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The Best American Travel Writing 2013: A Collection of Lush Literary Essays from Far-Flung Locales
A collection of the best travel writing pieces published in American periodicals during 2012.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 8, 2013
104 people are currently reading
2018 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Gilbert
59 books35.1k followersElizabeth Gilbert is an award-winning writer of both fiction and non-fiction. Her short story collection Pilgrims was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway award, and her novel Stern Men was a New York Times notable book. Her 2002 book The Last American Man was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critic’s Circle Award.
Her memoir, Eat, Pray, Love, spent 57 weeks in the #1 spot on the New York Times paperback bestseller list. It has shipped over 6 million copies in the US and has been published in over thirty languages. A film adaptation of the book was released by Columbia Pictures with an all star cast: Julia Roberts as Gilbert, Javier Bardem as Felipe, James Franco as David, Billy Crudup as her ex-husband and Richard Jenkins as Richard from Texas.
Her latest novel, The Signature of All Things, will be available on October 1, 2013. The credit for her profile picture belongs to Jennifer Schatten.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 74 reviews
March 14, 2014
When I think of travel writing, I think of writers wearing cargo pants and pith helmets going to dangerous places so we don't have to. Alternatively, there's the kind of travel writer who wears tuxedos and knows wine and travels to place we'd like to, but can't afford to. There's some of that in this collection, The Best American Travel Writing 2013, edited by Elizabeth Gilbert, but the definition of travel writing becomes much more broad. There's even an article about a trip someone didn't take.
In the former category, the places we'd rather not go, thank you, we get a piece by Judy Copeland on hiking through Papua New Guinea. We learn a basic but interesting fact: "You can't walk anywhere in Papua New Guinea without risking impalement." There's also an article by Christopher de Ballaigue on cockfighting in Afghanistan, which is of course fascinating but is nothing I would want to experience firsthand. "Cockfighting is outlawed in Afghanistan, but not for the reason it is outlawed in virtually all American states and most of Europe--that is cruel. It is illegal in Afghanistan because its association with gambling brings it into conflict with Islamic law."
There are articles on the wild dogs of Istanbul, by Bernd Brunner, a snowboarding team in Bosnia by Dimiter Kenarov, and Colleen Kinder on being a Western women in Cairo--to cover the head, or to not cover the head. The bleakest article is by Maria Arana on the deplorable conditions of miners in the Peruvian Andes.
As to those places we might want to go, we can start with John Jeremiah Sullivan's tribute to Cuba, the country of his wife, with its oppressive politics and all. Then there's the running of the bulls in Pamplona, which is a pretty dumb idea but gets all sorts of idiots to do it every year, including Kevin Chroust, who has a very funny write-up about it that makes it sound intriguing. My favorite line from his article is "This is particularly scary for me because before Thursday night, the biggest bull I'd ever seen was Bill Wennington."
Peter Jon Lindberg makes us all jealous with his recounting summer vacations spent on the coast of Maine. "Now and then we'll spot the shambling figure we call the Clam Man, a grumbly chap with a spongy beard, leering fish eyes, a coral-like complexion, and bearing of an insane Poseidon." David Sedaris writes about going to the dentist in France, but I don't think this qualifies as travel writing, because he actually lives there. For foodies, there's David Farley's "Vietnam's Bowl of Secrets," about searching for the recipe of a certain dish that it is said can be made only with the water from a certain well.
My favorite article was one I had read before, in The New York Times Magazine. Sam Anderson, in "The Pippiest Place on Earth," visits a theme park in England called Dickens World, which recreates the England of a certain writer, down to its bad smells and rats. He swears he's not making it up: "Dickens World, in other words, sounded less like a viable business than it did a mockumentary, or a George Saunders short story, or the thought experiment of a radical Marxist seeking to expose the terminal bankruptcy at the heart of consumerism."
I may not be running with the bulls any time soon, but I have to see Dickens World.
In the former category, the places we'd rather not go, thank you, we get a piece by Judy Copeland on hiking through Papua New Guinea. We learn a basic but interesting fact: "You can't walk anywhere in Papua New Guinea without risking impalement." There's also an article by Christopher de Ballaigue on cockfighting in Afghanistan, which is of course fascinating but is nothing I would want to experience firsthand. "Cockfighting is outlawed in Afghanistan, but not for the reason it is outlawed in virtually all American states and most of Europe--that is cruel. It is illegal in Afghanistan because its association with gambling brings it into conflict with Islamic law."
There are articles on the wild dogs of Istanbul, by Bernd Brunner, a snowboarding team in Bosnia by Dimiter Kenarov, and Colleen Kinder on being a Western women in Cairo--to cover the head, or to not cover the head. The bleakest article is by Maria Arana on the deplorable conditions of miners in the Peruvian Andes.
As to those places we might want to go, we can start with John Jeremiah Sullivan's tribute to Cuba, the country of his wife, with its oppressive politics and all. Then there's the running of the bulls in Pamplona, which is a pretty dumb idea but gets all sorts of idiots to do it every year, including Kevin Chroust, who has a very funny write-up about it that makes it sound intriguing. My favorite line from his article is "This is particularly scary for me because before Thursday night, the biggest bull I'd ever seen was Bill Wennington."
Peter Jon Lindberg makes us all jealous with his recounting summer vacations spent on the coast of Maine. "Now and then we'll spot the shambling figure we call the Clam Man, a grumbly chap with a spongy beard, leering fish eyes, a coral-like complexion, and bearing of an insane Poseidon." David Sedaris writes about going to the dentist in France, but I don't think this qualifies as travel writing, because he actually lives there. For foodies, there's David Farley's "Vietnam's Bowl of Secrets," about searching for the recipe of a certain dish that it is said can be made only with the water from a certain well.
My favorite article was one I had read before, in The New York Times Magazine. Sam Anderson, in "The Pippiest Place on Earth," visits a theme park in England called Dickens World, which recreates the England of a certain writer, down to its bad smells and rats. He swears he's not making it up: "Dickens World, in other words, sounded less like a viable business than it did a mockumentary, or a George Saunders short story, or the thought experiment of a radical Marxist seeking to expose the terminal bankruptcy at the heart of consumerism."
I may not be running with the bulls any time soon, but I have to see Dickens World.
October 12, 2013
For many of us Fall means being cooped up in offices during the limited daylight hours, swaddling ourselves in layers of fabric and hunching over warm cups of tea. If you are like me, and long for an escape, then you find this time of year the perfect time to fantasize over future vacations in remote locales.
What Best American Travel Writing 2013 offers readers is not just a collection of articles, but the feeling of having been there, experiencing the adventure with the author. Elizabeth Gilbert is the guest editor for this edition and her introduction makes the distinction between the travel articles that map out your three-day trip and those that make you feel as if you already took that trip. By that logic this collection is a success because each author brings a unique voice to the locations they describe, and yet you can feel the adrenaline of running with the bulls, the fear of a gravity defying airplanes and feel the creak of boardwalks beneath you as you taste freshly caught fish from Maine.
If this isn't indulgent then maybe the true meaning of the word can be found in Lynn Yeager's Confessions of a Packing Maximalist. Here she highlights the joys of packing heavily, an opinion often railed against and not seen in such a playful and thoughtful way. You can take a walk through Dickens World with Sam Anderson, marveling at the ingenuity around literary tourism. Better yet, sit down with David Sedaris and laugh at another one of his perfectly tailored stories about Paris.
A compelling element of travel writing is it's ability to touch on underlying economic, political, environmental and human rights issues. I found that this anthology offered a good balance between the almost leisure trips and the ones with powerful issue driven themes. From Marie Arana's Dreaming of El Dorado, which take you to the harsh mining cities still existing in Peru, to Dimiter Kenarov's look at the winter sports push in Serajevo, still tinged with the wars that ravaged the area. Then there is Colleen Kinder's first-person account of walking through Egypt that will haunt you as you walk down the street in whatever city you live in.
In the end I was amused that, though this is a book of travel writing, so many of the authors take a moment to reflect on their homes. Somehow these experiences are not lone events, but another thread interwoven in the fabric of their pasts, presents and futures. Even in the most exotic locales we never stray far from home.
What Best American Travel Writing 2013 offers readers is not just a collection of articles, but the feeling of having been there, experiencing the adventure with the author. Elizabeth Gilbert is the guest editor for this edition and her introduction makes the distinction between the travel articles that map out your three-day trip and those that make you feel as if you already took that trip. By that logic this collection is a success because each author brings a unique voice to the locations they describe, and yet you can feel the adrenaline of running with the bulls, the fear of a gravity defying airplanes and feel the creak of boardwalks beneath you as you taste freshly caught fish from Maine.
If this isn't indulgent then maybe the true meaning of the word can be found in Lynn Yeager's Confessions of a Packing Maximalist. Here she highlights the joys of packing heavily, an opinion often railed against and not seen in such a playful and thoughtful way. You can take a walk through Dickens World with Sam Anderson, marveling at the ingenuity around literary tourism. Better yet, sit down with David Sedaris and laugh at another one of his perfectly tailored stories about Paris.
A compelling element of travel writing is it's ability to touch on underlying economic, political, environmental and human rights issues. I found that this anthology offered a good balance between the almost leisure trips and the ones with powerful issue driven themes. From Marie Arana's Dreaming of El Dorado, which take you to the harsh mining cities still existing in Peru, to Dimiter Kenarov's look at the winter sports push in Serajevo, still tinged with the wars that ravaged the area. Then there is Colleen Kinder's first-person account of walking through Egypt that will haunt you as you walk down the street in whatever city you live in.
In the end I was amused that, though this is a book of travel writing, so many of the authors take a moment to reflect on their homes. Somehow these experiences are not lone events, but another thread interwoven in the fabric of their pasts, presents and futures. Even in the most exotic locales we never stray far from home.
December 5, 2014
This was my first time reading something from the 'Best American Series' (a few have sat on my kindle for over two years). I usually enjoy compilations with their inherent advantage of easily addressing and switching topics. However it took me much longer to read this book than it should have--mostly because it didn't capture my attention. Some were interesting but none were amazing--but maybe I am just not that familiar with travel writing? My favorites were: David Sedaris (Dentists Without Borders), Sam Anderson (The Pippiest Place on Earth) and Judy Copeland (The Way I've Come). My least favorite was by Kevin Chroust (The Bull Passes Through).
October 10, 2014
I usually don't read essay anthologies because the writing is uneven. I picked up this one because I enjoy Elizabeth Gilbert's writing and wanted to see what she enjoyed. The essays range from informative and thought-provoking (Colleen Kinder's two walks through Cairo, one in a burka, one in jeans), to humorous (David Sedaris' "Dentists Without Borders") to historical (Rich Cohen's exquisite history of New Orleans). I must have the same tastes as Elizabeth Gilbert! Yeah for me!
August 21, 2019
This selection of travel essays from 2013 runs the gamut from stultifying to fascinating, with the best being about a hike in Papua New Guinea, white women wearing a niqab in Cairo, dentistry in Paris, an obscure Vietnamese noodle recipe, a Tanzanian quack preacher, and -- best of all -- a grim tale of gold mining in Peru at 18,000 feet elevation. Elizabeth Gilbert edited this collection of The Best American Travel Writing 2013.
November 29, 2013
Elizabeth Gilbert has put together a marvelous collection of American writing. However, the anthology’s title, THE BEST AMERICAN TRAVEL WRITING 2013, to be known as TBATW in the rest of this review, should probably have TRAVEL removed to more accurately describe its contents.
The contributors are fine writers with impressive credentials but only a few are known for their travel writing. Many of the entries do not seem to fit the travel genre, although every one of them is outstanding and I’m glad I read them. So I’m going to take the liberty of reviewing TBATW for its contents and leave the classifying to others.
Every included article has some compelling reason for its appeal. The editor, in her selection process, admits to having focused on “being transported” as she narrowed down the huge collection of possibilities. She wanted to know the places being reported on “deep in my own bones.” And so we are transported to places like Cuba, Spain, New Guinea, Egypt, and Vietnam to not so much visit as a traveler but to get educated. New York City and New Orleans are included but in ways not described in Fodor. There’s even an article about NOT traveling, one on the existence of creatures out there in the wilds, and the failure of Dickens World (its attractions fell short of more famous theme parks).
I commend Elisabeth Gilbert for her editing prowess. She has put together a wonderful collection of fascinating essays featuring great writing and wide appeal. I wolfed down every entry. It’s a wonderful book that makes for enjoyable reading. Are all the entries focused on travel? Read the book and make your own decision, but I don’t think you will even care.
The contributors are fine writers with impressive credentials but only a few are known for their travel writing. Many of the entries do not seem to fit the travel genre, although every one of them is outstanding and I’m glad I read them. So I’m going to take the liberty of reviewing TBATW for its contents and leave the classifying to others.
Every included article has some compelling reason for its appeal. The editor, in her selection process, admits to having focused on “being transported” as she narrowed down the huge collection of possibilities. She wanted to know the places being reported on “deep in my own bones.” And so we are transported to places like Cuba, Spain, New Guinea, Egypt, and Vietnam to not so much visit as a traveler but to get educated. New York City and New Orleans are included but in ways not described in Fodor. There’s even an article about NOT traveling, one on the existence of creatures out there in the wilds, and the failure of Dickens World (its attractions fell short of more famous theme parks).
I commend Elisabeth Gilbert for her editing prowess. She has put together a wonderful collection of fascinating essays featuring great writing and wide appeal. I wolfed down every entry. It’s a wonderful book that makes for enjoyable reading. Are all the entries focused on travel? Read the book and make your own decision, but I don’t think you will even care.
January 9, 2014
No surprise that Elizabeth Gilbert and I don't really have overlapping styles - I preferred Vollman's choices last year, but my favorite so far were Bourdain's - but she did pick a few really good ones. David Sedaris is awesome, as always, as is Ian Frazier. The names I didn't know that I'll be following now are David Farley, for his story on a mysterious bowl of noodles in Vietnam, Colleen Kinder, for her story on walking through Cairo in a niqab, and Sam Anderson for his story about a failed Dickens amusement park.
Overall, a solid addition to this series, but nowhere near my favorite. I'd say my least favorites were "Confessions of a Packing Maximalist" and "The Bull Passes Through."
Overall, a solid addition to this series, but nowhere near my favorite. I'd say my least favorites were "Confessions of a Packing Maximalist" and "The Bull Passes Through."
December 21, 2020
The only thing better than traveling vicariously is traveling vicariously to places you have previously visited and seeing them from a new perspective. So many memories triggered, so many moments relived. That, for me, is Best American Travel Writing 2013 in a nutshell.
I love the Best American anthologies for the gorgeous writing. From the opening pages to the closing paragraphs, I never doubt the richness of the prose. This volume was an especial treat for me with pieces on Cuba, Maine, and Paris, which I have visited, as well as many places (Egypt and Vietnam, for example, which I have not, and likely will not any time soon.)
Many of the pieces, such as the one on Cuba, are traditional travel writing. Author goes to location, spends time in location, reflects on experiences while there. Many of the included essays do not follow this mold, though, and in a refreshing way. The essay on Paris evokes the City of Lights, but focuses primarily on dentistry in said city. The essay on Peru takes in the landscape and culture, no question, but does so against the backdrop of child labor and human trafficking. Another selection discusses an author's decision not to travel, in his case by foot the length of the U.S.-Mexico border.
I love the Best American anthologies for the gorgeous writing. From the opening pages to the closing paragraphs, I never doubt the richness of the prose. This volume was an especial treat for me with pieces on Cuba, Maine, and Paris, which I have visited, as well as many places (Egypt and Vietnam, for example, which I have not, and likely will not any time soon.)
Many of the pieces, such as the one on Cuba, are traditional travel writing. Author goes to location, spends time in location, reflects on experiences while there. Many of the included essays do not follow this mold, though, and in a refreshing way. The essay on Paris evokes the City of Lights, but focuses primarily on dentistry in said city. The essay on Peru takes in the landscape and culture, no question, but does so against the backdrop of child labor and human trafficking. Another selection discusses an author's decision not to travel, in his case by foot the length of the U.S.-Mexico border.
September 3, 2019
Some stories are interesting and well narrated, while others were a bit confusing- I wasn't sure what the key point the author was getting at. Overall, some interesting insights from the authors' experiences.
April 25, 2018
some really great , entertaining stories. I say the stories started out strong and tapered off to not as strong at the end of the book. still worth the read
February 16, 2020
Just ok....
April 14, 2020
Collection of remarkable stories by remarkable writers.
November 26, 2022
I think I only liked 1 or 2 of these stories. Also there was a story about cocktail fighting which I wish I knew beforehand.
October 29, 2023
The writing was all good but the topics ranged from exciting to poignant to silly to gruesome.
Read
March 11, 2025Didn't finish this one.
August 3, 2014
This is a great little collection of essays and memoirs, plenty of gems among them. Many of them are very personal, although there are a few that are straight reporting. We go to little-known parts of the world, meet unusual people, and take part in unique and often demanding life-styles.
The anthology covers many different ways of finding one’s place in the world. The first piece is about an Anglo guy traveling to Cuba to be with his wife’s family, and I totally identified with that, having married into a Latina family. But it’s also very unique, a different perspective on Cuba, as well as a study of belonging and alienation. Another of my favorite pieces concerns a trip that the writer never took, why he didn’t, and what he did instead.
Another tells the story of a woman hiking in the mountains of New Guinea. By putting herself in a situation of culture shock, she begins to heal the cultural displacement she experienced when she was a child. And then there’s another story about being learning to appreciate the family vacation in Maine that never changes from year to year.
These are all wonderful writers. There’s humor, and there are also very serious pieces. There are essays that give a broader historical perspective, that explain why places have become what they are. There are brilliant and interesting characters. I learned, laughed, and thought, all through this collection.
The anthology covers many different ways of finding one’s place in the world. The first piece is about an Anglo guy traveling to Cuba to be with his wife’s family, and I totally identified with that, having married into a Latina family. But it’s also very unique, a different perspective on Cuba, as well as a study of belonging and alienation. Another of my favorite pieces concerns a trip that the writer never took, why he didn’t, and what he did instead.
Another tells the story of a woman hiking in the mountains of New Guinea. By putting herself in a situation of culture shock, she begins to heal the cultural displacement she experienced when she was a child. And then there’s another story about being learning to appreciate the family vacation in Maine that never changes from year to year.
These are all wonderful writers. There’s humor, and there are also very serious pieces. There are essays that give a broader historical perspective, that explain why places have become what they are. There are brilliant and interesting characters. I learned, laughed, and thought, all through this collection.
April 3, 2014
I'm dealing with a cold these days and I must say that this little collection really hit the spot. I was looking for something which didn't require too much attention, but which would still be compelling; this book certainly succeeded on both counts.
There are several reasons this compendium stands out. One is the sheer variety of the selections. It's incredible that so many facets of travel can be addressed in such a small collection. It's impossible to pick a favorite simply because there are so many riches from which to choose.
Many of these articles look at travel from points of view other than that of the typical tourist. The very first piece is written by an American man who visits Cuba with his Cuban born wife and young child. It's interesting to hear his perspective on what it's like to visit a country where Americans are not always welcomed with open arms. Corrinne Kinder's article about her experiences when she decides to cover her face and body fully so that she could experience life as local women do will haunt me for a very long time.
IF you are looking for some light reading which is nonetheless thought provoking, give this one a try; you'll be reaching for your passport by book's end.
There are several reasons this compendium stands out. One is the sheer variety of the selections. It's incredible that so many facets of travel can be addressed in such a small collection. It's impossible to pick a favorite simply because there are so many riches from which to choose.
Many of these articles look at travel from points of view other than that of the typical tourist. The very first piece is written by an American man who visits Cuba with his Cuban born wife and young child. It's interesting to hear his perspective on what it's like to visit a country where Americans are not always welcomed with open arms. Corrinne Kinder's article about her experiences when she decides to cover her face and body fully so that she could experience life as local women do will haunt me for a very long time.
IF you are looking for some light reading which is nonetheless thought provoking, give this one a try; you'll be reaching for your passport by book's end.
February 25, 2014
A disappointment - the book barely cracks 200 pages, so many of the pieces are so short. And although there are a handful of excellent pieces, it doesn't quite make up for the disappointment of the rest. The guest editor, Elizabeth Gilbert, seems to prefer factual-based pieces, more reportage than strictly travel pieces. And, again, although some of these are good - Marie Arana's story of poverty on the gold mines in Peru, Dreaming of El Dorado, for instance, when you're expecting travel narratives, it means it doesn't quite cut. The one excellent - and more personal travel essay, and I prefer travel to use the "I" and be personal, after all we all take ourselves with when we travel - was Judy Copeland's The Way I've Come, about climbing through New Guinea. This combined observation of a foreign place, with intensely personal writing, as well. Sam Anderson's The Pippiest Place on Earth, a combination of a journey to Dickens World, an amusement park devoted to the work of Charles Dickens, and a mediation on literary tourism was another excellent and thought-provoking read.
March 16, 2014
I think the better name for this particular collection would be great travel reporting. Except for a few essays, this was just plain good journalism, enough of a novelty these days to be definitely worth reading. But the artistry in the writing, the shaping to an interesting point, or taking an idea and cleverly running with it, are only apparent in a few of these - Ian Frazier's piece on the shrinking of the remote, Judy copeland's about learning not to go it alone, Summerland about the familiar, the Pippiest Place about unearthing something authentic, and Blot Out about the techniques of making yourself disappear in Egypt's male culture. While they were interesting Arana's essay about Peru and its gold mines seemed overly shaped, a tad didactic, more expose than anything else; and the piece about New Orleans was really history not travel. So again, a mixed bag, but certainly worth the read.
April 7, 2014
A solid anthology - nicely varied pieces, with some more adventurous selections - much more a collection of very good essays that each involve a sense of place, rather than travel writing per se. My favorites included: Judy Copeland, 'The Way I've Come', a portion of a maniac hike across brutally steep terrain in Papua New Guinea; Daniel Tyx, 'The Year I Didn't', on a trip that never happened at all; Jesse Dukes, 'Babu on the Bad Road', really a news essay about a faith healer in Tanzania; and Marie Arana, 'Dreaming of El Dorado', about the terrible conditions in a high-altitude mining town in Peru. The final piece in the book, Rich Cohen, 'Pirate City', is a lively historical sketch of Jean Lafitte, who made his name as a pirate and boss of the New Orleans underworld in the early 1800s.
April 20, 2015
Favorites: Colleen Kinder - Blot Out (available online for free via the google FYI), Lynn Yaeger - Confessions of a Packing Maximalist, Peter Jon Lindberg - Summerland, Marie Arana - Dreaming of El Dorado, Ian Frazier - A Farewall to Yarns.
"I've also learned the difference between traveling and vacationing, two words that are often used interchangeably but means different things. A vacation typically involves travel, but travel is not always a vacation. Sometimes it's quite the opposite - fraught with uncertainty over where to go, where to stay, what to see. Vacations are a respite from all that. For us, Maine is sweet relief." (Peter Jon Lindberg)
"Transparency is one of those words whose real meaning is its opposite, the way that countries with ministries of culture haven't any." (Ian Frazier)
"I've also learned the difference between traveling and vacationing, two words that are often used interchangeably but means different things. A vacation typically involves travel, but travel is not always a vacation. Sometimes it's quite the opposite - fraught with uncertainty over where to go, where to stay, what to see. Vacations are a respite from all that. For us, Maine is sweet relief." (Peter Jon Lindberg)
"Transparency is one of those words whose real meaning is its opposite, the way that countries with ministries of culture haven't any." (Ian Frazier)
October 4, 2013
The last several years of this formerly excellent series have been decidedly blah. I skipped the whole series last year, but this year, decided to check out the travel writing volume. It's excellent! The best essays (in my opinion) are toward the front of the book and it gets less wonderful as you reach the end, but fully half the essays are entertaining and thoughtful, which makes for a decent anthology. It's unlikely any reader will love all the pieces, but I clicked with the John Jeremiah Sullivan essay about his visit to Cuba, the provocative article about running with the bulls, a good article about being a woman in Cairo, the David Sedaris essay on health care in France, and an oddly depressing piece about a Charles Dickens theme park. Recommended!
April 19, 2014
Frequently on the go and in transit, I are reminded of how fast paced our lives have become and how, often, we have little time to escape into books. For this reason – and many others – I am a huge fan of anthologies and other collections of short stories as they allow us a chance to escape into another world in just a few pages. In her introduction to The Best American Travel Writing, Elizabeth Gilbert writes, “I don’t read great travel writing to say, at the conclusion, “I want to go there!” I read great travel writing to feel, at the conclusion, I have now been there.” This collection perfectly fits the bill as the stories take us all across the globe with some of the most talented writers around.
April 15, 2014
There are some remarkable stories in this collection. If you love travel tales - and good writing! - this is very well done. There were a couple stories I felt didn't quite fit in the travel genre, and that was a little perplexing. Regardless, they are all interesting and as an aside - I have a new appreciation for "Travel + Leisure," which I have perhaps unfairly dismissed as an unrealistic publication aimed toward travelers in the wealthy 1% (still mostly true, but anyway -). Some of my favorite pieces in the book were first published in that magazine. Since reading travel publications is part of my wanna-be job, I will pay closer attention to the articles and continue to skim over the hotel recommendations that cost more per night than my monthly mortgage. :)
September 12, 2015
Great collection that offers a wonderfully broad look at what travel writing can be. Some pieces, like Judy Copeland's "The Way I've Come" are intensely personal, while "Pirate City" by Rich Cohen is a masterwork in how to present in-depth historical research as a compelling narrative. Other articles cross genres into food writing, sports writing, and investigative journalism. Also, be sure not to skip Jason Wilson's forward or Elizabeth Gilbert's introduction, which are just as compelling as the stories Gilbert selected for this anthology.
August 25, 2015
I love, love, LOVE this series. You'd be hard pressed to find a work within these publications that I find boring or even remotely lacking. In this edition I particularly loved David Sedaris' 'Dentists Without Borders', Peter Jon Lindberg's 'Summerland', and Sarah A. Topol's 'Tea and Kidnapping'. Broken into perfect bite-sized pieces, this series is ALWAYS with me when I travel. The subjects are as varied as their authors and I always finish feeling refreshed and enlivened. Sound dramatic? I don't care. It's the TRUTH!
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" -Hosea 4:6 (an excerpt from 'Babu on The Bad Road' by Jesse Dukes.)
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" -Hosea 4:6 (an excerpt from 'Babu on The Bad Road' by Jesse Dukes.)
June 2, 2016
While the writing is very good, the book is a mixed bag of stories. You wonder why some were even selected in this edition, such as the piece about a Lutheran minister dispensing miracle-cure water cures in Tanzania, cock fighting in Afghanistan, gold mining in Peru, and a history of New Orleans and Jean Lafitte. They seemed misplaced among the other stories about various people and places around the world. Yes, they were edifying but they didn't provide much in relation to travel. I may venture into other books in the annual series, but I'll keep a watchful eye on what I'm about to tread before I take that initial step.
July 14, 2016
The Best American Travel Writing 2013 takes the reader to Cairo in black veils, to a ski resort in Sarajevo in a warm winter, and to New Orleans in the company of the pirates of old. The authors who take us for these adventures include sports writer Kevin Chroust on running with the bulls in Pamplona, college professor Daniel Tyx on a journey not taken, and author David Sedaris on medical care and dentistry in Paris.
More thoughts on my blog, including my fan-girlness of Elizabeth Gilbert and my love of travel: The Best American Travel Writing 2013
More thoughts on my blog, including my fan-girlness of Elizabeth Gilbert and my love of travel: The Best American Travel Writing 2013
September 2, 2013
Dramatic stories and funny stories, tales of discovery and stories that make you want to shut yourself inside the house and never go out again, as usual, the most fun is Sedaris' (IMHO), too bad I had already read it....
Storie drammatiche e storie divertenti, storie di scoperte e storie che ti fanno venire voglia di chiuderti dentro casa e di non uscire di piú, come al solito la piú divertente é quella di Sedaris (IMHO), peccato che l'avevo giá letta.....
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT FOR THE PREVIEW!
Storie drammatiche e storie divertenti, storie di scoperte e storie che ti fanno venire voglia di chiuderti dentro casa e di non uscire di piú, come al solito la piú divertente é quella di Sedaris (IMHO), peccato che l'avevo giá letta.....
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT FOR THE PREVIEW!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 74 reviews