pldean's review
3.0
Editor Buford tries to preempt the issue by saying he's defining 'travel writing' broadly, but this collection employs it so widely as to make the term useless. I'm not sure how a New Yorker article about the mortgage crisis in Florida qualifies. On the other hand, there are some gems here: Patrick Symmes on Emilio-Romagna, Susan Orlean on the donkeys of Morocco, David Owen on a rediscovered 19th-century golf course on an island off Scotland. That, of course, is the benefit of collections -- skip the stories that leave you unimpressed.
sierratakushi's review
3.0
It’s a given that I would deem some of these essays — like Susan Orlean’s “Where Donkeys Deliver”, Michael Finkel’s “The Hazda”, and Garrison Keillor’s “Take in the State Fair” — were 5 star reads, while others were 3 to 4 star essays.
I do appreciate the variety of musings and reflections in this collection, ranging from: a gay man’s perspective on infatuation and love through his travels, to a former member of the Peace Corps considering his role in the political enterprise. However… there were
So. Many. American. Men.
And not just American, but British men too? I’m thoroughly confused about who constitutes the best American travel writers, if British men make the cut while only two American women are featured.
I know this was edited in 2010, but it appears that The Best American Series didn’t even try to diversify the pool of authors that year. Hoping that later collections include more women, more brown and black, and less West-centric authors.
I do appreciate the variety of musings and reflections in this collection, ranging from: a gay man’s perspective on infatuation and love through his travels, to a former member of the Peace Corps considering his role in the political enterprise. However… there were
So. Many. American. Men.
And not just American, but British men too? I’m thoroughly confused about who constitutes the best American travel writers, if British men make the cut while only two American women are featured.
I know this was edited in 2010, but it appears that The Best American Series didn’t even try to diversify the pool of authors that year. Hoping that later collections include more women, more brown and black, and less West-centric authors.
lynitab's review
3.0
though i wasn't totally engrossed, like i would be with a Bruce Chatwin book, I found a lot of the article very thought provoking. I was inspired to write about my own travels, if only for myself.
kunstudios's review against another edition
3.0
Siberia was great, I wish Transylvania was good but I didn't finish it. The rest I skipped over.
laurafox's review against another edition
4.0
My favorite pieces from this volume:
Colby Buzzell, "Down & Out in Fresno and San Francisco" (California)
Michael Finkel, "The Hadza" (East Africa)
Ian Frazier, "Travels in Siberia" (Russia)
Christopher Hitchens, "The Lovely Stones" (Athens)
Susan Orlean, "Where Donkeys Deliver" (Morocco)
George Packer, "The Ponzi State" (Florida)
Colby Buzzell, "Down & Out in Fresno and San Francisco" (California)
Michael Finkel, "The Hadza" (East Africa)
Ian Frazier, "Travels in Siberia" (Russia)
Christopher Hitchens, "The Lovely Stones" (Athens)
Susan Orlean, "Where Donkeys Deliver" (Morocco)
George Packer, "The Ponzi State" (Florida)
More...