The Best American Travel Writing 2003

by Ian Frazier, Jason Wilson

Release Date: 10 October, 2003

Edition: Paperback

Price:

More Info

Broaden your horizons...

This is one of the best books I've read in years. Every night I would randomly open to a different story and be transported.

I think the title is a bit misleading, though. This is not full of tourist stories. They are just very well-written articles that happen to take place in a land foreign to the author. For instance, a Jewish woman's journey to the Ukraine to uncover the story of relatives that were killed by the Nazi's. Not all the stories are quite so serious, in fact there is one by Jack Handey (Saturday Night Live writer) about a men's camping trip that was absolutely hysterical.

For anyone who values great writing and well-told story, you will definitely appreciate this book and the others in the series.

Not Travel -- Social Activism!

I get the "Best American" series to stay current with what some of our best writers are saying, but this year's editor has led me down the garden path.

At least 50% of the articles dwell on environmental or social causes. Yes, I suppose the writers had to travel somewhere to get their data, but their essays are not about travel; rather, they are about causes.

I will hope that, for 2004, the series publishers get a handle on things and place social essays in the "Best American Essays..." collection and reserve the Travel volume for just that.