The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

30.6 - KIRI's task: Exploration & High Adventure

It's Fall, time to return from our summer travels and lazy days, but we don't have to give it all up. In honor of GIS Day (the 3rd Wednesday of November!) Read two books of non-fiction that travel the world exploring the boundaries of existence. This page might help you. Explorers
A. Read one book focusing on the exploration of an unexplored destination with the potential of a life-threatening situation -- Ex. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster, Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the AmazonAdrift: Seventy-Six Days Lost at Sea, Ships of Wood And Men of Iron: A Norwegian-Canadian Saga of Exploration in the High Artic

Books for task A should have an element of a life-threatening situation. In other words, you are on own your own and if you can't figure out how to survive, you won't.

B. Read about an explorer, navigator, discoverer, adventurer, or journeyer you've never heard of (or read) of before. Ex. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific, Eat, Pray, Love, Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World

While people may think these are extreme (i.e. they'd never want to do it), they lack the life and death situations the books in A do.

Requirements:
• It must be a narrative.
• No Frommers, Lonely Planet, etc

Wait for Kiri to post

Early posts can be found in the 30.6 Explorations thread.

does The Kid Who Climbed Everest: The Incredible Story of a 23-Year-Old's Summit of Mt. Everest work for part A?

Clarification on part A:
Books for part A of this task should have an element of an unexplored destination with the potential of a life-threatening situation. In other words, your are on your own - if you cannot figure out how to survive the situation and deal with the elements, you won't survive at all.

Possible books for part A might include: Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster, Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon, Adrift: Seventy-Six Days Lost at Sea, Cruelest Journey: Six Hundred Miles To Timbuktu, The Mapmaker's Wife: A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon, Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival, Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone, The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey, Selkirk's Island: The True and Strange Adventures of the Real Robinson Crusoe, The Ice Master: The Doomed 1913 Voyage of the Karluk, Skeletons on the Zahara, Mawson's Will: The Greatest Polar Survival Story Ever Written, In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex

Clarification on part B:
Books for part B, on the other hand, are more about travel and exploration. Some of the situations may still seem extreme (i.e. you'd never want to do it), but they may lack the life and death situations that the books in part A have.

Possible books for part B might include: A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, The Sex Lives of Cannibals, Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World, Eat, Pray, Love, Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World, For All the Tea in China: Espionage, Empire and the Secret Formula of the World's Favourite Drink, The Bizarre Truth: How I Walked out the Door Mouth First . . . and Came Back Shaking My Head

Where would Burned Alivework?

This is a website that might help. I have frequently sought books from there before.

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adv...

I'm thinking Annapurna for Part A and The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon for Part B. Would both of those work?

I was planning to use The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon for Part A as it involved exploring the Amazon.

I need suggestions for part B the explorers part.

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I need suggestions for part B the explorers part."

Check the website I posted above. It gives National Geographic's top adventure books. "Extreme Classics: The 100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time". Probably many of them will work.

Would Eat, Pray, Love work for B - a journeyer?

Terri Fl wrote: "Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I need suggestions for part B the explorers part."

Check the website I posted above. It gives National Geographic's top adventure books. "Extreme Classics: The ..."

I did look through that. It is alot to pick through. If Eat, Pray, Love counts than I might do that for my book A.

I'd like to recommend South: The Endurance Expedition for part A - one of my favourite books of all time! I defy anyone not to be moved by reading about Shackleton :)

Will Last Climb: The Legendary Everest Expeditions of George Mallory work for part A? It's looking back on Mallory's climbs and considering whether he actually did make it to the top or not.

Would A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail count for part A? I personally would consider trying to hike the Appalachian Trail a fairly extreme thing, especially since he does it because it's there and he just wants to try, but I'm not the one calling judgement on these...

For A: The Snow Leopard?

Touching My Father's Soul: A Sherpa's Journey to the Top of Everest for part A?

Journal of a Residence in Chile During the Year 1822, and a Voyage from Chile to Brazil in 1823 for part B?

I was wondering if the following would work:
A. Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster by Jon Krakauer
B. Lost on Planet China: The Strange and True Story of One Man's Attempt to Understand the World's Most Mystifying Nation, or How He Became Comfortable Eating Live Squid by J. Maarten Troost
Thanks

i was planning on using for
A: The Kid Who Climbed Everest: The Incredible Story of a 23-Year-Old's Summit of Mt. Everest
B: Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of his Time - abt the British guy that figured out how the time changes as we travel around the world - r they ok?

I need 10-15 suggestions for Part A. The reason I need that amount is because I need to see if I can get them through the library, as I am on a limited income and don't want to spend $40 for basically one book, that I will likely not read (the reason $40 is because Chapters gives free shipping after that amount and I don't want to spend money I don't really have, as I don't get paid until at least a month's time). I would like those suggestions by around 6 pm today Pacific.

A) Into the Wild, Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster, Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before

I would wait for Kiri to come and approve books, but use ones others are looking at using...you might not get an answer by 6pm tonight, but you should get some ideas in the next day or so

I've had this one for a while, and I'm dying to read it. I think it works for either A or B. James Holman traveled to the most remote places in the world in the early 19th century. What makes the story even more amazing is that he was blind.

A Sense of the World: How a Blind Man Became History's Greatest Traveler by Jason Roberts

Would either Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival, The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon or Antarctic Navigation work for Part A?

Delicious Dee the book slut wrote: "I would wait for Kiri to come and approve books, but use ones others are looking at using...you might not get an answer by 6pm tonight, but you should get some ideas in the next day or so"

That's fine; I am not in a huge rush. I'll just take a peek as to what has been approved and then choose from there. I also have the option of going to another library system on Saturday and borrowing one of the books that was suggested in the disabled thread for this task.

Kiri - Usually I can get a pretty good feel for a task, but this one has me baffled, lol. Good job. Here are the books I am thinking of:

Part A - The Mapmaker's Wife: A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon by Robert Whitaker as an extreme trip down the Amazon River.

Part B - Samurai William: The Englishman Who Opened the East by Giles Milton as the explorer who opened up Japan to the west.

I agree, Lyn. Most of these tasks I've been okay with and just wanted to make sure I was on the right track, but this one has definitely got me taking a step or twenty back so I can look at my books a bit better. I'm in a position similar to Melissa W's right now in that I don't have much in the way of money to buy books with, but even worse is I don't have a good library with a wide selection that I can turn to if my collection doesn't satisfy, so I'm doing three challenges using almost entirely books currently residing in my house, with only two exceptions.

Caity - I am in a similar boat in that I have no money to spend on books right now. Stupid economy,lol, but I am lucky in that I have a huge library system to take advantage of, if I can get the books in time. However, I have a lot of books that I have bought over the years and never had time to read, so I am trying to use mostly owned books for challenges. To be able to do it except for two exceptions is impressive!

Yeah. My spreadsheet is linked in the plans thread, and it has every single book I have fit into all three challenges I am in (this one, Reading with Style, and the College Students! fall/winter challenge) listed. Anytime I didn't have a book, all I had to do was raid my mom's bookshelves and use one of her books (she has a lot of interesting books). A few times I've downloaded eBooks for tasks (like the story continues task, I downloaded two Jules Verne books for it, but I could have also used Redwall books), but even that has been minimal. I've only had to purchase two books of the 99 I have on my masterlist, and both have at least interested me enough to make it worth it. Hopefully I can fill the rest of the TBD tasks with as much luck.

And super hopefully the Bill Bryson book I asked about will be approved (seriously, though, hiking the Appalachian Trail sounds pretty extreme to me).

Also, for part B I want to use Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks. All I know about this book and its author is that he hitch hiked around Ireland with a fridge thanks to a drunken bet with a friend, so that should count.

Would Racing the White Silence: On the Trail of the Yukon Quest or Rowing to Latitude: Journeys Along the Arctic's Edge work for A?

Would any of the following books work for this? There were so many interesting ones when I started looking into it! I narrowed it down to a few for each task, but wanted to make sure they would work before I made a final decision!

Task A:
Cruelest Journey: Six Hundred Miles To Timbuktu
Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World
The Mapmaker's Wife: A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon
Never Cry Wolf : Amazing True Story of Life Among Arctic Wolves
Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival

Task B:
A Land So Strange
For All the Tea in China: Espionage, Empire and the Secret Formula of the World's Favourite Drink
Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone
The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey (I didn't know Roosevelt was an 'explorer!')


And here are a couple good lists I found while searching for my books for this task, some of them have historical-fiction novels sprinkled throughout, but they might be a good jumping off point for people struggling to find books for this task!

Listopia: The Great Explorers
Listopia: Best Historical Travel Journals
Listopia: Tales of Adventure
Shelf: Exploration

I asked the library for a bunch of titles that they might fit A.

Here they are:
Blizzard: Race to the Pole
In the Empire of Ice
The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
Forgotten Highways: Wilderness Journeys Down the Historic Trails of the Canadian Rockies

Would Over the Edge of the World: Magellan's Terrifying Circumnavigation of the Globe be okay?

Would these work? And ... which ones would work for A and which for B? Thanks!
Selkirk's Island: The True and Strange Adventures of the Real Robinson Crusoe
Samurai William: The Englishman Who Opened Japan
The Ice Master: The Doomed 1913 Voyage of the Karluk
Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival
Mawson's Will: The Greatest Polar Survival Story Ever Written
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex

Can I use The Travels of Marco Polo for part A? Going to China might seem ordinary now, but in Marco Polo's times, it must like going to Mars.

And has anyone ever read Diplomatic Baggage: The Adventures of a Trailing Spouse? I'm not sure whether it's a journey per se.

Thank you! :)

I was going to use this one for another task, but after I read the first chapter, I think it might work for part B - The Bizarre Truth: How I Walked out the Door Mouth First . . . and Came Back Shaking My Head by Andrew Zimmern. It is more a memoir about his travels all over the world and the difficulties of shooting a TV show in third world countries than it is about food. Could it be?

i would read Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African Village if that works.

Caity wrote: "Would A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail count for part A? I personally would consider trying to hike the Appalachian Trail a fairly extreme thing, espe..."

Would also like to know if this works for Part B?

Sarah (Mood Reader) wrote: "Where would Burned Alivework?"

Sorry, Sarah, but the books for this task need to be about exploration and travel so Burned Alive will not work.

Terri Fl wrote: "I'm thinking Annapurna for Part A and The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon for Part B. Would both of those work?"

Both of these would work for part A, but if you'd like to read one for part B, too, that's fine.

Liz wrote: "Would Eat, Pray, Love work for B - a journeyer?"

Yes.

So I guess The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon would work for A?

Jayme(the ghost reader) wrote: "I did look through that. It is alot to pick through. If Eat, Pray, Love counts than I might do that for my book A." "Terri Fl wrote: Check the website I posted above. It gives National Geographic's top adventure books. "Extreme..."

Eat, Pray, Love works for B, but not for A. See post #4 for further clarification.

Nicki (UK) wrote: "I'd like to recommend South: The Endurance Expedition for part A - one of my favourite books of all time! I defy anyone not to be moved by reading about Shackleton :)"Nicki (UK) wrote: "Will Last Climb: The Legendary Everest Expeditions of George Mallory work for part A? It's looking back on Mallory's climbs and considering whether he actually did make it to the top ..."

Both work for A.

Caity wrote: "Would A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail count for part A? I personally would consider trying to hike the Appalachian Trail a fairly extreme thing, espe..."

It will work for part B. See message #4 for further clarification.

Grr, fine. I just won't do this task (I don't have the funds to buy lots of books and I don't have easy access to a library) even though I was excited about it. I don't agree with the ruling since I've heard portions of the trail can be quite dangerous, but it's not my decision.

And it wouldn't work for part B for me because I have read Bill Bryson's books before and have a stack of them waiting to be read.

If Part B is about travel & exploration, could I readTwo Nuts In Italy?
Description from Amazon:
When Sue Ellen Haning's daughter, Jenny, invited her to backpack through Italy with her for the three summer months, she hesitatantly agreed. Their plan was to take a backpack, a little cash, no credit cards, stay in homes of Italians they did not know (or sleep on park benches if necessary), have no itinerary, and stay in small towns for the full cultural experience. They would take advantage of opportunities as they happened and experience a summer of learning, adventures, and wonderful memories while just drifting with the wind. Through Two Nuts in Italy, you will be able to join them on their exciting, no-holds-barred journey in the Italy few of us will ever get to experience!

Their travels through Italy took them to explore small towns, other areas, etc. It's non-fiction, the book is based upon the blog she kept while travelling.

Kiri - will the books that I listed in post 27 work?

@ Caity - if you don't mind reading on a computer, have you checked to see if your state library offers ebooks - the maryland one has an awesome system and I know some states (philadelphia i think is one) you can pay $15 for a membership even if you don't live in the state....

Caity wrote: "Grr, fine. I just won't do this task (I don't have the funds to buy lots of books and I don't have easy access to a library) even though I was excited about it. I don't agree with the ruling since ..."

would American Nomads by Richard Grant work for Part B? this is the goodreads description:

Fascinated by the land of endless horizons, sunshine, and the open road, Richard Grant spent fifteen years wandering throughout the United States, never spending more than three weeks in one place and getting to know America's nomads, truckers, tramps, rodeo cowboys, tie-dyed concert followers, flea market traders, retirees who live year round in their RVs, and the murderous Freight Train Riders of America (FTRA). In a richly comic travelogue, Grant uses these lives and his own to examine the myths and realities of the wandering life and its contradiction with the sedentary American dream. Along with a personal account, American Nomads traces the history of wandering in the New World, through vividly told stories of frontiersmen, fur trappers and cowboys, Comanche and Apache warriors, all the way back to the first Spanish explorers who crossed the continent. What unites these disparate characters, as they range back and forth across the centuries, is a stubborn conviction that the only true freedom is to roam across the land.

Kristi - can you approve my books in post 20? or let me know if they won't work