Lisa’s review of Horizon > Likes and Comments

I can relate to your wish to travel, Lisa, and to be able to do it as freely as a man can.
I don't know if she'd match in style and breadth, but Dervla Murphy spent a lot of time traveling alone around the world, and writing about those trips. Her first book was Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle, about travelling alone in 1963. Many other trips and books followed though I don't believe she made it to China. I haven't read her stuff recently so I don't know how her writing would stand up to my tastes of today—but I do remember being fascinated back when I read some of them.

Fionnuala wrote: "I can relate to your wish to travel, Lisa, and to be able to do it as freely as a man can.
I don't know if she'd match in style and breadth, but Dervla Murphy spent a lot of time traveling alone a..."

Thanks for the tip! I came across an article about Dervla Murphy not too long ago and promptly forgot about her, but you've sent me back to it (at least I think it was this one). I like this nugget on travel: “It doesn’t take courage. It takes curiosity.”

Isabelle Eberhardt is another intrepid woman traveller who I admire, though her writing doesn't stand next to that of Barry Lopez, in my opinion. It's an unfair judgment, perhaps, seeing as she died at 27.

Ellen Meloy is marvelous, as are Annie Dillard and Nan Shepherd.

ATG wrote: "Ellen Meloy is marvelous, as are Annie Dillard and Nan Shepherd."

Wonderful choices. I've actually read one book from each of them (thank you, dear community of Goodreads), though I failed to really connect with Dillard. I would say, however, that they don't go to the same depth of research into a place/phenomenon as the authors I've noted, which makes their writing more 'essayistic' - says I who love a good essay collection, so it's not a critique, but a distinction. Then again, I'm basing this on a small sample, and I'm clearly difficult to please in this quest!

An interesting wish Lisa. Perhaps one worth pursuing, especially at what may be a turning point (read opportunity) in your life.

As I have never been a fan of ‘travel’ writing, I cannot be much help in bringing forth suggestions in that vain. As a career councillor in a long ago former life, however, I would wander aside a bit and suggest that you take a look at publications such as National Geographic which publish articles from many men and women who meander off the beaten path. Try contacting some of them. I guarantee that you would get responses.

No time like the present. :)

ἀρχαῖος (arkhaîos)(RK) wrote: "An interesting wish Lisa. Perhaps one worth pursuing, especially at what may be a turning point (read opportunity) in your life.

As I have never been a fan of ‘travel’ writing, I cannot be much h..."

I am indeed contemplating all the different possibilities for the future, though the first forays are sure to be local!

I wouldn't classify the writers I listed as travel writers, actually. They write primarily about biology and natural history and in so doing, travel to various parts of the globe to deepen their research in a way that fascinates me. I find that more interesting than the more general genre of travel writing, which does, I presume, count many women authors.

I grew up in a home filled with National Geographics. I used to binge-read them when I was sick in bed. It has never occurred to me to contact journalists directly but I like your idea. To be continued!

As already mentioned, Dervla Murphy is a must. She's one of my heroes!

Julie wrote: "As already mentioned, Dervla Murphy is a must. She's one of my heroes!"

Two votes for Dervla Murphy, she's in! Thanks, Julie.

There's so many! You already mentioned Isabelle Eberhardt who is a hero of mine. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu is amazing. And of course Rebecca West, the greatest of all. I would also heartily recommend The Illustrated Virago Book of Women Travellers, which is a goldmine for further reading suggestions, even if they don't always pick the best excerpts.

Warwick wrote: "There's so many! You already mentioned Isabelle Eberhardt who is a hero of mine. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu is amazing. And of course Rebecca West, the greatest of all. I would also heartily recomme..."

Thanks, Warwick! Lady Montagu was not on my radar, but she is now. And I've been meaning to get to Rebecca West for ages...

Any particular recommendations re: Isabelle Eberhardt? All I've read of hers is Au Pays Des Sables and have the wonderful problem of being overwhelmed by too many options of where to turn next.

I really loved Amours Nomades (if you read French?). You can also get editions of her diaries, which are really amazing. Another crazy Swiss writer-explorer was Annemarie Schwarzenbach, who is a bit like a mid-20th century Eberhardt. Her Death in Persia is hypnotically good.

Warwick wrote: "I really loved Amours Nomades (if you read French?). You can also get editions of her diaries, which are really amazing. Another crazy Swiss writer-explorer was Annemarie Schwarzenb..."

My local library has no less than twenty books of hers, diaries included. I will follow your recommendations - crazy Swiss writer-explorers is a niche that appeals!

Yeah, I never realised there were so many of them until I got here!

Bathsheba Demuth Floating Coast: An Environmental History of the Bering Strait

Bkeairns wrote: "Bathsheba Demuth Floating Coast: An Environmental History of the Bering Strait"

Thanks so much, Bkeairns, that looks right up my alley!

It doesn’t involve so much travel (there are perhaps 3 different regions around the USA that she goes to), but your description makes my mind immediately jump (tho admittedly not a huge jump right now, as it’s still only a year anda half past in my reading history) to Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer - botanist and Potawatomi, and she twines them so thoroughly together in exploring the natural world

I love your description tho - going to look for this Barry Lopez book right now

Trice wrote: "It doesn’t involve so much travel (there are perhaps 3 different regions around the USA that she goes to), but your description makes my mind immediately jump (tho admittedly not a huge jump right ..."

Trice, I adore Braiding Sweetgrass - it might be one of the books I recommend most often in real life! Thanks for bringing it into the conversation. I am always on the lookout for more authors like her.

This just popped up on my feed again though I see I "liked" you months ago. In answer to your question, or part of it, see:

my link text

I was re-routed to this, Lisa. And saw your gender wish. Maybe:

The Bird Way

or:

Fathoms

or:

Figuring

Oh my stars did I love this one!

Thanks, Tony! No idea why this review popped up again. You may be honoured to know that I read your reviews often enough to have made a mental note of all three. I actually borrowed Figuring from the library at one point but didn't manage to get around to it - soon, hopefully!

Sabra, glad to hear you enjoyed it so much as well!

Fine review, Lisa, it looks intriguing :)

It is, Gaurav! A wonderful slow read.

Perhaps Stories of the Sahara by Sanmao is then of interest to you.

bedejong wrote: "Perhaps Stories of the Sahara by Sanmao is then of interest to you."

It looks really interesting, bedejong, as does Sanmao's life - thanks so much!

This may not be quite what you’re looking for, but I recently read The Women I Think About At Night by Mia Kankimäki. I felt that it really offered me a fresh set of ideas and exposure to female explorers and travelers that I hadn’t known much of prior to the book. I particularly enjoyed her “mimicking” some of their journeys and covering lesser discussed details of what it’s like for women to do some of these explorations that we more often read of men undertaking.

Thanks, Ashley, very interesting premise for a book and an adventure I might like to try out one day!

Check out "The Valleys of the Assassins: and Other Persian Travels" – Freya Stark (1934). Travels and explorations, beautifully written, about remote peoples and places.
Not as good (though still very good), but also by a woman: "Sovietistan" – Erika Fatland (2014). Recent travels through the central Asian countries, all former Soviet Republics.