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Tag Archives: review
Headed West on the China Clipper…
I read a fascinating book last week called Pan American Clippers: The Golden Age of Flying Boats by James Trautman. It’s about a forgotten age of air travel, when men were men, adventure was waiting around every corner, and the world was a much larger place.
It was the decade before World War 2, the early days of aviation. Air travel was still a luxury within reach of a select few. Crowds turned up to watch the big planes land and take off. And routes over both oceans were only just being pioneered.
Posted in Reviews, Travel stories
Tagged Boeing 314, China Clipper, flying boat, Grumman Goose, Pan Am Clipper, review, Ryan Murdock, Tales of the Gold Monkey, travel stories, vagabond
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Mean and Lowly Things
A lone mud-spattered researcher in torn khaki pants and sweat-stained sleeveless t-shirt kneels in the dirt in front of a makeshift shelter, carefully injecting formalin into a toad to halt the onset of decay. Tiny sweat bees cloud around her head, crawling into her nose and ears and getting into the corners of her eyes. She’s so concentrated on her work that she barely notices them. Suddenly, a man from the nearby Pygmy village bursts into camp.
“Madame, there is a snake in the village!”
Posted in Africa, Reviews
Tagged Congo, herpetology, Kate Jackson, Mean and Lowly Things, review, road wisdom, Ryan Murdock, snakes, vagabond
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Untitled #23
In addition to reviewing classic works of travel literature, I’d also like to draw your attention to works of outstanding artistic merit. The sort of thing that’s likely to appeal to those who enjoy my prose. The music of The Church has formed the soundtrack for every journey I’ve ever taken. Allow me to introduce you to their latest album: Untitled #23.
Posted in Reviews
Tagged review, road wisdom, Ryan Murdock, steve kilbey, the church, untitled #23, vagabond
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As a Friend
I normally stick to recommending classics of travel literature, but I’m going to break my own habit because I enjoyed this book so much.
This slim first novel from renowned poet Forrest Gander punches well above its weight in ounces. It’s the perfect size for the side pocket of your backpack, and great travel reading because, like poetry, you’ll find yourself returning to it again and again.
Posted in Reviews
Tagged as a friend, forrest gander, review, road wisdom, Ryan Murdock, travel, travel writing, vagabond, vagabond dreams
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The Air-Conditioned Nightmare
Though Henry Miller’s book on Greece, The Colossus of Maroussi, is generally regarded as his greatest achievement, he also wrote a second travel book which should be regarded as a definite classic of the genre.
Painkiller
Every journey needs a soundtrack. The music of The Church has always formed the backdrop of mine. The band’s singer, Steve Kilbey, an accomplished lyricist, poet, blogger and painter, has also been one of my most significant writing influences. Allow me to introduce you to Kilbey’s recent solo album: Painkiller.
I’ve made it a habit–well, call it a ritual–that each time I receive a new album from The Church or Steve Kilbey, I get that first listen in while lying in a darkened room with the headphones cranked. First impressions are important, and I want the music to totally wash over me.