The Travel Shelf

Best Road Trips Midwest & the Great Lakes
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781838695668, $12.99, PB, 128pp

https://www.amazon.com/Trips-Midwest-Great-Lonely-Planet/dp/1838695664

Synopsis: "Best Road Trips: Midwest & the Great Lakes" is an ideal source o=
f up-to-date travel guide information with which to develop itineraries for=
classic road trips, plus other lesser-known drives with its expert advice =
on picking the routes that suit the travelers particular interests and need=
s.

Featuring full-color route maps with easy-to-read, detailed directions and = delightful diversions to see the Midwest & Great Lakes' highlights along th=
e way, of special note is the Link Your Trip feature allowing the travel to=
easily cruise from one driving route to the next.

Replete with true insider tips ranging from getting around like a local, av= oiding trouble spots and be safe on the road, to local driving rules, parki= ng, toll roads -- and the best things to do outside the car! Of special not=
e is the inclusion of essential information that includes hours of operatio=
n, phone numbers, websites, prices, honest reviews for all budgets, as well=
as eating, sleeping, sightseeing, and a wealth of hidden gems that most gu= idebooks miss.

"Best Road Trips Midwest & the Great Lakes" by Lonely Planet Publicatons in= cludes Michigan's Gold Coast, the Great River Road, Highway 61, Chicago, Ok= lahoma's Tribal Trails, the Pioneer Trails, the Black Hills, St Louis, Kans=
as City, Omaha, and more.

Critique: Enhanced with lavish color photography and perfect for planning s= hort range and long range car trips for memorable adventures on the open ro=
ad with respect to traveling the American Midwest and the Great Lakes, "Bes=
t Road Trips Midwest & the Great Lakes" also includes a fold out map and is=
strongly recommended for personal, professional, and community library Ame= rican Travel Guide collections.

Editorial Note: With over 150 million guidebooks in print, Lonely Planet is=
a trusted source for any traveler. Since their inception in 1973, they hav=
e inspired generations of travelers to discover amazing places and enabled = curious travelers to get off the beaten paths to appreciate different cultu= res and become agents of positive change.

The Islands Book
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781838695033, $40.00, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Islands-Book-Lonely-Planet/dp/1838695036

Synopsis: With the publication of "The Islands Book", armchair travels will=
fully enjoy exploring 150 of the world's most enchanting islands in this i= nspirational coffee table style (9.4 x 1.13 x 12.1 inches, 3.9 pounds) that=
features beautiful photography, illustrations and maps.

The reader will 'Island Hop' across cosmopolitan archipelagos and secret tr= opical paradises, learning fascinating stories about each destination, meet= ing the locals, encountering wildlife, and finding amazing island experienc= es.

Sink into the silken sands of Tobago or step foot in the abandoned prison c= ells of Alcatraz; unearth Burgh Island's mysterious pirate tales or twirl f= orkfuls of sumptuous seafood pasta in Sicily; relax with a locally brewed c= raft beer on Waiheke Island or see the infamous red crabs of Christmas Isla=
nd march into the ocean. Within the pages of "The Islands Book", each indiv= idual island has its own distinctive story to tell and offers travelers (on= -site or armchair) a memorable round-up of exciting activities to pursue to=
help make trip planning a total breeze.

Critique: An elegant, informative, beautiful book to simply browse through = one informative page at a time, "The Islands Book" has a very special appea=
l to readers with an interest in the diversity of islands to be found withi=
n the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania -- making it a very strong=
ly recommended an unique addition to personal, community, and academic libr= ary Travel Guide collections.

Travels Across the Roof of the World: A Himalayan Memoir
William & Anne Frej, authors
George F Thompson Publishing
Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781938086939, $55.00, HC, 280pp

https://www.amazon.com/Travels-across-Roof-World-Himalayan/dp/1938086937

Synopsis: "Travels across the Roof of the World: A Himalayan Memoir" by Wil= liam and Anne Frej provides a sweeping yet intimate view of the breathtakin=
g peaks, splendid valleys, and extraordinary people of this vast region, fr=
om the Pamir Mountains in Kyrgyzstan through Afghanistan's fabled Hindu Kus=
h, the Karakoram in Pakistan, and the Great Himalaya Range that stretches a= cross northern India, Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan.

Unique in scope among photo books on the Himalaya, "Travels across the Roof=
of the World" chronicles the authors more than twenty pilgrimages througho=
ut the area spanning forty years and 3,000 miles through some of the world'=
s most remote and difficult-to-reach country. Inspired by the devotion to t=
he practice of Tibetan Buddhism they encountered in the villagers they met =
on their first trek to Nepal in 1981, they set out on a quest to document A= sia's highest peaks as well as the lives of the resilient people living in = these remote mountain communities.

When they began, trekkers from the West through these regions were few. Eve=
n now, trips are demanding -- but not nearly as harsh as the daily lives of=
the residents, who continue to exist in a kind of stunning isolation that = has allowed them to maintain the rich cultural traditions and spiritual pra= ctices that have sustained them over many centuries.

Of special note is Edwin Bernbaum's essay adding to the depth of the pictur= es, with his focus on the symbolism, religious importance, and associated l= egends of these sacred places. The authors also share extensive vignettes a= bout the places they saw and how they have changed over time.

Critique: A simply gorgeous coffee-table style (12.25 x 1.25 x 10.25 inches=
, 4.7 pounds) volume, "Travels Across the Roof of the World: A Himalayan Me= moir" is a stunningly beautiful series of full color photographs graced wit=
h occasional commentaries by the husband and wife team of William and Anne = Frej. An armchair traveler's delight, "Travels Across the Roof of the World=
: A Himalayan Memoir" is a strikingly memorable and unreservedly recommende=
d addition to personal, community, and academic library Tibet/Pakistan Trav=
el Guide and Landscape Photography collections.

Editorial Note #1: William Frej (https://williamfrejphotography.com/bio) ha=
s been photographing Indigenous people for more than forty years while livi=
ng in Indonesia, Poland, Kazakhstan, and Afghanistan as a career diplomat w= ith the United States Agency for International Development and traveling in=
other remote, mountainous regions of Asia. His book of black-and-white pho= tographs, Maya Ruins Revisited: In the Footsteps of Teobert Maler (2020), h=
as won fourteen awards. His second book, Seasons of Ceremonies: Rites and R= ituals in Guatemala and Mexico (2021), has won eight awards including four = "photography book of the year" awards. Travels Across the Roof of the World=
: A Himalayan Memoir (2022) features color photographs by William Frej and = text by Anne Frej.

Editorial Note #2: Anne Frej (https://lamalaquitamerida.com/shop/photograph= y/anne-frej) is an urban planner who has focused on feasibility studies and=
design concepts for real estate projects in the United States, Indonesia, = Central Europe, and Central Asia. At the Urban Land Institute in Washington=
, D.C., she directed books on real estate development, and at the U.S. Emba= ssy in Kabul, Afghanistan, she served as a cultural resources planner.

Editorial Note #3: Edwin Bernbaum, Ph.D., (https://www.weforum.org/people/e= dwin-bernbaum) is a lecturer, author, and scholar of comparative religion a=
nd mythology whose work focuses on the relationship between culture and the=
environment. He is the author of The Way to Shambhala (1989), a study of T= ibetan myths and legends of hidden valleys and their symbolism. His acclaim=
ed book, Sacred Mountains of the World, was originally published in 1990; t=
he second edition was published by Cambridge University Press in 2022.

Day Trips from Calgary, fourth edition
Bill Corbett
Whitecap Books Ltd.
https://www.whitecap.ca
9781770503717, $34.95, PB, 392pp

https://www.amazon.com/Day-Trips-Calgary-Bill-Corbett/dp/1770503714

Synopsis: The Canadian city of Calgary lies at the heart of southern Albert= a's most spectacular landscape, a landscape that includes the fantastically=
shaped hoodoos of Drumheller and the mountains of Kananaskis country.

Now in full color, "Day Trips from Calgary" is completely updated and expan= ded fourth edition of the regional bestseller by Bill Corbett and offers an=
insider's handbook to discovering the best routes and destinations within =
a two-hour drive of the city.

Locals and tourists alike will only need a tank of gas, a road map, and per= haps a picnic lunch and a pair of hiking shoes to make the most of Bill Cor= bett's insightful guide. Written to entice Calgary residents and visitors i= nto considering all directions of the compass when embarking on a day trip = from the city, this new fourth edition of "Day Trips from Calgary" covers a=
ll the territory travelers will find useful.

Critique: Nicely illustrated, impressively informative, thoroughly 'user fr= iendly' in organization and presentation, this newly updated and expanded f= ourth edition of "Day Trips from Calgary" is especially and unreservedly re= commended for personal and community library Canadian Travel Guide collecti= ons.

Editorial Note: Bill Corbett (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1520128= 3.Bill_Corbett) is a Calgary writer with interests in the outdoors, history=
, and the environment. His articles have been published in such magazines a=
s Canadian Geographic, Explore, Western Living, Canadian Business, and Macl= ean's. He is the author of Best of Alberta: Outdoor Activities in Alberta's=
Heartland and The 11,000ers of the Canadian Rockies. An avid mountaineer a=
nd backcountry skier, he can often be found exploring the diverse landscape=
s of his native Alberta.

Sea Trials
Wendy Hinman
Salsa Press
http://wendyhinman.com/salsa-press
9780984835034, $20.00, PB, 442pp

https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Trials-Around-World-Bailing/dp/0984835032

Synopsis: A shipwreck might end a dream of circumnavigating the globe. In 1= 973, the Wilcox family sets off to sail around the world aboard the 40-foot=
sailboat, Vela. Thirteen months later, they are shipwrecked on a coral ree=
f, with surf tearing a huge hole into the side of their boat.

With years invested in saving money, preparing the boat, and learning to na= vigate by the stars, parents Chuck and Dawn refuse to give up. Fourteen-yea= r-old Garth is determined to continue, while eleven-year-old Linda never wa= nted to go in the first place. Can they overcome the emotional, physical an=
d financial challenges to transform from castaways into circumnavigators?

To triumph, they must rebuild their boat on a remote Pacific island. Damage=
sustained on the reef and a lack of resources haunt them the rest of the w=
ay around the world as they face daunting obstacles, including wild weather=
, pirates, gun boats, mines and thieves, plus pesky bureaucrats and cockroa= ches as stubborn as the family. Without a working engine and no way to comm= unicate with the outside world, they struggle to reach home before their br= oken rig comes crashing down and they run out of food in a trial that tests=
them to their limits.

Critique: A true life story that reads with all the drama of a deftly craft=
ed novel, "Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Bailing Wire" by=
Wendy Hinman is an inherently fascinating read from cover to cover and wil=
l prove to be of special appeal to readers with an interest in real life ad= venture stories of the sea. While especially and unreservedly recommended f=
or community library travelogue collections, it should be noted for persona=
l reading lists that "Sea Trials: Around the World with Duct Tape and Baili=
ng Wire" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99)=
..

Editorial Note: Wendy Hinman (www.wendyhinman.com) is an adventurer, speake=
r and the author of "Tightwads on the Loose" -- a popular travel adventure = book about the 7-year, 34,000-mile voyage she took with her husband aboard =
a small violently rocking sailboat during which she alternated between feat=
s worthy of Wonder Woman and Suzy Homemaker. Full of humor and armchair thr= ills, "Tightwads on the Loose" was selected for the literature program for = Western Washington University, won the Journey Award for best true life adv= enture story and was selected as a top travel book for women.

Experience California
Lonely Planet
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781838695613, $24.99, PB, 258pp

https://www.amazon.com/Experience-California-1-Lonely-Planet/dp/1838695613

Synopsis: "Experience California" from Lonely Planet Publications is a trav=
el guide comprised of unique experiences that when brought together for a t= ruly enjoyable and memorable trip. Enhanced with inspiring full-color trave=
l photography and maps throughout, of special note are that highlights and = trip builders tips to help tailor a trip to the personal needs and interest=
s of the traveler.

Offering fresh perspectives to surprise the visitor with things they hadn't=
thought of, as well as fresh takes on the well-known sights, there is a we= alth of insider tips help with discovering hidden gems and get around like =
a local. Expert insights includes California wine culture, San Francisco so= uvenirs, stunning hikes, outdoor splendour, Mexican cuisine, getting the mo=
st out of Yosemite, famous drives and desert escapes, the magic of Hollywoo=
d, and more!

Practical information and tips on money, getting around, unique and local w= ays to stay, and responsible travel make "Experience California" an invalua= ble resource for itinerary planning.

"Experience California" covers: San Francisco & the Bay Area, Napa Valley &=
Sonoma, Northern California & the Redwood Coast, Northern Mountains, Centr=
al Coast, Highway 1, Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Or= ange County, San Diego, Palm Springs & the Deserts, Yosemite & the Sierra N= evada.

Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Exp= erience California" is nicely illustrated throughout in full color, compact=
and portable in size (5.45 x 0.63 x 7.1 inches), and an invaluable resourc=
e for planning everything from a day tript to a full fledged vacation, "Exp= erience California" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal=
, professional, and community library California Travel Guide collections.

Editorial Note: With over 150 million guidebooks in print, Lonely Planet is=
a trusted source for any traveler. Since their inception in 1973, they hav=
e inspired generations of travelers to discover amazing places and enabled = curious travelers to get off the beaten paths to appreciate different cultu= res and become agents of positive change.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promo= ting literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no fund=
s from authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these=
reviews on thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, inte= rnet discussion groups, organizational newsletters, or to interested indivi= duals. Please give the Midwest Book Review a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes the monthly book review magazines "Califo= rnia Bookwatch", "Internet Bookwatch", "Children's Bookwatch", "MBR Bookwat= ch", "Reviewer's Bookwatch", and "Small Press Bookwatch". All are available=
for free on the Midwest Book Review website at www (dot) midwestbookreview=
(dot) com

Anyone wanting to submit books for review consideration can send them to:

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129

To submit reviews of any fiction or non-fiction books, email them to Frugal= muse (at) aol (dot) com (Be sure to include the book title, author, publish= er, publisher address, publisher website/phone number, 13-digit ISBN number=
, and list price).

James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review

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