Books, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Oct 02, Fred Forbes rated it really liked it. I'm as much a New Englander as Rick Bragg is a Southerner but with clients all over the southeast, I can certainly understand his love affair with his home. Especially now, as I have made numerous trips through the area on business but with side trips to Civil War sites, my 5th great grandmother's grave site, friends in the southern states, etc.
While Rick has captured the specific Southern essence, he has also put our common humanity on display. Well done set of articles! Sep 23, Melora rated it really liked it Shelves: I enjoyed these essays very much, though some, of course, were better than others. I particularly liked the ones about food and that's a lot of them -- tomorrow night I'll be pulling out my long-neglected cast iron skillet and frying some chicken, and I'm even planning to try to make hush puppies from Martha White's mix, because ten years in North Carolina haven't been enough to turn this Floridian into a proper Southerner, but Mr.
Bragg has inspired me to try , anyway! The one about being I enjoyed these essays very much, though some, of course, were better than others. The one about being a donkey farmer was also a favorite I don't plan to try this myself, though , as was the one about his efforts at home repair. Really the only section that dragged for me was the football section, and I don't think anyone could write about football in a way that would hold my interest for long.
If the "down home country boy" thing got to be a bit much from time to time it was more a result of the format -- these are short pieces from various publications, written over a period of, I think, about fifteen years -- than of any heavy handedness in the writing. Ideally I'd have read these over a period of a couple weeks, but the library wanted their book back so I gulped it when it would have been best enjoyed read a couple essays at a go.
Anyway, this is a funny and affectionate view of southern living, and I enjoyed reading it. Sep 16, Rachelle rated it really liked it Shelves: I could sit on the porch listening to Rick Bragg tell stories drinking lemonade or maybe even something harder on ice for days on end. This man loves food and can describe southern dishes in such beautiful detail that I was looking for somewhere to pull over to eat.
He even made me think about trying oysters one more time in New Orleans just to see if I haven't been eating them right. His stories about his family and neighbors made me tear up especially when he discussed their overwhelming kindness after Katrina. Oct 04, Julie Durnell rated it it was amazing Shelves: I love this book of exceptional stories! I can't believe I've never read any of his books before but will certainly pick up more of Mr. Most of them are sweet as iced tea on a hot afternoon, with some laugh out loud moments.
His love for his mother is touching and honoring; his love for reading shines throughout his life stories, and the honesty behind growing up in the South of the 60's makes for a wonderful compilation of memories. Jun 02, David Ward rated it really liked it Shelves: It appears that with this volume Rick Bragg has become a quintessential Southern writer. These short compositions, none of which are more than two or three pages long, will take a Southerner home just as assuredly as will a classic episode of "The Andy Griffith Show.
The tone of this volume is just right; Bragg has distilled the essence of the South to its core components: Though my own Southern roots are anchored more in coastal North Carolina and the mountains of Tennessee than in Alabama, I am the proud grandson of a preacher from Lineville, Alabama. I have a vestigial memory of Alabama when it was little more than an unredeemed backwater. Rick Bragg has tapped directly into the shared heritage of Southerners everywhere.
Oct 11, Pat Murphy rated it it was amazing. I loved this book. Rick Bragg is from Alabama and he has a southern streak in him a mile wide. He writes about it in a way that makes me want to go there and visit for a few months. He writes stuff that is so funny, and tasty, and thought provoking. I find that I have the same feelings I had when I was a boy when I read about his adventures as a child. When he writes about food I go out and buy some grits or cornbread.
He has the same appreciation for the poor working man that I do. Here is a ph I loved this book. Here is a phrase he wrote that I loved, "Everyone in the South knows that one man with a chainsaw is worth ten with a clipboard". This stuff makes me want to yell "Hurray". Maybe it's just me, but it seems like he has a cable hooked between himself and me and all the stuff he writes appeals to me automatically. His writing goes straight to my heart. My little sister first turned me on to Bragg and I thank her for it. Sep 11, Donna McBroom-Theriot rated it it was amazing.
His smooth flow of words and Southernly manners transfer from conversation to book seamlessly. He has a gift for words and his delivery leaves you spellbound. My Southern Journey is indicative of life in the South. The stories are from the heart and speak of love of family and the land we hail from. They speak of truth, the good and the bad. All you need do is open to Page One and you will not be able to put the book down. Each story is to be savored like a pot of Gumbo simmering on the stove. Was there ever any doubt? I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Oct 18, Chelsea rated it did not like it. I will not finish this book. It's due back at library tomorrow and frankly I don't think I'm missing out. I was excited about this book, but how I've half finished it without chucking it across the room is beyond me. The Civil War ended years ago.
It is no longer acceptable to call people Yankees. I'm a N I will not finish this book. I'm a New Englander who has spent my entire adult life living in the South. This is my home. After the initial months of culture shock, I fell in love with this place and decided to stay, and not just because I hate winter. It pains me that this book portrays a region I truly love in such a terrible light.
Aug 22, Gena DeBardelaben rated it it was amazing. Netgalley This is not one of those books you read in one sitting. No, it's to be taken in small doses and savored so you enjoy it fully. It's a true taste of the South that I remember from my childhood. As I was reading, I could picture myself sitting on the porch in the heat of a stifling Alabama summer listening to my great grandmother, my grandmother, and my great aunts talking as we all shelled purple hull peas until our fingers turned purple.
There was no air conditioning and the drone eARC: There was no air conditioning and the drone of the old box fan seemed as much a part of summer as the mosquitoes and the sweet watermelon we would get from the neighbor across the street.
JOURNEY OF THE HEART - Chicago Tribune
Nothing today tastes as good as that warm watermelon fresh from the garden that we would wash down with peanuts and Co-cola. Feb 12, W. If you love life in the South, you will enjoy this audio book. The first few chapters almost made me stop because it was all about food, then the author turned to other activities and I listened spellbound at his true stories. I loved this book and the reminders about the wonder of life in the South.
May 06, Matt Beard rated it it was amazing. There's a feeling I get when I drive down the once dirt roads where I learned to drive. It's the same feeling I get when I smell chewing tobacco the kind from a pouch or hear someone play an old Johnny Rodriguez song on an acoustic guitar. The stories in this book give me that same feeling.
And that's saying something. Jul 06, Holyn rated it it was amazing. I became ravenously hungry. I felt the deep homesickness of being out of my place. Bragg writes his stories from deep love and with a precision of words that is just beautiful and causes me envy. This book of essays is to be savored Jun 05, Brian Kovesci rated it it was amazing Shelves: This man knows how to write a story. Each segment is a part of him that he unashamedly shares with sometimes self deprecating accuracy. It's curious, but I feel more connected with my country through these stories than through anything else I've read.
Even though I am not a Southern man, Rick Bragg is my brother. Oct 16, Gerry rated it it was amazing. I listened to this wonderful collection of stories read by the author. The book reminded me of Turn Right at Machu Picchu: I learned a lot about the region and history of the cultures that inhabited the land long before Westerners came stomping about killing people. I like the movie too, but the book is way better.
Now that I am writing about it again, I think I might re-read it soon. Written by the godfather of vagabonding, Rolf Potts, this book is a must-read for those new to long-term travel. Rolf spent 10 years on the road he even walked across Israel , and his book contains valuable insights, interesting quotes, and a lot of practical information. From saving to planning to life on the road, this is a must for newbies.
It delves deeply into the why and philosophy of long-term travel that no other book has come close to doing. His book was re-released and I interviewed him about it. This book chronicles a journey through Australia and takes you from east to west, through tiny little mining towns, forgotten coastal cities, and off-the-beaten-path forests. This is the book that inspired me to go to Australia. The book taught me a lot about Peru, and I am inspired to visit a lot of the sites Adams explored on my trip there next year.
Like him, I fully plan to turn right. Check out my interview with Mark from earlier in the year. This book by Heather Poole is about life as a flight attendant. I, ironically, picked it up at an airport and read it on a plane. You learn crew terms, about training, dealing with pilots, and the day to day life that takes place up in the air. It had some funny stories and gave me a new appreciation for just how hard those flight attendants work and how much crap they have to put up with!
13 Travel Books That Will Give You Serious Wanderlust
I was lucky enough to talk to Heather about her book. This was probably my favorite book of the year. When her husband gets a job at the Lego offices in Jutland, Helen Russell decides to head to Denmark with him, freelance write, and try to figure out why the Danes are so happy. If you read just one book from this list, make it this one! Ok I know I include this like in every list but my book is awesosme so you should read it. It features detailed pricing and destination information so you can travel better and know what to expect when you visit places around the world.
Meant for anyone who wants to save money, the book contains everything I know about travel — and 10 pages of all my favorite companies! Books about travel inspire us to go visit far off lands and imagine us doing incredible things. I hope these travel books inspire you to travel the world and feed your wanderlust. If you have any suggestions that I can add to this best travel books list, leave them in the comments. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the most comprehensive inventory. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking. I use them all the time. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:. Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel — and I think will help you too! Want to share your tips and advice?
Visit the community forum to ask questions, get answers, meet people, and share your tips! Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.
My best read so far: It tells you about the positive and negative sides of travelling to those destinations, and about travelling alone in general. The author has made the whole book available for free as a PDF. It can be downloaded here: Badlands — Similar to Unlikely Destinations, this book is written by one of the founders of Lonely Planet and speaks about his travels into places that are thought of as being to dangerous for travelers Iraq, North Korea, Afghanistan, Libya, etc … Very interesting tales and provides great perspective.
The Heart of Darkness — This classic by Joseph Conrad gives you a different way of looking at the African continent, and the way that it was during colonial times. GREAT succinct reviews that only wet my book palate more. May I urge you further to read Years of Solitude…….
I gave it as a present to my then lover and he actually beat me- read it in a day! Its that meaningful, that sexy, that life-changing, and journey-filled. I found myself ignoring literally everything sophomore year of college, literally locking my door, and not coming out even for classes as I read it TWICE in a row.
I would love to talk to you about it in Thailand, too. If not, just let me know and I will bring it as a gift. You will love The Alchemist, Adrienne!! It inspired me so much. It is a rather short book. In fact, I would have to say…it was probably THE book that inspired my wanderlust the most.
I read it before I spent two months abroad in Latin American and Spain. Funny it was a gift to your then lover; it was actually a former lover who had turned me on to Gabriel Garcia Marquez! The list of advantages totals about a dozen points and half an hour.
The disadvantages cover maybe five minutes. As we go through the security gate at the airport leaving Vietnam, I look back over my shoulder. Thouc is jumping up and down and waving his arms in a crisscross pattern over his head. I will never forget it. We are back home after smooth connections from Hong Kong. Ociel calls we had left him a message over the weekend. He asks our impressions about the babies. Ociel says it is unusual but feasible. He wonders if we might not be running on adrenaline, and reassures us that if we eventually adopt just one child that will be perfectly OK with Gladney.
He asks us to sit with the idea once our emotions settle, to be sure we can really handle two babies. He promises to send us paperwork and budgets for scenarios of one or two children. We have thought long enough, talked to our families. Mary is in the pool at our health club. A friend approaches, asking how the Chinese adoption is going. The friend hasn't wanted to ask in case something went awry. Mary tells her the entire story. They agree to meet for dinner so the friend can see our pictures. At dinner, the friend mentions that we should file a complaint with the local bar association about Gilna.
She says to call her office the next day, that we shouldn't be put off by voice mail. She is a high-level judge, a fact she has been too modest to ever mention during pool workouts. By morning, the judge has left me a voice mail. She regrets to inform us that Gilna is disbarred. Gilna pleaded guilty on April 22, His probation ended in early November this year. The date of his disbarment was Sept. We are trying to look past our involvement with Family Unity Network, determined to reach a satisfactory resolution while remaining focused on the adoption proceedings with Gladney.
I call Ociel one Monday to check on details about our "home study," an evaluation of our personal potential as parents and analysis of our living space as a suitable environment for raising children. It is required by DCFS. Ociel answers my questions, then breaks the news: Word has it the Vietnamese government has issued a new report about foreign adoption. The central authorities are urging each province to take a hard look at how many babies are leaving the country and what types of parents are being approved.
The result in Can Tho is a proposed slowdown of adoptions. Ociel is busy trying to get the paperwork done for seven other Gladney families. Four are in Vietnam with their children, hoping to fly back to the U. The other three families are booked to leave on flights to Ho Chi Minh City that coming weekend. After these cases are addressed, he says it will be time to inquire about our situation.
He is honest and informative. Mostly, he is even-handed, explaining he has seen these slowdowns before. Sometimes they last weeks or months. The rare ones can last for years. The news hits me hard. I can't reach Mary for a few hours. By the time we sit down for dinner at home, I am less jumpy. I tell her about Ociel's report. We talk about our high confidence level in the people at Gladney.
If any agency will be able to work with local authorities, it appears to be Gladney. But we also worry that our plans to be home with the babies by Christmas are in deep jeopardy. This can't be happening all over again. It is entirely possible our applications will be approved in the next few days. Or it might still take months. Just in case, we should be "prepared to mobilize. That requires appealing to the Vietnamese embassy in Washington, D. I form a tag team with Frank James, a good friend in Washington, to gently nudge the proper embassy officials.
Frank sends me the visas in overnight mail in time for our departure. She is an unquestioned authority on foreign adoptions in the state of Illinois, handling such matters for DCFS for more than 17 years. We chat amiably several times on the phone, coordinating her document needs with Jennifer West of the Chicago bureau of the federal government's Immigration and Naturalization Service. Late one afternoon, Muriel calls to tell me the original home study performed by Family Unity Network is inadequate and unacceptable.
My Southern Journey: True Stories from the Heart of the South
Our entire adoption process is compromised. But our list of angels keeps growing. We have contracted with Glenkirk Adoption Services in Arlington Heights to do a home study update, since our original document is more than a year old. The case worker, Dana Ellenby-Bergeron, agrees to convert her work into a complete new home study in a little more than 24 hours. Her supervisor, Laura Fiske, personally drives the completed home study for the proper signatures, then faxes and mails them overnight to Muriel Shennan and Jennifer West late on a Friday afternoon.
Yesterday was our sixth wedding anniversary. That will be about 26 hours with layovers.
During our stop in Taipei, we decide on names. We have been trying combinations on each other for five years. Lana Therese is fairly new among the candidates. The first name is a variation on Lan, while the middle name is one we like and the same as Mary's sister Janet's. Arthur Robert has been a longtime favorite.
Arthur is a fourth-generation name in Mary's family, beginning with her paternal grandfather, then her Uncle Artie, the priest, and her brother Art. Robert fits as a middle name and will endure grade school roll calls with less incident than Hoa, which is pronounced "Hwah" and not "Ho-ah" or "Ho.
He is a missionary like his wife, Lan, for whom every baby girl in the orphanage is named. We shake hands and Terry grabs Mary's suitcase. A few steps later, Lan greets us. She is wearing a New York Yankees baseball jersey. I smile and think of a close friend, who bought me my first knish potato dumpling at Yankee Stadium the first week of my years living in Manhattan. We leave by 6: The ride through the Delta is as thrilling as July.
Mary asks Lan if we can stop a few times for photos. She takes a picture of two men transporting water from one rice paddy to the next using a single bucket on a long pole. After Mary finishes, the men smile and wave. We arrive in Can Tho, have lunch with Lan at the hotel, then visit the orphanage for the rest of the afternoon. We play with Arthur and Lana and all of the children. We greet the nurses like old friends. I watch Arthur eat his lunch, a fair amount of which is on his chin and bib.
The oldest boy--Ociel calls him "a bruiser" and Lan refers to him as her "football player"--is using one of those rolling walkers. He follows Mary absolutely everywhere she goes for three hours. Our hearts, full with the nearness of our new children, go out to this boy. We still think about him. The nurses have been pairing Arthur and Lana in recent weeks, encouraging them as brother and sister.
They are both wearing silver bracelets on their left wrists. When I hold Arthur above Lana in her crib, she smiles at him. Mary and I say goodbye to the nurses, since we will stay in the van tomorrow when the children are picked up. It allows these loving caretakers their own privacy of farewells with Arthur and Lana. They have cared so ably for them these past months. I ask Lan to tell them we are forever grateful. It is an auxiliary office of the Vietnamese Department of Justice.
One official pulls out a large ledger book, first entering Arthur's Vietnamese name, then Lana's. We sign a series of forms. Lan will be bringing the children to us. As we wait, I am humbled as I mentally count the many people who have helped us. Mary and I agreed to have children because we felt we have enough love to share. I have no doubts about that today. The kids come to us, smiling from the start. We are hugging them, cuddling them, just gazing at them. We don't want to miss a thing either one is doing. Lana sleeps a lot on the ride.
Arthur is intrigued by any glimpses out the windows of the van. This is the children's first car ride. When we arrive at the hotel, Terry Waters is waiting with a room key. Water is boiling for formula. Mary shows me how to change my first diaper. Everything feels like a dream, though changing diapers is a formidable reality check. I fleetingly think any minute maybe I am going to wake up in our bed back home. Our first morning together! I am listening to the distinct breathing of my wife and--oh, God of miracles--our two kids.
Arthur is a heavy breather. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning. We go down for the sumptuous breakfast buffet at the Garden Plaza Hotel. There are American, Japanese, French and Vietnamese versions of the morning meal.
As becomes customary this week, the waitresses immediately come over to care for the children. Lana is routinely swept away to a nearby coatroom. Arthur is surrounded by another group of beautiful Vietnamese women. He gives me one last grin, then turns to his new girlfriends. Lana is on the portable "bouncy seat" we thankfully packed in pieces in my suitcase.
It is clearly an indispensable item by the third full day with the kids. At this moment, Lana is watching me as we play our first full-fledged game of peekaboo. I maneuver behind and around Mary, who is sitting directly in front of the bouncy seat with Arthur in her lap.
I reach down to tickle Lana under the chin, a spot I noticed the orphanage nurses would regularly stroke when applying skin cream after the kids' diapers were changed. A few tickles and Lana squeals with laughter. It is heaven's noise to us. We start giggling, then almost start crying we are laughing so hard as Lana continues her high-pitched gurgles. We are howling once we notice that Arthur appears stunned, then curious and finally overtaken to laugh himself at the three of us.
Thouc stops by our hotel room to say goodbye to the children. He tells us Lana has been his favorite baby at the orphanage. He has brought gifts that are instantly family treasures: Mary is too choked up to say thank you. A hug will have to do. Lan arrives after breakfast to help us pack and accompany us to the airport. We know she is sad about parting with the children. We tell her she will always be part of our family, that she has done so much. I tell her she is my hero. Arthur and Lana named after her are going to write her letters someday. They will talk to her on the phone.
We are in Bangkok, Thailand. It is Sunday, so we have a free day. With the kids in front-end baby carriers against our chests, we tour the grounds with an English-speaking Thai guide he offers to carry the diaper bag. Several Thai families stop us to ask if we will pose for a photo with them.
The kids need physicals and two additional immunization shots before the U. Lana cries a little bit after the first shot, and lets out a good scream when the second needle is injected. As Mary comes out with Lana, I arrive at the examining room doorway with Arthur. Though she doesn't speak English, the attending nurse nods knowingly when I say, "That's nothing. Wait until you hear this guy. The first shot pricks his chubby thigh.
Of course, he screams. The next shot surprises him even more. He is screaming so hard that no sound is coming out. I imagine only dogs can hear him. Matters at the U. Embassy go smoothly, thanks particularly to a cheerful and organized administrator named Sara Farinelli. The long flight from Taipei to Seattle also goes mostly without much crying. The kids sleep about eight to 10 hours each. But after about 6, air miles, Arthur has finally got cabin fever on the leg from Seattle to Chicago. The only remedy seems to be to walk the back aisle of the plane. Lana is restless, too, but a bit more entertained by flight attendants and other passersby who stop to ask about the babies.
Some 20 minutes before we land, Mary places Lana in the seat next to me as I am holding a calmer but still cranky Artie. She is going to freshen up before we land. When she returns, I'm the one crying with no sound, heaving my chest as Arthur begins to fall asleep on my shoulder. Lana is smiling at me. The first sight of the Chicago skyline triggered the tears. I know now we are home, that we did it! I am so proud we never gave up, I try to tell Mary, but the words are squashed by my emotions, much like Arthur's forehead pressed against my collarbone. Neither Artie nor I will be worse for wear.
I am bawling and laughing at myself as the plane lands. Mary is crying and reaching out to hold my hand. Lana is still smiling. Mary is in the nursery with Arthur. It is the first time he gets a good look at his crib, which is adorned in Winnie-the-Pooh sheets, bumpers and quilt. He is amazed at the number of bears--with honey jars stuck in their noses--that he sees all around him. He touches as many as possible, to his left, right, behind him, over his head.
The kids are baptized at Old St. Patrick's Church by Rev. He has been there every step of our journey with heartfelt compassion, wisdom and constant encouragement to stay the course of our faith. It is joyous to celebrate this special day with him and family and friends in this wonderfully sacred church, in our city, at home with Arthur and Lana. The night is magical--and even more touching than our imaginings. After mass, in the church hall, adults make toasts while more than a dozen children scoot around the room making friends. The kids want to hold Arthur, the more animated one.
The mothers tend to favor Lana. There is something irresistible in her peacefulness. Mary and I were introduced by a dear friend at Old St. Pat's 10 years ago today. I was home for the holidays from New York. We have always considered our chance meeting in the church vestibule that day to be God's gift to us. This Christmas, we plan to celebrate not with stacks of presents or brimming feasts.
But with words of gratitude and songs of togetherness. We simply wish the same peace for every couple hoping to start a family. It is the greatest gift of all. We are far from the only family that has struggled with the adoption process. Drawing from our experience, plus some advice from reputable placement agencies, here are tips and questions to ask before deciding to work with an adoption organization. Talk to at least three agencies.
Compare the approaches of the organizations. Evaluate the comprehensiveness of a program. Look through the application materials. Consider the experience and professionalism of your caseworker. Find out if the agency provides legal counsel to navigate adoption laws.
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Ask the agency how long it has operated. Ask how many children are placed and serviced each year. If you are considering a certain foreign nation, ask how long the agency has operated in that country and how many adoptions have been completed there. Most importantly, get specific answers to each question. Vagueness is a warning sign. Don't be scared off by realism. The best agencies are upfront with clients about the potential delays and obstacles, and clearly explain how they address such problems.
Photographs by Mary Haubold. Bob Condor is the Tribune's health and fitness writer. Under the tree, I am crying. Sometimes dreams tangle the plumb line of reality. As we land, I can only hope Gilna wins back our trust in the next few days. July 10 Both Mary and I are wide awake by 3 a. Mary says, nonsense, we're in this together. She squeezes my hand. Before letting us hold the children, Gilna asks that we "not show too much emotion. We comfort each other by remarking that things can't get much worse.