To be honest, World’s Smallest Book Group didn’t actually discuss the book we read all that much at our December meeting. Why talk about travel writing when most of our members had been travelling: Reba to Switzerland: Darcy to Switzerland, London, Italy, Greece, Slovenia, etc.: Joyce to Argentina. Lots of wonderful travel talk. Didn’t leave much time for the book.
Joyce liked it best because she had actually been to many of the places along the Silk Road described in the book. (She’s easily our most exotic traveller and all my distant travels have been with her!) The book is well written and has fascinating information, especially since he takes the “hard seat” approach to travel in Asia. Interesting juxapositions of yesterday and today in his encounters. But somehow it didn’t really grab us.
Perhaps there’s been too much going on in the world of late for us to let ourselves be swept away this time.
One personal note: this is the first book group book I’ve read on my Kindle. Boy did I miss easy access to a good map. Found myself going to Google Earth to follow along. Plea to Kindle designers/makers: please incorporate awesome map technology asap so I don’t have to read it at a computer. Thanks.
Categories: bookblog
Tagged: Colin Thubron, In the Shadow of the Silk Road, Kindle, travel writing
I really really heart my friends! They are really putting out for Free Geek!
Thank you so much Reba Sundberg, Charles Rooks, and Beth Kanter. (That I know about!)
That wonderful Amy Sample Ward has made Free Geek her birthday cause! She’s turning 26 on Dec. 27th and is asking folks to donate $26 to Free Geek. Look at her site to see how much she’s raised so far!
And famous artist and author (of book and blog) Alicia Paulson is donating proceeds from the sale of one of her beloved dolls to Free Geek. Fiona Flannery is an Irish dancer (and also plays the bodhran semi-professionally), frequently attending ceilis around county Antrim. She’s single, but fine with that.
This eBay auction is a quick one, better act fast if you want to get in on the action, ends at 6:49 a.m. on Dec. 18.
Much thanks also to Rick Turoczy of Silicon Florist for including in his blog and to Oregon Startup Blogs for reposting.
Thanks to Howard Rheingold, Marshall Kirkpatrick, Beth Kanter, Jean Russell, Amy Sample Ward, Phoebe Owens, Grant Kruger, Doug C0leman, Chris O’Rourke, Sandra Golden, Don Park, Tom Mack, Greg Lund-Chaix for retweeting (that I know of…)
Categories: randum
Tagged: Alicia Paulson, Amy Sample Ward, Beth Kanter, Fiona Flannery, free geek, Grant Kruger, Howard Rheingold, Jean Russeell, Marshall Kirkpatrick, Phoebe Owens, Rick Turoczy
