Early Book Review: Hidden Places by Claudia Martin

Hidden Places by Claudia Martin is currently scheduled for release on April 14 2024.  From the psychedelic salt mines of Yekaterinburg in Siberia to the rugged, green-tinted Copper Canyon in the Sierra Madre in Mexico, Hidden Places roams across the globe in search of hidden treasures and secret places off the beaten track. Explore the Silfra Deep Trench in Iceland, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet to create a remarkable rift and freshwater dive site; experience the weirdest of woodland walks through the Crooked Forest in Pomerania, Poland, where a grove of 400 pines are uniformly curved; marvel at the colourful, gold-plated temple of Doi Suthep in northern Thailand; or visit the world’s highest sand dune, Grande Dune du Pilat, on the Bordeaux coast. Each location is accompanied by a caption explaining the geography and history of the place. Illustrated with 180 colour photographs, Hidden Places ranges from the sparse landscape of the Arctic Circle to the rich rainforests of the Amazon basin. Read this book and discover the special, hidden places that will come to define your bucket list – many of which are much closer to home than you think.

Hidden Places is a lovely collection of images with a brief disruption about each photograph and what really makes the location special and relatively unknown by travelers. I thought the chosen photographs were stunning, and they focused on the wonders of the landscape for the most part but with select human structures where appropriate. I am not much of a traveler, but I found that this book gave me a bit of wonderlust. However, I am going to channel that into finding some quiet and beautiful locations a little closer to home than those in this book. 

Early Book Review: Girls of the World: 250 Portraits of Awesome by Mihaela Noroc

Girls of the World: 250 Portraits of Awesome by Mihaela Noroc is currently scheduled for release on November 7 2023. This collection of powerful photographs and moving stories showcases young women of all backgrounds, from a myriad of cultures, showing us that all girls are awesome in their own special way. Travel from Kabul to Texas with author and photographer Mihaela Noroc and experience astonishing diversity and a shared humanity in Girls of the World: 250 Portraits of Awesome. The inspiring stories of these young women are the stories of our planet. Their gaze into the camera reveals their strength and tenacity, their joy and fun-seeking spirits, even in the face of hardships and extraordinary challenges.

Girls of the World: 250 Portraits of Awesome is a wonderful book for children and adults to look through and explore. I loved the diversity of girls included, and thought that everyone could see someone they could identify with or aspire to be more like. Some of the girls had more information shared about their experiences, culture, and plans than others. However, I think the information shared was well balanced between different parts of the world, different cultures and experiences, and different plans for the future. Some of the young people included were continuing and celebrating the culture and traditions of their families, others were breaking new ground, and some shared nothing more than enjoying being a kid. I loved that every path was celebrated and that the emphasis was on strength, happiness, and hope for the future.  I learned some things about different countries and cultures, and I think some readers will see the names of countries or people that they have never heard of before. I hope that it can inspire future exploration into those areas, and the understanding that all of us are at the heart the same, while we have so many differences to celebrate and explore to better understand each other.

Early Book Review: A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat

A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat is a middle grade memoir in graphic novel format currently scheduled for release on February 28 2023. Dan's always been a good kid. The kind of kid who listens to his teachers, helps his mom with grocery shopping, and stays out of trouble. But being a good kid doesn't stop him from being bullied and feeling like he's invisible, which is why Dan has low expectations when his parents send him on a class trip to Europe. At first, he's right. He's stuck with the same girls from his middle school who love to make fun of him, and he doesn't know why his teacher insisted he come on this trip. But as he travels through France, Germany, Switzerland, and England, a series of first experiences begin to change him—first Fanta, first fondue, first time stealing a bike from German punk rockers, and first love.

A First Time for Everything is a entertaining, engaging, and relatable book. As a fellow member of Gen X, I also remember the crazy things we got away with and the independence that we were encouraged to explore- even though I would never encourage my kids to do the same at the same ages. I think the heart of the book, the explorations of being yourself and dealing with trying new things and figuring out who you want to be is something every reader can relate to. As always, Santat's artwork is just as engaging as the text and overall story. I think this is a great great for middle grade and older readers- including adults. This will hit home for many readers, and I enjoyed getting to know more about someone whose work I have always admired.

Book Review: Hidden Places: From Secret Shores to Sacred Shrines by Claudia Martin

Hidden Places: From Secret Shores to Sacred Shrines by Claudia Martin roams across the globe in search of hidden treasures and secret places off the beaten track. Explore the Silfra Deep Trench in Iceland, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet to create a remarkable rift and freshwater dive site; experience the weirdest of woodland walks through the Crooked Forest in Pomerania, Poland, where a grove of 400 pines are uniformly curved; marvel at the colorful, gold-plated temple of Doi Suthep in northern Thailand; or visit the world’s highest sand dune, Grande Dune du Pilat, on the Bordeaux coast. Each location is accompanied by a caption explaining the geography and history of the place. Illustrated with 180 color photographs, Hidden Places ranges from the sparse landscape of the Arctic Circle to the rich rainforests of the Amazon basin. Read this book and discover the special, hidden places that will come to define your bucket list – many of which are much closer to home than you think.

Hidden Places was a wonderful book to look through and enjoy. As someone that has travelled little, but often thinks about going to the less travelled places in the world, I really enjoyed getting a good look at the quiet places that I am likely never going to see. The photographs are wonderful, and for the most part show locations with few to zero people taking advantage of the locations (just how I'd like to see them). I liked the variety of locations and climates included. There were snow and ice covered locations, lush forests, deserts, as well as man made or altered locations from all over the world. The colors in each image are so vibrant and perfect that it feels almost like you are looking out a window rather than at a picture on a screen, or page in the case of a print version. Some of the colors and wonders included looked so perfect that I was squinted to make sure the image really was a photograph rather than a painting since they looked so fantastic.   I think this book offers readers exactly what they will be hoping for by the title and cover, weather they are regular travelers or those that prefer staying home and enjoying from afar. 

Book Review: Cities of the Dead: The World's Most Beautiful Cemeteries by Yolanda Zappaterra

Cities of the Dead: The World's Most Beautiful Cemeteries by Yolanda Zappaterra is a nonfiction book and collection of photography. Readers will discover the fascinating stories of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries, featuring spectacular photography, unique histories and famous residents. The book invites readers on a tour of memorial sites, ranging from monastic settlements to grand cathedrals, Shinto shrines to Gothic chapels, tombs and crypts. Enjoy tales of myths and monsters, grave-robbers, pilgrimages, spiritual retreats, remembrance and community. Marvel in cemeteries with a hundred thousand to a handful of graves which feature famous headstones, weeping angels, ocean views, woodlands, thousands of glowing lanterns and a tomb of poets. From London's famous Highgate Cemetery, which houses famous names from Karl Marx to Malcolm McLaren, George Eliot to Christina Rosetti, to Hawaii's breathtaking Valley of the Temples, this book spans the globe to bring you the most fascinating, intriguing and evocative cemeteries across cultures and continents. Together with the photographs, the stories behind these notable burial sites bring these sanctuaries to life, detailing the features that make them special, highlighting both similarities and differences between time periods, religions and cultures, and showing how cemeteries are about and for the living as much as the dead.

Cities of the Dead is a fascinating read and visually captivating. I thought the information provided for each site was well researched and written, with just enough information to give readers an understanding of the location, and perhaps inspire some further research for the locations that really speak to them. I have to admit that I was much more interested in the photography, but that is more on my personal preference and visual nature than any lack on the author's part.  It was nice to see the beauty ad dignity of these locations, rather than the focus of dark and spooky that I mostly see particularly this time of year. The serenity and magnitude of some of the locations was interesting and I liked the variety of locations and seasons and time of day in which the pictures seemed to be taken. I found some of the images sad, like the cramped crowd of tombstones of Beth-Chaim in Prague, and some of the less well tended expanses, however other locations seems so restful and carefully tended that they exude peace. The contrasts of how history and people shape these things is important, and too often forgotten. I like that the author included a guide to the symbolism in cemeteries, visitor information on the featured locations, an index and the full list of photograph credits. These important details too often are lost in the process, and I love digging into these kids of details at the end of a nonfiction book.  I think my only complaint is that the number of photographs per cemetery seemed a bit uneven, some locations only had one while others had several pages. I understand that this is partially because of image availability and cemetery size and accessibility, but it still bothered me in the end.

Audiobook Review: Magnetic North: Sea Voyage to Svalbard by Jenna Butler, Narrated by Marysia Bucholc

Magnetic North: Sea Voyage to Svalbard by Jenna Butler, narrated by Marysia Bucholc, takes readers (and listeners) along on a voyage from the endangered Canadian boreal forest to the environmentally threatened Svalbard archipelago off the coast of Norway.  Jenna Butler takes us on a sea voyage that connects continents and traces the impacts of climate change on northern lands. With a conservationist, female gaze, she questions explorer narratives and the mythic draw of the polar North. As a woman who cannot have children, she writes out the internal friction of travelling in Svalbard during the fertile height of the Arctic summer. Blending travelogue and poetic meditation on place, Jenna Butler draws readers to the beauty and power of threatened landscapes, asking why some stories in recorded history are privileged while others speak only from beneath the surface.

Magnetic North: Sea Voyage to Svalbard was a bit of a mixed bag for me, but that is on me for not fully reading the description of the title before requesting it from Netgalley. On one hand I really appreciated getting an account of places and experiences that are well outside me reach. Getting a better understanding of just what it is like at the top of the world, the the lives that those in the region live. The informational, travel, and human experience aspects of the  book were engaging and I feel enriched for having learned more. However, I am not typically one that goes in search of poetry, it is just not one of my preferred genres or mediums. I will say that I could appreciate the skill, meaning, and heart infused in the  work, but I just did not enjoy it the way that readers that really appreciate the form would. It was still an interesting read, and I can see it being a hit with its target audience, that's just not me. 

Book Review: Amazing Temples of the World by Michael Kerrigan

Amazing Temples of the World by Michael Kerrigan offers readers an intimate portrait of some spectacular and unusual places of worship dating from the fourth millennium BCE to the present. Ornate or spartan, immense or intimate, from the Middle East to California, this book features such impressive places of worship as the Mahabodi Temple, India, built in the location where Buddha is thought to have achieved enlightenment; the fifth century BCE Temple of Confucius in Qufu, China, the largest Confucian temple in the world; Abu Simbel, in southern Egypt, the great carved monument to the Pharaoh Ramses II; the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab, the spiritual home of the world’s 25 million Sikhs; and the Shri Swaminarayan Temple in Neasden, London, the biggest Hindu temple outside India. With more than 180 photographs, this book includes more than 150 places of worship, from Ancient Greece and Rome, through traditional synagogues to modern Buddhist, Taoist and Sikh temples organized by region.

Amazing Temples of the World is a collection of stunning temples from around the world. I liked that the images included ancient and modern places of worship, including those in a wide variety of repair. The contrast between the ancient ruins, the well maintained and highly decorated, and the simplicity of some of the temples was wonderful to see. I loved getting the opportunity to see places that I am not likely to get to see in person, for a variety of reasons. It was also interesting to see that even across several continents, spanning a variety of religions and centuries, there is a similarity of reverence and majesty in all locations regardless of the obvious differences.

Audiobook Review: Bees and Their Keepers by Lotte Möller, Narrated by Julie Maisey

Bees and Their Keepers is a non fiction book written by Lotte Möller, and the audiobook is narrated by Julie Maisey. The study of bees has often been considered a divine occupation, as the creature’s attention to detail and purpose is so special and the honey they produce, almost magical. In this compelling cultural history that moves beautifully through the beekeeper’s year, Swedish beekeeper and writer Lotte Möller shares her understanding of bees and bee lore from antiquity to the present with deep knowledge and sharp wit. Möller gives insight into the activity in the hive and describes the bees’ natural order and habits. She explores the myths of the past and how and when they were replaced by fact. In stories from her travels, Möller encounters a host of colorful characters, from a trigger-happy California beekeeper raging against both killer bees and bee politics to the legendary Brother Adam of Buckfast Abbey, breeder of the Buckfast queen, now popular throughout Europe and beyond, as well a host of others as passionate as she about the complex world of apiculture both past and present.

Bees and Their Keepers is an interesting book. I learned a great deal, and thought  the stories and information shared where engaging. I have several books about bees, in particular their current plight with pesticides and other dangers they are facing. Getting a look at how people have interacted with bees through out history, both distant and more recently, has given me a more well-rounded appreciation for honey and the work that goes into beekeeping. I liked that moments from the author's adventures in researching the topic, personal explorations, and own beekeeping were included. All of the individual components were informative and interesting to listen to on my commutes back and forth to work. However, I have to admit that sometimes the topic changes or asides to give more information on a very specific topic or adventure caught me off guard and it took me a bit to switch gears. It just felt a little disjointed at times. Similarly, the end rather snuck up on me. That is not likely to happen to those reading a print copy, but in the audiobook version I was listening and expecting more on a topic, or another topic change, and then suddenly I was listening to the copyright information. It just felt a bit abrupt to me.  

Bees and Their Keepers is and interesting look at the history and world of beekeeping. 

Early Book Review: The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara

The Meeting Point by Olivia Lara is a contemporary romance currently scheduled for release on September 2 2021. What if the Lift driver who finds your cheating boyfriend's phone holds the directions to true love? 'Who are you and why do you have my boyfriend's phone?' 'He left it in my car. You must be the blonde in the red dress? I'm the Lift driver who dropped you two off earlier.' And with these words, the life of the brunette and t-shirt wearing Maya Maas is turned upside down. Having planned to surprise her boyfriend, she finds herself single and stranded in an unknown city on her birthday. So when the mystery driver rescues Maya with the suggestion that she cheers herself up at a nearby beach town, she jumps at the chance to get things back on track. She wasn't expecting a personalized itinerary or the easy companionship that comes from opening up to a stranger via text, let alone the possibility it might grow into something more. 

The Meeting Point is a book that had me in sympathetic cringes at several turns. I liked the set up, and I thought Maya's character development was well done. I liked her journey of self discovery and toward romance. I thought the secondary characters and Maya's writing were great aspects of the story, and I was fully invested in the stories presented. I really liked that the places visited are real, and that the author offers an opportunity to retrace Maya's steps and share pictures via social media. However, I cannot count the number of times I wanted to yell at her for her choices and her blindness towards facts I thought fairly obvious early on in the book. There were so, so many moments when Maya (or others) completely missed or destroyed moments that would have cleared up everything and made everything less stressful for all involved. However, I also know that people often miss the obvious in real life, and that honest conversations can be hard to have so are often avoided so it was realistic in that respect. That visceral frustration and second hand embarrassment sometimes made me hesitant to  turn the page, but my investment in the characters and their story kept me engaged and turning those pages to see how it all resolved. 

The Meeting Point is a well written book with engaging characters.

Early Book Review: Little Kid, Big City!: London; Pick Your Own Path Through London! by Beth Beckman, Holley Haher

Little Kid, Big City!: London; Pick Your Own Path Through London!, written by Beth Beckman and illustrated by Holley Maher, is a children's travel book currently scheduled for release on June 15 2021. If a kid were given the opportunity to lead a tour through London, where would they go? Would they hop on the Tube to visit Buckingham Palace, watch a play at Shakespeare's Globe Theater, or pass the time with Big Ben? By following prompts at the end of each page in Little Kid, Big City, the options are endless! In this series, an illustrated travel guide collides with an interactive format, allowing children to imagine, create, and explore their own routes through the greatest cities on the planet. With gorgeous illustrations, lovable characters, and dozens of different forks in the road, Little Kid, Big City is a new way for kids to take part in their travels and invent their own adventures.

Little Kid, Big City!: London; Pick Your Own Path Through London! is a lovely and informative look at exploring London. I liked the variety of locations covered, and the fun way they are presented. There is a great deal of information offered, including the basics of he location and the expectations for visitors, but it never gets to be overwhelming. The suggestions of what to do next, and the detailed index in the back of the book, would make the book useful when planning a trip or while out and about. For those of us even less likely to travel in the near future, with the world being in its current state, the book also offers fodder for dreamy to-do lists, and just getting to know more about London now, even if we are not likely to see it in person. I liked the artwork a great deal- it was realistic and still felt a little fun and whimsical. It was simply enjoyable to look at, and to find small details and points of interest in. 

As a whole Little Kid, Big City!: London; Pick Your Own Path Through London! is a well written and illustrated look at London, whether you plan on visiting soon or not.

Book Review: Honeymoon Alone by Nicole Macaulay

Honeymoon Alone by Nicole Macaulay is a contemporary romance. When irrepressibly romantic Lucy Gray is ditched at said wedding by her date in front of her whole family, the promises of a psychic seem better than her pity-riddled reality. The psychic’s advice seems insightful: stop ignoring fate’s signs – fate will lead you to love. But when “fate” leads Lucy to London, she finds herself tangled in a web of lies. In a story about finding independence and taking chances, Lucy learns that leaving everything up to fate can be dangerous – and jeopardize her chances at happily ever after.

Honeymoon Alone is a story that caught my attention right at the begin. Lucy is sweet, reliable, and tired. Everyone expects her to do what they need and while they care about her they never seem to think about what she wants, only what they think is best for her. I could very much relate to her position and emotional state. She takes a chance, takes an impromptu trip, and comedy, romance, and a dash of danger are the result. I like that all of the conflicts and bumbles felt completely natural, and rather like things that would happen to me. I like how the characters were all well developed an d that the story does not frame Lucy as incomplete without romance, but that it would simple not be unwelcome. In much of the book romance takes a back seat to figuring out just what was going on and enjoying Lucy's discovery of London. For those looking for steam, there is none of that here- nothing more than some kisses- but the journey is very much worth the read.

Honeymoon Alone as much a story about Lucy finding herself and figuring out what she wants. I enjoyed the story and am glad I requested it from NetGalley. 

Early Book Review: Rail Journeys by David Ross

Rail Journeys by David Ross is currently scheduled for release on March 14 2020. There is always a sense of adventure when going on a railway journey. Whether it is aboard the Orient Express from London to Istanbul, or travelling the Transcontinental railroad through the Canadian Rockies to the Pacific coast, or riding the Serra Verde Express through the Brazilian rainforest, With 200 outstanding colour photographs, Rail Journeys  takes the reader on a journey through some of the most unusual, romantic and remarkable landscapes in the world. Places where trains still offer romantic and astounding experiences of rail travel at its best.

Rail Journeys offers readers a combination of accessible text and stunning images of railroads and trains. Readers can glimpse the Coast Starlight, which carries passengers from Los Angeles along the Pacific coast to Seattle and all points in between. Then there is the 7,000 kilometre Trans-Siberian, crossing the entirety of Mongolia and Russia from Beijing to Moscow. Some many unique and fascinating images and details about train travel around the world. I found myself studying the images of landscapes, stations, tunnels, and trains more intensely that I thought I would. I was captivated by the images more than anything else, but when I took the time to read the text I found it to be interesting and informative. I am very much a homebody, but think train travel would be one of the few ways I would be glad to travel.  I just loved the photography so much that it over-shadowed the work that must have gone into that text even though it was well done.  

Rail Journeys is a book that I could see as a great gift for train and travel lovers alike. I know a could people that are train enthusiasts that I think would fully appreciate this book. 

Early Book Review: Dark Hedges, Wizard Island, and Other Magical Places That Really Exist by L Rader Crandall

Dark Hedges, Wizard Island, and Other Magical Places That Really Exist by L Rader Crandall is currently scheduled for release on March 3 2020. From a lost city in the desert to a cave alight with thousands of glowworms, learn about some of the most unusual places on earth and the myths, legends, and history behind each of them! Looking at places like The Skeleton Coast in Namibia, Wizard Island in the United States, and The Fairy Tale Route in Germany, This book takes young readers on a journey around the world to real places that sound straight out of fantasy. Featuring both natural and man-made wonders, this travel book combines history and storytelling to explore the far reaches of the earth.

Dark Hedges, Wizard Island, and Other Magical Places That Really Exist takes stories from history and legends and connects them to the places they are about. The history of castles, sieges, and wizard origins are shared with the information about the location you can visit that is tied into these stories. Some of these stories I had heard before, but many were new to me. I thought the tone was conversational and matter of fact, making the text accessible and enjoyable to readers. I liked that the locations were from all around the world, and no culture or group of people were set apart as bad or other- which often happens in historic or legend based text. The photography was stunning, and I adored the detailed bibliography- citing sources and encouraging further reading in the process always makes me happy even if I know a good number of readers are likely to ignore this section. 

Early Book Review: Tokyo Mindscapes: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See by Misaki Matsui

Tokyo Mindscapes: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See by Misaki Matsui is currently scheduled for release on August 1 2019. Traveling to Tokyo? Be sure to see some of the most iconic sites in Tokyo and nearby cities—from gorgeous skylines and jaw-dropping nature to hidden treasures. With this photo/guidebook, visitors can explore both the cutting-edge and traditional parts of the city like a local. The photographer and author introduces the beauty of the four seasons of Tokyo and surrounding cities that Japanese residents love. The collection showcases more than 100 beautiful images of Tokyo including Senso-ji, Roppongi Hills, Todoriki Valley, Mt. Takao, the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, and more.

Tokyo Mindscapes: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See is visually stunning, but so much more. The images are wonderful, and give readers a great feel for the beauty that can be found in Tokyo. The text that describes to location of each offers readers information on the history, architecture, people, and more. None of the text blocks are huge, or overly wordy. They just give enough information to show readers why they would want to see it in person, and when might be the best time to do so. I enjoyed learning about the locations featured even though I have no big travel plans in my future. I love learning about places I have never been, and this book was a enjoyable opportunity to do so with Tokyo. 

Tokyo Mindscapes: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See is a wonderful book for those planning a trip, and those that would love to see the sights, but have no plans to do so in person (at least anytime soon).

Book Review: Around the World in 80 Ways: The Fabulous Inventions that Get Us From Here to There by DK, Katy Halford

Around the World in 80 Ways: The Fabulous Inventions that Get Us From Here to There from DK, with illustrations by Katy Halford is a children's non fiction book about different modes of transportation. Travel around the world by yacht, tram, train, unicycle, jetpack, camel... everything you can imagine! Each scene depicts various exciting things that go and provides a wealth of interesting information. The fun and charming illustrations will prompt discussion and the incredible facts on every page will amaze readers.

Around the World in 80 Ways: The Fabulous Inventions that Get Us From Here to There is a well illustrated book, using realistic but colorful depictions of everything from the dugout boats and horses that were among the first modes of travel people used, to the more unusual items like kiteboards and unicycles. Each invention or animal used for transportation has a brief explanation, offering some history of tidbit about comfort using that type of travel. Some items, like the car, hot air balloon, and camel have much more information than the rest. I can think of many young readers from my past elementary school library position that would have adored this book, and think it will be a favorite for some. 

Book Review: Yankees New England Adventures from the editors of Yankee Magazine

Yankees New England Adventures, from the editors of Yankee Magazine, offers readers a go-to source for in-depth travel information, with the photography and practical know-how that Yankee readers have come to expect. Whether you are interested in exploring the vibrant culture of tiny villages or big cities, eating outstanding meals in colonial inns or vintage diners, rambling through art museums or up steep wooded hills, this is the guide for you. An island stuck in the 19th century? A walk-in, stained-glass globe? A place where you can eat Thanksgiving dinner every day of the year? From the golden dunes of Nantucket to the alpine tundra of the White Mountains, from the blue waters of Lake Champlain to the green grass of Boston Common, travelers and residents alike will find over 400 local secrets, out-of-the-way places, and unique experiences in all six states of this remarkable region of America. Live the Yankee lifestyle and get on the road with Yankee’s New England Adventures.

Yankees New England Adventures is a lovely book for those that live in New England (like myself) and wonder what fun or beautiful things they might have missed over the years, and for those planning a visit. I am glad to say that I have visited most of the listed locations for my home state, and a good number of the locations in the others. I enjoyed seeing the photographs and reading the practical and succinct descriptions of locations that are familiar to me, and some that I have yet to visit. While not all of the information is absolutely correct, for instance Sleeping Giant State Park is still mostly closed- but who involved in publishing this book could have predicted a crazy tornado hitting Connecticut and causing the amount of damage it did to the area. However, I still think this is a great resource for planning a day trip or staycation if you are local, or a lovely time away for those coming from further away. I enjoyed the information and images, and the ideas the read gave me about where I can drag my family the next time I get the urge to explore.

Book Review: Archipelago New York by Thomas Halaczinsky

Archipelago New York by Thomas Halaczinsky is a photographic and literary log book unravels the mysteries of more than seventy islands dotting the sea from New York Harbor at the mouth of the Hudson to Fishers Island Sound. Documentary filmmaker and writer Thomas Halaczinsky's course follows the route of Adriaen Block, the first European who in 1614 sailed and mapped this area. On old marine charts, these islands have curious-sounding names such as Money Island, Pot Island, and Rats Island, while names such as Rockaway, Jamaica Bay, and Montauk speak of the indigenous people who once inhabited the land. Rooted in history, local tales are interwoven with current themes such as climate change and wrapped in the narrative of sailing in quest of a sense of place.

Archipelago New York is a stunning travel log of the waters and islands of New York Harbor, which so few people in New York City seem to forget exist. I loved that he used more than just his photographs and thoughts on his travels. He also used maps and information on the history of the area to enhance the journey. I loved getting a look at islands that I might never have the chance to go see myself, and to learn about the history. Halaczinsky's insights were interesting to read, and added a personal touch to the book. I think my favorite part of the book was the photography. Some of the images were stunning, other calm and soothing to my eye. I enjoy getting to play armchair tourist, and while exploring New York Harbor by boat is something I am not likely to ever do in person, I was very glad to have the chance to experience it second hand.