguins / Gavin Francis.
“It is said to be one of our oldest stories: a young man goes to a far-off land in search of a mythical and wondrous beast. For years, Gavin Francis yearned to go to the remotest place on our planet, to see one of the strangest beasts alive. This is how he came to spend fourteen months living alongside emperor penguins as the base-camp doctor at Halley, a profoundly isolated British research station on the Caird Coast of Antarctica. …Combining an evocative and enchanting narrative with a sublime sensitivity to the natural world, this is travel writing at its very best.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Cooks, clowns and cowboys : 101 skills and experiences to discover on your travels / [written by Andrew Bain ... [et al.]].
“101 experiences, courses and lessons into classical skills and talents from around the world ; Tips on becoming the next molecular gastronomy genius, an intrepid archeologist, a Paris-based artist and more; The ultimate reference book for making the most of your travels – and gaining new skills along the way.” (Syndetics summary)

Including from mapping your adventures to “the Japan Rail Pass”, the disappearing Antarctica, a blind person motorcycling round the world, rowing around London and, finally, ceasing to roam.

On the map : why the world looks the way it does / Simon Garfield.
“From Mappa Mundi to Myst – the bestselling “Just My Type” author turns his gaze to maps. …This is a book that will inspire mapophiles but engage even those of us who stare blankly at an OS pathfinder’s hieroglyphs. Just as Garfield found the magic in fonts, here he creates compelling narratives on everything from the challenge of mapping the oceans to spellbinding treasure maps to the naming of America, from Churchill’s crucial war maps to the lay-out of a Monopoly board, from crime maps to music maps, from rare map dealers to cartographic frauds.” (Syndetics summary)

The further adventures of an idiot abroad / Karl Pilkington ; photography by Freddie Claire ; illustrations by Dominic Trevett.
“…Taking the Bucket List of ‘100 Things to Do Before You Die’ as his starting point, Karl combines brilliant stories from his recent adventures to Alaska, Siberia and beyond with entertaining, highly-opinionated views on what other people aspire to do with their lives. * Why on earth would anybody want to run with the bulls in Pamplona? * Go ’storm chasing’ through Tornado Alley? * Have lunch with the Queen? * Or touch hands with the Pope? The Further Adventures of An Idiot Abroad is a fitting finale to two years of eventful globe-trotting. Frank, funny and strangely inspiring, this is Karl’s final word on travel.”–amazon.com. (Syndetics summary)

Japan by rail / Ramsey Zarifeh. “The secret to travelling around Japan on a budget is the Japan Rail Pass. Using this guide and a Japan Rail Pass, you can travel almost anywhere across all four main islands – cheaply and efficiently. …Practical information – planning your trip; what to take; getting to Japan from Europe, North America and Australasia. City guides and maps – where to stay (all budgets), where to eat, what to see in 30 towns and cities; historical and cultural background.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

San Francisco Chinatown : a guide to its history and architecture / Philip P. Choy ; architectural photographs by Brian W. Choy. “San Francisco Chinatown is the first “insider’s guide” to one of America’s most celebrated ethnic enclaves by an author born and raised there. Both a history of America’s oldest Chinese community and a guide to its significant sites and architecture, San Francisco Chinatown traces the development of the neighborhood from the city’s earliest days to its post-quake transformation into an “oriental” tourist attraction as a pragmatic means of survival.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Lost Antarctica : adventures in a disappearing land / James McClintock. “Hidden between the ice and snow of Antarctica is a world unlike any other. Bitter cold, scarce resources, and six months a year without sunlight make this frozen landscape virtually uninhabitable for humans. Yet these harsh conditions have created a unique and fascinating world of unusual plants and curious animals, mostly amphibians. …Now, as temperatures rise, hardy species from warmer climates are making Antarctica their home and destroying this fragile terrain. ….” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

River/Road : journeys through ecology / David Cook, [photographs] ; Wiremu Puke, [text] ; Jonty Valentine, [graphic design]
“”River/Road takes an intimate look at the environmental, cultural, historical and economic factors that shape the ecology of our immediate environment. The narrative explores regional ecology from a bicultural perspective. The authors trace a journey, following the parallel arteries of the Waikato River and River Road. The emphasis is on being ‘readers of the landscape”–Publisher information.” (Syndetics summary)

Touching the world : a blind woman, two wheels, 25,000 miles / Cathy Birchall and Bernard Smith. “… the extraordinary story of Cathy Birchall, a blind woman, who set off with her companion Bernard Smith, to become the first blind person ever to circle the world on a motorbike, an 18 year old BMW R100. …From desolate and dangerous mountain roads, difficult border crossings and numerous mechanical breakdowns, to climbing Wayna Picchu …a poignant visit to the Centre for Blind Women in Delhi …and an (inadvertent) overnight stay in a Kosovan brothel – this book has it all…” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

New York / [edited by Heather Reyes]. “All the sights, sounds and flavours of city life with perfect gems of city writing. Already the series has taken us to the hearts of Paris, London, Berlin, Dublin, Amsterdam and Venice. From Oxygen Books, a new publisher of surprising books about all kinds of journeys. An exciting and unique popular city break travel series featuring the best ever writing on favourite World cities. Short vignettes from writers including Woody Allen, Tom Wolfe and Don DeLillo to Patti Smith, Junot Diaz and David Byrne, from over one hundred dazzling writers in all.” (Syndetics summary)

Circle line : around London in a small boat / Steffan Meyric Hughes. “…. In 1969, man flew to the moon and sailed around the world solo. In 2009, sailor and Londoner Steffan Meyric Hughes thought he’d try something a little closer to home, becoming the first to sail and row around London in a small boat. Along the way, he discovers the history of the great city’s future and great secrets of the mysterious Thames: wrecks, bombs and intrigue. Circle Line is the story of a unique journey on the forgotten waterways of one of the world’s greatest capitals; an investigation into the way we live today; and a humorous, moving trip down memory lane.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

When wanderers cease to roam : a traveler’s journal of staying put / Vivian Swift.
“Following a lifetime of trekking across the globe, Swift has finally dropped her rucksack in a small town on the edge of the Long Island Sound. In this beautifully illustrated work, the author chronicles, month by month, the wonderfully mundane perks of remaining at home.” (Syndetics summary)

Summer has finally hit, and it’s time to start thinking about holiday destinations! However, if an international holiday is beyond the realms of your budget this season,  you can still dress in seasonal city style with these guides to fashion, style and elegance in the globe’s most chic destinations.

Paris-New York : design fashion culture, 1925-1940 / Museum of the City of New York.
“Paris/New York explores architectures, urbanism, art, decorative arts, industrial design, fashion, cuisine. travel and jazz to provide a complete picture of the cities’ accomplishments in this astoundingly productive period between the two World Wars. Twelve essays by leading French and American scholars and 250 illustrations vividly re-create the contributions of the era’s legendary figures.”–BOOK JACKET.

The essence of style : how the French invented high fashion, fine food, chic cafés, style, sophistication, and glamour / Joan DeJean.
What makes fashionistas willing to pay a small fortune for a particular designer accessory — a luxe handbag, for example?  Why are diamonds the status symbol gemstone, instantly signifying wealth, power, and even emotional commitment?One of the foremost authorities on seventeenth-century French culture provides the answer to these and other fascinating questions in her account of how, at one glittering moment in history, the French under Louis XIV set the standards of sophistication, style, and glamour that still rule our lives today. Written with wit, dash, and lan by an author who knows this astonishing true story better than virtually anyone, The Essence of Style will delight fans of history and everybody who wonders about the elusive definition of good taste. – adapted from Global Books in Print.

Citystyle : a field guide to global fashion capitals / [editor-in-chief, Heather Corcoran].
“City Style is a guide to the world’s most fashionable cities, curated by their most stylish residents. From the runways of New York and Paris to the streets of Tokyo and the London club scene, our expert guides give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the local look and how to get it, complete with required reading (magazines and blogs), street style photos and a comprehensive designer guide featuring photos. In addition, interviews with designers, stylists and other industry insiders answer the question: What makes each city uniquely stylish?” (Syndetics summary)

City of style : exploring Los Angeles fashion from Bohemian to rock / Melissa Magsaysay ; original photography by Donato Sardella.
“City of Style” is a visual ride and intellectual approach through L.A.’s fashion past, the mark it’s making on the world today, and the individuals who fuel this influential style. – Global Books in Print.

Style city : how London became a fashion capital / Robert O’Byrne ; consultant, Annette Worsley-Taylor.
“Learn how fashion developed in Britain from the early 1970s, when designer fashion scarcely existed, to the present day, when London ranks alongside Paris, New York and Milan as a global fashion capital.” (Syndetics summary)

Fashion, Italian style / Valerie Steele.
“Italian fashion – which encompasses designers and companies from Armani to Zegna – has become a dominant force in the fashion world. This stunning book discusses the rise of Italian fashion since 1945, the development of the Italian Look from the late 1970s to the present, and the many great designers who have contributed to Italy’s fashion triumphs.” “This book is the catalogue for an exhibition, sponsored by the Italian Trade Commission, at The Museum at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City from February 11, 2003 through April 12, 2003.”–BOOK JACKET.

New York look book : a gallery of street fashion / by Amy Larocca & Jake Chessum.
“Since 2004, “New York” magazine has been celebrating New York City style in a feature called The Look Book: a centerfold with its subject shot at random anywhere and everywhere across Gotham, along with an interview about the subject’s personal style. “The New York Look Book” collects more than 200 of the best Look Book features, and a special Where to Find It? section offers readers not only store listings, but also an insider’s guide to New York’s distinctive neighborhoods.” (Syndetics summary)

A book about the sixteenth century Portuguese navigators: did they really sail and chart coastlines in New Zealand? And did you know that there are many ‘Mom and Pop’ shops still in the Big Apple…. these and other travel answers are to be found in this month’s round-up of new Travel books.

Scary monsters and super creeps : in search of the world’s most hideous beasts / by Dom Joly.
A brilliantly bizarre and hilarious travelogue from the audacious comedian, and TV star, Dom Joly.(Syndetics summary)

Retire and live the dream : our long journey to la dolce vita / Annette Edis. “Retire and Live the Dream: Our Long Journey to la Dolce Vita has been written to inspire and encourage readers to travel, especially those recently retired; urging them to disregard any fears they might have, take the plunge and have an experience of a lifetime. Included are an abundance of travel tips for both affordable and enjoyable travel, the importance of life goals and staying young in your outlook on life. Also included are fascinating anecdotes, myths and histories of the many towns, cities and countries visited by Annette.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Almost somewhere : twenty-eight days on the John Muir Trail / Suzanne Roberts.
“While wilderness memoirs have been coming fast and furious lately, Roberts dares to combine a hiking adventure with a healthy dose of humor and female bonding in all its complicated and turbulent best. Nearly 20 years ago she joined two girlfriends on a monthlong postcollegiate hike of the John Muir Trail. … With wit, laughter, and longing, she writes of the trip not as an attempt at wilderness salvation but rather a desire to do something, anything, that proved the future would not be so daunting. An utterly refreshing outdoors memoir free of the seemingly manufactured drama so many similar titles contain. A delightful and quite literary diversion.–Mondor, Colleen Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist) (adapted)

Pre-Tasman Portuguese down under? / John Tasker. “For more than 200 years, scholars and amateurs alike have wrestled with the problem — did sixteenth century Portuguese navigators sail down the east coast of Australia and along the shores of New Zealand, charting the coastlines as they went? Employing endless speculation, all kinds of people have proposed all kinds of theories, not one of which resulted in a resolution over those two centuries. This book is different. Forsaking the speculation and guesswork model, it finally lays the matter to rest beyond all reasonable doubt.” (Syndetics summary)

The Condé Nast traveler Book of unforgettable journeys : great writers on great places. Volume II / edited with an introduction by Klara Glowczewska.
“…Anthologies of travel writing abound, most of them like a pirate’s chest filled to the brim with gems. This one, the second gathering of articles published originally in Conde Nast Traveler magazine, has mostly diamonds for contents. The strongest pieces here among all strong pieces, that is include famous food critic Calvin Trillin’s Some Like It Not Hot, in which he shares experiences visiting the Ecuadorean city of Cuenca, calling it a walking around city (which he characterizes as often short on well-known sights but having small-item appeal nevertheless)….–Hooper, Brad Copyright 2010 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” (Booklist) (adapted)

Estonia : a ramble through the periphery / [Alexander Theroux].
“Any journey with Alexander Theroux is an education. Endowed with a razor-sharp and hyper-literate mind, he stands beside Thomas Pynchon as one of the sharpest cultural commentators of our time. For Theroux, the country of Estonia and its people became a puzzle as he accompanied his wife there for a nine-month stay. Estonia is as biting and satirical as it is witty and urbane; as curious and lyrical as it is brash and irreverent. It marks a new highlight in an already stellar career and a book that continues Fantagraphics’ exceptional line of prose works.” (Syndetics summary)

Two guys on the road ; walking backwards across the world / Steve Chandler & Terrence N. Hill. “In TWO GUYS ON THE ROAD, Steve Chandler and Terry Hill write e-mails, postcards, and letters to each other as they travel the world. Terry mostly takes lengthy travels for pleasure abroad with his wife Miranda while Steve takes short business trips around the country, at times with his wife Kathy. In their usual style, Steve and Terry often launch into digressions to discuss whatever piques their interest in the moment resulting in a collage of places, people, opinions, travel tips, and sometimes tenuously-related memories.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Classic hikes of North America : 25 breathtaking treks in the United States and Canada / Peter Potterfield. “Included in the book is helpful information, such as: level of difficulty, trail conditions, recommended seasons, potential hazards and difficulties, resource information, and detailed maps of hiking routes. …. These are journeys to dream on, and Potterfield puts them within reach of any aspiring hiker.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

360 degrees longitude : one family’s journey around the world / John Higham. “In June 2005, John Higham, his wife September, daughters Jordan and Katrina packed-up and began a 52 week global adventure, visiting 30 countries on five continents. They stayed with friends, strangers, college girls on spring break and Polish shipyard workers with a penchant for striped boxer shorts and little else. The Highams learnt more than just the food and cultures of their destinations; fish can mistake nipples for a snack, a Chilean mall isn’t the best place to get ears pierced and that elephants love receiving flowers; and they learnt all about each other.” (Amazon.co.uk)

New York originals : a guide to the city’s classic shops & mom-and-pops / by Jamie McDonald. “Some of the last classic mom-and-pop businesses in the US are in the Big Apple: despite the fast-moving, ever-changing nature of the City and the recent onslaught of chain stores, many small businesses in New York and its five boroughs have survived and thrived year after year, generation after generation. ….a unique tour through all five boroughs introduces readers to 75 of these unique shops, restaurants, services, and manufacturers….” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Welcome to our picks for October’s People & Places. Highlights this month include: a ‘Birdseye’ view of the origins of refrigeration; the enigma that was Alan Turing; a comic look at the underwhelming attractions of the British Isles and a book set to ruin our ability to poke fun at Australia’s criminal past.

From Secret Milan to Hidden Brussels, the Indian Coast and ‘Flamenco’ Spain, these new travel books will guide you around the world and back again to New Zealand.

Have mother, will travel : a mother and daughter discover themselves, each other, and the world / Claire and Mia Fontaine.
“Told in alternating voices, a travelogue capturing the changing relationship between a mother and her adult daughter follows their sixteen-city, twelve-country tour during which their adventures and mishaps brought them closer together.” (Library Catalogue)

Secret Milan / Massimo Polidoro.
“Discover a canal lock designed by Leonardo da Vinci as well as the secrets of his Last Supper, find out where Mussolini’s hidden bunker lies, marry beneath frescoes by Tiepolo, visit artists’ houses usually closed to the public, see exceptional private collections, admire the sculpture of a young girl shaving her pudenda, look for the boxers carved on the roof terraces of the cathedral… An indispensable guide for those wishing to discover another facet of the city.” (Book jacket)

Madagascar highlights / Daniel Austin, Hilary Bradt.
“Madagascar’s isolation means most of its mammals, birds, and plants exist nowhere else on earth. This guide showcases the best of the island with details of all the sights included in tour operators’ itineraries; trips along the Route Nationale 7, around Nosy Be, days trips around Antananarivo, and tours to the east and southwest of the country. Detailed maps include ‘the top spots’ – the six places most favoured by tour operators, and a birders’ map identifies the island’s key locations to spot birds. An authoritative chapter on conservation discusses many of the islands projects and outlines how visitors can help. With full colour photographs throughout, this handy book also acts as a field guide to lemurs, chameleons and a host of other exotic plants and animals.” (Amazon.co.uk)

Walking home : travels with a troubadour on the Pennine Way / Simon Armitage.
“In summer 2010 Simon Armitage decided to walk the Pennine Way. The challenging 256-mile route is usually approached from south to north, from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm, the other side of the Scottish border. He resolved to tackle it the other way round: through beautiful and bleak terrain, across lonely fells and into the howling wind, he would be walking home, towards theYorkshire village where he was born. Travelling as a ‘modern troubadour’ without a penny in his pocket, he stopped along the way to give poetry readings in village halls, churches, pubs and living rooms… It’s a story about Britain’s remote and overlooked interior – the wildness of its landscape and the generosity of the locals who sustained him on his journey. It’s about facing emotional and physical challenges, and sometimes overcoming them. … Contemplative, moving and droll, it is a unique narrative from one of our most beloved writers.” (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Only in Spain / Nellie Bennett.
“A sparky, witty and thoroughly enjoyable memoir of a girl who fell in love with flamenco dance and with Spain. A foot-stamping, full-on firecracker of a travel memoir, crackling with energy, dance, gypsies, love, food and the occasional donkey. Nellie Bennett fell in love with flamenco one hot summer day in a Sydney dance studio. Longing to get closer to the authentic experience, she packed her suede dance shoes and a set of castanets and travelled to the other side of the world, to Seville, to learn flamenco. What she didn’t realise is that flamenco is not a dance, it’s a way of life. In Spain, she fell in love three times – the first time with a smokey-eyed flamenco dance teacher, the second time, with a wild and tempestuous gypsy; and the third with a tall, dark handsome Basque chef – not realising that, all along, it’s really Spain she’s fallen in love with. A witty, passionate story of romance and discovery.” (Syndetics)

Skyline London : a guide to the finest views from the capital’s highest points / Caroline Dale.
“An all-new, awe-inspiring view of the greatest city in the world; the essential guide to London’s high points and what you can see from them. …London, as this fascinating and original guidebook shows, is already full of fabulous views from above, if you know where to go – and those vistas are not of a rigid grid-pattern of streets as in New York, but the teeming intricacy of a capital city shaped by settlement and redevelopment since Roman times. From Becton Alps in East London to Henman Hill at Wimbledon’s All-England Club, from Edison’s Lighthouse at Leamouth to the top of Centre Point, here are fifty amazing and unexpected aerial views available to the curious visitor.” (Syndetics)

Hong Konged : one modern American family’s (mis)adventures in the gateway to China / Paul Hanstedt.
“In this alternately hilarious and heartrending memoir, acclaimed writer and editor Paul Hanstedt recounts the true story of his family’s recent sojourn to Hong Kong. Hanstedt and his wife and three children–aged 9, 6, and 3–lived in Hong Kong for a year, a year beset by culture clash, vicious bullies, hospital visits, M&Ms, and the worst traffic jam you’ve ever seen.
Through the eyes of the earnest if sometimes clueless Hanstedt family, you’ll discover a world you’ve never known before. But in the end,Hong Kongedis about place and family and what it is that makes us human–no matter who we are or where we live.” (Syndetics)

The 500 hidden secrets of Brussels / [Derek Blyth].
“This book offers a practical guide to Brussels’ finest places, covering all bases to ensure no visitor to the city is ever anything short of captivated. The ’secrets’ are listed thematically and include 60 places for good food, 45 places for a drink, 50 places to shop, 20 places for fashion, 40 buildings to admire, 40 places to discover the world, 25 things to do with children and 60 activities.” (Syndetics)

Following fish : travels around the Indian coast / Samanth Subramanian.
“In a coastline as long and diverse as India’s, fish inhabit the heart of many worlds – food of course, but also culture, commerce, sport, history and society. Journeying along the edges of the peninsula, Samanth Subramanian delivers a kaleidoscope of extraordinary stories…. Pulsating with pleasure, adventure and discovery, and tempered by nostalgia and loss, “Following Fish” reveals a series of unknown Indias in a book as revealing of the subcontinent as any three times its length.” (Amazon.co.uk)

Home & away : award-winning travel stories by New Zealand writers / selected and edited by Graeme Lay.
“ Home & Away marks the twentieth anniversay of Travcom’s annual Travel Media Awards, which celebrate the best New Zealand travel writing and photography, and it amply demonstrates how over the last couple of decades our finest travel writers have come of age. There is humour, excitement, pathos, warmth and above all creative latitude and longitude in these stories….” (Book jacket)

Need some motivation to go out and do great deeds today?  These books containing various heroic exploits may just provide the added push you need!

Resolution : the story of Captain Cook’s second voyage of discovery / Peter Aughton.
“On 13 July 1772, a year and a day after James Cook had returned to England having claimed Australia and New Zealand for the British crown, he set sail again on another voyage to the Pacific with two ships, the Resolution and the Adventure, to complete his search for lands in the southern hemisphere. This three-year venture still remains the greatest exploratory voyage ever undertaken in the far southern waters of the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. No other sailing ship has ever been further south through the ice. This was an epic voyage. The Pacific Ocean, covering more than a quarter of the earth’s surface, still had great lonely expanses where no ship had ever sailed. Numerous small islands had been spotted over the previous 250 years but nearly all had been sightings and not landings; even of the landings many were unvisited since their first discovery. Fresh food and water supplies were always a problem – and scurvy always a worry, in spite of the eighty barrels of sauerkraut they took with them. They also took invaluable instruments supplied by the Board of Longitude, not least a copy of Harrison’s fourth marine chronometer.” (Book jacket)

Race to the end : Amundsen, Scott, and the attainment of the South Pole / Ross D.E. MacPhee.
“Between 1910 and 1912, parties led by Norway’s Roald Amundsen and England’s Robert Scott made simultaneous attempts to be the first to reach the South Pole. Both parties attained the pole (Amundsen’s first, Scott’s second), but only Amundsen and his comrades returned alive. In a handsome volume that accompanies the American Museum of Natural History’s exhibit on the Scott and Amundsen expeditions, curator MacPhee sheds new light on this well-known story of triumph and tragedy. His text is complemented by a treasure trove of photos, maps, journals, and artifacts (some seen here for the first time). Seamlessly combining high adventure with meticulous documentation, this book will have broad appeal. Includes five contemporary panoramas showing Scott’s journey, as well as two vertical maps.” (Syndetics summary)

Explorers : the most exciting voyages of discovery : from the African expeditions to the lunar landing / Andrea de Porti.The Explorers: The Most Exciting Voyages of Discovery — From the African Expeditions to the Lunar Landing
“Journalist De Porti not only explains the reasons why these apparently sane people left safe havens to explore the world and beyond, but supplies hundreds of period photographs and illustrations in gatefolds that create posters that explain the length and breadth of 53 journeys into the unknown. The seemingly sane people include Charles Lindbergh, Rosita Forbes, Richard Burton, John Speke, Robert Peary, Howard Carter, Freya Stark, Neil Armstrong and Yuri Gargarin, whom De Porti puts in context with their various and sundry motives, compatriots, beasts of burden, mistakes, and triumphs.” (Syndetics summary)

Xanadu : Marco Polo and Europe’s discovery of the East / John Man.
“Marco Polo’s journey from Venice, through Europe and most of Asia, to the court of Kublai Khan in China is one of the most audacious in history. His account of his experiences, known simply as The Travels, uncovered an entirely new world of emperors and concubines, great buildings — ’stately pleasure domes’ in Coleridge’s dreaming; huge armies and imperial riches. His book shaped the West’s understanding of China for hundreds of years. John Man travelled in Marco’s footsteps to Xanadu, in search of the truth behind Marco’s stories; to separate legend from fact. Drawing on his own journey, archaeology and archival study, John Man paints a vivid picture of the man behind the myth and the true story of the great court of Kublai Khan.” (Global Books in Print)

The race to the New World : Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, and a lost history of discovery / Douglas Hunter.
“It’s hard to imagine that there is still uncharted territory in the history of the New World’s discovery. But Hunter indeed sails unsullied waters, offering an intriguing and surprising new twist on the old subject. Other historians have paralleled the voyages of Columbus and Cabot, Italian explorers for hire determined to find a westward route to Asia, but Hunter interweaves their stories and places them firmly into the complex geopolitical landscape of Renaissance Europe. Insisting that one cannot understand the career and motivations of one without understanding the career and motivations of the other, he analyzes the significant influence and impact these two rivals had upon one another. As this fascinating historical detective story unfolds, new pieces of an old puzzle are put into place, providing fresh perspective on the traditional discovery narrative. This important contribution to the scholarship of exploration history should also please readers who enjoy well-researched revisionist histories like Nathaniel Philbrick’s Mayflower (2006).” (Drawn from Booklist, courtesy of Syndetics)