Summer Reading Snapshots: What We Are Reading Right Now

Jeannie's reading:

Island Beneath the Sea
"Allende tells a helluva good historical yarn.  This one takes place on the island of San Domingue during during the time the slave rebellion was brewing and San Domingueeventually become Haiti.  The story revolves around a house slave, Tete and her master,Toulouse Valmorain whose fates are entwined as Tete leaves her rebel lover and accompanies Valmorain, his son Maurice and Rosette, Tete's child by her master."

 The Beekeeper's Lament
"I've really just started this but already I like the crisp, conversational writing of author Hannah Nordhaus, and the wonderful, sardonic voice of John Miller, beekeeper extraordinare.   You don't have to be a gardener, as I am, or outdoor devotee to enjoy this very informative and entertaining book...but I guarantee you'll look at bees differently."


 Ambitious Lucas has quite a stack on his nightstand, including (Click on the titles to learn more about them):

We the Animals

Close Range

Fine Just the Way It Is

Storyteller

Yellow Woman and a Beauty of the Spirit

Sing You Home

He Isn't Indiana Jones, But....

Turn Right at Machu Picchu

What happens when an adventure travel expert-who's never actually done anything adventurous-tries to re-create the original expedition to Machu Picchu? 
 
July 24, 1911, was a day for the history books. For on that rainy morning, the young Yale professor Hiram Bingham III climbed into the Andes Mountains of Peru and encountered an ancient city in the clouds: the now famous citadel of Machu Picchu. Nearly a century later, news reports have recast the hero explorer as a villain who smuggled out priceless artifacts and stole credit for finding one of the world's greatest archaeological sites.


Mark Adams has spent his career editing adventure and travel magazines, so his plan to investigate the allegations against Bingham by retracing the explorer's perilous path to Machu Picchu isn't completely far- fetched, even if it does require him to sleep in a tent for the first time. With a crusty, antisocial Australian survivalist and several Quechua-speaking, coca-chewing mule tenders as his guides, Adams takes readers through some of the most gorgeous and historic landscapes in Peru, from the ancient Inca capital of Cusco to the enigmatic ruins of Vitcos and Vilcabamba.

Along the way he finds a still-undiscovered country populated with brilliant and eccentric characters, as well as an answer to the question that has nagged scientists since Hiram Bingham's time: Just what was Machu Picchu?

TC Tidbit: 10 Books About How Men Are Made and Destroyed

from our friends at flavorpill.com.

RIP L.A. Banks

Novelist L.A. Banks died yesterday after a long battle with cancer.  Find out the details of her memorial on August 6 here.

Pete's Newsstand Guide To Scratching That Travel Itch

Summer is not over yet. And if you still have an itch to get away, our newsstand has many travel titles that will get your imagination going whether you leave town or not. My new favorite is Lonely Planet Magazine, which I believe has the best travel photography that I've ever seen. There are also amazing articles about places I've never even heard of. This is about the third issue we've received and they just keep getting better and better.

Another good title is American Road. Relive the good old days of Route 66. Get your kicks or whatever.

Going abroad? How about picking up a copy of Italia! I went there once and this title makes me long to go again.

What if you have no money and want to just ride the rails? We do  get Hobo Magazine, though it isn't really about the hobo lifestyle. I really don't know why they call it that.

My final title to recommend is Tiki Magazine, the ultimate staycation title. Put on a Hawaiian shirt, have a pina colada, crank up the hi-fi, and bring the island life to your own pad. Sometimes there's no place
like home.

--Pete

Pete The Cat Is Back!!!

Pete the Cat is back—and this time he’s rocking in his school shoes. Pete discovers the library, the lunchroom, the playground, and lots of other cool places at school. And no matter where he goes, Pete never stops moving and grooving and singing his song . . . because it’s all good.

TC Tidbit: The "Mutts" Movie

Earl and Mooch are hitting the big screen!  Learn more here.