Travelogue Books

"Kokoro" is a difficult word to translate from Japanese to English. Heart, Spirit, Way of Being...it is all of these things. Rather than attempt a direct translation, Lafcadio Hearn offers a selection of stories focusing on Japanese inner life, so that by the end you will understand kokoro.

The stories follow Hearn's particular interests of Japanese folklore and the vanishing culture of which he found himself a part in post-Meji Japan. Each story is a slice of life focusing on Japanese character, morals and feelings. This is what the Japanese people care about, what they think is important, what is inside.

The selected tales are non-judgmental and non-orientalist. This is no attempt to explain or highlight the "strange" Japanese, but merely a record and an illumination, in the best sense of the term.

The collected stories:

"At a Railway Station"
"The Genius of Japanese Civilization"
"A Street Singer"
"From a Traveling Diary"
"The Nun of the Temple of Amida"
"After the War"
"Haru"
"A Glimpse of Tendencies"
"By Force of Karma"
"A Conservative"
"In the Twilight of the Gods"
"The Idea of Pre-Exsistance"
"In Cholera Time"
"Some Thoughts about Ancestor Worship"
"Kimiko"

Not to be confused with Natsume Soseki's novel by the same title, Lafcadio Hearn's "Kokoro" is a magnificent collection of essays, vignettes, memoirs, and meditations on Japan in the 1890's. Very much a product of the mid-Meiji period, these masterfully-written little literary pieces are nonetheless timeless. Each piece is quite different from the rest, and yet almost all of them manage to start from everyday incidents or obvious observations and gradually spiral inwards to some deeply moving and startling insight into Japanese attitudes, values, and worldviews; more than once this seemingly methodless method allows Hearn to share with the reader certain common opinions and normal spiritual orientations held by average Japanese folks--the kinds of things usually taken for granted and so unarticulated, hence least amenable to documentation and scholarship (especially of the time, but even today). And Hearn does all this with an unpretentious erudition and an understated and balanced sympathy for his subject that, along with his literary flair for wonderfully clear and flowing prose, places his writings here in a category far above the rest. With him we can find none of the unintentional strains of condescension and orientalism so typical of folklore and religious anthropology, for while he's looking with the surprised gaze of the outsider with one eye, his other eye is that of the insider feeling very much at home where he is. The resulting view is visionary--but in subdued and shadowy tones.

Appendix on an Appendix: in addition to the fifteen excellent essays forming the main body of "Kokoro", there's an extensive appendix featuring Hearn's translations of three popular folk ballads: "The Ballad of Shuntoku-Maru", "The Ballad of Oguri Hangwan" and "The Ballad of O-Shichi, the Daughter of the Yaoya". These are fascinating on a number of levels. They provide a tantalizingly fleeting glimpse of plebian drama, remarkable in its very lack of remarkableness. There's a certain sociological angle, as the versions of these oral ballads collected and translated by Hearn are those recited by mountain outcastes in the area of today's Shimane Prefecture. Religiously the first two ballads are key in understanding popular attitudes concerning pilgrimage in Japan--the first demonstrating a creepy (almost voodoo) edge in Kannon faith at Kiyomizudera Temple, the second delightfully exaggerating the rejuvenating benefits of Kumano and its sacred hot springs. Meanwhile, the third ballad is a straightforwardly melodramatic retelling of a true story better known to us today in a more refined and literary version as found in the novelist Saikaku's "Five Women Who Loved Love" of 1686.

"The view was wondrous. High mountains rose straight up before me, and as I watched, a flock of white birds...winged their way together across the face of the nearest mountain. It was a Chinese painting in motion."

Not everything was idyllic during Pat Linder's years in Taiwan. For this savvy, globe-hopping Admiral's wife, her husband's posting to Taiwan in 1977 proved not to be for the faint of heart. Earthquakes, political upheaval and the language barrier made for a bumpy ride indeed. There are undercurrents of trouble throughout, from the mysterious phone call advising her to unpack before she ever leaves the U.S., to the daunting number of armed guards around their Taiwan residence, to a rare eye disease that increasingly obscures her vision. And she is scathing in her comments about the cruel practice of foot-binding, designed to keep women from running away from their husbands.

Yet the memoir also contains moments of sheer hilarity, as when Pat makes her first attempt at using chopsticks at an official function, or when - desperate to get her air conditioning fixed - Pat speaks into one of the bugged ceiling fans in her home.

Readers will be amazed to learn how, in 1933, the most valuable pieces from a Beijing art museum were packed into crates and then carried on the backs of peasants for 16 years, lest Japanese or Communist Chinese forces find and destroy them.

When the U.S. government breaks off diplomatic relations with Taiwan in 1978, Pat's sympathies are obviously with the Taiwanese people, whom she has come to admire and love.

Since the Admiral shared only unclassified information with his wife, readers will get little in-depth discussion of actual political events. But Pat writes with warmth, humor and passion that is quite engaging.

The first chapter just jumps right into the dangers and emotions that author Patricia Linder found herself in during a little remembered part of our foreign policy. Her experiences living in Taiwan during a time when the United States was pulling its protection and official recognition to build relations with communist China, is one full of emotion. Her first person account of that period of history is very well told in her newest book "The Lady And The Tiger."

Linder does a masterpiece of reporting from her own heart and soul. She sounds like someone who not only was there physically, but was fully aware of all the political and social issues that surrounded what was happening. She has an intelligent grasp of what happened and why. She writes with great passion and skill to weave the facts and emotions together to give the story lots of energy and movement. This book, at times, reads almost like an action novel. You will get hooked from page one and will have a hard time putting down the book.

She faces riots, mobs and angry people all with great courage. She has to deal with tapped phones, and armed guards that she cannot fully trust and even rooms in her own residence that are bugged with listening devices. The events and culture that she found in Taiwan are not what this wife of a Rear Admiral was expecting. This was a tour of duty that was going to really test her soul!

Great book to read! It has the MWSA's TOP BOOK RATING - FIVE STARS!

MWSA's 2006 Silver Medal Award for Memoirs

Outstanding book. Should be a must read for people working in health care, caregivers trying to assist others, anyone struggling with a chronic medical condition and every politician on the face of the planet. Amazing insights from an "insider's" point of view on what it is like trying to deal with the world after a loss of function. Truly inspirational stories....this book will help a lot of people.

If you ever start to feel sorry for yourself you should read this book... Michael really knows how to find the bright side of almost any situation. He has a talent for being able to get others back on their feet when life has delt them a low blow.
He minimizes the negatives and magnifies the positives while relishing each and every experience!
Thanks for a wonderful book-

Peter Boseley just got interviewed and accepted into The National Registery of Who's Who! A shortened version of his biography will be registered in the year book of 2001 and will be appearing shortly on the Who's Who website. Watch for this shooting star!

Here is a book that you will not be able to put down! True life adventure experiences that make for fantastic reading. Never a dull moment in this book! This book is destined to be a BESTSELLER!

Livingston's Tribe is a superbly written, armchair travel guide of a journey from Zanzibar to the Cape recounts the experiences of an anti-apartheid liberal who flees the old South Africa and welcomes independence for Zimbabwe. His experiences and encounters with tribes and individuals makes for an involving and revealing travel diary which any with an affection for Africa will relish.

This book seemed a little pessimistic about the whites living in Zimbabwe and Kenya, however that is understandable given that he was there right before the violent seizure of white land in Zimbabwe and under the rather oppressive rule of President Daniel Arap Moi of Kenya, and so things would have looked a bit bleak at that time. He should go back and write one about the same communities now, although the going to Zimbabwe would be difficult. This book was a very fun read, and I would guess that it will be a primary document for the historians and sociologists of future generations. It was a very compelling read.

I have visited Madrid twice as a tourist and I have few personal funny stories struggling with the Spanish language. But I have never close to the difficulties the author, Tim Parfitt had when he was living and working in Madrid. I found myself laughing reading each chapter, following the author's life story. His troubles trying to fit in with the Madrilenos, their eating habits and his hilarious insights of the Spanish culture.

I have to add, I really enjoyed how the book ended. Instead of Tom Parfitt lives happy ever after, which he does, the author has a surprising and funny ending.

Bill

A darn good read that switches from funny to touching and back to banana-skins-at-dawn funny again. Parfitt's honesty gives the book the ability to mix the enormous range of human experience in Madrid and combine details of an amazing career.

The writing itself is pitched well: readable, clear and elegant. I chewed through the opus espanicus in a couple of days.

The only problem with 'A Load Of Bull' is I don't see how there can be a sequel - unless Parfitt has more untold tales up the sleeve of his tweed jacket?

Bo Sullivan and the Turnpike are bundles of unrestricted energy. The New Jersey Turnpike shapes the state. The road is a triumph of function over form. It is the busiest toll road in the nation.

New Jersey is a machine in the garden. The nickname, the Garden State, is, in some respects, bizarre.

On the New Jersey Turnpike the patrons are treated like vagrants. The message is keep moving. The Turnpike was profitable from the beginning. It sold time and convenience.

The Pulaski Skyway has been dubbed America's first cosmic road.

To any student of culture, this book is a marvel.

As a lifelong New Jerseyan who endured the "what exit" jokes by out-of-staters (Exit 12, now that you've asked), Rockland and Gillespie try to tackle the cultural significance of the loved and loathed New Jersey Turnpike. They cite the popular reference in the Simon & Garfunkel tune, "America," and stress that the Turnpike is one of the most heavily-traveled highways in the world.

What they do well is describe in entertaining detail the story on how and why the Turnpike was built (note: the secretive NJ Turnpike Authority did not cooperate with the authors when they were researching this book) and the many anecdotes about the road that bring new insights into New Jersey (and American) politics and history.

The authors make two main cultural arguments throughout the book:

The first one is how the negative opinion of New Jersey has been shaped over the years by travel on the Turnpike. Let's face it -- the Turnpike travels through the least attractive areas of the state. From the decayed industrial north to the straight, flat and boring stretches in South Jersey, the Turnpike is not a great public relations tool for the state of New Jersey. New Jersey is not all oil refineries (exit 12 & 13), huge megawarehouses (exit 8A) or bland suburban sprawl (exit 9 & 10), but since millions of people from around the globe have traveled on this road to or from Newark Airport or along the Northeast, they think that what they see along the Turnpike is typical to the Garden State (yes, we still have gardens).

Second, the authors' argue that the Turnpike was the ultimate expression of form over function -- an idea that reached its zenith in the mid-20th century. The road was built with efficiency and safety being its highest (and perhaps only) priorities and the roadbuilders did not consider aesthetics or the concerns of neighbors or private landowners when building or maintaining the road.

This book is a great and worthy complement to works like Robert Caro's The Power Broker or other works on famous roads like Rt. 66, Highway 1, the National Road (US Rt. 40), etc. You don't have to be a New Jersey-phile to enjoy this book!

Well, I might be a little biased, but the book is absolutely wonderful! I am so proud of my dad and brother for writing such an inspiring, uplifting book! He who seeks good does find goodwill!

What a great, feel-good book! It's nice to meet people that are optimistic about our world we live in. Furthermore, the authors took action to prove there are really other great people out there with incredible stories and good news to share. It's refreshing to turn off the negative news on the TV and pick up a book like this.

I had the pleasure of meeting the authors face to face. I really enjoyed the discussion that was totally unplanned on my part. Great stocking stuffer idea for Christmas!

This little book in its seventy two pages provides the reader a basic map and background of the existing reconstruction of Colonial Louisbourg. It serves quite well.

Easy to read. Nicely illustrated.

Personally, I would like one day for somebody to produce a three dimensional reconstruction of the entire colonial city, especially its great hospital.

This 72 page book is packed with excellent views of Louisbourg, artifacts, reenactors, food, interior & exterior views of homes, etc. by Norman Munroe. There are 171 full color photos, plus an excellent 3-D map.

The author, Susan Biagi, covers the history of each building, gives helpful brief tourist information, includes short histories of some of the inhabitants, discusses the sieges, and writes a little about the reconstruction. This is NOT a definitive history of "all" of Louisbourg, but it is a valuable quick history no tourist should be without.

For those who reenact or like historical subjects, the photos and cultural info are a big help. Face it, Louisbourg is remote for most, so this is the next best thing to being there and staying warm.

The format is like a virtual tour, because each site has a brief history and several photos. Pages are cued to a tourmap/sitemap, so you can pick and choose at will while firmly knowing where you are. Because the author and photographer are locals, their insight on various locations surpasses in depth the typical guidebook.

For F& I Reenactors, this is a "must-buy", like the Osprey books. (Companies Frances de la Marine are largely featured, but the Karrer Regt. is also shown.)

As someone who lived in Ghana for two years, I felt I was back in a place that over time completely pervades one's being to a point beyond rational comprehension. Ghana is a sensual country full of wonder, beauty, human connection, frustration, and moments, big and small. Love and Butterflies gracefully captures the essence of all this with sincerity, warmth, and introspection that will move you to find love and butterflies in your own life.

A must-read for anyone, but a young person in particular, whose self-doubt saps them of the strength to cope and "make it" in an environment that is strange, if not culturally hostile. You can tell as the book progresses from her leaving home, to arriving in Ghana, through making connections, and ultimately finding love that Taylor McLean was growing stronger without realizing it. She has an uncanny talent for capturing the essence of others in her words: her story about a small boy confused about why his American friend is leaving, "Kwame," is a masterpiece.