Review: Atlas of Abandoned Places

Title: Atlas of Abandoned Places

Author: Oliver Smith

Publisher: 11th October 2022 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 220 pages

Genre: nonfiction, travel, world, history

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Explore the wonders that the world forgot with award-winning travel writer Oliver Smith - from breathtaking buildings with a dark past to decaying reminders of more troubled times.

The globe is littered with forgotten monuments, their beauty matched only by the secrets of their past.

A glorious palace lies abandoned by a fallen dictator. A grand monument to communism sits forgotten atop a mountain. Two never-launched space shuttles slowly crumble, left to rot in the middle of the desert. Explore these and many more of the world's lost wonders in this atlas like no other.

With remarkable stories, bespoke maps and stunning photography of fifty forsaken sites, The Atlas of Abandoned Places travels the world beneath the surface; the sites with stories to tell, the ones you won't find in any guidebook.

Award-winning travel writer Oliver Smith is your guide on a long-lost path, shining a light on the places that the world forgot.

Locations featured in the book include:

Europe: Maunsell Forts, Aldwych Station, Paris Catacombs, La Petite Ceinture, Craco, Teufelsberg, Beelitz-Heilstatten, Red Star Train Graveyard, Pyramiden, Salpa Line, Buzludzha Monument, Pripyat, Wolf's Lair, Project Riese, Sarajevo Bobsleigh Track, Albanian Bunkers, Rummu Quarry

The Americas & the Caribbean: New Bedford Orpheum Theatre, City Hall Station, Bodie, The Boneyards of Western USA, Bannerman Castle, Palace of Sans Souci, Montserrat Exclusion Zone, Ciudad Perdida, Humberstone and Santa Laura, Uyuni Train Cemetery, Fordlandia

The Middle East & the Caucasus: Kayakoy, Burj Al Babas, Varosha, Tskaltubo, Palaces of Saddam

Asia: Ryugyong Hotel, Buran at Baikonur, Mo'ynoq Ship Graveyard, Aniva Lighthouse, Ho' Thuy Tien Waterpark, Fukushima Red Zone, Hashima

Oceania: Wittenoom, Wrecks of Homebush Bay, Port Arthur, MS World Discoverer, Second World Remains of Papua New Guinea

Africa: Shipwrecks of the Skeleton Coast, Kolmanskop, Mobutu's Gbadolite, Mos Espa, Sao Martinho dos Tigres

My Thoughts

‘To step into an abandoned place is to cross a kind of threshold into the past - to time travel from the present day to the instant that people departed.’

This is an absolutely fascinating book! A trip not only through time but around the world with proverbial windows into abandoned places. This book features maps and interesting photography of ghostly places - some lost to nature, others to supposed progress. Each location has a compelling tale about the people and society it reflects.

Atlas of Abandoned Places details a range of abandoned locales throughout the world -  ‘some are fallen monuments to impossible dreams. Others are ordinary houses and apartments.’ Featured locations include palaces, mines, trains, planes, hotels, theme parks, theatres, stations and military installations. 

‘We emerge … with questions: who lived here, worked here? What were their dreams? And, selfishly, what would our own world look like decades from now, if it too suddenly became frozen in this instant? What would survive of us? What would wither and decay?’

Oliver Smith has spent years travelling the faraway corners of the world. A four-time Travel Writer of the Year award winner, he has appeared in Lonely Planet, National Geographic, the BBC, The Sunday Times and many more. Here, Smith writes beautifully and thoughtfully and I loved it. Each location includes informative descriptions that are both insightful and thought provoking. Also included is map coordinates, summary sentence, two page story, maps (world location and country specific) and multiple impressive photos. A fascinating and thought-provoking read that I highly recommend for not just coffee tables but also the brilliant discussions that are sure to ensue. 

‘They serve as a postscript to cemeteries: a vision of our deaths not as individuals, but as communities, as a species.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Six Days in Rome

Title: Six Days in Rome

Author: Francesca Giacco

Publisher: 10th May 2022 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 270 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre:  fiction, contemporary, travel, Italy, romance

My Rating: 4 cups

Synopsis:

Emilia arrives in Rome reeling from heartbreak and reckoning with her past. What was supposed to be a romantic trip has, with the sudden end of a relationship, become a solitary one instead. As she wanders, music, art, food, and the beauty of Rome's wide piazzas and narrow streets color Emilia's dreamy, but weighty experience of the city. She considers the many facets of her life, drifting in and out of memory, following her train of thought wherever it leads.

While climbing a hill near Trastevere, she meets John, an American expat living a seemingly idyllic life. They are soon navigating an intriguing connection, one that brings pain they both hold into the light.

As their intimacy deepens, Emilia starts to see herself anew, both as a woman and as an artist. For the first time in her life, she confronts the ways in which she's been letting her father’s success as a musician overshadow her own. Forced to reckon with both her origins and the choices she's made, Emilia finds herself on a singular journey—and transformed in ways she never expected.

Equal parts visceral and cerebral, Six Days in Rome is an ode to the Eternal City, a celebration of art and creativity, and a meditation on self-discovery.

My Thoughts

If you are looking for something different and a virtual trip to Europe, then this could well prove the ticket. Six Days in Rome is a unique piece of literature with this ancient city playing a major character. Don’t be deceived - this book is far from being a travel journal. It is a sublime reflection on relationships in all its various forms. For sure, there are wonderful descriptive passages on Roman cuisine, locales and the general ambiance. Yet it is equal parts a delve into the lead characters past and her  life in America. 

‘Is this how these six days are going to unfold? Circling strangers, overhearing hints of their lives, imagining what the rest might resemble? Wanting to know them? Not being able to?’

At one level you have Emilia who is dealing with the breakup of her relationship and a trip to Rome that is now solo rather than duo. Emilia is the conduit through which the reader observes and reflects on a plethora of sites, sounds and situations. Emilia takes you on a journey not only through Rome itself (which is wonderful) but also through her life and loves - a reflection on her life and a vast array of experiences from her past. Somewhat of a romance but I rather see some of her encounters as opportunities to challenge and face her past demons. 

‘No one knows me here, and with that, certain things seem possible. Like I’m capable of strength or abandon on this side of the ocean that would be laughable at home. I'm someone else waiting for something new to happen.’

Francesca’s writing is something quite unique. There is no major plot going on here. Rather, this is a person who takes these six days for ambling introspection - her relationships, her family, her job, her future. This is messy and even in the end, nothing is boxed up neatly and placed away. Rather this is prose exploring art, freedoms, love and loss.  I am somewhat torn by this book. On the one hand there is so much to relate to and embrace and yet …. it does jump around and go off on sudden tangents. It may be six days in Rome but there are a lot of days spent elsewhere. 

‘This was a deal I made with myself before coming here: no communicating with anyone from my real life, within reason. The idea was to double down on solitude, in hopes it might teach me something. That maybe, with no outside interference, I could start to see more clearly.’

There is no escaping that this is a beautifully written book. This is a book that makes you pause and ponder, it is character based and one hundred percent reflective. I have many highlights that I will return to and contemplate. There is much on offer here to encourage you to spend Six Days in Rome.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: A Trip of One's Own

Title: A Trip of One's Own

Author: Kate Wills

Publisher: 3rd May 2022 by Sourcebooks

Pages: 224 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: nonfiction, travel, autobiography, women’s

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

A travel story is the best story of them all…

Travel journalist Kate Wills wasn't expecting to be divorced after less than a year of marriage, or to be forced to restart a life that had seemed so stable for so long. Luckily, her job as a writer offered her the perfect opportunity to escape from it all. But this time, with no deadlines to hit or all-expenses-paid trips to absorb in a few days before churning out copy for a travel magazine, her jet-setting felt different. There were no photographers working alongside her or assistants booking her flights. For the first time ever, Kate was traveling alone.

Feeling unexpectedly out of her element, Kate began to scour history for stories of female travelers to inspire her. From a 4th-century nun to a globe-circling cyclist, Kate discovered that there have always been astonishing women who have broken free from society's expectations, clearing the path for many of us to do the same.

Funny, heartfelt, and guaranteed to spark wanderlust, A Trip of One's Own is the perfect armchair travel read to inspire you to jump in the car or hop on a plane to explore the world. This book is the must-have next read for any aspiring solo female traveler!

My Thoughts

Let me say it from the outset, I really enjoyed this book. I went in expecting a simple travel memoir yet it proved to be that and so much more. Part memoir, part travel with tips and tricks, part historical investigation - this book has much to offer. 

‘Women have many reasons for going traveling alone, apart from seeking adventure. Often we’re searching for something, reaching for some meaning in our lives, something bigger and higher than ourselves.’

Kate’s personal story provides the foundation of this book and whilst some readers did not enjoy this aspect, I thought it made sense and helped project the book to the next level. Losing and finding yourself is life’s journey - both figuratively and actually - and is the obvious place to base your findings on life’s discoveries whether they be close to home or further afield. 

‘… I became obsessed with putting some distance between myself and everything I knew - both the monotony of everyday life and the big soul-searching questions that would creep in from time to time. It was as if I thought that the meaning to life could be found in a well-packed suitcase and a freshly printed boarding pass.’

The most engaging aspect of this book, however, is Kate’s investigations into the stories of women from the past who made some incredible trips travelling alone. Some I had heard of, many I had not, but they all served to bring both entertainment, education and inspiration to this book. Gosh, there were some remarkable women with incredible tales to tell mostly from times when female adventurers were uncommon and mostly frowned upon. 

‘I was only just starting to unravel the untold stories of so many unconventional women who had traveled the world and lived life on their own terms.’

Kate then also includes practical tips and tricks to the various aspects of travelling - everything from staying safe to how to pack and travel on a budget. This alone is full of really useful advice no matter what or where you may be. 

‘Getting lost occasionally is essential—not only while traveling but when traveling through life. The destination we think we want is often, when we actually get there, not what we need.’

This book is definitely empowering and not only for women who intend to travel. Your journey may be an internal one and this book will be sure to speak to you as well. I so want to go back and tab this book as a future reference for drive, determination and inspiration. 

‘There was a whole world right on my doorstep; it had always been there, I’d just had to open my eyes and ears and nose to it.’

Please do not be deterred from reading this book if you are not a traveller. Whether you be an armchair traveller or just seeking to become more aware of things around you closer to home, I believe you are sure to find something that will speak to you from within these pages. Many of us now live vicariously thanks to Covid and if the backyard is as far as you get, Kate certainly has some thoughts to share on that. 

‘Travel doesn’t have to mean a journey through space, it can be an inner change, too.’

This book is wonderful. It is written from the heart and contains things that will make you smile and laugh, to things that will inspire and stir you to action. I very much appreciated the list of books referenced at the end detailing the many admirable women who are mentioned within this book. This is so much more than just a travel book, it really is inspirational in encouraging women to make ‘ a trip of your own’ whether it be around the world or around your backyard. 

‘Nearly all the women in this book speak of achieving remarkable feats by being in the moment and not thinking beyond the end of each day, the next step, the next mile.’

I am sure we have all wished to escape our seemingly humdrum lives at some time or other - physically or metaphorically. Katie gives readers a book that shows us how to live a life - wherever that may be - in a meaningful and present way. Thank you Kate. 

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Accidentally Wes Anderson

Title: Accidentally Wes Anderson

Author: Wally Koval

Publisher: 12th January 2021 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 368 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: non fiction, travel, photography

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

A visual adventure of Wes Anderson proportions, authorised by the legendary filmmaker himself: stunning photographs of real-life places that seem plucked from the just-so world of Anderson's films, presented with the fascinating human stories behind each facade.

Wes Anderson's beloved films announce themselves through a singular aesthetic - one that seems too vivid, unique, and meticulously constructed to possibly be real. Not so - in Accidentally Wes Anderson, Wally Koval collects the world's most Anderson-like sites in all their faded grandeur and pop-pastel colours, telling the story behind each stranger than-fiction-location.

 

Based on the viral online phenomenon and community of the same name, Accidentally Wes Anderson celebrates the unique aesthetic that millions of Anderson fans love - capturing the symmetrical, the atypical, the unexpected, the vibrantly patterned, and distinctively coloured in arresting photographs from around the world.

 

Authorised by Wes Anderson himself, and appealing to the millions who love his films, this book is also for fans of Cabin Porn and Van Life - and avid travellers and aspiring adventurers of all kinds.

My Thoughts

Let me just say from the outset .... this book is stunning. Given that armchair travel is more than likely the only kind of travel that many of us will be undertaking for the foreseeable future, the beautiful photography in this book is sure to go some way to filling the desired visual stimulation. Herein lies an absolute bucket list of inspiring worldwide locations with attached tourist guide-like details. 

Koval and his wife started what has since become a famed catalogue of some of the most visually striking destinations throughout the world. The photography of this book includes contributions from many people and from many locations. The constancy through it all was that the image would embrace the style of filmmaker Wes Anderson. This shared love became known as AWA - Accidentally Wes Anderson and reportedly now has over a million followers sharing their locations on Instagram.

This stunning feature book includes locales from every continent (yes! even Antarctica!) in its mission to discover the often bizarre, quirky and unique landmarks. This is not the generic, well trodden touristy paths but rather the undiscovered, unheard of, often bypassed gems. With a well catalogued list, each page has rich colourful entries that detail more than just location and date.

A key aspect of this book is in fact the accompanying text. WOW! It often reads like a short narrative detailing a background story which truly adds a layer of depth and appreciation to the whole experience. This is not just a pretty book to flip through - the historical context and story is absolutely fascinating, providing readers with true meaning and understanding.

Accidentally Wes Anderson is the perfect companion to fill the hole in our global pandemic days. It is an invitation to travel the world on an adventure that is unique and fulfilling. What a wonderful coffee table conversation starter, a visual aesthetic delight that is sure whet your whimsical appetite for the wonders of our world.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Review: Nala's World

Title: Nala's World

Author: Dean Nicholson

Publisher: 1st October 2020 by Hachette Australia

Pages: 258 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: nonfiction, travel, autobiography, animals

My Rating: 5 cups

Synopsis:

Instagram phenomenon @1bike1world Dean Nicholson reveals the full story of his life-changing friendship with rescue cat Nala and their inspiring adventures together on a bike journey around the world.

When 30-year-old Dean Nicholson set off from Scotland to cycle around the world, his aim was to learn as much as he could about our troubled planet. But he hadn't bargained on the lessons he'd learn from his unlikely companion.

Three months after leaving home, on a remote road in the mountains between Montenegro and Bosnia, he came across an abandoned kitten. Something about the piercing eyes and plaintive meowing of the bedraggled little cat proved irresistible. He couldn't leave her to her fate, so he put her on his bike and then, with the help of local vets, nursed her back to health.

Soon on his travels with the cat he named Nala, they forged an unbreakable bond - both curious, independent, resilient and adventurous. The video of how they met has had 20 million views and their Instagram has grown to almost 750k followers - and still counting!

Experiencing the kindness of strangers, visiting refugee camps, rescuing animals through Europe and Asia, Dean and Nala have already learned that the unexpected can be pretty amazing. Together with Garry Jenkins, writer with James Bowen of the bestselling A Street Cat Named Bob, Dean shares the extraordinary tale of his and Nala's inspiring and heart-warming adventure together.

My Thoughts

I had always been good at fixing and building stuff, but I hadn’t built much of a life for myself ... I felt that by hitting the road and spending time in another part of the world, I might somehow find myself. Or, at least, find a way of being myself. Someone said to me once that I hit the road to find a road. That seemed about right.’

I have been an avid follower of Dean and Nala since they were featured by The Dodo video. Every morning I need my ‘Dean and Nala’ fix to get me through the day. Being both a lover of travel and cats, there was just so much to enjoy about his Instagram account. Could there really be any more to share than what we had seen across social media? There certainly was and this highly anticipated book lived up to expectations. 

I was super excited to read this book. It provided so much more detail and insight into the journey of Dean and Nala since they first met. Through reading this, Dean has grown in my esteem tremendously so with the integrity and honesty he has displayed throughout this epic adventure. The way he truthfully details his own personal growth and the love he has for Nala - and indeed the entire animal kingdom - is inspiring. 

‘Nala had splayed herself out next to me, as content as could be, soaking up the last rays of the sun and without a care in the world. I looked at her and shook my head. In some ways, I envied her. She had no work responsibilities. No bills to pay, no possessions, no pressures. Lucky her. I’ve always felt that the more people have, the more they have to worry about. Life should be about the simple pleasures. Moments like this. Sunsets, sunrises over     deserted beaches. A couple of beers with friends. It doesn’t have to be complicated.’

To think about how much this man’s life has changed through the meeting of this sweet kitty is mind blowing. To then have Dean take this uncalled for fame and turn into promoting and supporting needy charities is highly commendable. His passion for the environment and animal rescue is inspiring and he has used all that has fallen into his lap for the promotion of positive change. Who does not want to read about that? 

Nala’s World is an exceptional memoir by Dean  - a travelogue, a cat story, a pedestal for the promotion of the environment and animal welfare - all tied together with a personal growth story of this lively Scottish soul. Dean and Nala, and indeed the range of people who cross their paths, take large leaps in restoring one’s faith in humanity. I am so excited to continue to witness their journey through social media and hope that there might be future instalments to read once COVID allows it to be so. 

‘At another time, in different circumstances, I might have felt disappointed or frustrated to be doubling back on myself. But I didn't feel that way at all. For a start, if the past few months had proven anything it was that my journey around the world wasn’t going to look like anyone else’s. It wasn’t going to run in a straight line or conform to some well-trodden path. I was travelling in Nala's worlds after all. And as long as I had her beside me, that was fine. We’d look after each other.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.